Fragrances

Eros for Men EDT by Versace

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In mythology, Eros was the God of Love. Perhaps it is fitting that a mythological deity who inspires love, should have a fragrance named after him. Italian fashion house, Versace, has a long history of producing fashionable and very well done colognes for men.

I am updating (and have been previously) this review of Eros for Men after spending years, coming back to it, and refining my opinion of this cologne.

This has become one of my favorite scents from the brand, as it just strikes me as something so different from the rest of the line. In this post, I want to explore how this cologne smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is a buy.

What does Versace Eros EDT Smell Like?

versace eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Intro to Eros

The first thing that one should know about Eros, is that it is a very strong fragrance, in certain circumstances. While there are plenty of others out there which you can wear many sprays and not offend, Eros is not among them. Which can be a good thing, as when you have to use less, the bottle itself will last for a longer period of time.

However, let this serve as a warning to those who like to wear too much cologne, because while this smells great, too much of a good thing will have you repelling people left and right.

That being said, the mythological moniker, has proved to be utterly appropriate for this scent since its release six or so years back. Eros has such a lively character and intensity, which really sets it apart from other fragrances and probably why it’s a perennial best seller.

Versace didn’t hold back with this one and its sheer boldness has garnered it a legion of dedicated supporters over the years. It’s also not just loud for loud’s sake, it is insanely attractive, and a cologne with complete sex appeal.

My Full Review

This Versace eau de toilette opens with a zesty Italian lemon note, that is joined by a crisp juicy green apple, and the cool spice of mint leaves. Eros is super fresh, intense, and has quite the masculine presence.

What’s always been interesting to me, is how there is a slight chocolate undertone, which sits throughout the wear, but mostly in the opening minutes. I know that I’m not the only one who detects this, but what I take it to be is the interplay between the dry vetiver, vanilla (among other sweet notes), and tonka bean.

It is sort of the same effect (chocolate aroma without the ingredient) you find in Dior Homme Intense, though, these are entirely different fragrances.

Eros is a cologne that yields a definite spiciness to how it projects itself. Not a peppery or overwhelming spice, mind you. The mint oil note probably gives it the strongest sense of spiciness, as it is a dominate note in Eros’ presentation.

It’s really a blend that is headed up by mint, vanilla, and tonka bean with the latter two notes helping to create that very rich warmth and ‘delicious’ flavor that this cologne becomes known for. This is offset by the cold crispness of mint (and apple to some extent).

Update: The newer batches have had an impact on my opinion of Eros EDT. I’ve tried a few different samples and minis and they now seem to be skewed towards a strong lemon in the opening, with more ambroxan (like Flame) in the dry down. The balanced nuance with the vanilla appears to be lost.

Some people find this cologne to be too sweet for their tastes, and though I agree that it can be too much sometimes, I also find it to be very pleasing to wear when I’m in the right mood for this Versace beast.

I think that there are much sweeter or candy-like fragrances out there and Eros gets balanced out but it other ingredients. It sort of tones down, once the fruit top notes recede into the background.

Further on in the drydown period, Eros really becomes an enveloping fragrance. It’s like a delicious gourmand cloud of warmth. The ambroxan amber and an ever so slight floral note (geranium) emerge to flank the main trio of notes.

It’s a radiating aura of a smooth, creamy, and freshly sensual aroma with the vanilla note at its absolute apex. Ambroxan is seemingly used in just about every new release nowadays. I think between this and Dior’s Sauvage, designers needed to put out as many copycat scents as possible. In Eros, the amber is great, and gives a perfectly desirable effect. (Update: Again, now it’s too much).

Then, we get to the base, ever present but most detectable a few hours after application. Dry woods and earthy aromas, this is the foundation of the entire fragrance.

Mostly what I get from the base, is the dual blend of cedarwood notes (Atlas and Virginia), which are staples in men’s fragrances. This is what gives Eros its staying power and strong virile character. Throw in some oak moss and the aforementioned vetiver and this scent is perfectly rounded out.

How Long Does Eros Last?

Beyond being just a strong cologne, Eros also tends to last a long time as well. Seriously, a few sprays will last all day on my skin and well into the evening. Eros is an absolute monster in terms of performance, in my experience with it.

Longevity can of course vary based on one’s own skin, body chemistry, and the batch of the fragrance being sold. I haven’t heard anything about any significant reformulations of the scent by Versace yet, but I’ve tended to get 8-10+ of wear from Eros, depending on the climate that particular day.

