Best Overall Cologne
Dior Sauvage Elixir
Dior Sauvage is a classic either way you slice it (not to mention, it’s the best-selling men’s fragrance in the world). This version, Elixir, is like the older, more mature brother of the original Sauvage. It’s ultra-concentrated and has more staying power, which is always welcome when it comes to cologne. It also smells spicier thanks to notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. It’s the spiciness that gives it a more elegant vibe while still keeping this cologne versatile enough to wear during both the day and night.
It’s this versatility that keeps us coming back to it in our ongoing cologne testing. There are many similar colognes out there, but nothing holds up to this one—oft-imitated, never duplicated. The mix of freshness, spiciness and earthiness that Sauvage Elixir has strikes exactly the right balance that makes it a crowd-pleaser—not just for the wearer, but for anyone who smells it. It’s bold enough to make a statement on a date, but still subtle enough to be appropriate for the office without leaving a cloud of scent behind you wherever you go. We can confidently say that if we had to wear only one cologne for the rest of our lives, it would be this one.
Read more: Best Smelling Colognes
| Fragrance Family | Woody |
|---|---|
| Key notes | Grapefruit, lavender, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom |
| Size | 2 oz, 3.4 oz |
Best for The Boardroom
Tom Ford Noir Extreme Parfum
The best boardroom fragrances are bold and authoritative without being too aggressive or off-putting. This strikes just the right balance. Warm, velvety notes of cardamom, amber and sandalwood—dialed all the way up. It’s intense, but that’s the whole point. It’s spicy and masculine in a way that commands attention but won’t overpower the room (even though it’s extreme).
| Fragrance Family | Woody, Amber |
|---|---|
| Key Notes | Cardamom, amber, sandalwood, tonka bean |
| Size | 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz |
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Best Daytime Cologne
Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette
This fragrance is an icon for a reason—it’s just plain good. The fresh, luxurious mix of grapefruit, cedar, and sandalwood is masculine without being in-your-face and ideal to wear during the day when you want something a little more subtle. That essential combination is what makes it one of the top-selling men’s fragrances in the world.
It’s also extremely versatile and, while ideal for daytime, isn’t out of place if you wear it at night—especially if you let it dry down a bit so the freshness dissipates and the warmer sandalwood notes emerge on your skin. It’s one of those colognes that evolves throughout the day yet still stays identifiable. It won’t create a cloud of fragrance around you, but still leaves an impression.
| Fragrance Family | Fresh |
|---|---|
| Key Notes | Grapefruit, dry cedar, sandalwood |
| Size | 3.4 oz |
Best Bold Cologne
Drakkar Intense Eau de Parfum
This bold scent may have shades of the classic Noir, but it’s definitely not your dad’s Drakkar. This new version is tempered and modernized with botanicals like sage, bergamot, and a subtle suede note. It’s attention-grabbing but not in-your-face. Perhaps the best thing about it is the longevity, which lasts for hours on your skin, so you can enjoy the bold scent without the need to reapply frequently. In fact, we found that a few sprays in the morning were enough to keep us smelling great until nightfall and as the cologne developed on our skin it became deeper and sexier.
| Fragrance Family | Woody |
|---|---|
| Key Notes | Amyris, sandalwood, sage, bergamot, suede |
| Size | 1.7 oz |
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Best Vacation Cologne
Diptyque Eau Nabati Eau de Parfum
Some of the best colognes don’t just make you smell good—they transport you. This one is like international travel in a bottle—tropical fruit, paradise garden, exotic spices, and smoky tobacco. Inspired by a mythical garden oasis in the middle of the desert, this cologne opens with a freshness from bergamot and green petitgrain before evolving into a swirl of exotic spices and then settling into a smooth amber note. It calls to mind spice markets, desert sun and exotic plants—the kind you’d encounter on an especially far-flung vacation. Apply this whenever you’re seized with wanderlust.
