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Another year is almost in the books and I am once again updating my list of the top fragrances for men. As of now, this isn’t an exhaustive list, and I probably could expand it to 50 colognes without much of a problem. But, I also don’t want to overwhelm and this total should suffice. I tried to get a balance of different styles, but really wanted to highlight the best of the best as a whole.
What are the Best Colognes for Guys?
Gourmand Apple Brandy
Angels’ Share by Kilian– Angels’ Share was an instant love for me when I tested it out. So much so, I quickly grabbed a full bottle, and looks like it’s going to has a very long-term spot in my rotation.
This is a boozy gourmand and unisex perfume. It opens up with cognac, tonka bean, and oak. It’s sweet and has an apple brandy like aroma. The cinnamon note, plays a pretty big role here, and it will give off a booze-soaked apple cinnamon scent.
The dry down is sweet with vanilla/praline, though, the oak note really takes the lead. It’s not too heavy of a perfume, but the performance is great, as I get double digit hours worth of wear.
Is this going to be for everyone? Probably not, some don’t like cinnamon or sweetness or gourmands for that matter. However, this one gets plenty of complements and love. Angels’ Share is one the expensive end, also. Angels’ Share Full Review
Creamy Summer Citrus with Rum
Uden by Xerjoff– I’m a big fan of Chanel’s Allure Homme Edition Blanche, but the performance isn’t all that great. From my interest in that cologne, I was put on to Uden, which actually surpasses the Chanel.
The main difference between Uden and Edition Blanche, is that, Uden is smoother and includes a great rum note. The lemon and bergamot blend is great here, with a fantastic creamy vanilla, woody base, and that rum kick.
This is a fantastic option for the summer months, if you want to escape the usual ‘blue’ aromas and various oceanic colognes. Uden is a citrus that actually lasts and provides a good ability to project to boot. Another higher end fragrance, in terms of price and quality. Uden Full Review
Well Put Together Prada
Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce
It opens up with that signature L’homme iris note, giving a powdery floral freshness. Add to that, amber and smooth leather.
Later on, there is a subtle base of patchouli and sandalwood, which add to the overall enjoyment and aren’t a distraction. The dry down is mainly iris and tonka bean, with the leather and amber, playing the background.
It has a rich and full aroma, with plenty of style. Great for the fall and winter months. L’Homme Intense Review
My Favorite Tom Ford
Noir Extreme by Tom Ford– Noir Extreme is a fragrance that I’ve come back to pretty heavy over the past few months. I truly forgot how much I loved this scent.
It is led by a kulfi dessert accord of saffron, nutmeg, amber, vanilla, and pistachio. Spicy, warm, and very rich. Noir Extreme shines in the depths of late autumn and winter.
Very sexy and has a mass appealing scent. Good for nightlife and romantic wear and really so much more. I like the original in the black bottle the best. But, the new Parfum version is also nice, and I bought a bottle of it to supplement my Noir Extreme stash. Noir Extreme review
Sweet, Spice, and Smoke
Parfums de Marly Herod Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce
Herod is going to be my selection from the Parfums de Marly line. I could also throw in Oajan and Layton, as they are also awesome fragrances.
Herod is a blend of sweet, spicy, dark, and smoky. Vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, and incense are all playing defining roles within this French parfum. But, Herod is really led by the tobacco note, that smells like an uncured leaf rather than rolled tobacco.
Warm and creamy, with a spicy edge, and smoky undertones. This one has plenty of depth and all day longevity, that easily hits double digit hours. Read my full Herod Review
Tux Luxury
Tuxedo by YSL– I’ve arrived pretty late to the game with Tuxedo from Yves Saint Laurent. But man, is this an absolute gem of a fragrance.
Luxurious and rich. Tuxedo settles into a blend of amber, vanilla, and patchouli. However, it opens with a black pepper and coriander spice. Plus, has a enough rose to make an impact but not overwhelm the composition.
Softer on the sillage side of things, but with the right amount of sprays, one can easily stand out with this fragrance. It’s got the right balance of freshness, warmth, sophistication, spice, and sweetness.
One
The One EDP– This is another fragrance that I’ve come back to and simply forgot how much I liked it. The One Eau de Parfum is always popular, but it does absolutely smell great.