Update: Yeah, it seems like it’s lost a step to me. Still very strong, but not to the same degree, in the latest batches I’ve tried. The longevity is still fine, just less of the wears that hit double digit hours.

So, yeah, not only is the sillage great; Eros also tends to last a very long time. More than you will need under most circumstances. Again, I’ve never needed or wanted to spray this at a maximum of 3 times. In confined space, I’m not even going more than two spritzes.

When Should You Wear Eros? Is it Versatile?

I like it best as a romantic or nightlife fragrance, I mean, you can wear it during the daytime but tread lightly in an office type environment. When I wore it casually to work, I’d put on only 1 spray and let it breathe some before heading into the office.

Update: Nowadays, you could probably do 2 sprays in this scenario. The initial release was an absolute monster, it’s still heavy, just not to the same degree.

I also wouldn’t wear this during the summertime and I don’t think it holds up well in the heat. At night, you can rock Eros during the warmer months, I just really don’t like what the humidity turns this one into.

This cologne is built for the cooler weather and it is absolutely beautiful during that time of year. Eros hangs so beautifully in the cold and envelops you in a warm and sweet cloud of fragrance that will have you wanting to catch a sniff of yourself all day. Now, picture how that turns out in hot and humid conditions.

It’s versatile in the sense that you can wear it everyday, if you go light with it. However, I really do keep it limited to evenings out, and casual daytime use. Personally, I don’t need such a bold cologne for situations that don’t call for it.

In terms of the age of a potential wearer, this scent does seem to skew younger, but I don’t find it to be a ‘teenager’ scent exclusively.

Sure, high school guys through men in their twenties, have really latched on to Eros and propelled it to top seller status…but it still works for males of all ages. Don’t let the sweet elements dissuade you, this Versace is still plenty manly and just exudes a vigorous confidence.

Eros Flame vs Eros

In 2018, Versace finally released a flanker fragrance to the original Eros, some six years after it came out. This cologne comes in a Ruby Red bottle and is called Eros Flame (linked my review).

Is it better than the original? In my opinion, no. It shares a lot of similarities, but ultimately takes things in a new direction during the dry down.  For a complete head to head breakdown: Eros vs. Eros Flame

Final Thoughts on Eros for Men

Overall, I rather like Eros a lot as a cologne. I think it is one that will work great from the Fall to the early Spring because its spice and rich aroma will project well in the crisp air of those months. If you’re a guy who like layered scents that are wholly masculine, then Eros might be just what you’re looking for.

Update: This was one of my favorites of the best-selling designer colognes. Nowadays, not so much. I still like it, but the formula just feels off to me.

The citrus is stepped up or the creaminess of the vanilla/tonka bean is scaled back, or both. I don’t think it’s just my imagination, as I wore this for years after this initial review came out in 2013 or 2014. With a thinner and less rich and creamy envelopment, the ambroxan comes on a bit too much, also.

I don’t think the new batches are bad or anything, just had to drop the score below down 10-15%. You might want to check out the newer Eros releases too, EDP and Parfum. EDP captures a similar start to how EDT used to smell, but not quite.

Actually, I prefer Parfum to EDP overall, since EDP changes away from being a close comparison to the original EDT formulation. Still, none of the Eros releases really stand out as being significantly better than the others, in my opinion. I’d either go Parfum or EDT here in 2023.

Test them out and see which is best on your skin. Hopefully, with EDT you still get to experience more of that vanilla richness the 2012 version had.

If you don’t like sweetness, gourmand type of scents, or colognes that can be heavy…I would avoid Eros in that case. This is a bold and gaudy fragrance, that isn’t for the meek or those who are in the market for a moderate, year-round scent.

It has a specific function in a cologne collection and Eros does what it does very well. It’s not for everybody, but it is damn good.

YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration

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YSL Pour Homme was the famed 1971 release from the French designer. 1981 saw the introduction of Kouros, followed in 1983 by the subject of today’s review, Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme Haute Concentration. This higher concentration version of the original, is an under the radar 80s powerhouse. But, how does it smell? Is it still worth tracking down a bottle of nowadays?

What does YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration Smell Like?

Notes include: Amalfi lemon, carnation, oakmoss, nutmeg, rosemary, petitgrain, wood, tonka bean, patchouli

My Full Review

I’ve been thinking about this one for a while, after purchasing another bottle of Opium Pour Homme and considering getting Kouros Body, for some further nostalgia. I’d never tried it, barely remember what the original YSL Pour Homme smelled like, and bottles of Haute Concentration were pretty insane on eBay (and unknown quality).

