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Searching for the best colognes for men is quite the daunting task. I would know—I’ve been on the hunt for weeks. Last year, I decided I wanted a new scent. I’ve never been a big cologne person in general—I’ve met far too many people who overpower you with their scent the minute you meet them, their lavender or citrus notes punching you right in the face—but there’s something about this past year that’s made me want to invest in a new cologne. The idea of spritzing myself at home, with nobody around to smell it, seems like the ultimate act of self-care, like it’s a part of my morning ritual that’s purely for me, myself, and I.
Our Favorite Colognes, According to Our Editors
- The Day-to-Night: Chanel Bleu de Chanel, $178
- The Nature-Inspired: Dior Sauvage, $100
- The Timeless Blend: Calvin Klein Eternity for Men, $83
- The Enduring Classic: Ralph Lauren Polo Black, $99
- The Warm & Spicy: Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club, $160
- The Sweet & Woody: Byredo Bibliothèque, $200
- The Cozy Scent: Tom Ford Oud Wood, $285
- The Hidden Gem: Le Labo Another 13, $310
- The Crisp Blend: Creed Aventus, $365
In This Article:
- How to choose a men’s cologne
- The difference between eau de toilette, eau de parfum and cologne
How to Choose a Men’s Cologne
As I began my hunt, I found that the market is overflowing with simply far too many options: From fruity, sweet top notes to woody or musky base notes, there are a million different combinations and possibilities. How am I to know what suits me best? Still, I went into the quest with an open mind, considering everything from light and fresh to heavy and musky—and in the process, I managed to find a number of crowd favorites that can appeal to just about anybody’s tastes.
Below, I sniffed some enduring classics—like Calvin Klein’s Eternity, which has been around since 1988—and some new favorites too, such as the Last Day of Summer from Gucci the Alchemist’s Garden (Gucci’s high perfumery line), which smells like what I can only describe as a warm summer hug. (The latter ended up being my new spring pick—with Tom Ford’s Oud Wood and Maison Margiela Replica’s Jazz Club as runners-up.)
No matter what your sensory preferences are though, just remember that the perfect fragrance simply does not exist—some simply won’t match your personality, and what you like could also depend on the season, vibe, and mood you’re feeling that day. That’s part of the fun of experimenting with different fragrances—don’t be afraid to try something new.
In your exploration, do not let the note classifications deter you. Generally speaking, top notes refer to smells on first whiff, middle notes are typically the heart of the fragrance, and base notes are the aromas that tend to linger on the skin. Understanding this can, of course, inform your buy. Once you become more comfortable with scent profiles, you’ll be able to distinguish your men’s cologne preferences—whether you gravitate towards rich musks or something light and citrusy. This fall and winter, for example, you might appreciate cozier, spicy elixirs reminiscent of evenings spent by the fire or a warm embrace.
From Maison Margiela, Tom Ford, Creed, Dior, and more, read on to discover the 32 best men’s colognes in 2024.
The Clean & Sensual: Chanel Bleu de Chanel
Fresh, clean, and sensual, this men’s scent from Chanel includes notes of citrus, labdanum, sandalwood, and cedar. It can easily transition from day to night (a musky undertone makes it perfect for a date).
- Notes: Cedar, New Caledonian sandalwood, tonka bean, vanilla, citrus accord
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz, 5 oz
The Desert-Inspired: Dior Sauvage
Inspired by nature and its raw materials, this scent from Dior perfumer François Demachy is earthy and woody. Warm notes of bergamot, pepper, and amberwood take cues from a desert landscape—but can still be worn in the dead of winter, thanks to its refined, non-overpowering finish.
- Notes: Calabrian bergamot, pepper, amberwood, ambroxan
- Available Sizes: 1 oz, 2 oz, 3.4 oz
The Bold & Aromatic: Ralph Lauren Polo Black
Some classics never die, and Ralph Lauren’s Polo Black fragrance stands the test of time. A bold fusion of iced mango, lemon, and tangerine is combined with sandalwood, sage, and patchouli noir for a bittersweet end result. Bold and aromatic, it’s the ultimate scent to get noticed in.
- Notes: iced mango, Spanish sage, green effervescent accord, silver arnoise, patchouli noir, sandalwood, tonka bean, hedione
- Available Sizes: 4.2 oz, 6.7 oz
The Ambery-Leather: Gucci Guilty Elixir de Parfum
When Gucci Guilty debuted last fall with A$AP Rocky fronting its campaign, the scent was destined to be a hit. Its allure lies in its blend of potent Ambrofix (which smells dry and woody) opposing smoother notes of orris butter, vanilla extract, benzoin, and nutmeg. Refreshing, yet smokey and leathery, this is a cologne to be remembered by.