It starts off with a blast of the grapefruit flanked by spices of coriander and basil. It’s a signature opening act, with the ingredients being heightened by the tobacco note and dipped into a sea of amber.
Sexy, refined, and one that will draw complements. There are several spice notes involved but the coriander and cardamom are the ones that stick around the longest and play the largest role.
The performance this one is fine, so long as you go pretty heavy with the sprays. That’s the only way I’ve gotten it to last long, but it’s worth it. The One EDP Review
That Top Sauvage
Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s– Sauvage Elixir is the latest flanker from Dior in this series. It is also the most distinct and expensive out of all of them. If you want a more affordable Sauvage, the Eau de Parfum is the next best.
Elixir starts out with its awesome spice blend of nutmeg and cinnamon, grapefruit, and the signature Sauvage lavender note. It’s spicy in the beginning, but gets sweeter and more focused on the lavender in the middle act.
That note is joined by a light licorice and amber note. This is all sitting on top of a blend of fresh woods. Sauvage is a monster with its performance. Powerhouse sillage and will hit 13-15 hours on my skin. Sauvage Elixir Review
So Bleu
Bleu de Chanel EDP- I was always going back and forth between my favorite Bleu de Chanel fragrance, but the eau de parfum is the one I keep coming back to. Though, both the EDT and Parfum have their strengths, respectively.
EDP opens up with a strong blast of its citrus notes, as well as the fresh spices of pink pepper and ginger. Grapefruit and lemon are the strongest aspects, sometimes it can come across sort of like lime.
It dries down with some fresh wood and amber notes, which really tie the whole thing together. Personally, I get around 8 hours of wear from this, which while not amazing is still quite good. All of the BdC fragrances are popular and easy to wear, jus this one is the best of them.
The Most Wanted
Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense | Cologne for Men 1.7 fl oz– Azzaro has made each successive Wanted release better than the previous one. As of now, The Most Wanted is their crowning achievement.
It kicks things off with a warm and slightly spicy cardamom note. However, the one they use here actually has a lemon-like aroma which gives The Most Wanted a fruity kick. The spice here is fresh with a warm profile and the overall fragrance is sweet.
It’s a tug of war between sweet and spice, with a delicious caramel note, and a balsamic finish. Really good performance with this one and a fragrance that is a solid choice for younger men (college age-twenties). The Most Wanted Review
Winter Beast
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz– Extreme is the absolute best of the Spicebombs. However, I will say that it is for use in colder weather, so you’ll need somewhere with a real winter. If not, I’d go with Spicebomb Infrared instead.
You’d think that Extreme would be heavier on the spices than the original, but that’s not the case. It’s actually more about tobacco, vanilla, and lavender. It’s somewhat spicy, but really smooth and sweet too.
Tobacco and vanilla are going to the main players, along with saffron and the cinnamon/cumin notes. Spicebomb has a very nice projection, though, it will last forever. It’s one of the longest lasting designer fragrances that I’ve tried. Spicebomb Extreme Review
Super Unique Rose Fragrance
MOSCHINO Toy Boy Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce
Yes, I hate the name too. But this fragrance in the cutesy bear bottle is legitimately very good. It opens up with a juicy pear and bergamot citrus blend. This is joined by the floral notes of rose and magnolia, as well as, a warm pink pepper.
The rose is greenish, it features a light spice throughout, and a clean musky finish. This Moschino won’t be for every guy out there, but the brand really knocked it out of the park with this one. Toy Boy Review
My Favorite Tom Ford Leather
Ombre Leather- This is my personal favorite leather fragrance from Tom Ford, above the popular Tuscan Leather.
Ombre Leather is dark, dry, and warm with the use of its signature note. It’s a high end and beautiful leather note, that is along with its other ingredients, supposed to invoke the desert landscape.
Jasmine is the main pairing here along with a touch of amber and base of patchouli and moss. It has an earthiness and slight spice. A neat mix of clean and dirtiness that deserves a spot on the list. Ombre Leather Review
Best Armani Code
Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz
Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background. The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over.
The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.
This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Code Absolu Full Review
Y
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce
It opens with apple and bergamot at the top, along with, the light and cool spice of ginger. It is crisp, refreshing, and smells amazing. Underneath that top layer is warm amber, creamy tonka bean, and a juicy juniper berry.