As fate would have it, I was scrolling through Jomashop’s website, and a tester bottle of Haute Concentration was for sale. $120. Very quickly purchased it, as even the limited batches YSL had been doing during the past decade are now discontinued.

But, that ordered got cancelled, since they didn’t actually have it in stock. Went back to eBay and found a old gift set (with soap) of the original Haute Concentration in the black bottle for $100. Quality be damned this time, I wanted it.

Now, I have no idea how old this particular bottle is. I do know that it’s in the original black bottle, which became clear glass later. This was also, I believe, re-released as a part of a special collection, featured in yet another bottle.

Update: I looked up the batch code, it’s a bottle from 1986 apparently. 

Anyway, this opens up with the Amalfi lemon note being very prominent. With my bottle, it feels sort of sour for a minute (may just be due to age), but that quickly fades and becomes a dusty lemon surrounded by plenty of old school oakmoss, rosemary, and petitgrain.

I actually think that this might be true oakmoss, pre-regulations, it smells great in comparison to many of the newer synthetic varieties.

The real stand out with the lemon early on though, is the rosemary note. The start of this scent reminds me of D&G Pour Homme, not exactly (and better), with the use of the lemon and herbal notes.

It’s dry, a bit green in the early stages, with some spicy hints from that carnation ,nutmeg, and rosemary note. The carnation and nutmeg come in more to my nose, once that initial lemon and rosemary fade off somewhat.

The next phase will be more about lemon and moss, with tonka bean adding a touch of sweetness and powder to this aroma. YSL Haute Concentration drifts more into the aromatic soap category of perfume.

It’s not a lather and thankfully doesn’t go into the usual lavender/jasmine realm of things. It’s a classic and stylized clean, like you stepped out of the shower after washing with a high end soap bar (which my gift set that I purchased actually came with).

Finally, the dry down comes along. This one has a musk/oil ingredient in there somewhere. It’s not massive, but you can smell it. The lemon has been subdued into a mix of wood, patchouli, and moss. A fresher woody soap, at this point, but still balanced.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Based on reviews that I had read prior to buying this, I was expecting Haute Concentration to be an absolute bomb. For my bottle, that’s not the case. I did buy this one pre-opened, with 95%+ left in the bottle, so it’s possible that it’s lost some steam over the years.

Yet, it’s not weak. Solidly above average, allowing me to catch whiffs of the fragrance on my wrists, when I went outside for a walk.

During my initial tests, it seems to want to hit the 8-9 hour range, on my skin. Maybe it once got more than that. After at least 25 years or so, I have no problems with how this one sticks around. Still better than some modern designers, even as an EDT formulation.

Seasonally, this is a year round fragrance. It’s been both cold and warm during the tail end of this winter, and YSL Pour Homme is magnificent in either case. Maybe not a hottest days of summer play, if you’re going to be outside. However, it’s not super thick or cloying either.

This is one that can be worn casually, but I prefer it dressed up more. It functions well as a daily wear, office scent, and can even venture into the nightlife. Again, it’s clean and fresh, and might not be the ‘sexiest’ cologne out there.

Personally, I think it’s still attractive, and presents something different versus just about any mainstream fragrance out there now. Not a scream for attention night club or party scent, but you will smell great.

Overall Impressions of Haute Concentration

Overall do I like this fragrance? Yes, it’s a fantastic wear. It completely captures that 70-80s vibe, in a trimmed down but concentrated version of the original YSL Pour Homme. Again, I only have vague memories of that one, but it all seems familiar.

I like this better than both Kouros and Jazz, which are two other 1980s releases from YSL. I know Kouros gets all the headlines, but this is simply more appealing to me.

Very refined and doesn’t have any of the usual trappings of the modern men’s fragrance. It’s a fresh aromatic, with a balanced use of woodsy notes, spicy herbal notes, and a great lemon note. Even with that, somewhat sour start.

It’s a classic style, though, not particularly challenging to wear. There’s no insane or particularly heavy notes in here that might scare someone off. Maybe some bottles will still have more potency and you might not need to use much, lest you choke out a room.

It’s plenty versatile, balanced, and could probably be worn by any age group if they really wanted to. It exudes a classiness, however. Not necessarily straight formal, but I’d like to wear this outside of just the usual t-shirt and jeans.