- Notes: Rose, hot chili pepper, lavender, orange blossom, cedarwood, patchouli
- Available Sizes: 1.6 oz, 3.3 oz
The Tobacco & Leather: Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club
Imagine yourself in a dimly lit jazz club with the perfect cocktail, surrounded by cigar smoke and leather chairs. This scent is the next best thing: Warm and spicy, it has notes of pink pepper, rum, and tobacco. Perfect for the fall and winter months when you want to hibernate in full cozy mode.
- Notes: Pink pepper, primofiore lemon, neroli, rum absolute, clary sage, java vetiver, tobacco leaf absolute, vanilla bean, styrax resin
- Available Sizes: 1 oz, 3.4 oz
The Romantic Floral: Calvin Klein Eternity for Men
Another enduring classic from 1988, Eternity is a romantic floral fragrance that was inspired by lasting love. Clearly, the love affair with this scent carries on too: It’s decidedly unisex, and works for both him and her. Notes of freesia, mandarin, sage, white lily, patchouli, and sandalwood make for a timeless blend.
- Notes:
- Available Sizes: 3.3 oz
The Western Musk: Le Labo Another 13
You may know Le Labo for its signature Santal 33 scent, but Another 13 is one of its more slept-on fragrances that deserves just as much hype. A collaboration with Another magazine, the scent is equal parts musky and fresh, composed of ambroxan, jasmine petals, moss, and woody, amber-y notes.
- Notes: Ambrox, musk, amber, jasmine petals, moss, ambrette seeds
- Available Sizes: 0.5 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
The Leather-Bound: Byredo Bibliothèque
For the well-read, this scent takes cues from old books and their leather-bound pages. It’s also inspired by one of Byredo’s best-selling candles—so you know it’s good. Top notes of peach, plum, peony, and violet add a sweet touch to an otherwise woody ground base of leather, patchouli, and vanilla.
- Notes: Peach, plum, peony, violet, patchouli, leather, vanilla
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
The Fruity Classic: Hugo Boss Boss
Launched in 1998, this enduring cologne is a cult classic thanks to its timeless, masculine scent. Fruity and citrus top notes of apple, lemon, and plum are balanced against a hefty floral and spicy base, including geranium, sandalwood, and vetiver.
- Notes: Apple, lemon, plum, geranium, cinnamon, cloves, vetiver, sandalwood
- Available Sizes: 3.3 oz
The Fresh & Woody: Yves Saint Laurent MYSLF
YSL’s L’Homme is inspired by the magnetic attraction of a man with style and sensuality. Its intoxicating scent pairs citrus notes of bergamot and ginger with cedarwood and vetiver for a fresh twist on your typically woody perfume.
- Notes: Fresh accord, orange blossom absolute heart, woods accord
- Available Sizes: 3.3 oz
The Cozy Oud: Tom Ford Oud Wood
Oud wood is one of the most precious and expensive ingredients for any perfumer, and this cologne by Tom Ford nails the woody scent. Combined with cardamom, sandalwood, and vetiver—with hints of tonka bean and amber—a few spritzes of this signature scent is like warming up to a nice cozy fire.
- Notes: Oud wood, sandalwood, cardamom, tonka bean. Chinese pepper
- Available Sizes: 1 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
The Mint Surprise: Frédéric Malle Geranium Pour Monsieur
Created in collaboration with master French perfumer Dominique Ropion, this scent is described as “like an eccentric Englishman in a blue velvet jacket,” an appropriate takeaway. A bright fragrance, its top notes are mint, aniseed, and geranium, while the base notes include sandalwood and frankincense.
- Notes: Mint, menthol, anise geranium, clove, benzoin, incense, sandalwood, white musks
- Available Sizes: 3.4 oz
The Crisp Blend: Creed Aventus
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This best-selling fragrance from Creed was introduced in 2010 and continues to be a fan favorite. It features crisp top notes of apple, blackcurrant, pineapple, and bergamot, with heftier heart and base notes including birch, patchouli, vanilla, and musk. It’s inspired by the life of a historic emperor and meant to symbolize strength, power, and success—who wouldn’t want that?
- Notes: Apple, blackcurrant, pineapple, bergamot, birch, patchouli, vanilla, musk
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.3 oz
The Earthy Find: Hermès Terre d'Hermès Eau Givrée Eau de Parfum
A fresh, striking scent, Hermès’s Terre d'Hermès fragrance features notes of citron, Juniper berry, and Timut pepper. Citrusy-yet-woody, it’s perfect for the approaching springtime—helping one appreciate earthy, nature-forward aromas.
