The Ultimate Men's Cologne: Discover The Best Scent

The number 1 cologne for men is a subjective topic, as different people have different preferences and opinions. However, there are several colognes that are consistently mentioned as top contenders for the best cologne for men. One of the most popular colognes for men is Chanel Bleu de Chanel, which is known for its fresh, clean, and sensual scent with notes of citrus, labdanum, sandalwood, and cedar. It is versatile and can be worn during the day or at night. Another popular option is Dior Sauvage, a nature-inspired cologne with notes of bergamot, pepper, and amberwood, giving it an earthy and woody scent. Creed Aventus is also a well-loved cologne for men, featuring crisp top notes of apple, blackcurrant, pineapple, and bergamot, with heart and base notes of birch, patchouli, vanilla, and musk. It is a best-selling fragrance that has stood the test of time. Other notable mentions include Ralph Lauren Polo Black, a bold and aromatic cologne with notes of iced mango, lemon, tangerine, sandalwood, and patchouli; Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club, a warm and spicy cologne with notes of pink pepper, rum, and tobacco; and Acqua di Parma Colonia, a classic and versatile cologne with a blend of bright, fruity top notes and warm base notes of vetiver, sandalwood, and patchouli. These colognes have received positive reviews and are considered some of the top choices for men's fragrances.

Best Overall

Acqua di Giò is a fresh, coastal fragrance that is masculine without being too heavy. Close your eyes and the blend of bergamot and neroli will transport you to a quiet Italian seaside town. Although it practically screams summer, it’s just grounded enough to work all year round.

Why We Love It:

Acqua di Giò is a classic, refined scent that is not too heavy. It is a fresh, coastal fragrance with a blend of bergamot and neroli, which will transport you to a quiet Italian seaside town. It is masculine without being too heavy and has just enough depth to work all year round.

Notes:

• Bergamot
• Neroli
• Green tangerine
• Jasmine
• Rosemary
• Patchouli

Sizes:

• 0.67 oz.
• 1.7 oz.
• 3.4 oz.
• 6.7 oz.

Best Budget

Cremo's Spice & Black Vanilla is an eau de toilette with a warm, slightly sweet, and spicy fragrance. It has a surprising staying power, and its scent meets you with vibrant cardamom spice and a very short-lived alcohol smell. The cardamom and tobacco notes remain prevalent as they dry, with a subtle sweet vanilla note revealing itself later. The rectangular glass bottle is simple and sophisticated, with an expensive-feeling weight that makes it easy to hold. This cologne is ideal for cooler temperatures in the fall and winter, but it can also be worn during the summer on unusually cool evenings.

Dior Sauvage is another great budget option. It is a nature-inspired scent from Dior perfumer François Demachy that is earthy and woody, with warm notes of bergamot, pepper, and amberwood. It can be worn in the winter, thanks to its refined, non-overpowering finish.

Nautica Voyage is a cheap cologne that proves that drugstore options can hold their own. It has a subtle, fresh, and long-lasting scent that smells way more expensive than it is. Instead of smelling artificial or cloying, the blend of green apple, cedar, and florals evokes crisp, cool water. It's clean and uncomplicated—a perfect option for anyone who doesn't want to think twice about what they're spraying on as they head out the door.

Best for Winter

When the temperature drops, it's time to swap out your light and fresh fragrances for something a little cozier. Here are some of the best men's colognes for winter:

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club

With notes of rum, tobacco, pink pepper, and vanilla, Replica Jazz Club by Maison Margiela is the perfect scent for the colder months. It's like curling up next to a fireplace in a dimly lit jazz club with a cocktail in hand. This warm and spicy fragrance has been described as "the nicest jazz club you've been to" and is a great choice for anyone wanting to hibernate in full cozy mode.

Tom Ford Oud Wood

Oud wood is one of the most precious and expensive ingredients in perfumery, and Tom Ford's Oud Wood cologne nails the woody scent. Combined with cardamom, sandalwood, and vetiver, and hints of tonka bean and amber, a few spritzes of this signature scent is like warming up by a cozy fire. It's the perfect winter fragrance for those who want to indulge in the rich and exotic.

Dior Sauvage

Dior Sauvage is a fresh and magnetic fragrance that combines invigorating notes of bergamot with the spicy essence of pepper and the richness of woody accords. This best-selling cologne is an excellent choice for those seeking a sophisticated and alluring fragrance experience during the winter months. Its refined, non-overpowering finish makes it versatile enough to be worn all year round.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille is a sophisticated and luxurious scent that's perfect for the colder months. It combines creamy tonka bean, vanilla, cocoa, dry fruit accords, and sweet wood sap for a modern, opulent, and heady impression. This warm and spicy fragrance will leave a lasting impression and is ideal for those who want to exude confidence and power during the winter.

Parfums de Marly Herod

Parfums de Marly Herod is a warm and cozy fragrance, like being wrapped in a cashmere blanket. With excellent performance and longevity, this scent will keep you feeling warm and snug even when you're out in the cold. It's the perfect choice for those who want a strong and masculine fragrance to get them through the winter months.