It can be worthwhile to track down a bottle. I know most people searching for this and reading this review will be collector types, since the general public doesn’t know this even exists. The $108 price tag is about what you’d expect with some high end designers. Sure, it’s only a 2 oz bottle, but not a bad deal.

I’m going to be wearing YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration, for years to come it seems.

6 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Tobacco Vanille

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Tobacco Vanille is one of the most popular perfumes from the Tom Ford line. It’s unisex appeal has become a staple scent for many in the autumn and winter months. But, sometimes you want something along the same lines, but a little different. Or you want a cheaper option that can come close to the same experience. This is the page where I keep track of these options.

What Fragrances Smell Close to Tobacco Vanille?

A Close Designer Scent

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz– Spicebomb Extreme is one mainstream designer fragrance that has pretty close profile to what you get with our Tom Ford target scent.

This one is actually less spicy than the other Spicebomb fragrances. Tobacco and vanilla are the main notes here, but this one also has a warmth and sweetness to it. Cinnamon and cumin are the spice notes, that are blended well in the rest of the composition.

Personally, I like the way Extreme smells more than I do Tobacco Vanille. They’re not exactly the same either, just have a similar style. Plus, at a lower price point, I think that it is more of a value play. Bold and lasts more than 10 hours on my skin. Spicebomb Extreme Review

Sweet Powder

Powdery Tobacco by Dossier– This one from Dossier is the first of our fragrances that are inspired by Tobacco Vanille. This one is pretty darn close. Yet, it’s lighter, sweeter, and perhaps less spicy in that opening. Here, the formula uses ginger.

Still, this one isn’t a ‘thin’ attempt at what we’re looking for. You still get plenty of warmth and the cozy attractiveness that people love with the Tom Ford. Definitely seems to lean more in the tobacco side of things, even in those early stages, but the spice is still there.

Very affordable and Dossier does a great job at getting the right vibe with Powdery Tobacco.

Inspired Tabac

Sweet Tabacum by Dua– Sweet Tabacum is the Dua inspired version of what we’re looking for. Fairly inexpensive and well performing. Plus, a very close rendition of the Tom Ford aroma.

Sweet Tabacum kicks off with the bold spice mix out in full force. It may have a little more of those notes versus Tobacco Vanille. The tobacco note is obviously also present, with a dry down that is sweet and getting to a powdery finish.

Cacao, tonka bean, and vanilla round things out. Dua usually does a really good job with their inspired scents and this one is no exception.

Zara Warmth

Warm Black by Zara- Warm Black gives you a closely related style to Vanille, but doesn’t hit the mark exactly. It’s got plenty of vanilla and a spicy kick from the ginger note. Though, it is much more streamlined and has much less of a tobacco influence, as well.

The ginger here isn’t great, in my opinion. It’s fine, but I feel it’s less like the Tom Ford in its spices. Not a bad thing, since that’s not a favorite aspect of mine from Tobacco Vanille. It settles, but that opening can be rough.

After that, it’s a warm embracing vanilla with hints of tobacco and maybe some amber? Closer to our target in the back half, but less of a high quality tobacco (and in the amount too).

Not sure if this is still around or has been re-labeled or issued by Zara. I can’t seem to find it on their site, at the moment. But, if you can this is a solid cheapie.

Amber and More

Amber Oud Tobacco Edition by Al Haramain– I haven’t actually gotten to try this one out personally. However, this seems to be one perfume similar to Tobacco Vanille, which gets plenty of hype in the fragrance world…and is a decent price.

Tobacco, vanilla, dried fruit, cinnamon, and further spices. It’s all there it seems, plenty of overlap between them. My guess is the main difference is going to be a different weighting with the note concentration when compared to the Tom Ford.

So, not exact, but probably close enough for most people to give it a go.

MAC

Velvet Teddy–  Velvet Teddy is a sweeter, less dense, and less tobacco heavy perfume than our target. It just otherwise, smells an awfully a lot like it.

The tobacco here is the more actual floral tobacco blossom, less of a refined pipe tobacco. You don’t get much spiciness with this one either and the vanilla, is replaced by a similar vibe from the tonka bean. The spice is there, just the Tom Ford always is more of a punch in the face.

What more do you get? Honey. Warm, delicious, and a cozy wear. In some ways, it feels like a version of Tobacco Vanille, that is simply approachable. Great performance, while not feeling cloying or stuffy.