- Notes: Citron, Juniper berry, Timut pepper
- Available Sizes: 3.3 oz, 6 oz
The Addictive Spice: Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb
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Viktor&Rolf’s Spicebomb is the classic spicy men’s cologne to know; a standout fragrance since its 2012 launch, it serves as the “male” counterpart to the brand’s Flowerbomb perfume. Oft described as “fiery,” “addictive,” and “sensual,” here, acclaimed perfumer Olivier Polge blends warm spices like cinnamon, saffron, and paprika, with pink peppercorn and grapefruit—balanced by notes of leather and tobacco.
- Notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, pink pepper, elemi, cinnamon, chili pepper, saffron, leather, vetiver, tobacco
- Available Sizes: 3 oz, 5 oz
The Woody Floral: Maison Crivelli Osmanthe Kodoshan
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The discovery of the osmanthus flowers on a misty, tropical mountain is the inspiration behind Maison Crivelli’s Osmanthe Kodoshan—a woody floral scent crafted in partnership with perfumer Stéphanie Bakouche. Here, leather and tobacco leaf juxtapose spicy Sichuan pepper, and rich peachy and apricot fruits for a scent that transports you to the moist outdoors.
- Notes: Star anise, Sichuan pepper, Osmanthus absolute, black tea absolute, patchouli, tobacco, cistus
- Available Sizes: 3.4 oz
The Stress-Reliever: The Nue Co. Functional Fragrance
Designed to help you “reset at times of high stress,” this aromatic fragrance from The Nue Co. is clean, woody, spicy, and smokey. The unisex scent features notes of green cardamom, iris, palo santo, and cilantro. Consider it like a stress ball, only in cologne form. It even served as an emotional salve for one Vogue editor while coping with a tense family situation. Safe to say, this stuff works.
- Notes: Green cardamom, bergamot, cilantro, myrrh, palo santo
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz
The Aquatic Musk: Prada Luna Rossa Ocean
Aromatic, musky, and aquatic in nature, Prada’s Luna Rossa Ocean is a refreshingly earthy blend. A stand-out reinvented fougère, this smells of Haitian vetiver, musks, and patchouli at its base, accented by smooth lavender, suede, and saffron. Its freshness is achieved by a citrus blend that’s just as intriguing as the bottle its housed in.
- Notes: Bergamot essence, pink essence, iris absolute, vetiver essence, sage essence, vetiver essence, tonka bean
- Available Sizes: 1.6 oz, 3.3 oz
The Sweet Earth: Jo Malone London Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense
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Drawn from the sap of the Namibian myrrh tree, this earthy scent is combined with warm almond and vanilla notes of the tonka bean for a rich, full-bodied finish. A hint of lavender and honey lightens it up and makes it a year-round scent for any occasion.
- Notes: Lavender, Camphor, honey, hay, Omumbiri myrrh, tonka bean, almond, vanilla, tobacco
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
The Everyday Classic: Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
Released in 1996, this classic scent, inspired by the ocean, has stood the test of time for a reason. The earthy fragrance is the ideal everyday scent, combining cyprus, musk, bergamot, neroli, rosemary, and patchouli for a fresh finish.
- Notes: Calabrian bergamot, neroli, green tangerine, rosemary, persimmon, Indonesian patchouli
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz, 6.7 oz
The Expensive Aroma: Bond No.9 New York Wall Street
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Bond No. 9’s androgynous Wall Street fragrance is regarded as ‘the world’s first securities parfum’ meaning it bottles up the career-forward vigor famous in Manhattan’s financial district. Basically: a ‘like money’ scent, Wall Street pairs notes of sea kale, cucumber, lavender, ambergris, and vetiver to create a distinctively energizing leather and marine aroma.
- Notes: Sea kale, cucumber, ozone, leather, marine aroma, lavender, musk, vetiver, ambergris
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz
The Winter Solution: Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense
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Azzaro’s The Most Wanted Intense is one of those scents that makes you do a double take. On first whiff, you’ll likely be intrigued by its cardamom top notes, though caramel and toffee accord is at the heart, with amber at its base for a cologne that manages to be sweet, cozy, and energizing—perfect for wear through the fall and winter.
- Notes: Green cardamom, toffee accord, amber woods
- Available Sizes: 3.3 oz
The Cologne Sampler: Creed Men’s Fragrance Discovery Set
There are plenty of reasons to shop for a cologne gift set. Even post-holiday season, one might consider it as a year-round gift for him—think: your beau or family member. Or, you want to grab one for yourself to take several scents for a spin. In the case of Creed's fragrance discovery set, there are three travel-sized scents to try—the best-selling Aventus (described in detail above), Green Irish Tweed (a woody and fresh scent), plus Silver Mountain Water (an invigorating blend of blackcurrant, green tea, bergamot, and sandalwood).
