We’ve tested the best colognes for men first-hand and curated a list of good-smelling, long-lasting fragrances that will impress anyone. Our team have spent nearly a decade trialing and reviewing these scents and put together a list of their favourites, providing original photography, commentary, and expert opinions on what to look for when cross-shopping. To get you on track, we’re starting with a few superstar options before taking a detailed look at season, type, and notes. Finally, we’ll tell you how to wear them to maximise their longevity, sillage, and projection.
Best Fragrances for Men at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following:
- Best overall: Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver by Hermès
- For longevity: Free d’Homme by CoSTUME NATIONAL
- For projection: Absolu Aventus by Creed
- For value for money: Legend Blue by Montblanc
Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
1. Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver by Hermès
Price: from AU$216
- Pros: If you’re looking for a do-everything cologne to wear daily and on any occasion, this is it. Intense Vetiver perfectly balances woody and citrusy notes with great performance to deliver value for money and outstanding smells.
- Cons: Is it better than Terre D’Hermes Eau Givree or Terre d’Hermes Eau de toilette? That’s up for debate. However, we’re going to assume you’ve tried those already so this brings a tasty alternative.
One of the stand-out fragrances we’ve tested in the last year, Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver perfectly combines vetiver and citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon to create a masculine cologne for men. The highlight of the scent is the Sichuan pepper dry down which aids longevity and gives it a great edge for formal occasions. That being said, it’s not the most suitable smell for a younger person who prefers sweeter options from the likes of Paco Rabanne and Giorgio Armani.
You also get great performance. In our testing, we found 6 hours of longevity on the skin alongside tight but meaningful sillage and projection of around 1 metre. As the name suggests, it’s an intense scent, and you should only need four sprays on the neck and wrists to have this last most of your day without getting under the skin of others in your workplace.
Top notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lemon
Middles notes: Sichuan Pepper and Geranium
Base notes: Vetiver, Olibanum, Patchouli and Amberwood
2. Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza by Valentino
Price: from AU$169
- Pros: Gorgeous bottle, gorgeous fragrance; the latest addition to the Born in Roma line-up is a tasty green scent that adds coffee to the mix and plenty of longevity.
- Cons: The Vetiver is subtle, so if you’re looking for a strong Vetiver-led cologne for men, there are more affordable options on our list
The bottle’s colour tells you that Valentino’s new Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza is a green fragrance, but it’s far from the norm. This men’s cologne has a strong (and unexpected) coffee note, and you’ll notice it on the first spray and dry-down as it overpowers the vetiver and balances the Calabrian bergamot top notes. We found it perfect for daily use, and thanks to the fresh masculine accord, you’ll have no trouble wearing this to the office or more formal occasions.
Performance is good for this price point, with longevity tested at 4-6 hours and projection and average sillage for a designer option. Of course, you could spend a little more on something like Vetiver Musc by Narciso Rodriguez to gain a little more performance, but you’ll miss out on the coffee undertones of this scent.
Top notes: Calabrian Bergamot
Middles notes: Coffee
Base notes: Vetiver
3. Absolu Aventus by Creed
Price: from AU$549
- Pros: Just when you feel like you’ve tried them all, Creed throws another delicious cologne for men into the ring with a perfect balance of ginger, pepper, wood, ambroxan, and vanilla.
- Cons: You’re spending a pretty penny on this one, but the performance leaves a little to be desired. We’d love to see more than 6 hours of projection next release!
More subtle, spicier, and darker than OG Aventus, think of Absolu Aventus by Creed as the Bentley or Rolls-Royce of men’s colognes. You could reasonably get your hands on a similar-smelling (and performing) fragrance for less, but none will offer the next-level luxury of this scent with its perfect blend of freshness and slight berry sweetness which is balanced by rich wood, honey, ambroxan, and vanilla. Don’t listen to those who say, “Aventus smells great for people who know nothing about colognes,” because this is utterly delicious.
