Exploring Colognes: Scents For An Indian Gentleman

Choosing a cologne is a very personal decision, and there are many factors to consider, such as the occasion, your budget, and your unique body chemistry. The right cologne can boost your confidence, make you feel fresh, and leave a lasting impression on others.

Affordable options (under ₹1000)

- Ustraa Ammunition

- Ustraa After Dark

- The Man Company Blanc

- Wild Stone Ultra Sensual

Daily office wear options (₹2000-₹4000)

- Zara Gold

- Davidoff Cool Water

- Nautica Voyage

Party options (₹5000-₹10,000)

- Paco Rabanne Invictus

- Versace Dylan Blue

- Dior Sauvage

- Chanel Bleu de Chanel

- YSL La Nuit De L'Homme

- D&G The One

Additionally, some popular brands that offer a range of fragrances include:

- Fogg

- The Villain

- Titan Skinn

- Ustraa

- Axe Signature Gold

- The Man Company

- Denver Hamilton

- Park Avenue

- Wild Stone

- Designer Club

Cheap casual fragrances

While the definition of "cheap" is subjective, here are some affordable colognes that you could consider:

Hugo Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette

A classic woody and spicy men’s fragrance that uses aromas of cinnamon, bergamot, and cedarwood to create a confident and masculine scent. This reasonably priced cologne is ideal for any season.

Versace Eros Eau de Toilette

The EDT version of this cologne is surprisingly robust. It features notes of mint, geranium, and oakmoss, as well as the dark sweetness of vanilla.

David Beckham Intimately Eau de Toilette

A wallet-friendly fragrance that is woody, warming, and a little spicy. It carries notes of cardamom, nutmeg, and amber, providing richness and longevity.

Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette

A refreshing, complex, and bright cologne with notes of zingy grapefruit, bitter bay leaf, and musky patchouli.

Paul Smith London Eau de Parfum

A potent amber fougere fragrance with mint, mandarin, lavender, and amber aromas. The result is a refreshing, herbal, and clean scent.

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man Eau de Parfum

A spicy, woody, rich, intense, and sensual fragrance. It combines contrasting notes of lemon, apple, ambergris, and patchouli with the underlying sweetness of rose and vanilla.

Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette

A fresh and energetic fragrance that embodies the spirit of adventure. It opens with cool green leaf and fresh-cut apple notes, leading into a heart of deep aquatic and unique sailcloth accord. The woody dry-down is a blend of moss, cedarwood, and musk, offering a scent that is both refreshing and masculine.

Diesel Only The Brave Eau de Toilette

This cologne features notes of lemon, mandarin orange, violet, and leather, which collide with labdanum and coriander. The result is a complex and uplifting scent.

Michael Kors Extreme Blue Eau de Toilette

A deceptively simple scent that lasts well and turns heads. It features notes of bergamot, cardamom, and cashmere musk to create a clean yet aromatic fragrance with musky and spicy elements, underpinned by green freshness.

Lacoste Blanc L.12.12 Eau de Toilette

A clean-cut and invigorating scent with notes of ylang-ylang, rosemary, and Virginian cedar.

Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Eau de Toilette

A minty-citric kick followed by notes of lavender and cranberry. This is a clean, masculine scent with a herbal undertone that is invigorating.

Bentley For Men Intense Eau de Parfum

A balanced, subtle, and surprisingly complex fragrance with notes of bay leaf and pepper, a boozy heart with notes of rum, and a musky, rich base of leather and resin. The result is a clean and bright scent with almost medicinal undertones.

Joop! Go Eau de Toilette

A brighter, sweeter scent with less sharp and smoky edges than the original Joop! It features notes of Pimento pepper, geranium, sour rhubarb, and cypress, creating an energising and tantalisingly sweet and sour profile.

Burberry London For Men Eau de Toilette

A rich, intense, and unabashedly masculine fragrance with rich, earthy tones and underlying sweetness. It features a scent bubble of tobacco, lavender, and cinnamon that gives it an intense and seductive edge.

Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette

A low-cost, enduringly popular unisex fragrance by Calvin Klein. It is bright, sharp, and sparkling, with notes of lemon, mandarin, pineapple, nutmeg, and orris root.

Davidoff Cool Water Man Eau de Toilette

A bright, refreshing, and sharp cologne that evokes robust masculinity and vigour. It is citric and aromatic, with notes of orange, mint, and sandalwood that evolve nicely.

Zara Vibrant Leather Eau de Parfum

A cheap men’s cologne that is said by many to be similar to Creed Aventus. It features notes of lemon, bergamot, leather, and a touch of patchouli.

Daily office wear

When it comes to choosing a cologne to wear to the office, it's important to opt for something subtle and lasting that will suit a professional environment. Notes that are too leathery or boozy should be avoided, with lighter, citrusy fragrances being a better option. Here are some recommendations for daily office wear colognes:

• Zara Gold: This cologne can be purchased for around ₹1500 and is a good option for daily office wear.
• Davidoff Cool Water: This cologne is fresh and not too overt, making it suitable for daily office wear. It costs between ₹3000-4000.
• Nautica Voyage: Priced between ₹1600-₹3000, this cologne is another option for your daily office wear.
• Bleu de Chanel: This cologne is described as "the essence of independence and determination". It has woody and citrusy notes and is suitable for any workspace.
• L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Eau de Toilette: This is an affordable option from a high-fashion brand. It has citrusy top notes and aquatic middle notes, creating a fresh and lasting fragrance.
• Creed Green Irish Tweed: This is a masculine fragrance with fresh top notes, floral middle notes, and earthy base notes. It is long-lasting and versatile, making it a good investment.
• Acqua di Parma Colonia: This is a timeless fragrance with balanced aromatics, making it a safe choice for a workplace setting.
• Montblanc Explorer: This cologne has woody, bergamot, and sage notes, creating a fresh and misty forest aroma. It is affordable and long-lasting, lasting between 5-6 hours.

Party fragrances

The Man Company Perfume Gift Set for Men:

This set includes four 50ml perfumes, each with a different scent for various occasions like parties, outings, office, and dates. The set features premium, long-lasting fragrances with fresh scents.

Villain Luxury Villain Party Combo:

This combo offers two premium, long-lasting perfumes, including Classic and Hydra EDP. The fragrances are described as woody and spicy, perfect for making a statement at a party.

Bella Vita Luxury Man Perfume Gift Set:

This set includes four 20ml perfumes with woody and citrusy notes. The set features KLUB, OUD, CEO, and G.O.A.T. perfumes, offering a range of scents for different occasions.

Nike Gold Edition Liquid Fresh Eau De Toilette:

This Nike perfume is ideal for night parties. It has a long-lasting fragrance and comes in a 100ml size.

Brut Perfume Eau De Toilette:

This long-lasting masculine fragrance is inspired by Paris and is suitable for office, parties, dates, and outings. It has a 100ml capacity.

Engage M1 Perfume Spray For Men:

This citrusy and woody fragrance is skin-friendly and offers a long-lasting smell. It comes in a 120ml bottle.

Wild Stone Ultra Sensual Perfume:

This Wild Stone perfume is described as an aromatic blend of masculine fragrances, making it perfect for casual encounters. It has a long-lasting scent and comes in a 100ml bottle.

Ustraa Tattoo Cologne:

This cologne by Ustraa is ideal for night occasions and has a long-lasting fragrance. It features a mix of spicy, woody, and citrusy notes.

Beardo Whisky Smoke Perfume:

With notes of spicy, woody, and oudh, this Beardo perfume is perfect for date nights. It comes in an 8ml size, making it convenient for travel.

Park Avenue Men Voyage Amazon Woods:

This Park Avenue perfume offers a fresh and long-lasting fragrance. It has notes of citrus and woods, creating an appealing scent for various occasions.

These options provide a range of fragrances to choose from, ensuring that you can find the perfect scent for your next party.

