Finding the best colognes for guys can be difficult—there are so many fragrance notes, bottles, and prices to consider. We asked five men’s fragrance experts to help us create a list of the best-smelling colognes for guys, including ones with woody, spicy, fresh, and citrus notes. Then we examined dozens of colognes, rating them based on aroma, wear, performance, efficacy, and packaging. Our favourite men’s colognes, ranging from pheromone perfumes to long-lasting smells, are listed below.
Why We Love It: Our testers appreciated this cologne’s woodsy combination, which was balanced with delicate bourbon vanilla and a hint of ginger. The aroma was consistent and long-lasting on practically everything they tested. Azzaro’s brazenly macho design establishes it as an instantly recognisable collection. Combine its zingy aroma with your favourite bourbon cocktail.
Who It’s For: Whether you’re preparing for cooler weather or just prefer cosier aromas, this powerful and fiery men’s fragrance inspires a sense of warmth.
Worth noting: The scent did not combine well with denim, leaving a foul odour.
Why We Love It: According to The House of Creed, Aventus is the best-selling men’s fragrance in the company’s history. Not bad for a fragrance firm with a 250-year history, including creating perfumes for royal houses. Aventus is fruit-forward with verdant, mossy overtones. The aroma was amazingly noticeable no matter where our tester applied it.
Who It’s For: Despite the fact that Creed perfumes are known for their higher price point (Aventus starts at $265 for a 1-ounce bottle), our tester was pleasantly surprised by its longevity. Aside from smelling amazing, the aroma sits softly on the skin and lasts all day.
It’s worth noting that the fragrance appeared to alter significantly depending on the fabric—it smelt more woodsy on linen and wool, and more citrussy on satin and polyester.
Giorgio Armani’s Acqua di Giò colognes have been a department store mainstay for decades, making them easily recognisable. The Acqua di Giò tribe’s eau de parfum is ideal for people seeking a stronger, longer-lasting version of the classic perfume. We believe this is exactly how cologne should smell; the well-balanced combination of maritime, green mandarin, and sage feels both fresh and traditional, while remaining undeniably manly. As a result, it has wide appeal and smells like a bestseller.
Who It’s For: Like the Armani fashion brand, the bottle exudes unashamed luxury with its sleek transparent glass design and cap fashioned to resemble ebony wood. It’s a traditional choice that will win over loved ones, partners, and significant others with a single spritz.
A word of caution: we discovered that the spray nozzle was uneven, occasionally becoming stuck and spraying too much at other times.