If you’ve spent any time around Creed fragrances, you’ll know that ultimate performance is not the brand’s strong suit, and the theory follows suit here. In our testing, we managed to get a maximum of 6 hours of longevity before this faded to a skin scent, which is not outstanding for something so expensive. Still, projection is great at more than 1 metre after 4 sprays on the neck and wrists, and sillage is also fantastic. Wear this one daily if money is no object or save it for special occasions, cocktail parties, client meetings, etc.
Top notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot and Black Currant
Middles notes: Ginger, Cinnamon, Citron and Cardamom
Base notes: Pink Pepper, Patchouli and Vetiver
4. Legend Blue by Montblanc
Price: from AU$164
- Pros: It’s a little generic as far as blue fragrances go, but those who are shopping as novices or looking for a gift for their partner, dad, etc. will love this men’s cologne. Mint, wood, and moss is a winning combination, no matter how you chalk it up.
- Cons: Not the best choice for a fragrance enthusiast who has it all because it’s very similar to other well-known scents.
We must give props to Montblanc here because while they’ve created a fairly stock-standard blue cologne for men, it still smells very good and is well-priced. When we compared it to other similar scents such as Burberry Men, Platinum Egoiste, and Dolce & Gabbana K, we preferred Legend Blue due to its delightful mint opening and non-synthetic dry-down. So many fragrances in this class fall victim to overly powerful synthetic smells, but not this bottle and we’d happily recommend this for spring and summer.
Performance-wise, we didn’t expect too much from a designer fragrance at this price point. However, it surprised us with the longevity of 4-6 hours before fading to a skin scent.
The same cannot be said for projection and sillage because it’s significantly lacking in this department, which is disappointing for those who want to wear them out and about but a welcome addition for those who want to wear something around the office and not offend every nose in the building. We’d recommend 4-6 sprays on the neck and wrists to get the most out of this one, even a top-up after lunch wouldn’t go astray.
Top notes: Lavender and Mint
Middles notes: Sandalwood and Cedar
Base notes: Ambroxan and Moss
5. Althaïr by Parfums de Marly
Price: from AU$498
- Pros: Scent-wise, this is one of the highlights with plenty of cinnamon and bourbon vanilla on the first spray and musk on the dry down. This smell combines with good performance for an outstanding unique men’s cologne.
- Cons: Expensive, but don’t expect to be blown away by performance or longevity, it’s only average.
Althaïr by Parfums de Marly has fast become one of the most popular men’s colognes on the planet, and we’ve been singing its praise since it was released late last year. It’s quickly become our go-to scent for cooler weather, and while it’s a little strong to wear in and around the office, it’s a great one to wear to events, dinners, and client meetings due to its unique and delicious accord. Cinnamon, bourbon vanilla, praline, and musk are all prominent on the first spray before bergamot combines with orange blossom, ambroxan, and wood on the dry-down. It’s intoxicating and changes over time as the scent develops on your skin.
Projection and sillage are both great with enough oomph to get you noticed in a crowd. Meanwhile, performance is good, but not great for the money at 4-6 hours on the skin and more on clothes. When applying, avoid overspray, as this can disrupt the balance of the notes; we recommend 4-6 sprays on the neck and wrists.
Top notes: Cinnamon, Cardamom, Orange Blossom and Bergamot
Middles notes: Bourbon Vanilla and Elemi
Base notes: Praline, Musk, Ambroxan and Guaiac Wood
6. H24 Eau de Parfum by Hermès
Price: from AU$216
- Pros: Addictive smell of oakmoss and clary sage that works perfectly for casual to formal occasions. Good performance with above-average longevity and projection.
- Cons: Some reviewers online have noted that it can be a little musky and sweet. However, we’ve not found this in our testing.
Unique and addictive oakmoss, clary sage, ripe bananas, and plenty of freshness make H24 Eau de Parfum one of our favourite colognes for men. This is one of those scents that you want to wear every day, and because of its unique and addictive nature, you won’t forget to apply a few sprays when you leave the house.
