The Definitive Guide to Finding the Best Smelling Cologne for Men

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Craft your personal style and turn things up a notch with the best-smelling cologne for men. If you want to look and feel your best—and put your best foot forward—you’ll need a signature scent that tells the world who you are.

Finding the right cologne can be daunting. With thousands of fragrances to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to narrow it down. There are endless aromas and vibes, from colognes for work to a scent you’ll wear on your wedding day.

With our guide to the best-smelling cologne for men, you’ll find a fragrance to complement your personality and aspirations. Whether you’re interested in a timeless scent with an aura of sophistication or you’d prefer a bold fragrance with a modern flair, there’s something for everyone on this list.

1. Blu Atlas Bountiful Eau de Parfum

Ground yourself with a sophisticated, bold, clean scent. Bountiful EDP is the best-smelling cologne for men and captivates the senses with a four-season fragrance that highlights your best features. Bountiful is for the man who finds purpose and inspiration in the traditions of time-steeped heritage and strives to craft a legacy worth eternalizing.

Premium ingredients deliver a crisp, distinguished scent that blends fresh and woody notes perfectly. Top notes like lemon, pink peppercorn, and bergamot invite you into the fragrance, giving it a sharp, bright opening. Middle notes of oakmoss, cardamom, orris, and hyacinth ground the more intense top notes, allowing the fragrance to mellow into a refined, masculine scent. Base notes of cedar, sandalwood, musk, vetiver, and patchouli support the notes and give the fragrance its potent masculine aroma.

Bountiful EDP is a daily cologne that fits every setting. From a beach day with your family to your best friend’s wedding, it’s a fragrance that can go as far—or as long—as you do. Bountiful is the best-smelling cologne for men and our top pick this year.

2. Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum

Sweep your date off their feet with a fragrance that draws out your raw, rugged side. Dior Sauvage is an undeniably popular cologne due to its sensual, approachable fragrance. Bottles of Dior Sauvage are wildly popular and find their way into birthday presents and under the tree on Christmas morning.

The scent leaves a lasting impression on those close enough to enjoy your cologne. Calabrian bergamot intertwines with nutmeg, amberwood, pepper, and vanilla for an appealing woody scent.

Men who wear the cologne share that it’s an excellent fragrance for most seasons, although it really shines in winter, autumn, and summer.

3. Calvin Klein Eternity for Men Eau de Toilette

Some men prefer a gentle floral fragrance that smells of romance and a beautiful spring day. While the fragrance is made and marketed for men, it’s a unisex scent that captures the fleeting nature of the seasons.

Playful notes like sage, white lily, patchouli, freesia, and sandalwood mix to give you a timeless, fun scent. Many gents who wear Eternity EDT love it as a lightweight fragrance for daytime wear. It’s an ideal scent that doesn’t overpower those around them or cause headaches. We recommend this best-smelling cologne to men who want a fresh, floral fragrance with woody notes that tone down the floral scent.

4. Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette

Welcome the sweet, sultry scent of a jazz club after dark with this alluring cologne. Cozy up with your love interest in a booth with crackling leather as you sip overpriced martinis. As the smooth sounds of jazz ring in your ears, you hear the swish of legs as men and women weave around the club—some dancing, most drinking, and everyone having a great time.

Replica Jazz Club is a boozy, sultry scent that brings ultimate warmth and masculine depth to your signature fragrance. While it’s a strong fragrance for some, it’s an ideal winter and autumn fragrance to keep you warm during those dark winter months.

5. Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

Smell that? That sensual, romantic fragrance wafting through the air? Yeah, that’s Le Labo Santal 33. It is a cult-classic unisex fragrance that has both men and women in an absolute chokehold.

Whether you’re standing in line to order a morning coffee or hopping on a flight to visit your friend, you’re bound to catch a whiff of this much-loved fragrance. Santal 33 is a rich, intoxicating scent that uses smoky, woody notes and fresh, spicy aromas to help you smell amazing.

Le Labo Santal 33 is the best-smelling cologne for men who want a seductive, unisex fragrance that doesn’t rock the boat and smells incredible to everyone.

6. DS & Durga Debaser Eau de Parfum

Get in, boys. We’re heading into a world where fragrance and music meet. Debaser from DS & Durga is a summer- and music-inspired cologne that combines fresh summer scents with a punk-rock vibe. It got its name from a Pixies song and has a Spotify playlist to give you the full experience of enjoying punk rock music in the summer while smelling incredible.

Hot summer notes like green leaf, pear stem, and moss will help you smell your best. While the fragrance works best in summer, it’s also a great pick-me-up during colder months when you want a blast of humid, fresh scents.

7. Kilian Dark Lord Eau de Parfum

Light meets dark in Kilian’s Dark Lord EDP. It’s a leathery, stunning scent that elevates your fragrance. As a smooth, boozy, unisex fragrance, it leans more towards being masculine and is one of the best-smelling colognes for men.

Dark Lord combines light notes like jasmine, bergamot, and pepper with mysterious, muskier fragrances like leather, vetiver, and rum. It’s a perfect day-to-night fragrance that you can wear from the office to the bar.

How to Shop for the Best-Smelling Cologne for Men

Nail down your signature scent and learn how to shop for the best-smelling cologne. Here’s what you need to know before clicking “add to cart.”

Fragrance Type

Searching for a gentle summer fragrance that doesn’t rock the boat? Or maybe you’re more interested in a sophisticated, elegant scent that works well in business meetings? Know your vibe and fragrance type before buying cologne.

A high-quality cologne won’t come cheap. That’s why we recommend nailing down your preferred fragrance type (and where you’ll wear it) before taking the leap. Consider the four main fragrance families—florals, amber, fresh, and woody—to help narrow your search and decide if you’re interested in a four-season cologne or a classic scent.

Staying Power

Always opt for a cologne with a staying power that suits your lifestyle and needs. If you want a cologne to last the whole workday, opt for parfum or eau de parfum. They are the longest-lasting type of fragrance for men.

Guys looking for a lighter cologne with shorter staying power should opt for an eau de cologne or eau de toilette. These typically last around half the day and aren’t overpowering.

Budget

Colognes often command high price tags, especially those with premium, clean ingredients. That’s why we recommend doing the research and finding a cologne that suits your lifestyle before buying. A high-quality cologne typically costs between $75 to $185.

Frequently Asked Questions

What men’s colognes get the best compliments?

Blu Atlas Bountiful EDP and Dior Sauvage EDP are two popular men’s colognes that get the best compliments. Both fragrances are an alluring blend of notes and work well as a daytime or nighttime fragrance.

Each fragrance mixes fresh, bright notes with sultrier, darker aromas that make the colognes a bold, modern, classic scent.

What cologne smells the best on guys?

Bountiful EDP from Blu Atlas smells the best on guys. Suit up for a meeting or a meet your date at a karaoke bar, and carry the fragrance of a confident man. Bountiful EDP evokes images of open green fields and crisp, rugged aromas straight from the woods. Spritz Bountiful EDP on pulse points in the morning to enjoy the best-smelling cologne for men.