It’s stays super smooth, warm, with a nice sweetness that doesn’t go too far into candy-like territory.
As it dries down, you get a green herbal and woody base. Y EDP is a versatile cologne, which lasts all day, and has a strong but not overwhelming sillage. This is one that should be really popular for a long while. Y EDP Review
Rose and Earthy Truffles
Tom Ford Private Blend Noir De Noir Eau De Parfum Spray Edp 3.4 Fl / 100 Ml
This rose is joined by moss, patchouli, and oud giving it an earthy and woody base to work from. If that weren’t enough, this Tom Ford scent also features truffle and vanilla to round things out.
Noir de Noir hits me slightly different each time I’ve worn it. It’s quite balanced, but has plenty of depth, and its own style. Unisex overall, maybe a slight feminine vibe, but with very nice performance. One of the best from this label, without question. Noir de Noir Review
Aventus
Creed Aventus Millesime Spray for Men
The opening few minutes of Aventus is quite sharp and intense. I personally don’t like that starting aroma, but Aventus settles down, and becomes much more pleasant to wear. The pineapple note becomes less of a factor and that dry birch/oak moss combination takes better shape.
Even with the black currant and pineapple’s sharpness, Aventus, has a dry smoky quality to it throughout the fragrance’s life cycle. It is crisp, juicy, woody, and that dry earthy scent. I’ve likened the earthy aspects of this fragrance to walking alongside the woods, on a cold Fall day.
What I get for most of the day from this scent is pineapple, birch, and oakmoss. Black currant, vanilla, and amergris add a supporting layer to that main trio of notes.
I usually get 8-9 hours of wear from Aventus and the sillage, while not huge, is enough that you don’t need more than a few sprays. Quite a versatile cologne.
I like to wear it in the more moderate temperatures of spring or early autumn, but it works well almost year round. This is the type of cologne you could wear casually but also perfectly fits in on a more dressed up occasion. Creed Aventus Review
Another Great Chanel
Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme– Allure Homme Sport was a great fragrance in its own right. However, it seems weaker than it used to. Plus, I have come around to Eau Extreme being the better Chanel cologne of the two.
Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme has much of the same fresh and attractive notes of the original, with a different opening act full of sage and cypress. It is cooled by mint with a generally herbal greenish quality early on.
Underneath that is the same citrus, sea notes, and creamy tonka bean as the original. It does have better sillage and longevity, but it isn’t completely a powerhouse despite the name. Still, Eau Extreme is hard to go wrong with, as a daily wear. Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme review
Top Gucci Guilty
Gucci Guilty Black– I wore this one back when it first came out years ago. I also really like Guilty Intense, but that got discontinued.
Guilty Black shifted a bit from the original Guilty releases, swapping out the citrus fruit notes for orange flowers. Neroli and orange blossom. These two give the impression of sweetness, blended with lavender, and a spicy coriander note.
It’s comes across a being clean and green with some light soapiness to it. Gucci Guilty Black is one that is extremely versatile and crowd pleasing. It’s a fragrance that almost anyone can wear and it has proven itself for years now. Is it the most complex or astounding scent ever? Nope, but it does its job well, and I still love it. Gucci Guilty Black Review
Louis Louis
Imagination– Imagination is an awesome fragrance from Louis Vuitton. Citrus with black tea and amber. Supremely fresh and mass appealing
For the opening act, you get the citron and other citrus notes, such as mandarin orange. The citron is the lead ingredient, but there is a definite neroli floral infusion in the heart. The pairing between that and the ginger note, creates a cold and dynamic scent, that’s a joy to be around.
Early on, it a greenish citrus blend. Then, you get the floral touches. But, ultimately tea and the lighter amber get surrounded by the remaining citrus to create an easy to wear gem. Full Review
Burberry Entry
Burberry London- London has been around for a long time now (I wore it in college). But, that’s for a good reason, it’s a terrific scent.
This is a spicy and leathery tobacco fragrance. Early on, it will hit with the punch of pepper and cinnamon, before giving way to leather and a hint of port wine.
Later, London is dry, smooth, and woody with the tobacco still leading the way. It has a nice presence about it and stands out versus many of the other popular fragrances of today. It’s still better than all of the brand’s newer releases. London Review
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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.