12 Best Smelling Colognes for Men

If your signature scent is shaving cream and bar soap, it’s time to step up your game. A good cologne can make a man seem more put-together, attractive, and confident. But the fragrance world can be confusing at the best of times, and finding the right fragrance for you is a case of trial and error. The best method is to sample as many as you can, see what appeals to you and if it appeals to others. But to make your life a bit easier, we’ve curated a list of the 12 best smelling colognes for men.

Whether you’re into outdoorsy scents or something more culinary, we list colognes to suit the taste of every man.

1. Atlantis by Blu Atlas

True to its name, Blu Atlas Atlantis aims to inspire adventure by evoking the thrill of exploring not only exotic lands but mythica. Atlantis is inspired by Bali’s coastal jungle but the scent itself inspires images of legendary and far-off places.

Atlantis is a cologne that’s fresh and cool. It has top notes of blackcurrant, bergamot, and lemon, which give a citrus kick to this cologne. But the heart of this cologne consists of scents like lavender, apricot, and clary sage. This unique combination comes into play once the citrus fades to evoke the excitement that comes with travel and adventure.

The base notes are woodsy and inviting. They include musk, oak-moss, and ambrette seed. These are premium ingredients found in all corners of the world. This creates a lasting scent that leaves a lasting impression. Blue Atlas has also taken care to avoid ingredients that can irritate the skin, so this cologne is paraben-free, phthalate-free, and preservative-free.

Blu Atlas Atlantis is sleek and sophisticated, and you can have it as your signature scent or as an extra special cologne for your travels. It’s for an adventurous man who wants to stand out from the crowd in an understated way that’s cool, calm, and confident.

2. Bleu de Chanel by Chanel

Chanel has been a classic in the perfume industry for decades. Bleu de Chanel has been a Chanel product that has stood the test of time. It continues to be ranked as one of the best smelling colognes for men. This cologne is noted for its woodsy but fruity scents that has made it a versatile fragrance that can easily become a man’s signature.

Mysterious and aromatic, this cologne’s initial notes are grapefruit, pink pepper, lemon, and mint, which introduce the scent with crispness and cleanness. What follows are a blend of spicy and mild notes of ginger, jasmine, and nutmeg. These create a mesmerizing yet classic fragrance characteristic of many Chanel scents, yet differentiated by unique profiles.

Bleu de Chanel really stands out with its longevity and the cedar and incense base notes. It’s a universal scent that suits men of any age. Bleu de Chanel is a blue scent, which means it’s lightweight and characterized by freshness and cleanness. Chanel puts a twist on this common fragrance subset by experimenting with wood, incense, and musk elements that don’t compromise the cologne’s freshness. This quality fragrance is perfect for professional men looking for a scent that leaves a good impression on everyone in their professional and personal lives.

3. Homme by Dior

Dior’s Homme has gone through a few transformations in its time. It was originally formulated in 2005, then again in 2011. And now the 2020 formulation of Homme comes with a brand new motto: “I’m your man.” This cologne aims to reinvent the idea of masculine sensuality with clear woody notes tinged with sweetness. It lingers close to the skin making it an intimate scent.

This cologne opens with the citrusy notes of bergamot and a kick of pink pepper. But once the top notes get one’s attention, then the richness of the heart notes follows. Cashmere wood, patchouli, and atlas cedar give Dior’s Homme its aromatic and carnal fragrance. The heart notes evaporate to reveal the vetiver and white musk underneath. It also adds layers of depth and maturity to the scent. It's minimalistic and masculine, a modern scent for the modern man.

The bottle has stayed true to its original packaging, and in the process has stayed recognizable. Like the scent itself, Homme’s packaging is minimalistic without being spartan while conveying a sense of luxury and class. This cologne relies on its warm woody notes and citrus that gives it a spicy tang. The lack of sweet notes makes this cologne masculine all the way through.

4. Jazz Club by Maison Maison Margiela

The packaging says it all. This cologne gives you nostalgia for memories you don’t have and an era you haven’t lived through. Jazz Club is classy, charming, and “memory in a fragrance.” It reminds you of boozy nights in the swankiest of bygone jazz clubs. While those places have long since disappeared, their essence still lives on.