Best for Summer

When the sun comes out, it's time to put away the heavier, spicier fragrances and opt for something a little lighter and fresher. Here are some of the best colognes for men for the summer:

• H24 Eau de Parfum by Hermes is the quintessential 'green' fragrance for summer. With a delightful clary sage on the first spray and oakmoss on the dry down, it's a great choice for men who want a classic, fresh scent. It has excellent longevity, with a projection of around one metre for over three hours and longevity of at least five hours on the skin.
• Pour Homme Eau De Parfum by Bvlgari is a transparent, fresh and slightly spicy fragrance. With layers of Darjeeling tea and ginger on the top, and richer black tea and guaiac wood coming through as it dries down, it's a great choice for men who want a sophisticated summer scent. It has solid longevity, with around four hours of projection on the skin and more on clothes.
• Galloway by Parfums de Marly is the ultimate 'quiet luxury' fragrance. It's very fresh and classic, with a lovely balance of citrus and musk. Our testing found that the musky middle notes fade early, making room for peppery base notes that add a touch of spice. Longevity is outstanding, with six hours of projection on the skin and more on clothes.
• Vetiver Musc by Narcisco Rodriguez is the perfect fragrance for the start of summer. It's a little niche, with oceanic citrus, lavender, cedar and patchouli on the dry down, and a strong musk throughout. Our testing found that it lasted more than four hours on the skin and even longer on clothes.
• Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier is one of the most famous men's fragrances ever, and it's a great choice for summer. It's a clean, fresh blend of classic tonka bean and vanilla, balanced by zesty orange and spicy cinnamon. Performance is great, with more than eight hours of projection on the skin and even more on clothes.
• Colonia C.L.U.B. by Acqua di Parma is a long-lasting, citrusy fragrance that would work well as a gift. It has some interesting characteristics, with a musky base that comes through as the scent dries down on your skin, but you're still overwhelmed by the citrusy top notes and rosemary heart.
• Invictus Platinum by Paco Rabanne is a great value-for-money option. It's a green fragrance that's perfectly suited for summer, with top notes of absinthe and grapefruit balanced with mint and lavender. It has great longevity, with more than six hours of projection on the skin and even more on clothes.
• Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza by Valentino is a fresh, green and tropical scent with an exciting blend of coffee and citrus. It has excellent performance, with around eight hours of longevity on the skin and great sillage and projection to match.
• Light Blue Summer Vibes by Dolce & Gabbana is a simple, clean scent that's perfect for hot weather. It's a great choice for a first summer scent, with a balancing cypress note that stands out beyond the basic citrus and amber wood base notes. Longevity is around three to five hours on the skin.
• L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Solar Lavender by Issey Miyake is a nice alternative to the original L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme. It adds a delightful Sichuan pepper smell to the first spray, with lavender throughout the dry-down period. However, performance is underwhelming, with barely four hours of longevity on the skin.
• H24 Herbes Vives Eau de Parfum by Hermes is another outstanding fresh and herbaceous scent from Hermes. With a pear note on the first spray and a minty Physcool note at the base, it's a unique fragrance that lasts forever, with more than eight hours of longevity.
• Another 13 by Le Labo is often rated as the best fragrance Le Labo has ever produced. It's a unique scent, best described by comparing it to another scent legend, Baccarat Rouge 540, with which it shares many of its ambroxan and rustic notes. It has plenty of longevity, but some reviewers go scent blind after an hour of wearing it.
• Royal Water by Creed is a classy, luxurious and masculine scent, with herbal elements and a cedarwood base that perfectly balance the citrus top notes. It's one of the longest-lasting summer fragrances we've tested, with more than eight hours of projection on the skin.

Best for Date Night

When it comes to date night, you'll want a cologne that's a little more special than your everyday scent. Something warm, spicy, and woody is perfect for a date night during the colder months, while a fresh, aquatic scent is ideal for a summer evening. Here are some of the best colognes for men to wear on a date:

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L'Homme

La Nuit De L'Homme is a popular choice for a date night fragrance. It's a warm, spicy scent with notes of cardamom, cedar, and coumarin that dry down to a sweet, slightly powdery scent. It's a bold and sultry fragrance that's perfect for a winter date night.

Tom Ford Noir

Tom Ford Noir is a divisive fragrance—people tend to love it or hate it. It's a warm and woody scent with notes of amber, cardamom, and vanilla. It's an excellent winter fragrance, and its unique scent will ensure you're remembered.

Prada L'Homme Intense

Prada L'Homme Intense is a great choice if you're looking for something a little different. It's an earthy, spicy fragrance with a hint of sweetness. It's a complex and intriguing scent that's perfect for a date night, especially if your date prefers something a little more unusual.

Kilian Old Fashioned

Kilian's Old Fashioned eau de parfum is a rich and smooth fragrance that combines wheat absolute, davana essence, cedarwood, and tolu balm. It's a sexy and sophisticated scent that's perfect for a date night, especially if you're looking for something that will last all night.

Armani Acqua Di Gio Profondo

Acqua Di Gio Profondo is a versatile cologne that can be worn all year round. It's a fresh and aquatic scent with notes of bergamot, rosemary, and patchouli. It's a classic fragrance that's perfect for a summer date night.

Le Labo Thé Matcha 26

Le Labo's Thé Matcha 26 is a subtle and sophisticated medley of matcha, fig, cedar, bitter orange, and vetiver. It's the perfect autumn fragrance, with woody and spicy notes that will warm up any date night.

Amouage Opus VII Reckless Leather

Amouage's Opus VII Reckless Leather is a leathery, resinous, and spiced-up potion. It's a confident and intimate fragrance, perfect for setting the mood on a date night. With intoxicating notes of leather, smoke, spice, and amber, it's sure to leave a lasting impression.

Dior Sauvage

Dior Sauvage is a fresh and magnetic cologne with notes of bergamot, pepper, and woody accords. It's a popular choice for a reason—its sophisticated and alluring fragrance is perfect for a date night, especially if you're looking for something that will leave a lasting impression.

Frequently asked questions