Hugo by Hugo Boss Men’s Cologne Review

I’ve already done a best of Hugo Boss cologne post, as well as reviews for Hugo Red and No.6. So, I thought that I should do a full review of Hugo. Per usual, I want to explore how this fragrance opens, how it performs, what it smells like, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a potential purchase. Please continue below to read my full rating and review of Hugo.

What does Hugo by Hugo Boss Smell Like?

Notes include: woods, mint, grapefruit, apple, lavender, basil, cedar

Click here to try: Hugo for Men by Hugo Boss Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

This is one of those fragrances that I remember from my childhood. Hugo dates back to the 1990s and I distinctly remember this scent, as I believe that my brother had a bottle. The opening of Hugo is a terrific blend of a green type of scent with hints of citrus.

This cologne is so damn fresh and clean and is a real pleasure to take in. Very much a product of the era. The top layer of this fragrance is the crisp notes of mint, apple, and grapefruit. Mint and apple add a cooling sensation to the aroma.

These notes reinforce the clean springtime aura that Hugo puts out with some extra masculine spice from the basil note. Also, with the newer bottles the apple note seems to be stronger than in the older formulations than I recall. Sort of like as found in Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger, except this isn’t nearly as sweet.

The lavender note plays a big role here giving it a smoothness and slight floral aroma which presents itself as totally mellow and casual. That’s exactly how I view Hugo, mellow and casual.

Hugo is a pretty straightforward and linear cologne. Beyond this, you get a woodiness from the base and the overall smell becomes blended together more, and each note feels less distinct.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not a beast but it is noticeable. Hugo isn’t a heavy fragrance, so it is unlikely to offend those around you.

Longevity, I can usually squeeze out 6 hours of this stuff, so pretty moderate on that end. Older bottles, could probably get a few more hours. However, this isn’t a fragrance that has gotten reformulated to death. It retains almost all of its originality and power.

It’s pretty versatile but I’d say it’s more suited for a casual, everyday type of cologne. Late spring and summer is where Hugo really shines, the fresh citrus just begs to be worn during the warmer months of the year.

If you just need something to wear around, that can cover most all of your bases, this Hugo Boss can do it.

Overall Impressions of Hugo

Overall, is Hugo worth a purchase? I’d say yes, if you’re in the market for a good summertime cologne. I like this offering from Hugo Boss but I lean more towards Bottled Boss No.6 or Hugo Red over this one most of the time.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a really good casual scent, though not wholly unique and can be sort of generic. However, Hugo does get the job done and if you can catch it in your price range, it’s worth a shot.

I have been seeing bottles for super cheap as of late. In that case, it’s well worth a shot in the $20-35 range. This is a 90s style fragrance, so, it’s not going to be what most younger guys are used to. Not a bad thing, just no longer a commonplace experience.

Best Men's Colognes

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.