Performance is great (especially for green fragrances), with more than 6 hours on the skin and even more on clothes. Projection and sillage are also perfect, not too strong and ‘in your face’ while remaining memorable to all of those who walk by and catch a whiff. We’d happily wear this in the office daily, but it’s just as suitable to warmer days with linen shirts, and suits. Not the best option for cocktail dinners and parties. However, there’s definitely an element of Terre D’Hermes here so it wouldn’t have a problem fitting in.
Notes: Clary Sage, Oak Moss, and Sclarene
7. Free d’Homme by CoSTUME NATIONAL
Price: from AU$209
- Pros: Great performance for the price, niche and unique smell without being strange and offensive. Delicious accord of citrus zest and incense.
- Cons: Don’t let the fragrance notes fool you because there’s not much citrus to be found.
Perfect for the fragrance-loving man who has it all, Free d’Homme by CoSTUME NATIONAL is a high-quality niche cologne for men that balances citrus zest with strong notes of incense and pine. Don’t mistake it for a summer freshie because the incense is powerful and remains that way through the dry-down process and is ever present in the sillage. You could still wear it in warmer months, but it’s better suited for autumn and fall when the temperature is cooler.
Performance is great for a men’s cologne at this price point, and our tests show around 6 hours of longevity and discreet sillage should be expected. We recommend applying 4 sprays across the neck and wrists at a maximum because this scent is susceptible to over-spraying, where the incense becomes overly dominant.
Top notes: Lime and Lemon
Middles notes: Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha and Saffron
Base notes: Incense and Labdanum
8. Bonne Chauffe by Frapin
Price: from AU$349
- Pros: Strong, photorealistic smell of cognac and whisky.
- Cons: Not the best option for younger gents as the vetiver accord can be aging and overpowering.
No list of the best men’s colognes is complete without including a boozy, alcoholic scent, and Bonne Chauffe by Frapin is our favourite. This is a picture-perfect recreation of what would happen if you stuck your head into a barrel of top-shelf whisky or cognac, bringing unfound levels of plum, oak, and brandy to the table. Of course, this is balanced by a lovely vetiver and patchouli accord that’s most noticeable as the fragrance dries down and the malty backbone comes through.
Performance is good overall, but not as great as we first expected for a scent at this price point. We found the longevity to sit around the 4-6 hours mark, while the sillage and projection are both strong. As such, it’s not something that we’d recommend wearing in an office, but it would be suitable for winter and evening social events.
Top notes: Pepper Oil and Davana
Middles notes: Plum, Oak and Brandy
Base notes: Benzoin, Vetiver, Patchouli and Cedarwood
Alternatives to These Colognes for Men
We’ve tested more than twenty of the best and most popular colognes for men to include in our article. However, there are a handful of highly-reviewed fragrances that we’ve tested in smaller batches, usually with tester-size bottles. As such, it’s hard to draw a firm conclusion on these ones, and we’ll have to wait until we’ve tried a large bottle to include it at the top of our list. In any case, these are worthy of mention.
Galloway by Parfums de Marly
Price: from AU$398
- Pros: Supremely fresh and from one of the best niche fragrance houses on the planet, there’s plenty to like here. If you’re sick of spicy ouds and zesty obnoxious scent then save a little coin and give Galloway a try.
- Cons: It’s not something to blindly buy because some reviewers online say that it’s a little generic for their liking—some even call it boring. We disagree on all accounts, but you might want to try it in-store and find out for yourself before purchasing, especially at this price point.
Fresh and powdery, Galloway by Parfums de Marly has quickly become one of our favourite colognes for men. Don’t let the unisex label distract you because we guarantee that you’ll love the musky, powdery, and citrusy notes that play together so perfectly. It’s become our go-to during the warmer months, and although it’s supremely expensive, the smell is luxurious and beyond anything you’ll find from the typical designer brands. Longevity is great at up to 6 hours on the skin and more on clothes, in fact, we think it works even better on clothes because of the freshness. If you’re an iris lover and prefer scents without bergamots, give this a try ASAP. Even at this price it’s worth a blind buy, it’s that good.
