Everything You Need to Know about the Best Fragrances for Men

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Are you a gamer who hasn’t seen the light of day in two weeks? Or maybe you’re a busy working lad with tons of deadlines and spend late nights in the office. In your busy world, there’s very little time to learn about the best fragrances for men. That’s why we’re here!

There’s so much you should know about colognes before you buy—how to apply it, the proper storage technique, how to pick out a new scent, and more. Our guide covers all the essential cologne topics and highlights the best fragrances for men so you can smell fantastic every day.

1. Blu Atlas Bountiful Eau de Parfum

If there’s one thing you need in your morning routine, it’s to spritz on the best fragrance for men. As the best fragrance option for guys, Bountiful by Blu Atlas is a woody, earthy cologne with a fresh core, making it an ideal four-season fragrance.

Bountiful is a bold fragrance made with clean, premium ingredients. Its allure is that of a man who can access his inner confidence after one spray. A smooth blend of notes delivers crisp freshness, making this fragrance a bold, fresh, woody scent with all the right masculine notes. Bountiful is for the man who finds purpose and inspiration in the traditions of time-steeped heritage and who strives to craft a legacy worth eternalizing.

Vetiver, cedar, bergamot, lemon, and sandalwood are a few of the premium notes that make the fragrance so luxurious. Bountiful is the best fragrance for men and the ideal cologne for men seeking an option for daily use.

2. Chanel Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Put your trust in Chanel’s best-selling cologne. A popular choice among men who like to smell fabulous, it’s a trusted blend with a clean, classic scent that oozes charisma and old money.

Bleu de Chanel is a bold, modern fragrance with cedar, citrus, tonka bean, vanilla, and sandalwood notes to help you smell your best. Among the top reasons men love it so much is that it’s an ideal fragrance for transitioning from night to day.

It’s a top cologne for office wear and an undeniably fresh, alluring scent for your next date.

3. Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette

Are you new to the fragrance scene and looking for a scent that’s not 100% masculine and in your face? CK One from Calvin Klein is a wildly popular unisex scent that is sensual and alluring. The harmonious blend of notes is pleasing to both men and women.

While the fragrance blend isn’t overtly masculine, it carries rich, musky undertones, making it an excellent choice for men who want a gentle, lightweight cologne. Notes like bergamot, green tea, violet, rose, amber, musk, and cardamom help it straddle the line between perfume and cologne and help you smell fresh all day.

4. Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

Are you looking for a sultry, charged cologne? Le Labo Santal 33 screams, “I am a man; hear me roar.” The signature scent contains notes perfect for romantic dates and uses sandalwood, ambrox, iris, leather accord, and cardamom to harness its seductive side.

With a bold, sexy fragrance like Santal 33, you can strut through the streets with the confidence of a man who knows he smells incredible. Le Labo formulates long-lasting fragrances so you don’t have to reapply often and can get an all-day charming aroma.

5. Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum

Men and women can agree on one thing: Dior Sauvage EDP is one of the best fragrances for men. It’s a crisp, sensual fragrance that mixes with natural oils to give men an all-over scent charged with sex appeal.

Even though this alluring fragrance is best for date nights or nights when you’re trying to turn up the heat, it works well as a day-to-night fragrance. Wear it at the office for important meetings or before important events. Sauvage EDP is one of the best fragrances for men and a top pick for many men.

6. Tom Ford Ombre Leather Eau de Parfum

Open your senses to the whisper of leather and the tendrils of smoky, alluring fragrance wafting through the room. Ombre Leather by Tom Ford is a unisex leather fragrance that captures the beauty and scents of the American West.

Layer the fragrance with other scents and allow its masculine notes to unfold. Amber, moss, black leather, patchouli, vetiver, and jasmine make the cologne heady and mysterious. Ombre Leather is an ideal option for men who want a rich, masculine scent that layers well and creates a natural, alluring scent when it mixes with your natural oils.

7. Henry Rose Menace Eau de Parfum

Menace from Henry Rose is an ocean-rich fragrance that harnesses aquatic notes to give men and women a long-lasting, seductive scent. It works well for men and women as a unisex scent, but it carries more masculine notes to make it a top fragrance for men.

Light, fresh, and clean, with a few rugged masculine notes, it’s an ideal fragrance when you need a pick-me-up. Crisp marine notes, cedarwood, patchouli, lime, and tangerine help turn heads and give a best-smelling fragrance.

How to Choose the Best Fragrance for Men

Here’s what you need to know before buying a new fragrance.

Know Fragrance Families (and Popular Notes)

There are four main fragrance families: amber, floral, fresh, and woody. Every cologne fits into a fragrance family, giving you an idea of what it might smell like.

Woody colognes are earthy, masculine scents and are the most popular type of fragrance for men. Colognes in the woody fragrance family use notes like patchouli, cedar, musk, and sandalwood to give the scent a deep, rich fragrance.

Amber fragrances are made with exotic, spicy ingredients and are often worn when one wants sex appeal. They’re alluring, mysterious scents that use notes like anise, vanilla, myrrh, and amber.

Fresh colognes are made with sharp, crisp notes that often make you think of summer or a clean ocean scent. They often blend herbs, fruity notes, bright citrus, and aquatic aromas. Popular notes include bergamot, white flowers, and citrus.

Floral fragrances are most commonly found in perfumes made for women but are occasionally used to craft unisex scents. Popular floral notes include jasmine, rose, and orange blossom.

Understand Your Budget

Knowing your budget is essential when it comes to choosing the best fragrance. High-quality colognes get pricey (quickly), often costing between $120 and $200+.

We recommend setting your budget before going shopping or buying a new fragrance. This will help you resist temptation and stick to spending within your means.

What Are Top, Middle, and Base Notes?

You don’t have to be a fragrance expert to find the best cologne, but understanding top, middle, and base notes and how they work in a scent will help you in your search.

Top notes are the introductory scents. They come out bold and strong but “calm” down after ten to fifteen minutes. Middle notes are the core of your scent, and base notes are the foundation. Base notes stick around the longest because they are often powerful, deep aromas and scents.

Understanding top, middle, and base notes can help you quickly identify fragrance favorites and easily skim through cologne possibilities. Some men prefer fresh, citrus scents, while others prefer rich, woody fragrances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best place to store cologne?

Always store cologne in a cool, dark room or cabinet. Keep it out of sunlight and humid rooms (like bathrooms when they get steamy). Store fragrance bottles in a closet or cabinet in your bedroom or other location with climate control (with no high heat or humidity).

How do you apply cologne?

Welcome, cologne newbie. Follow these simple steps to get a longer-lasting fragrance. Always apply cologne to clean skin and spray on pulse points like the wrists and neck. We don’t recommend the “walk-through” method, spraying a cologne into the air and then walking through it. That puts the cologne all over your clothes and won’t mix with your natural oils.

Which fragrance is best for men?

The best fragrance for men is Blu Atlas Bountiful Eau de Parfum. It’s a bold, clean fragrance that gives you the fragrance of an alluring modern man. At first spritz, the cologne opens with bright citrus notes and transitions into a masculine, charged scent that instantly boosts your confidence.