The problem nowadays, is finding a bottle in stock anywhere. If you can, it might be preferable for many to the Tom Ford.

Best Colognes for the Office: Fragrances for Professional Men

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Colognes come in many different scents, however, not all of these scents are appropriate or desirable for all occasions. There are fragrances that do smell wonderful but are best served when applied during a night out and not while working at the office. Professional men require a eau de toilette that is understated yet still fresh and compelling.

There are yet still other men who simply don’t want their fragrance to be that ‘loud’ and more on the subtle side and wish to find the perfect cologne for daily use. In this post, I want to lay out some options that you could consider for an everyday cologne as well as present a few that I think are the top colognes for daytime.

 What are the Best Daytime Office Fragrances for Men?

Days in Bleu

Bleu de Chanel– It’s a best-seller, has been for a long time, and that’s because it’s great. Bleu de Chanel is a fantastic option for a basic, no non-sense fragrance, that can easily become a daily wear.

Most of the decision will be to select which version you prefer. Bleu de Chanel EDT is the original, the most understated. The woodier Parfum version is one that many people enjoy discovering. Personally, I like EDP a bit more than the other two.

bleu de chanel review

Cracking the Code

Code Parfum by Armani– This is another one with multiple options. The original Armani Code is a classic for daily wear, but I like the newer Code Parfum nowadays. Others in the series go too heavy with notes like suede and other sweetish features.

Code Parfum finds the balance while respecting the original DNA. It has a fresh and clean start with a juicy bergamot note, bright aldehydes, and the floral focus of the iris note. It feels cold, with a slight powdery aroma, but the iris goes more into the buttery creamy end of things.

7-8 hours of wear, very simple, and crowd pleasing. I really like Code Parfum as an effortless daily wear for the office and beyond.

Ego Unleashed

Egoiste Platinum by Chanel– One could also go with the original Egoiste, which is sweeter, drier, and richer with notes of tobacco and sandalwood. However, as a clean daytime wear, I like Platinum better for the job.

Platinum has a classic soapy clean, but it’s a modernist interpretation of this style. Herbal, fresh spicy, green, and with a healthy dose of lavender. You’ll get phases of petitgrain, sage, and neroli during the wear.

Finally, it will dry down with some great woody notes including vetiver, sandalwood, cedar, and geranium. The scent could be stronger, though, it’s not particularly much of an issue. Platinum Egoiste review

Prada Style

Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Honestly, you could choose any of the L’Homme line from Prada and it would work. I like Intense and L’eau ( an awesome  powder aroma) more than the original, but it’s also very nice.

Mainly, I like the darker aroma of this one, and the fact that I can get 9 hours of wear on my skin. It has the powdery iris note of the original, amber, and a great leather accord, in the opening.

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 support roles.

It’s super rich and fits beautifully in the colder weather of autumn and winter.  L’Homme Intense Review

The Dior Namesake

Dior Homme– Dior Homme gets reformulated every so often and the name is simply re-used with the newer formula. In 2020, Dior changed it again. While I don’t like this one as much as the last, it’s still a very good fragrance, especially for daily wear.

It starts off bright, fresh, and woody. Bergamot citrus leads the way with cedar and vetiver flanking it during the opening act. Underneath that, is a light spiciness headed up by pink pepper.

This one is not too heavy, has solid performance, and smells great even in its toned down simplicity. Dior Homme Review

Green Clean

Green Irish Tweed– Green Irish Tweed is an higher end option by Creed that is worth checking out.

I’m not much of a fan of the mossy, violet leaf, and pine sort of aroma up top. But, I think that this one gets better as it settles after 15 or so minutes.

The lemon verbena and citrus notes come out and give this one a bright and green blend, which will become a soapy/powdery scent as it dries down further.

GIT is another fragrance with good performance and an older school vibe. It isn’t stale or boring, however, and has a dynamic energy to its composition. GIT Review

Gentleman Daily

Gentleman EDP by Givenchy– Gentleman EDP is a great option for daily wear at the office or anywhere really.

This one has an iris note along with a spicy accord, benzoin, woody notes in the dry down, and the creaminess of vanilla (with a nice heaping of tonka bean). Not super heavy, with its light citrus top note, but one that’s going to be an autumn and winter wear.

This is refined and has a mass pleasing aroma that is versatile enough to wear in the evenings too.

Classic Chanel

Pour Monsieur by Chanel– Pour Monsieur is an absolute classic from Chanel and it has the style to match. This might not be a pick for everybody, as the fragrance dates back to the 1950s, which gives it a different sensibility versus the newer entries on the list.

