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When looking for the right cologne for either yourself or as a gift for another person, it is important to consider not only their own fashion sense but also their lifestyle needs. For teenage guys, most of their time will probably be spent in class or other low key functions.
Their fragrances choices should reflect their youth and shouldn’t be too bold, since they spend so much of their time in the close quarters of a classroom. So, something like Versace Eros, just won’t do.
But, we can still have some style and fun with our picks, beyond just smelling like body spray or baby powder. This page serves to present an ongoing updated list of cologne options for younger guys. Holiday shopping? Also check out: The Best Perfumes for Teenage Girls
What are the Best Colognes for Teenage Guys in 2023?
Inexpensive but Versatile
Club de Nuit EDP– This Armaf fragrance has gained a ton of notoriety as being a cheaper dupe of the classic, Aventus by Creed. That is pretty much accurate, but they are slightly different.
However, for around $40 Club de Nuit gives you a great blend of fruity opening notes, a dry leather-like smokiness from birch wood, and some softer touches of vanilla. It’s a clean and fresh masculine cologne, that can be worn by younger guys as well.
The performance is good and it isn’t super heavy, but does have some nice power to it in that first hour or so. The EDP and EDT versions are basically the same, but I do prefer slightly the smoother opening of the eau de parfum.
An AdG Pick
GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profondo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounces, blue– Profondo is a blue-ish type of cologne (more blue-green to my nose). This is less floral than the original and less smoky than Profumo, making it a great option for young men.
Profondo has a deep woody character, with a smooth somewhat resinous finish. The newer AdG EDP, is also a fine choice, that’s sort of an amalgam of different colognes from the line.
To me, the aquatic elements here aren’t salt water. More like the impression of fresh water. I like this the best on the hottest days of the year. Great release. AdG Profondo Review
Best New Release
Le Male Le Parfum– Le Parfum is the latest from JPG and I’m replacing the classic Le Male on this list in favor of it (though, that’s still great and doesn’t cost as much). This features a warm, spicy cardamom note and soft powder from the iris.
It pays homage to the original Le Male, with its use of lavender. Also, it has periods of mimicking Ultra Male, just without the extreme sillage of that nightlife fragrance. Very warm with spicy punches throughout and wrapped up in that familiar JPG vanilla note.
It’s a more mature fragrance than either of the others. Not super high-end and formal, but it does give a nice update to the classic formula. Still, suitable and useable for high school aged boys.
Azzaro’s Most Wanted
Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense | Cologne for Men 1.7 fl oz– The Wanted series is one which had been getting better and better with each release. The Most Wanted is the best, in my opinion (the Parfum version is also very good).
It opens up with a cardamom note, which lends to it a nice level of spiciness. However, this particular cardamom that they used, has a lemony essence. So, you get a fruitiness with the spice.
The sweetness continues with the caramel note, with added touches of Bourbon vanilla and fresh vetiver. It is a caramel based scent with a masculine edge and balsamic additions to round things out. The Most Wanted Review
Chilly Aquatic
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce
Also, this one doesn’t have the same spice or aquatic note. The pepper is replaced with a great juniper and the aquatic aroma, is much closer to fresh water, than a sea note.
It’s clean with more of a unique take on the aquatic genre, than many others which give you too much of an oceanic scent.
I think that this one is much more refreshing and fun to wear, with that cold citrus really shining on a cold day. The sillage is strong and I get around 9 hours of use, on my skin, so lighter sprays may be warranted at school. Light Blue Eau Intense Review
Most Popular Inexpensive Scent for Boys
Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz
A sneaky great cologne from Nautica. Voyage is a very clean and fresh scent that is perfect for daytime and the warmer months.
It opens with a crisp apple and aquatic undertones that is joined by a familiar musk note. There is also a sort of melon vibe going on in the background at times.
Voyage is always a top seller, both for its refreshing aroma, and the fact that is very inexpensive. Easily one of the best ‘cheap’ fragrances on the market.
Notes include: Amber, Apple, Drenched Mimosa, Green Leaf, Cedar Wood, Water Lotus, Moss, Musk, Sailcloth Accord. Review of Nautica Voyage
Sweet and Spicy
Spicebomb Infrared at Macy’s– This is one of the better newer releases of 2021 and one of the better Spicebomb fragrances for younger men. I would also check out Spicebomb Extreme, with its awesome vanilla.
It opens with a mix of habanero, cinnamon, and red berry oils. The opening is a balancing act between the hot spices and the sweetness of the fruits.
As it moves along, the habanero will subside and be replaced by a fresh saffron.
Ultimately, you get a sweet cinnamon and tobacco blend that gives a nod to the other Spicebomb colognes, while doing its own thing. Not too heavy of a fragrance, especially when it settles down, and you get into its freshie phase. Spicebomb Infrared Review
Great Designer Cologne for Younger Men
VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce– It’s not my favorite offering from the Versace lineup, but it is a very good and youthful fragrance. It’s best worn by guys in high school through their early 20s.