| Fragrance Family | Amber |
|---|---|
| Key Notes | Bergamot, petitgrain, balsam of Peru, tobacco |
| Size | 2.5 oz |
Best Woody Cologne
D.S. & Durga Cowboy Grass
The star of the show in this uber-masculine cologne is vetiver, which shines through with a grassy, woody, herbal flare throughout the entire concoction. Combined with notes of sagebrush, grass and wild thyme, a spray of this instantly calls to mind wide open plains, sun-crisped wild plants and exploration on horseback. It’s somehow a literal cowboy scent while also being modern and sophisticated enough to wear every day wherever you are—no horse required. Wear this whenever you feel the outdoors calling.
| Fragrance Family | Woody |
|---|---|
| Key Notes | Rosewood, wild thyme, American sagebrush, grass, vetiver |
| Size | 3.3 oz |
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Best Nighttime Cologne
Maison Margiela Replica Under the Stars
Margiela’s Replica fragrances are designed to not just smell good, but capture a vibe—and this one is no exception. The infusion of oud wood, leather, smoke, and crackling black pepper instantly transports you to sitting around a crackling fire, the sky ablaze with stars above you.
It’s deep and layered, the type of cologne that invites people to get closer to you, and the inclusion of oud adds an air of masculine sophistication that makes it an ideal date night cologne. Compared to other oud-forward scents, this one is both identifiable as oud (i.e. elegant and sexy) but isn’t so overpowering that it’s going to leave a trail of cologne wherever you go.
| Fragrance Family | Woody |
|---|---|
| Key Notes | Black pepper, leather, agarwood (oud), labdanum |
| Size | 1 oz, 3.4 oz |
Best Fresh Cologne
Hermes Herbes Vives
Inspired by a garden after it’s rained, this new take on freshness is heavy on the green without the addition of citrus, which could overpower the more subtle vibe of this juice. You’ll also find a hint of juicy pear, which adds a little bit of sweetness but also has a cooling effect that only adds to the freshness. There’s also a note called Physcool, which is like a chill, minty note that physically reacts to the moisture on your skin and gives this a zingy, tingle to drive home the fresh vibe. It’s a new and modern take on freshness that’s versatile and appropriate for anything and every guy.
| Fragrance Family | Fresh |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz |
| Key Notes | Herbal notes, pear, Physcool |
Best Aquatic Cologne
Arquiste A Grove By The Sea
When you think of aquatic scents, you typically think of notes like citrus, driftwood, and salty notes that mimic seawater. This surprising cologne, however, flips that idea on its head. Inspired by Adriatic islands, there are notes of olive oil, fig, pine needles, cypress, and wild herbs. You still have a wet, oceanic quality that gives it an aquatic nature, but without citrus, the effect is earthier and more grounded, not to mention long-lasting and way more sophisticated. If you love fresh colognes but want to elevate your game, this one is for you.
| Fragrance Family | Fresh, Woody |
|---|---|
| Key notes | Fig leaves, olive oil, fig fruit, thyme, rosemary, pine needle, fir balsam, Mediterranean cypress |
| Size | 3.4 oz |
How to Apply Cologne
Apply cologne on the places where you can feel the beats of your heart. This means wrists, the sides of your neck, and over your ticker. The throb adds impact to the scent.
Keep It Light
If you’re constantly smelling the fragrance, you’ve applied too much. People should have to get close to you to say, ‘Gee, you smell nice.’ A couple of spritzes or splashes is enough.
Don’t Clash Scents
You don’t have to use every variation of a fragrance—cologne, aftershave, body wash, deodorant, etc. One at a time is fine. But make sure the other products don’t clash with the scent you choose.
Make It Last
Dry skin? Apply fragrance more often. Oily skin holds scent longer.
Wake Up with a Midday Splash
Cologne can beat the 3 p.m. slump. A quick splash midafternoon is a psychological pick-me-up and keeps you smelling wonderful.
Wear Different Scents for Different Seasons
Heat intensifies any fragrance, and scents are stronger when combined with sweat. That’s why an aromatic or citrus scent works in the summer; you can go heavier in the winter.
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Sean Zucker is the Grooming Commerce Editor at Men’s Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean’s not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck.