The lemon note leads the way, but it has a dry blend of moss and vetiver underneath providing that woodsy aroma. Plus, notes like basil and cardamom giving it a spicy lift. Earthy, dry, woodsy in the base with a citrus not dominating the top.

Lots of greenish and spicy touches throughout. Not a very ‘juicy’ citrus, but this one has a simple elegance that can work very well in an office environment. Timeless.

24

H24 EDT by Hermes– This one gets mixed reviews, while being fairly popular, and it’s one that I personally enjoy. It’s a really useful scent for our purposes in this post.

H24 features notes like sage and narcissus to produce something that is clean while being rather unique. There’s a metallic edge to the aroma, it’s also sweet, and dries down with a woody smell. The sage is strong up top, but this Hermes gradually becomes more balanced.

It’s a moderate cologne with it’s sillage and lasted on my skin for up to 7.5 hours, when I was testing H24 out. H24 Review

h24 review

Guilty Goodness

Gucci Guilty– An easy to wear and very versatile floral fragrance for men. Guilty EDT isn’t my absolute favorite, but it is one that I do think is a great entry level cologne, for those who don’t want to overthink their scent.

It opens up with a lemon and pink pepper combination, with neroli and orange blossoms sitting in the background. It will shift more towards those notes, while having a woodsy base of patchouli and cedar.

Again, this is very likeable and easy going. Not an insane amount of longevity, but you can pretty liberally apply it without blowing out a room. Guilty Review

Fancy French

Tuxedo by YSL– The name and reputation suggests that this is only for pure formal wear. To me, that’s not the case. Sure, it’s classy and luxurious, but it’s also amazing for the office and daytime use.

Tuxedo gives you a slight spice in the opening from black pepper and cardamom, it’s just not overwhelming. This one is absolutely smooth and the real highlights are: amber, patchouli, and vanilla.

Fresh, sweet, and a lighter fragrance. Tuxedo Review

Top 20 Best Selling Men’s Colognes 2023

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When shopping for a new cologne either for yourself or as a gift for someone else, a good place to start is by seeking out a list of the best selling colognes, in order to find something which already has a broad base of support. After all, if they’re are best sellers then they ought to smell at least somewhat good, right? Here is my updated page, keeping track of these fragrances.

How I assembled this List

I went through dozens of online retailers websites from around the globe, creating top 20 lists from their stock, sorting by top sellers.

Obviously, I don’t have sales data for each fragrance, so a lot of this is guess work and seeing repeating patterns. Plus, I do have lots of search information with this website in particular, that helps me have a deeper understanding of the market.

Also, there is the limitation based on what the criteria for each retailer’s sorting mechanism is. Is the top seller sorting based on sales from the past day or how many months back?

I also used dozens of websites in different regions, as some places like Sephora only carry certain brands. I chose sites from among discounters, mid-range retail shops, and high-end department stores. That way, there’s plenty of variety.

It’s not perfect, but this top 20 list is a pretty good representation of the top of the top sellers.

The only fragrance that I know for sure is the top seller in the world is Sauvage. LVMH has stated that to be a fact. That’s only because it is the first men’s fragrance to outsell all other women’s fragrances too.

There is a ton of overlap across sites, which is what gives me the top 20. But, I’ll share some fragrances here that were best sellers in their particular market space, that don’t make the main list.

At the discounter level, these colognes are still very popular:

In the UK and EU, there are some scents that hit the top 20 sellers in those regions, but not in the US…including:

Now, the main list is strictly men’s colognes. Here are some of the top-selling unisex perfumes:

  • Santal 33
  • Another 13
  • Myrrh and Tonka
  • Baccarat Rouge 540

20 Best Selling Men’s Fragrances

Again, outside of the top spot, this isn’t really going to be in complete order. The second through the fifth or sixth spot, is probably pretty correct, but not necessarily in order. After that, there isn’t a ranking really, just colognes that make the cut.

I’ve combined many of the EDP, EDT, Parfum flankers into one main entry for these fragrances. That way it’s not just a repeating list of variations of the same colognes. So, it’s actually going to be more than 20 options.

Sauvage– The number one spot and a scent that is pretty ubiquitous at this point. The original EDT still gathers a lot of sales. However, the Eau de Parfum and Elixir versions are also consistently topping retailer bestsellers. So much so, that they’re just getting combined into this one spot on the list.

