You could dress like you look a million dollars, but if you don’t finish it off with a couple of sprays of one of the best colognes, then your sweet threads could all go to waste. The fact of the matter is, a great-smelling men’s cologne can be the difference between you receiving a compliment or being ignored entirely.
But, with such a plethora of scents available for men, choosing a cologne that’s right for you and your skin can often be easier said than done.
In order to find the best of the best smelling men’s fragrance, you would need to spend a good few hours testing every single one, but eventually, your nose will become immune to the scents and you won’t be able to take full advantage of the choice on offer.
How one smells says a lot about who one is, especially in a world where first impressions mean everything. Some people will choose a different scent every time they purchase a new bottle, some may like to stick to a particular label, and there are even those who choose one fragrance forever – a scent they feel defines them as a person.
The colognes and fragrances for men featured below are literally some of the nicest smelling on the market, produced using a mix of rare and original ingredients, so that you stand out for all the right reasons – and don’t smell like every other guy on the street.
So if you’re after a truly unique scent that will have people u-turning just to grab another pleasurable whiff, then check out the best cologne for men below.
Cologne FAQs
The best style of cologne for a night out is something with a seductive dark tobacco and woody scent. Fresher fragrances are better for use during the day. Perfume lasts about three times longer than cologne. This is because perfumes contain a higher concentration of oils, around 20 to 30 per cent, compared to cologne’s two to four per cent. Oils are designed to be absorbed by your skin. Combined with the skin’s natural oils skin, they can create a scent unique to you. For this reason, you should never apply cologne to your clothes. Instead, apply them to what are known as 'pulse points', including the neck, wrist, jawline and chest. These areas will heat up during the day to help 'push' your scent out into the world. Dior Homme, Eight & Bob, and Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous.What kind of cologne should I wear for a night out?
Which lasts longer, cologne or perfume?
How do I apply cologne?
What is the best smelling cologne for men?
MONCLER - Pour Homme
With notes of clary sage, cedarwood, vetiver and MONCLER exclusive Alpine Green & Mountain Woods accords, Pour Homme has a vibrant and playful scent. Plus, the bottle boasts an LED screen that can be customised via a dedicated smartphone app. Talk about a luxurious cologne…
Le Labo - Le Noir
Now a fully established luxury fragrance and cologne producer, they have a large selection of fantastic scents, including this one: The Noir 29.
Using black tea as a source of inspiration, it’s a herby, leafy scent with notes of bergamot for a truly beautiful and natural smell.
It’s also presented in a range of sizes with a minimalist laboratory label that looks great alongside other bathroom essentials. We also recommend you sniff out Le Labo Santal 33.
Top notes: Fig, Bay Leaf and Bergamot
Heart notes: Cedar, Vetiver and Musk
Base notes: Tobacco and Hay
Commes Des Garçons 2
Comme Des Garcons, that’s what. Rei Kawakubo studied fine art instead of fashion in her native Tokyo before opening boutiques in swanky Parisian quartiers. Inspiration from both cities run through everything her label produces, like this 2 Eau De Parfum.
Comme De Garcons 2 is actually a unisex scent (a hugely popular concept today) although that doesn't mean it still can't be listed as one of the best colognes for men. It is said to be the brand’s ethos in fragrance form.- which to you and us means it is complex - with hints of magnolia, mandarin and tea.
Top notes: Aldehydes, Angelica, Tea, Mandarin Orange and Mate
Heart notes: Ink, Magnolia, Nutmeg, West Indian Bay, Coriander, Caraway and Cinnamon
Base notes are Incense, Patchouli, Cedar, Vetiver, Amber and Labdanum
Tom Ford - Fucking Fabulous
Top notes: Clary Sage and Lavender
Heart notes are Bitter Almond, Leather, Vanilla and Orris
Base notes: Leather, Tonka Bean, Cashmeran, White Woods and Amber
Chanel - Bleu de Chanel
Top notes: Grapefruit, Lemon, Mint and Pink Pepper
Heart notes: Ginger, Nutmeg, Jasmine and Iso E Super
Base notes: Incense, Vetiver, Cedar, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Labdanum and White Musk
Commes des Garçons - Gosha Rubchinskiy
This unisex scent has been designed to reflect that, with notes of rubber and tar, yet with fresh hints of mandarin and blue chamomile. This is certainly one of the best men's colognes for casual weekend looks.
Top notes: Angelica and Buchu or Agathosma
Heart notes are Chamomile and Mandarin Orange
Base notes: Haitian Vetiver, Styrax and Patchouli
Creed Cologne - Santal
Top notes: Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Juniper Berries and Coriander
Heart notes are Lavender, Ginger, Rosemary and Petitgrain
Base notes: Vanilla and Tonka Bean
Dior - Homme Original (not the new one)
Top notes: Mandarin Orange, Neroli, Bergamot, Lavender, Cardamom and Sage.
Heart note: Iris
Base notes: Vetiver, Cacao, Leather, Amber and Patchouli
Byredo - Sunday Cologne
Top notes: Bergamot, Star Anise and Cardamom
Heart notes are Lavender, Geranium and Incense
Base notes: Vetiver, Oak Moss and Patchouli
Jo Malone - Velvet Rose & Oud
Top note is Cloves
Heart note is Damask Rose
Base notes are Agarwood (Oud) and Praline
Terre - D'Hermes
Top notes: Orange and Grapefruit
Heart note: Flint
Base notes: Woodsy Notes, Oak Moss and Benzoin.
Eight And Bob - Original
Top Notes: Ginger, Cardamom, Lemon, Bergamot
Heart Notes Cedar Wood, Nuts, Essencia Cistus, Guaiacum Wood
Base notes Patchouli, Sandal, Ambergris, Vanilla
Viktor and Rolf - Spicebomb
Top notes are Pink Pepper, Elemi, Bergamot and Grapefruit
Heart notes are Cinnamon, Saffron and Paprika
Base notes are Tobacco, Leather and Vetiver.
Maison Margiela - Across Sands
Launched in 2016 using ingredients such as agarwood, dates and a range of spices, it carries captivating tones that suggest the wearer is forward-thinking and creative.
It comes in a nice, minimalistic bottle with a silver laboratory label, and although it sits at the higher end of the price spectrum, it's seriously worth every penny!
Carner Barcelona - Cuirs
Top notes: Saffron and Caraway
Heart notes: Sandalwood, Guaiac Wood, Patchouli, Virginia Cedar and Violet
Base notes: Agarwood (Oud), Leather, Tonka Bean, French labdanum, Musk, Amber, Cypriol Oil (Nagarmotha) and Amyris.
Dior - Eau Sauvage
Top notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Basil, Rosemary, Caraway and Fruity Notes
Heart notes: Jasmine, Coriander, Patchouli, Carnation, Orris Root, Sandalwood and Rose
Base notes: Oak Moss, Vetiver, Musk and Amber.
IIUVO - Soigné
Top notes: Grapefruit, Rosemary, Vermouth and Cardamom
Heart notes: Rose, Black Currant, Currant buds, Freesia and Violet
Base notes: Papyrus, Moss, Vanilla, Vetiver, Patchouli and Virginia Cedar
Acqua di Parma - Colonia Oud
Top notes: Calabrian Bergamot and Italian Orange
Heart notes: Agarwood (Oud), Amyris and Coriander
Base notes: Leather, Sandalwood, Musk, Atlas Cedar and Indonesian Patchouli Leaf