A good men’s fragrance is wearable, long-lasting and tends to have some universal appeal—however, that doesn’t mean it needs to be so commonplace that every third or fourth guy is wearing it. Our top pick for the best cologne for men is the fresh, aromatic and invigoratingly woody Jo Malone Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense. Another favorite on our list is the Commodity Juice Expressive EDP, a fruity-floral rhubarb scent that’s radiant and approachable.
The best colognes for men are wearable and long-lasting and should feel like an extension of your … [+]
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
Choosing a cologne is a personal experience that often involves trial and error, so don’t be afraid to try before you buy—and many brands offer discovery sets that allow you to sample a few scents without committing to a whole bottle. “Many offer a small sample vial of their product, and some even let you pay a sample purchase forward on a full-size upgrade,” says fragrance expert Leila Zagwolsky. Here are the best colognes for men; for even more shopping inspiration, we rounded up the best summer fragrances for men.
- Best Cologne Overall For Men: Jo Malone Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense
- Best Value Cologne For Men: Huron Sea Salt + Driftwood
- Best Luxury Cologne For Men: Krigler Lindauer Löwe 08
- Best Cologne For Young Men: Banana Republic Linen Vetiver
- Best Woody Cologne For Men: Gabar 04 (Nolita) Rise
- Best Spicy Cologne For Men: Fulton & Roark Calle Ocho Extrait
- Best Floral Cologne For Men: Etat Libre D’Orange Exit The King
- Citrus Cologne For Men: YSL Myslf
- Best Fruity Cologne For Men: Commodity Juice Expressive
- Best Year-Round Cologne For Men: Fragrance Du Bois Minuit Et Demi
Sephora
Jo Malone Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense
Key notes: Cypress, grapevine, moss, amber | Fragrance family: Woody aromatic | Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces
Jo Malone has one of the best fragrance portfolios, and you can find something appealing without worrying about your coworker or best friend wearing the same scent. Take the sophisticated and stirring Cypress & Grapevine cologne (another helpful thing about Jo’s scents is that they give away the essence right there in the name). This one is a chameleon; it can feel smart in the workplace or playful on a date, containing as many nuances as its wearer requires and suiting any season, too.
Key notes: Sea salt, driftwood, mandarin, cardamom, lavender, cedar | Fragrance family: Woody aromatic | Size: 1.7 ounces
Huron’s scents span its men’s grooming assortment, but they’re all supremely wearable as standalone personal fragrances, too—not just as body washes and deodorants. The latest addition to its roster, Sea Salt + Driftwood, is profoundly fresh and mind-clearing. Notes of cedar and mandarin balance out spicy cardamom, lavender and driftwood. And the affordable price is a nice touch.
Key notes: Green tea, mandarin, rose, cedarwood, amber | Fragrance family: Citrus | Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces
Each new scent from bespoke perfumer Krigler feels like a collector’s item right out of the gate. The brand’s latest scent is inspired by the vacation destination of many Swiss, Austrians and Germans, the Bavarian island of Lindau. It’s reminiscent of fresh flowers in bloom and also has the perfect pinch of mandarin to keep you floating.
Key notes: Bergamot, petitgrain, iris, jasmine, vetiver, oakmoss, musk | Fragrance family: Woody fresh | Size: 2.5 ounces
A new wave of customers is taking the fragrance industry by storm: Young men searching for the most exclusive or niche “fit.” While popular clothing retailer Banana Republic probably didn’t come to mind first, its entire range of fragrances is sophisticated and nuanced. As for this specific scent, it smells clean with a slight woodiness and sweetness, thanks to the addition of iris and jasmine.
Key notes: Amberwood, cashmere wood, cedarwood, juniper, pink pepper, lavender, lily of the valley | Fragrance family: Woody aromatic | Size: 1.7 ounces
Few brands earn you that tastemaker cred quite like wearing a scent by Gabar. The indie label recently expanded its three-product assortment with a fourth fragrance, appropriately called Rise, which points to the kinetic, pavement-pounding energy of waking up in a big city. A trio of woody notes that include cedarwood are balanced with a surprisingly unique freshness.