Elixir takes the Sauvage name in its own direction, still tied to the formulation in some ways, but smelling quite unique. The EDP is the best of the original set of flankers, in my opinion. I would go with that one versus the EDT any day of the week.

Bleu de Chanel– Bleu de Chanel doesn’t appear like it will ever lose its spot on this list. It’s tough to tell which version is the best seller, at this point, but I think it might be the EDP.

All of them are great in their own ways. The citrus and amber and spicy mix has become a staple. Clean and still beautiful to wear after all of these years. Very much worth a spot in anyone’s collection.

Eros– The Eros line is still going strong. I used to really love the initial release, among my old favorites. However, to me the lemon note in the EDT has gotten way more pronounced and it doesn’t smell the same, in my opinion. Plus, it’s not as powerful and long-lasting.

The original batches had a great blend of mint, vanilla, lemon, etc. It was fantastic. I’ve tried multiple minis and samples and never recapture that original magic. Though, it’s still worth it among the popular designer colognes, not to make it sound as if I hate Eros…I don’t.

The EDP, Parfum, and Flame have become top sellers themselves in various regions.

Aventus– Through no fault of its own (other than being a great fragrance), Creed Aventus has just become annoying to talk about.

The massive popularity has spawned dozens of knock offs and other colognes trying to steal elements of its style. The industry sure knows how to beat a trend to death. Nonetheless, the original remains a best seller even with its lofty price.

Y EDP– Well, the Y line is represented mostly by the EDP version. It is pretty much a bestseller across every website that features it. Y Le Parfum, has also crept up and is routinely in that 10-20 range, so it’s getting combined into one entry.

I have a bottle of EDP, that I do still wear. I was higher on this fragrance when it came out, but don’t enjoy it quite as often in my rotation. Le Parfum is actually a lot of people’s favorite from the line. I like it, though, it never was really my thing.

y edp intense review

Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces
Chances are that you’ve smelled this wildly popular cologne before, even if you didn’t know about it. Acqua di Gio is a fantastic scent that is always among the top sellers.  

The citrus, the sea notes, the florals. It’s such a balanced and well done fragrance. It’s easy to forget about as it’s been a staple for over 25 years now.

I grabbed samples of this a year or two ago to see how it still performed. The scent is still the great aroma, that I remember. The longevity has taken a hit. Now, it’s around 5-6 hours. Not amazing, but AdG is usually available at a fairly affordable price. Acqua Di Gio Review

acqua

Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Another men’s fragrance that has been an extremely popular option for well over a decade. 1 Million still has a spot on the list, even if it’s not higher ranked, like it probably used to be.

The newer bottles don’t seem to be as powerful or as long lasting, as the original batches were. Nevertheless, it still is like 85% of what it once was.

The leather, rose, and citrus opening create a sweetish ‘grape bubble gum’ sort of aroma. This is mixed with spices and an enveloping warmth. The dry down is less of the sweet, more of the leathery amber and spice blend. I’m still a fan, even if it’s no longer a part of my rotation. 1 Million Review

1 Million Elixir– 1 Million Elixir was more of a surprise to me. I hadn’t realized how popular this flanker had become. But, it was consistently running near the top of websites from the USA and EU. We’ll see how long it lasts, but for 2023 it makes the cut.

It opens up with a crisp fruity kick of green apple. The blend underneath is a Damask rose, osmanthus, and davana. The rose is a lighter and sweeter variety. The dry down is mostly about the vanilla and tonka bean with everything else playing a bit role.

I enjoyed this one. It’s actually one of the better flankers from the 1 Million line, so maybe it will have some staying power. 1 Million Elixir review

Profondo– Another AdG fragrance and I’ll give this one it’s own spot on the list. This one is popular worldwide, but Profumo is up there in popularity in Europe.

This version is aquatic, fresh, and woody with a nice citrus opening act. Doesn’t have the smokiness of Profumo and is less of a salty sort of marine accord. Good balance and performer. Profondo Review

Dylan Blue– I get the popularity for this one. It’s not my favorite, by any stretch, but the opening has been something that I’ve enjoyed from time to time.

It is interesting that Dylan Blue Pour Homme is still the only men’s release from this line, even with immense and steady sales. The women’s line now stands at three fragrances.

Still, this is a nice option for younger guys who don’t want to overthink things.

The One by Dolce & Gabbana– This is one of my favorite colognes. Most people’s only gripe, is that it doesn’t last long enough. For me, if I spray enough, the longevity is fine (Eau de Parfum). But, you will have to spray more than you usually do with other fragrances.