This cologne is smoky and rich with the heady scents of alcohol. The harmony of this fragrance starts with the top notes. Pink pepper makes another appearance, it appears to be a crowd favorite among the best colognes. The pepper highlights the citrus, which leads to the harmony of the heart notes. Rum, vetiver, and clary sage add depth and complexity to this cologne. Then to finish this symphony of scents are the base notes. Mellow as piano keys, the vanilla and tobacco complement each other like the notes of a perfect chord. The sweetness of the vanilla perfectly balances the bitterness of tobacco.

Jazz Club is a heady scent that lasts long after it’s been spritzed on. It’s recommended for men who are drawn to the magnetism of boozy, tobacco tinged scents, albeit without any of the sourness and harsh chemicals that come with it. The vanilla and citrus prevent the alcohol from being too sharp and overpowering.

5. Eros by Versace

Greek myth has played a large part in Versace’s history. In 1993, Medusa was the face of Versace’s logo. Once seen, a person couldn’t look away from Medusa. Versace aimed to embody the captivating power of Medusa in his products. The theme of captivation continues in this cologne: Eros, named after the Greek god of passion and son of Aphrodite.

Eros is a fresh and woody scent. The freshness comes from the mint, lemon, and green apple in the top notes. When the cologne dries, it reveals the middle notes, an intoxicating mixture of geranium and tonka bean, which gives the heart of the scent some warmth. The base mainly features vanilla and cedarwood; it’s dry, woody and has longevity. This cologne projects well and keeps one’s attention.

Versace’s Eros is meant to make a statement. It’s gained status as a clubbing scent because of its sexy and crowd-pleasing nature. But opinions differ on this cologne’s usage. For more casual events, fewer spritzes of Eros are appropriate. This scent is for the youthful man who loves to enjoy life. It’s a great and popular fragrance for men who are just starting to venture into the world of colognes.

6. Blue Sage by Korres

Korres is about simplicity. Despite the name Blue Sage, the emphasis on this scent is on greenness and new beginnings. It’s reminiscent of spring and summer. The herbal aspects of this cologne aren’t heavy or overbearing. It’s a niche brand that pushed itself towards the front of the pack with its unique scent profile.

The top notes of lime, grapefruit, and mint have their say and introduce you to the scent of the green seasons. Then the greenness comes through via sage and fir balsam. The fir notes become stronger as time goes by. Then the scent mellows down to amber, vetiver, and patchouli, creating an earthy scent that reminds you of summer rain. The sage and geranium blend leaves a light musk scent that’s pleasant, mild, and will see you through the brighter days.

The green scent to this cologne isn’t bitter but has a light sweetness to it. It’s a refreshing scent but is also familiar. Adventurous but comforting, this scent manages to do the most with clever blends of ingredients. Blue Sage is a perfect day scent and would be a great opener for the warmer seasons. It’s a breath of fresh air among fragrances and would be a welcome addition to many a scent collection. To top it all off, this cologne is sulfate- and paraben-free, decreasing the chances that it will irritate your skin.

7. Tobacco Oud by Tom Ford

In the scent family, Tom Ford Tobacco Oud is the suave older brother. Mature enough to be cool but not so old as to be out-of-date. Heavy and bold, this scent has signature qualities of a Tom Ford cologne. Tobacco Oud is also noted for its creativity.

Tobacco Oud is unique in that from the first spritz, the opening scents feel like base notes. It’s complex, heady, and boozy with a resin-like quality. There’s only one ingredient among the top notes: whisky. It speaks for itself with the boozy sweetness. The cinnamon and spice make their entrance once the whiskey fades, adding dark and mysterious complexity to the cologne. Finally, it dries down to the base notes, which are the strongest tier of this fragrance and do the majority of the heavy lifting.

Tobacco and oud have been present throughout the scent journey. Towards the end, the scent matures into a woodier fragrance. It conveys classic elegance that makes the harsher notes wearable for many occasions. It also has strong longevity and users have reported that the scent can linger even 12 hours after application. But as always with unique scents, it’s best to sample the product before committing to a full bottle.

8. Aventus by Creed

Like Tobacco Oud, this has a mature feel while retaining its relevance. Creed by Aventus is among the better known niche fragrances that’s still going strong over ten years since its debut. It’s a unique mixture of fruity and smoky that can easily be a signature scent and can be worn anywhere, whether you're going out or spending the day in the office.

The opening of the cologne is noted for its strong pineapple scent, supported by apple, bergamot, and black currant. The birch from the middle notes provides some smokiness, enhanced by the patchouli and given a floral edge from jasmine and rose. The base notes round off the scent with musk, vanilla, oak moss, and ambergris.