Long-lasting colognes

Creed Aventus

Creed Aventus is a best-selling, long-lasting men's fragrance from the luxury house of Creed. With a fruity and green scent, it has excellent staying power and settles nicely on the skin. It features a blend of apple, blackcurrant, pink pepper, jasmine, pineapple, oakmoss, and cedarwood.

Tom Ford Ombré Leather

Tom Ford's Ombré Leather is a leathery and sweet fragrance with impressive longevity. It has notes of black leather, patchouli, violet flower, vetiver, jasmine flower, amber, and moss. One user reported that they could still smell it on their clothes days after applying it.

Dior Sauvage Elixir

Dior Sauvage Elixir is a reinterpretation of the classic Sauvage fragrance with added spice and longevity. It has notes of grapefruit, lavender, amber, and woodsy notes. It's an ideal fragrance for a hot date or an important meeting.

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette

Paco Rabanne's 1 Million is a long-lasting, sophisticated, and masculine scent. It has notes of frosted grapefruit, rose absolute, musk, amber, blond leather, and white wood. It settles down to a comfortable scent level with great staying power.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel

Chanel Bleu de Chanel is a popular, long-lasting woody and citrusy cologne. It features notes of citrus accord, labdanum, sandalwood, and cedar. It has excellent staying power and smells great across all fabrics.

Maison Margiela 'Replica' Jazz Club

Maison Margiela's Jazz Club is a long-lasting, sophisticated, and unisex fragrance. It smells like a cocktail with notes of pink pepper, rum, tobacco leaf, and vanilla. It has impressive longevity on the skin and evokes confidence in the wearer.

Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Intense

The Y Eau de Parfum Intense from Yves Saint Laurent is a long-lasting, powerful, and fresh cologne. It amplifies the signature Y scent with blue juniper berries, lavender, and patchouli. A single spray provides all-day intensity.

KILIAN Paris Old Fashioned Eau de Parfum

The Old Fashioned cologne from KILIAN Paris offers a unique and long-lasting scent. With notes of wheat absolute, davana essence, cedarwood, and styrax, it is pricey but a little goes a long way.

Dior Homme Parfum

Dior Homme Parfum is a long-lasting fragrance with impressive performance. It has a woody, sensual, and masculine scent.

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb

Viktor & Rolf's Spicebomb is a classic spicy men's cologne with notes of cinnamon, saffron, paprika, pink peppercorn, and grapefruit, balanced by leather and tobacco. It is often described as "fiery," "addictive," and "sensual."

Niche fragrances

Creed Aventus

Aventus is a sophisticated blend with citrus and musky notes. It is inspired by the dramatic life of a historic emperor, celebrating strength, power, and success. It has a moderate projection that lasts for 8+ hours.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

This fragrance by Tom Ford is a blend of bourbon vanilla, pipe tobacco, and dried fruits. It is described as warm, opulent, and heady, reminiscent of an English gentleman's club. It has great projection and can last for 10-12 hours.

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

Tuscan Leather is a primal creation by Tom Ford, inspired by his love of fine leather. It combines primal leather with night-blooming jasmine and black suede, resulting in a raw yet refined, sensual yet sophisticated scent. It has a unisex appeal and offers excellent longevity and projection.

Acqua di Parma Colonia Club

Colonia Club is a fresh and stylish interpretation of classic Italian cologne. It has original top notes of neroli, mint, and galbanol, giving it a spicy and aromatic twist. It is versatile and can be worn in the office, on dates, or as a casual fragrance. It has moderate projection and lasts for 6-8 hours.

Serge Lutens Chergui

Chergui is a complex fragrance with notes of tobacco, hay, and amber. It is described as a fire fanned by the wind, creating an effect of suction rather than blowing. It has moderate projection and lasts for 8-10 hours.

Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan

Ambre Sultan is a fragrance inspired by the discovery of a piece of amber wax in the Marrakech souks. It has dominant notes of incense, amber, and bay leaf, with Mediterranean spices in the top notes. It is best suited for fall and winter and has moderate projection with excellent longevity.

Frequently asked questions