The warmth, tobacco, sweetness, and spicy elements are all so fantastic. Get the EDP version, because the longevity of the EDT is actually terrible, and there’s no getting past it no matter how much you spray.

I’m glad I picked up another full bottle last year. Notes include: coriander, grapefruit, tobacco, cedar, orange blossom, and ginger among others. The One EDP Review

the one edp review

Versace Pour Homme (Signature)– This Versace scent is fairly unique in its composition of notes. It’s a blend of woodsy and floral scents such as jasmine and kashmir wood that make it a fragrance that stands out.

It’s still chugging along it seems. This was one of the colognes which was on the original 2014 era list. People stiil love it. Versace Review

versace pour homme

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana– Another great choice in the casual cologne market. Light Blue is a highly popular choice for both men and women for good reason, it’s light, subtle, and smells fantastic.

Light Blue is such an easy first cologne, as it is super versatile, and checks a lot of boxes as to what you’d want in a fragrance.

Eau Intense has especially gained in popularity over the years, too. I saw it pop up as a top seller across multiple sites. However, the original is still the higher ranked of the two. Even if Eau Intense is actually better. Light Blue Review

Gucci Guilty– Guilty is another one that has spawned almost countless iterations over the past decade-plus. The original EDT is still a very nice wear and fairly unique while being mass appealing.

A balanced lemon, pink pepper, and lavender note start things off. It’s a lighter cologne, floral with further touches of neroli and orange blossom. A bit sweet, somewhat woody, and overall pretty linear with its presentation.

Guilty EDT is extremely versatile and an easy all-around fragrance to start a collection with.

Born in Roma– I don’t get why this one has become so popular, maybe its comparisons. The series as a whole is kind of meh, but apparently sells better than the previous Valentino Uomo line that it sort of replaced as the flagship. Even though, that had way more beautiful colognes.

To me, it’s mid. The whole series just doesn’t do much to get me interested. This one in particular isn’t anything special. It has a strong resemblance to Invictus, but I think I like the Paco Rabanne more.

It does have it’s own soapier personality in the dry down. Even then, the mineral accord and violet leaf aren’t my favorite notes. Born in Roma review

Phantom– Another Paco Rabanne, another scent that I don’t much care for. Phantom has a nice enough start, but isn’t really great overall. Maybe people really like the bottle?

The start is a lemon zest, with a juicy and somewhat tropical undertone. It smells like a pineapple or maybe even a touch of mango. That is a brief experience. Then, it becomes a lavender dominated scent with earthy, woody, and herbal notes. Phantom Review

phantom cologne review

Invictus by Paco Rabanne–  The sweet and youthful Invictus is perpetually among the top sellers in this past decade. It has spawned a ton of flanker fragrances to boot.

Invictus Victory is the most popular at the moment and is another cologne that I combined with its parent into one entry.

Victory smells more like the Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne came out with versus being another Invictus flanker. It’s sweet and boozy. The vanilla and amber notes really come through well in the dry down, almost producing a blend of chocolate and vanilla aromas.

Luna Rossa Ocean– A lot of the Prada Luna Rossa fragrances are in the mix. The newer Ocean appears to have secured a spot in the top 20, though.

This one is a mixed bag. I loved the opening act. I wish that they could have captured that and made it last for 8 hours. The problem is, it is short-lived and the back half of the fragrance while smelling nice, is very weak.

Suede, caramel, and tonka bean with a fresh bergamot citrus was a great idea. The rest of the execution, eh…Luna Rossa Ocean Review

Le Male Le Parfum– Following in the footsteps of the original Le Male and Ultra Male, Le Parfum is now the premier option from Gaultier.

Very nice with the appealing DNA of the original Le Male, especially coming from the lavender in the beginning. This is sort of an updated version of the classic.

It also gives you hints of Ultra Male, without the same powerful sillage (though, performance is still very good). Very warm with spicy punches throughout and wrapped up in that familiar JPG vanilla note.

The Most Wanted Parfum– From ‘The Wanted’ line The Most Wanted Parfum is now the best seller on most sites. I cannot really disagree with the demand for this cologne, as it is one of the two best from the series. The other is The Most Wanted EDP.

The opening ginger note is absolute fire. I love that spicy kick and the sweet toffee dry down is also great. Not very complicated scent, but a very good one all around.

most wanted parfum review