Top notes: Citruses and Pepper
Middles notes: Orange Blossom and Iris
Base notes: Musk and Amber
Valentino Uomo Intense by Valentino
Price: from AU$179
- Pros: It’s sweet and light on the opening before drying down into a sexy vanilla accord. It is one of the best blind buys on the market; we could wear this every day and still love it. It’s perfect for every guy’s collection, with a great longevity of 5 hours and a sharp price to match.
- Cons: If you like Dior Homme Intense, don’t expect much difference here. We found it to be a little heavier on the vanilla and leather, but that’s not for everyone. Some would just buy DHI because of this and we can see why.
Sweet, light, and full of delicious iris notes, Uomo Intense by Valentino is an affordable alternative to Galloway by Parfums de Marly and a great competitor to Dior Homme Intense. Where Galloway goes citrusy and musky, Uomo Intense goes for a strong vanilla and leather base which helps with projection but oddly doesn’t help much with longevity. We measured this one at around 5 hours on the skin and not much more on clothes. Nonetheless, we love the leathery iris backbone here, but also the way it’s suitable for any and every environment. It starts at night time and when the weather gets cold, but you’re also able to wear it every day due to the accessible price point.
Top notes: Mandarin Orange and Clary Sage
Middles notes: Iris and Tonka Bean
Base notes: Vanilla and Leather
Grand Soir by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Price: from AU$540
- Pros: Spicy, musky, and sensual in every single way, this perfume for men is guaranteed to get you plenty of compliments from the opposite sex. Performance exceeds 6 hours on the skin, as it should given the high price point. Give it time to dry down and you’ll fall in love.
- Cons: Hard to justify the exorbitant price point and completely out of budget for most. Can be quite a tough one to love if you don’t like strong amber, don’t expect much freshness or sweetness.
We’re moving from the citrusy, musky, iris-led colognes for men into something spicy here with Grand Soir by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Of course, after seeing the high price point there’s an expectation that this is going to blow your mind and we firmly believe it will. You have to give it time to dry down on the skin and let the complexity change over time as the base notes come through and overpower the zesty top notes. The unisex label and zesty opening show signs that this is a feminine option but the vanilla, musky, tonka base is seductive and very masculine. Then the amber smacks you in the face with beautiful projection after only 2-3 sprays. Longevity is great, but not outstanding and we found it to sit at right around 6 hours depending on the weather. One of the best ‘no budget’ fragrances ever.
Top notes: Labdanum cistus, Orange
Middles notes: Benjoin siam
Base notes: Amber, Cedar, Musk, Tonka, Vanilla
Acqua di Gio Parfum by Giorgio Armani
Price: from AU$195
- Pros: Simple and safe, no one on earth thinks this smells bad. Most think it’s simply sublime. In saying that, we think it’s probably the best men’s perfume to give as a gift, especially at this price point.
- Cons: Our only real complaint here is the longevity which is only 4 hours on skin and similar on clothes. If Giorgio Armani could get 6 hours out of this scent it would become the stuff of legend.
This is one of the safest ‘blind buys’ in the fragrance world at the moment, but the name Alberto Morillas could’ve told you that. He’s the man behind this cologne for men and what he’s created is nothing short of legendary. If you’re a sweet fragrance lover then this is a great place to start, it doesn’t have the sharpness on the first spray like Profumo, but it still has the great dry down notes of rosemary, sage, patchouli, and olibanum that are uplifting and great for everyday wear. We’re lovers of both Profumo and Parfum as we see here, but the smoothness of the latter is why it makes our list of the best perfumes for men.
Top notes: Marine notes and Bergamot
Middles notes: Rosemary, Clary Sage and Geranium
Base notes: Olibanum and Patchouli
Royal Oud by Creed
Price: from AU$539
- Pros: Perfumer Julien Rasquinet will go down as one of the greats and this is one of his best works. This cologne for men is expensive, but it is also one of the cheapest Rasquinet fragrances you can buy right now; it’s royalty in the bottle, as the name suggests. Supremely masculine, it’s what a rich man would wear in a cigar room as he sips on a glass of Scotch.