Fulton & Roark
Fulton & Roark Calle Ocho Extrait
Key notes: Rum, tobacco, sandalwood, tonka bean, cinnamon, bitter chocolate, musk | Fragrance family: Spicy woody | Size: 1.7 ounces
Most scents branded “spicy” lean heavily into those heady, sensual notes. But Calle Ocho strikes a nice balance with hints of rum, tobacco, cinnamon and bitter chocolate. It has a warmth, while fresh sage and orange rind add a fresh finish to the concoction. Plus, the edible and gourmand aspect gives it more daytime approachability. It could even be your signature scent throughout summer—something the “spicy” category can’t usually promise.
Key notes: Soap foam, pink pepper, jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, patchouli, moss | Fragrance family: Powdery floral | Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces
The key to finding a great floral scent for men is to look for a lightly powdery or soapy pick; these blends smell fresh and clean while allowing the floral notes to add texture. Exit the King is the best example of this with its charming and zenlike vibe. Despite smelling quite clean, there’s sweetness from the white florals (jasmine, lily of the valley) with a bit of musk underneath.
Key notes: Bergamot, orange blossom, patchouli | Fragrance family: Citrus woody | Sizes: 0.34 ounces, 1.35 ounces, 2 ounces, 3.4 ounces
While YSL Myslf is technically a woody floral scent, those opening citrus notes give it a remarkable first impression. It’s an excellent example of how smelling a fragrance in person can go in a different direction from how it’s marketed. This blend is surprisingly playful and fresh.
Key notes: Raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry, amberwood, rose | Fragrance family: Fruity floral | Size: 0.34 ounces, 3.4 ounces
Rhubarb is one of the fragrance world’s unsung heroes. It centers any sweet or fruity notes, and it’s a refreshing addition to the cologne space. Commodity Juice Expressive makes this key ingredient the star of the show, with floral notes and a slightly smokey, musky undertone.
Fragrance Du Bois
Fragrance Du Bois Minuit Et Demi
Key notes: Cardamom, caramel, vanilla, coffee, bourbon, cashmeran, tobacco | Fragrance family: Spicy gourmand | Size: 3.4 ounces
The roster of notes on this long-lasting extrait would suggest it best for fall or winter. However, the masterful layering of vanilla, caramel, coffee, bourbon and tobacco somehow results in it being perfectly appropriate to wear through all seasons. The warm spices are complemented by pimento and bergamot, which lends a dash of citrus to the blend.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of grooming articles. These include topics like the best summer fragrances for men, the top deodorants for men and more.
- Author of this piece Adam Hurly is a grooming reporter with over a decade of experience. He has personally tested the majority of fragrance picks highlighted in this article.
- This story was edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who leads the beauty and grooming vertical and has 15-plus years under her belt covering lifestyle topics.
- For some framework around smart fragrance shopping, we tapped Leila Zagwolsky, co-founder and CEO of perfume discovery platform LUXSB.
- We refresh this list regularly to ensure it’s up-to-date on product availability and prices.
How We Chose The Best Colognes For Men
Buying fragrance is very personal, and who’s to say that any two readers have the same motivations when shopping for a new cologne? When choosing the best men’s colognes, we knew it was important to have a list that represents different budgets, moods and seasons.
- The products in this roundup all have overwhelmingly more favorable reviews than negative ones across key purchase platforms or fragrance forums like Fragrantica.
- Since we all experience fragrance differently—and two people might have opposite opinions on the same cologne, even if it is universally beloved—we focused on picks that aren’t too polarizing. Everything on this list would wear well in the workplace as well as on a date or as a signature scent.
- In addition to a range of prices, the fragrances featured here span the spectrum of niche to mass market. You can walk into Sephora and smell YSL’s Myself, for example, but it might be hard to find one of the more niche brands in person. Still, with all of these curated scents, you can order a small enough sample vial from one of the retailers featured here to test the scent before committing to a full bottle.