- Notes: Varies
- Available Sizes: 0.34 oz
The Toasty Floral: Elorea Fire
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Sensual and mysterious are two adjectives that describe Elorea’s Fire parfum—one of the four inaugural scents from the label’s inaugural collection. Inspired by the history of Korean fragrance and culture, the New York-based brand introduces its take on toasty, warm aromas—boasting floral notes of camellia, iris, and mandarins contrasting leather and amber sourced from the Korean peninsula.
- Notes: Jeju lime, camellia, nutmeg, iris, violet, lemon, leather, amber, rose, juniper berry
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz
The Fresh & Tropical: Versace Eros
In a chic, Art Deco–style bottle, Versace’s Eros scent is both fresh and tropical. Notes of mint, orange, and woody vanilla are all refreshing—like taking a dip in the pool on a hot summer day. It obviously wears well in the summer, but is a pretty universal cologne overall. Make your own rules on when and how you wear it.
- Notes: Italian lemon, mandarin, mint oil, candied apple, geranium flower, clary sage, Ambermax, cedarwood, vetiver Orpur essence, sandalwood, vanilla
- Available Sizes: 3.4 oz, 6.7 oz
The Vanilla Cologne: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir
Imagining what a “magnificent Parisian evening” would smell like, Maison Francis Kurkdjian came up with this wonderful blend of vanilla, amber, tonic beans, and cistus labdanum. Indeed, it’s the perfect scent for a night on the town.
- Notes: Cistus labanum, vanilla accord, amber accord, tonka bean, benzoin
- Available Sizes: 2.4 oz
The Full-Bodied Fresh: Acqua di Parma Colonia
One of Acqua di Parma’s most popular colognes, Colonia is a fresh, citrusy scent that suits any occasion. It includes key notes of lemon, bergamot, lavender, and patchouli. A few sprays of this is like drinking a tall glass of orange juice.
- Notes: Lemon, sweet orange, Calabrian bergamot, lavender, Bulgarian rose, Verbena, rosemary, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz, 6 oz
The Bold Pepper: Carolina Herrera Bad Boy
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Carolina Herrera’s new fragrance, Bad Boy, strikes the right balance between bold and sophisticated. It combines notes of black and white pepper with citrusy bergamot. It’s an idyllic scent for every day, though it can be amped up and layered for more of a spicy evening scent. Plus, the lightning-bolt bottle just looks great on the top shelf.
- Notes: Black pepper, white pepper, Italian green bergamot, cedarwood, sage, tonka bean, cocoa absolut
- Available Sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
The Tangy Spice: Parfums De Marly Layton
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Through its pairing of fresh spices and tangy florals, Parfums de Marly’s Layton looks to evoke the essence of a sophisticated man. Geranium, jasmine, and violet are the heart of its blend, enhanced by notes of vanilla, guaiac wood, apple, pink pepper, and patchouli to craft a contemporarily addictive cologne perfect for an evening out.
- Notes: Vanilla, guaiac wood, apple, pink pepper, patchouli, caramelized coffee
- Available Sizes: 2.5 oz, 4.2 oz, 6.8 oz
The Woody Grapefruit: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky
Paco Rabanne’s earthy, woody 1 Million Lucky scent features a unique combination of hazelnut, green plum, grapefruit, and cedar—making it a woody, sensual fragrance with a touch of citrus. The futuristic-looking bottle is also the perfect thing to flex in your medicine cabinet.
- Notes: Grapefruit, green plum, hazelnut, cedarwood, patchouli
- Available Sizes: 3.4 oz
The Sweet Scent: Henry Rose Smyth
Henry Rose’s Smyth is like a crisp green apple—bright, fresh, and undeniably fruity. Composed of safe-for-skin ingredients with EWG Verification and Cradle to Cradle Certification, this eau de parfum grounds apple, melon-pineapple sorbet, and watery notes, with star jasmine, white tea, sandalwood, musks, and amber for a light aroma perfect for pulse points.
- Notes: Granny Smith apple, melon-pineapple sorbet apricot nectar, star jasmine, white tea, sheer white woods, sandalwood, layered musks, amber
- Available Sizes: 0.27 oz, 1.7 oz
The Black Tie: Celine Black Tie
Alluding to Celine’s excellence in black-tie and tailored silhouettes, this evening scent is built for a night out. It’s composed of white orris butter, cedar, tree moss, and vanilla—striking the right balance between musky and sweet. Think of it like a sleek dinner jacket that will never go out of style.
- Notes: White orris butter, cedar, tree moss, vanilla, musk
- Available Sizes: 3.4 oz, 6.8 oz
What is the difference between eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and cologne?
“The term eau de toilette came from the French term—faire sa toilette—which means getting ready,” says Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. How long they last depends on the composition of fragrance oil. Eau de parfums contain 15-20% fragrance oil, versus cologne, which uses 2-4%. “Eau de toilettes are a much lighter than eau de parfums and have fragrance concentration between 5% and 15%.”