- Cons: Supremely masculine, but also supremely expensive. Some reviewers online have stated that they didn’t find the same longevity that we did in wearing this, so give it a try in-store and time yourself before spending such a chunk of money.
If you’re looking for the best masculine cologne for men right now, Royal Oud by Creed might be the definition. There’s pepper, lemon, and bergamot on the top notes and they’re ever present on the first spray with what smells like the best cigarette you’ve ever tried, it’s particularly spicy. Don’t worry if that’s not your flavour because the dry down is distinctively different with cedar, sandalwood, and musk coming through strongly for great performance and longevity. Our tester performed admirably with 6 hours of projection, but reviewers online have noted that Creed’s quality has been falling lately and longevity has taken a hit. Our recommendation? Get a tester and trial it for yourself. Not the safest blind buy, especially at this price.
Top notes: Pink Pepper, Lemon and Sicilian Bergamot
Middles notes: Cedar, Angelica and Galbanum
Base notes: Sandalwood, Agarwood (Oud) and Musk
Boss Bottled Elixir by Hugo Boss
Price: from AU$198
- Pros: This cologne is an affordable alternative to Royal Oud by Creed and easily one of the most attractive-smelling scents you can get at this price point. It has luxurious notes of frankincense, patchouli, and vetiver. Performance and longevity are also great, with more than 6 hours on the skin.
- Cons: Projection tends to fade quite quickly. Some reviewers online found the incense-like smell a little headache-inducing when they prayed too much.
There are a million Boss Bottled fragrances on the market right now but Elixir is our favourite. If you’re a fan of Dior Sauvage Elixir, then you’ll find this is a great alternative. In fact, we’re willing to bet you’ll prefer it thanks to the lack of an obnoxious pine accord. The first spray reveals rich resin, patchouli, and cedar, but dries down to a lovely incense-like cologne for men who like the finer things in life. Longevity is remarkable for something at this price point with our tests showing around 6 hours on skin and more on clothes. The best thing is the sexiness of this scent. You will attract more women with this fragrance, it’s just a fact.
Top notes: Frankincense and Cardamom
Middles notes: Patchouli and Vetiver
Base notes: Labdanum and Cedar
Another 13 by Le Labo
Price: from AU$345
- Pros: Clean, unique, and addictive, Another 13 by Le Labo is fast becoming one of the most popular fragrances in the world and we can see why. The longevity is there at 4-6 hours, but it’s the musky jasmine heart that caught our attention.
- Cons: The price point indicates a high-performance powerhouse, but it’s musky, light, and doesn’t perform any better than colognes half the price. Still, it’s unique, delicious, and perfectly niche.
This perfume for men is becoming obnoxiously popular because of its unique and niche smell, but that hasn’t stopped us from wearing it at every chance we get. First, due to the Iso E Super base note, we wouldn’t recommend blind buying this one. It’s one of those strange fragrance ingredients that some people simply can’t smell. We have no problem with it and love the musky heart and jasmine dry down before the ambrettolide and helvetolide take over and support the longevity. Speaking of which, it’s not the longest-lasting fragrance, we’ve tested it at 4-6 hours on skin, but it’s remarkable on clothes with 8 hours or more. Projection is fantastic at first but fades quickly. If you’re after something niche, give this a try.
Top notes: Pear, Apple and Citruses
Middles notes: Ambrette (Musk Mallow), Amyl Salicylate, Moss and Jasmine
Base notes: Iso E Super, Cetalox, Ambrettolide and Helvetolide
Dior Homme Sport by Dior
Price: from AU$135
- Pros: Supremely versatile and ready for all occasions, the Dior Homme line-up has a cult following for a reason. We prefer Sport over Intense and Parfum because of its lovely lemon and bergamot dry-down. Longevity is also great, at 5 hours on the skin.