This one is another summer/spring scent that’s great for daytime events. Unfortunately, the longevity leaves something to be desired since it only lasts for a couple of hours. Regardless, this is another crowd-pleaser scent, which is a given considering its popularity. This cologne is also on the pricier end, but that’s because of Creed’s dedication to making sure their colognes are 100% handmade. Every part of the cologne process is done by hand from harvesting ingredients to the processing.

9. Boss The Scent Absolute by Hugo Boss

Like the name suggests, Boss The Scent Absolute is for a man who’s self-assured, self-confident, and in control of his life. It’s intended to send a message that says, “I know what I want, I am in charge, and I do not leave anything to chance.” This cologne succeeds on all fronts by keeping it simple with minimal and unique ingredients that leave a long lasting impression.

The fresh and spicy scent of ginger leads the charge with confidence. The undercurrent of spice below the refreshing burst that comes with ginger hints at what’s to come. The heart notes are new to the fragrance world but are likely to become mainstays. Maninka fruit is reported to smell like “strawberries dipped in chocolate.” Before making its foray into perfumery, Maninka fruit was used in traditional African medicine and is reported to be an aphrodisiac. So, it’s the perfect ingredient to represent magnetism and form the intriguing heart of Boss The Scent Absolute. Alongside Maninka fruit is mondia root, which has a vanilla-like scent with hints of liquorice and cinnamon. Finally, after some exciting heart notes, the base scent of vetiver appears, bringing with it an elegant and dry earthy end to the scent journey.

Energetic, exotic, and addictive, Boss the Scent Absolute is like none other out there. It’s a dark and masculine scent that’s suitable for the cooler months of the year.

10. Hero by Burberry

Hero by Burberry is a woody, fresh, and spicy fragrance. It’s subtle and brings to mind images of evergreen forests. But this is a cologne for modern times. The bottle is sleek and current, representing the cologne within. While this cologne draws on time-tested notes like cedar and juniper, the scents are office-ready and are a great choice for everyday wear.

Bergamot is the opener for this cologne. Its fresh and citrusy scent eases into juniper and black pepper. The herbaceousness accented with a spicy kick retains its subtlety while adding an interesting twist. The base notes in Hero do most of the work and add a woodsy and forest-fresh quality to the fragrance while retaining sophistication.

Hero by Burberry won’t turn you into a main character, but it won’t make you the villain of the office either. The subtlety of this cologne makes it a pleasant fragrance that isn’t going to get complaints but isn’t going to turn too many heads either. That said, sometimes simplicity is a good thing. Complex scents can be overwhelming and controversial at times. But simple smells of pine and citrus could be what saves the day and gives some much needed aroma to the daily office grind.

11. Explorer by Mont Blanc

Lovers of Aventus by Creed are likely to become fans of this scent too. Explorer by Mont Blanc has the citrusy and woody notes of Aventus but with enhanced peppery notes and a fresher feel. But Explorer stands on its own as a dark masculine scent that has a classic feel.

Explorer carries the thrill of adventure and freedom in its scent. The scent is meant to narrate a journey around the world and the feelings associated with it. The top notes include bergamot, pink pepper and clary sage. They combine to create a scent that’s citrusy and bright, reminiscent of excitement. The dry-down reveals middle notes of leather and vetiver that sit close to the skin. Finally, the base notes of Ambroxan, cacao, and patchouli end the scent journey. It represents the last leg of the explorer’s journey, once they’ve become competent and familiar with adventure

Explorer is more affordable than Aventus and replaces the smokiness with leathery notes. But the promise of adventure is still strong. The scent journey is unique and invigorating and inspires charisma in the wearer. Interestingly, the scent combinations have different effects depending on the user. This is one of those scents where you either hate it or love it. It’s a wildcard cologne that truly takes each buyer on a different journey. But if you do come to love Explorer by Mont Blanc, it’ll likely become a staple in your scent collection.

12. Blackpepper by Comme des Garçons

Food items are a wealth of inspiration when it comes to scents. But in the fragrance world, food scents are often too sweet. The options available sound like things you’d find in a dessert cart or fruit bowl. But Comme des Garcons has provided a darker and more masculine culinary fragrance with their cologne, Blackpepper. Dark and spicy, the heart of this scent is truly in the pepper accords. Every other note is made to complement this common but alluring spice. In that way, this cologne is far different from the mainstream fragrances.