Dylan Blue kicks off with an aquatic/fruity mix of marine notes, with bergamot, and grapefruit. It’s clean and warm, but my favorite aspect of the opening, comes with the fig note. You don’t find it too often in men’s fragrances, but it is done superbly here.
Later, Dylan Blue gets it amber and peppery notes, and becomes somewhat similar to Dior’s Sauvage EDT. This one isn’t too heavy and has a fairly solid performance. Versatile for warmer weather and/or the colder months of the year. Dylan Blue Full Review
Great Low Cost Fragrance for Teens
Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– A warm and smooth blend of pink pepper, amber, and orchid. It is such a unique fragrance, especially at this price point ($20-ish), and also smells great.
It is a sweet warmth with gentle hits of spice. Guess Seductive Homme is a safe bet for everyday wear and versatile enough to be worn on many occasions. Guess Seductive has a surprising amount of depth, for a scent, at this price point.
I have tried hundreds upon hundreds of fragrances over the years, and this remains, one of my favorite cheapies. Guess Seductive Homme Review
Best Sporty Masculine Fragrance
Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend for Men 3.4 oz– You could also go with the original Invictus, but this one honestly, smells better. It’s like a mid-way point between Invictus and Intense.
Invictus Legend keeps the aquatic and fruity notes, such as grapefruit, like the original but with more of the great amber note. The base notes, provide a woodsy spice, that isn’t too powerful.
Though, it provides a nice pairing with the ambery-aquatic aroma emanating from this cologne. The performance is great and can last all day. A few sprays is enough, as this can have a wide projecting sillage. Invictus Legend Review
Daily Wear Designer Scent
Polo Black by Ralph Lauren for Men – 4.2 Ounce EDT Spray– Polo Black is definitely one of the best Ralph Lauren fragrances for guys. This and Polo Sport strike me as the top bets for teenagers from this designer.
It features a tropical array of mango, lemon, and tangerine draped over sandalwood and infused with tonka bean. Polo Black isn’t a dark smell, as the name might suggest, but it is a very nice moderate cologne for daily wear.
The mango with the two citrus notes is utterly outstanding, in contrast to the sandalwood and spice. Polo Black Full Review
Stronger Vibes
Stronger with You Intensely– Stronger with You Intensely is one of my favorites in the series. A bit more refined than the original and without the rum note of some of the others.
Here, you get a spicy opening of notes including pink pepper, cinnamon, and sage. This plays off of the sweetness of toffee scented like caramel early on.
Then, the back half gets warmer and smoother. Lavender with a light suede touch in the background. The spices begin to fade and warm amber with creamy vanilla join up with that remaining toffee note.
Great performance. Captivating aroma and a great balance between the softer and harsher notes. Intensely Review
Woodsy and Fresh
Fierce By Abercrombie & Fitch Cologne Spray 1.7 Oz For Men
Fierce is one that was super popular back in the early 2000s and still has a lot of fans, to this day.. This A&F fragrance is famous for its recognizable aroma, that has seemingly been repeated by many other colognes since then.
This one opens with a fresh spice, a bit of citrus, and woody notes that grow in strength during the wear. It’s clean and dry with a warm masculine air to it. Fierce is a great all around scent for teen guys. Notes include: petit grain, cardamom, lemon, orange and fir. Read my review here.
Versatile Designer Scent
Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme Fragrance Collection 3.0-oz. Eau de Toilette
It is a fresh, clean, and versatile fragrance. The opening act is led by both neroli and orange flower. However, the blend is so balanced that it can actually be difficult to pick out the individual notes. But, Black is green and has a slight citrus aroma to it.
Later, lavender, coriander spice, and woodsy notes complete the scent. Guilty Black is an easy to wear crowd pleaser, that can fit in a variety of climates and situations. Guilty Black Review
Newer Code
Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani– This is another entry from Armani and one of the better flanker updates to the classic Armani release.
Code Parfum starts with the usually bergamot note, paired with sage and iris. The bergamot is sparkling and this one has a great opening freshness to it. It’s sort of bright and aldehydic with the way the iris is worked into things.
There is some powderiness, not too much, and not as much as you’d think with both iris and tonka bean coming through. Those two notes are heavily featured in the dry down along with the remaining citrus and a crisp cedar.
It’s a clean daily wear that can fit in a wide variety of situations. Code Parfum is going to be one of those workhorse fragrances, that you can spray on pretty much whenever, but it has plenty of style. Code Parfum review
Inexpensive Daily Wear for Boys
Curve by Liz Claiborne for Men – 4.2 Ounce Cologne Spray
Curve is a wildly popular fragrance for men because it smells so great, even after a few decades of being for sale. It’s not a heavy or any overpowering scent but one that is fresh and memorable.
People always react positively to this one it seems, as Curve’s unique blend of notes, just draws people in. For an inexpensive cologne, this is a complement machine.
There are fruity elements such as pineapple, citrus, and juniper berries which play off a calm and clean lavender note. It is super fresh with a slight spice provided by pepper and ginger.
However, the outdoorsy elements really set this Liz Claiborne creation apart. It’s got a floral charm while being masculine and uses mahogany and cactus as a part of its base. An almost perfect choice for the younger guy.
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Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.