- Cons: The projection could use a little work. You need 4-6 sprays just to get the intensity you expect. Some reviewers online say it’s a little subtle for their liking.
This is a fun, fresh, and clean fragrance that you can wear on any occasion. It doesn’t have the cult following of Homme Intense or Homme Parfum, but we prefer the peppery and spicy dry down of this cologne. You’ll find it a little heavy on the olibanum on the first spray but it improves over time as the lemon and bergamot come through. Expect good longevity and performance of around 5 hours on skin and more on clothes. We originally tested this one when it was released in 2021, but it’s changed so much over time, and now, the overwhelming lemon notes have been balanced out.
Top notes: Lemon, Bergamot and Aldehydes
Middles notes: Elemi and Pink Pepper
Base notes: Woody notes, Olibanum and Amber
Ombre Leather Parfum by Tom Ford
Price: from AU$310
- Pros: Our pick for formal occasions, this is like stepping into a vintage Porsche. In fact, it’s probably the best scent for driving one too. You’ll love the longevity, but also the cedar, leather, and woody notes that are as masculine as ever.
- Cons: It’s not the best option for wearing in an office or for younger gents. This cologne for men is intense and very formal in its smell. We also wouldn’t recommend this for those who prefer fun freshies.
Like stepping inside a new Bentley or Rolls-Royce, this is the best leathery scent of all time in our eyes. It’s mature, so we wouldn’t recommend it to the younger guys in the audience, but there’s a floral, fresh, and green note that breaks through the cedar and violet to balance it out. It’s not great in terms of versatility and it begs to be worn on formal occasions, not the office. Longevity is substantial, to say the least. Expect up to 8 hours on the skin and a similar amount on clothes.
Top notes: Violet Leaf and Cedarwood
Middles notes: Jasmine Sambac and Orris
Base notes: Black leather, Woody notes and Tobacco
Why You Should Trust Our List
Trust is the backbone of our independent publication and we’ve left no stone unturned in curating our list of the best colognes for men. In this case, author Ben McKimm has gone hands-on and tested every single one of these popular men’s fragrances before ranking them based on their smell, performance, and value for money. To prove that he’s gone to the effort (unlike other lists on the internet) he’s also taken original photography for every scent he recommends on this list. Finally, his opinion has been influenced by the wider editorial team here at Man of Many and reviews via the perfume forum Fragrantica which has also provided the fragrance notes for this article.
NOTE: We do not consider opinions from people on user-generated forums such as Reddit as they are not experts in the matter and cannot accurately compare and contrast competing products like Man of Many. We have a dedicated editorial team whose primary task is to lead you, the reader, between products that we’ve tested first-hand.
More Great Cologne Articles for Men
Like this list? We’ve broken down our favourite colognes for men by season, type, and notes.
Our Favourite Colognes for Men by Season
- Summer: Our guide to the best summer fragrances for men will help you find the perfect fragrance for those long hot summer days and nights. If you’re looking to spend more time by the ocean and the pool, you’ll want to put these colognes on your radar. These fragrances will match your lifestyle, boasting citrusy, fresh, and long-lasting notes that are ready to carry you from a pool party to a seafood restaurant for dinner.
- Autumn and Fall: We might call it Autumn in Australia, but we’re catering for our overseas friends in our guide to the best fall fragrances for men. During this season your scents will transition from the sweet, fruity, citrusy scents of summer into spicier and woodier options that are perfect for fall. Our list abides by these rules, with plenty of eau de parfums that are heavy on the palette with bergamot, cedars, and juniper for balance.
- Winter: While autumn and fall were transitional times for your signature scents, winter goes all the way with spicy, woody, musky, and warm colognes of bourbon, whisky, rum, and chocolate. Our list of the best winter fragrances for men looks deep into these scent trends with long-lasting options full of vetiver and tonka bean that are as seductive as they’re edgy.
- Spring: Spring is the best time to change your scents and set yourself up for the year ahead. It’s a great time for fresh citrusy scents, although there’s also the opportunity for floral and spicy notes balanced by earthy hearts. Our list below has everything from Maison Francis Kurkdjian to the latest from Aesop, all of which promise to last an eternity and radiate masculinity.