This is pepper in a bottle without any of the sting. This cologne wears its heart on its sleeve by making the top notes the star of the show. The main top note is black pepper, which lasts all the way to the heart notes. There, Oud and tonka bean notes soften the hard edges of the spice. Finally, the woody base of cedar is accented with patchouli. Once the pepper dies down, you get a more conventional scent with the cedar notes.

Despite the spice, this is a cooler scent suited to warmer weather. This has great longevity and can last for hours on the skin. All of black pepper’s best qualities are brought to the forefront without any of the irritation that comes with inhaling a cloud of pepper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are fragrance notes?

Notes are what make perfumes and colognes. They describe the layers of a scent when it's sprayed and when it dries down. There are three layers to a cologne, the top notes, middle notes, also known as heart notes, and finally the base notes. Each layer of fragrance notes has an increasing level of longevity. Top notes may last for a quarter of an hour while base notes can linger for hours after application.

Top Notes: Top notes are what you pick up when you first spray a cologne. They’re often attention-grabbing and give fragrances a lively first impression. They’re also short-lived and may only last up to fifteen minutes. Popular top notes include citrus scents like lemon and bergamot, and light floral or herbaceous scents like rose and basil.

Heart Notes: Like the name suggests, these notes form the “heart” of the cologne. They aim to support the top notes and add some depth and feeling to the scent. This is the part that makes or breaks the cologne and can elevate from nice to truly addicting. The heart notes also make up about 70% of a fragrance and last longer than top notes, generally for up to a couple of hours. The heart notes also cushion the base notes, which might not be pleasing by themselves. Popular heart notes are often full-bodied and include cinnamon, cardamom, ylang-ylang, and geranium, among others.

Base Notes: These are the strong foundations of a fragrance. Similar to heart notes, the base notes add depth to a cologne and act as a support throughout the scent journey. They’re often heavy, rich, and are the scent notes with the most longevity. Base notes are mostly detectable when the heart notes kick in but can linger for more than six hours on the skin. Popular base notes are often composed of woody or musky scents like sandalwood, cedarwood, incense, or musk itself.

How do I choose a cologne?

The best person to choose your cologne is you. It can be hit-and-miss when allowing others to pick a scent on your behalf. Many gifted scents often end up collecting dust and degrading at the back of closets or on shelves. But the opinions of others are still useful when choosing a cologne. Other people can reinforce your opinion or give you a differing perspective. But when multiple people say your cologne has got to go, it’s a clear sign you should try something else.

Blind buys, when you purchase a scent without testing it, are not recommended. The best smelling cologne for men might not be the best smelling cologne for you. Even a five-star cologne can turn sour on the skin of some people. It’s all about how well a cologne suits your body chemistry. And you don’t know that till you test it out for yourself by spraying it on key areas and seeing how the scent changes over the course of a day.

Department stores are the perfect place to sample new colognes. Although, avoid using the cards the store provides. After all, you want to test how the scent works with your body chemistry.

Start by testing two colognes and spraying one on each wrist. Then walk around the store and take a sniff at different intervals. It can be tempting to be swayed by the top notes and initial burst of fragrance that comes with the first spray of a cologne. But a cologne is an experience, so you have to see (or smell, rather) what it’s like from beginning to end.

Remember to refresh your palate between sniffs with something strong like coffee. It’s also worthwhile to take notes on each scent journey so you can refer to them later.

Then purchase your cologne only after you’ve decided on a winner. But your journey into the fragrance world doesn’t end there. In fact, many men have their own scent collections because it can be hard to choose just one favorite.

Where should I apply cologne and how much should I use?

When it comes to some things in life, less is more. We all know of at least one man either personally or in passing whose cologne is overpowering and overwhelming. To avoid becoming a walking cologne cloud start light. One single spray on your chest is enough to start with. Hold the spray bottle 3 to 6 inches from your skin before spraying.

Then once you're more comfortable and familiar with colognes, spray on the warmest parts of your body such as the lower jaw, neck, wrist, inner elbow, forearm, and shoulder. Those locations are best because as the day progresses, your body heat will propagate the scent. But don’t start by spraying on all these hot spots. It’s all about being gentle and gradual. Start with one spot then as you become more familiar with the cologne spray it in 2 to 3 other areas. Re-spray the scent when required. But whatever you do, avoid spraying cologne on the crotch area.

If there’s one overall lesson you should take away from this, it’s that a fragrance is a journey, not a destination. So, it’s about discovery and not power. Other people should be able to pick up on a cologne, not be overpowered by its scent.