Our Favourite Fragrances for Men by Type
- Classic: Finding a great old-school classic cologne will remind you of mornings when, as a younger person, you stumbled through your father’s bathroom cabinet looking for something that made you smell mature and masculine. They say the classics never die, and never has that been more true than with these aromas that stay the course decade after decade. Our guide below has something for every budget, from Aramis to Creed and classic colognes like Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
- Expensive: Investing in a high-quality fragrance for men can be a daunting task. The most expensive fragrances in the world can often be the best on the planet, but sometimes, they leave a lot to be desired. Thankfully, our list of the best luxury fragrances below has been expertly curated by our cologne experts who’ve tested every product on the list for smell, longevity, and radiance. If you want to impress someone on your next date night, or you’re looking to gift the ultimate scent, check out our guide below.
- Solid: Sometimes a spray just doesn’t cut it. Our list of the best solid colognes for men includes wax alternatives that are alcohol-free, portable, leak-proof, and longer lasting than spray cologne if used correctly. You’ll also notice that a number of the choices are wax variations of some of our favourite colognes for men, including Santal 33 by Le Labo. Rub a small amount into your finger, apply it to your pulse points, and get ready for people to ask you what you’re wearing.
Our Favourite Perfumes for Men by Note
- Woody: These fragrances are often the most popular and masculine options for men. Our list of the best woody fragrances for men covers everything from the top budget options on the market to some of the most expensive and well-known names in the olfactory industry, e.g. Royal Oud by Creed. When it comes to choosing the best woody scent, it’s all about layers. Try it on your skin before you judge any of these because more often than not, the bourbon, whisky, and chocolate notes develop over time throughout the day.
- Fresh and Citrus: When done correctly, the best fresh citrus colognes for men can imbue a sense of fashion and style. And while we’d refrain from calling these a prototypical ‘masculine fragrance’ they can transcend genres with fresh, sweet notes, balanced by bold and spicy undertones. Our list of the best fresh citrus colognes for men below delves deep into the clear-skied, hot, sunny summer days that these are designed for. If you’re looking for freshness, check out our list below.
- Bold and Spicy: These colognes combine the best of the woody and aromatic notes that you’ve no doubt come to love after checking out our guide to the best perfumes for men below. Best worn during the colder months of the year, you’ll find that the majority of eau de parfum here utilise tonka beans, vetiver, and patchouli in creating their olfactory experiences. Think notes of bourbon, chocolate, and ginger, and you’ll find yourself on the right track.
Cologne and Perfume Advice for Men
How to Find Your Signature Scent
Finding a signature scent is like discovering your own personal trademark. It’s a cologne that people recognise you for, appreciate, and lust over. One of the most important pieces to finding your own sense of style, is choosing and then wearing your signature scent can be transformative. They reveal a lot about you, and our guide below is designed to help you choose wisely by outlining the 5 steps to finding your own signature scent.
5 Steps for Finding Your Signature Scent
These are the steps you’ll want to follow when looking to find your signature scent.
- Start with familiar fragrances
- Where are you going to wear the perfume?
- Research the fragrances
- Test the fragrances in store
- Wear what you like
If you want to know more in detail, check out our in-depth article below.
How to Apply Fragrances and Cologne
Once you’ve figured out how to choose your own signature scent, you’ll need to know how to apply it. Our guide to applying cologne correctly below outlines the simple steps for maximising the radiance, olfactory experience, and longevity of your scent during the day. Investing in the best perfumes for men is only one part of the equation because applying them incorrectly can make or break the smell.
5 Steps to Apply Cologne Correctly
Here’s a step-by-step guide on applying colognes correctly.
- Apply Cologne on Clean Skin
- Hold the Bottle 10cm Away
- Apply Cologne to Heated Areas of Your Body
- Spray the Cologne Once on Multiple Areas
- Re-Apply Throughout the Day if Needed
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