Which cologne should I buy? Guide to Colognes
Guide to Cologne
Finding the best cologne for men means aligning a fragrance to match their indelible spirit can be quite the undertaking. This is why you need a guide to colognes to help navigate through the hundreds of colognes. Though it might seem at first like an impossible task to test each and every brand and model, especially when that may involve traveling to a number of different stores, it’s a task that really needs to be done. After all, many men before you have taken the time to select their best smelling cologne and have bettered their lives because of it. The best cologne for men 2021 list not disappoint.
No one Size fits all for Choosing the Best Cologne
Before we begin, it should be noted that there really is no single best cologne for men. Every man is different and every nose is different, too. The trick to finding the best men’s cologne for you is to figure out what it is that you want your scent to say about you. There are fragrances that exude sensuality with notes of leather accord and spicy cinnamon; others that give off a light and airy summer feel with sweet and light floral notes, and others may exude notes of strength and masculinity with woodsy notes and musk.
Another thing worth mentioning is that men and women don’t always want the same things. Some colognes may simply drive women wild, while others may be more suitable for the board room or a cocktail party. It’s all about playing to your particular strengths and choosing the correct scent for your environment.
Here are just a couple of suggestions to help you get started on your search for the best smelling cologne:
Best Cologne for Men 2021 – Top 7 that get the most female compliments
7. Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch
Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch is a sweet, woody fragrance, with top notes of petitgrain, cardamom, lemon, orange, and fir. It also has at its aromatic heart notes of rich jasmine, rosemary, rose, and lily of the valley. And at its very base, it has notes of warm vetiver, musk, oakmoss, and Brazilian rosewood to help tie down the citrus and floral sensations. A fresh and spicy scent designed as a call to the younger, wilder side of a man, this cologne is for men that aren’t afraid to live on the edge.
- Top Notes: Petitgrain, Cardamom, Lemon, Orange, and Fir.
- Middle Notes: Jasmine, Rosemary, Rose, and Lily-Of-The-Valley.
- Base Notes: Vetiver, Musk, Oakmoss and Brazilian Rosewood.
6. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male
Le Male is the first ever male fragrance by Jean Paul Gaultier. Heralded for its sweet mint, lavender, and vanilla notes, Le Male is a great compliment to any man that is truly unforgettable. Powerful artemisia, cardamom, mint, and bergamot make up the top notes, followed by middle notes of lavender, orange blossom, cinnamon, and cumin. Base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, Tonka Bean, and Amber help round out a charismatic fragrance for the modern man. Both gentle and masculine at once, Le Male’s traditional aroma makes it both easy and pleasing.
- Top Notes: Mint, Lavender, and Bergamot.
- Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Cumin, and Orange Blossom.
- Base Notes: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, and Cedarwood.
5. Dior Homme Intense
A modern masterpiece from Dior, a game changer in a designer world – that’s what people saying about Dior Homme Intense. It’s a huge compliment getter and it lets people know that you know what you’re doing when you’re buying a cologne. This scent is very well-constructed, is sophisticated, and smells very good. Perfect for evening wear and cold weather during formal and nonformal events such as going out on a date, attending a birthday party, going to a wedding party, or other such events.
- Top Notes: Lavender.
- Middle Notes: Iris, Ambrette (Musk Mallow) and Pear.
- Base Notes: Vetiver and Virginia Cedar.
4. Paco Rabanne 1 Million Cologne
Developed by perfumers Christophe Raynaud, Olivier Pescheux, and Michel Girard, 1 Million by PacoRabanne is a tantalizing fragrance that drives women absolutely wild. Initial notes are reminiscent of mint, sweet grapefruit, and blood orange. The notes eventually fade as the middle notes of spicy cinnamon, rose and blonde leather peeks through. Dressed up in packaging that resembles a solid gold bar, 1 Million by PacoRabanne exudes a refined and yet assertive aroma. Underneath, at the heart of the fragrance, base notes of white wood, amber, and patchouli evoke a feeling of masculinity. 1 Million blends the elegant richness of a well-tailored suit with the primal passions of a man on the prowl—qualities that make it one of the most popular scents, even among women.
- Top Notes: Grapefruit, Mint, Blood Mandarin.
- Middle Notes: Rose, Cinnamon, Spicy Notes.
- Base Notes: Leather, Woody Notes, Amber, Indian Patchouli.
1 Million is a cologne designed to draw attention. It is for men that won’t bend under the pressure of a hundred sets of eyes looking at them as they step into a crowd. Enticing blood orange and a mint attract and capture. This is a cologne for men without limitations, for men that refuse to go unnoticed in a room of people. It is for men with a young and wild spirit, unafraid and unfettered, ready at any moment to turn the dial up. Whether you want to reinvent or reinvigorate, 1 Million by PacoRabanne’s sensual and striking fragrance is top shelf. See more colognes from Paco Rabanne.
3. Creed Aventus
Aventus is definitely a unique scent. With beautiful smoky pineapple and woodsy notes, It’s a number one compliment getter. Inspired by the legacy and life of Emperor Napoleon, Aventus use some ingredients associated with his memory: Pineapple, his favorite food; Blackcurrant from Corsica, his hometown; and Ambergris from the ocean, representing his navy. The balance in the scent is just perfect because of how well it’s all put together. The longevity is excellent (lasting approximately 12h+ hours), and the overall feel of the perfume exudes quality and mastery. There is only one issue with Creed Aventus: this fragrance is not cheap, but as everything in life, you do get what you pay for!
- Top Notes: Blackcurrant, Bergamot, Apple and Pineapple.
- Middle Notes: Rose, Dry Birch, Moroccan Jasmin, and Patchouli.
- Base Notes: Oak Moss, Musk, Ambergris, and Vanilla.
2. Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme
Whether you’re a single man who needs to collect as many phone numbers as possible, or you are simply a man who likes to flirt, then this scent may just be the one for you. YSL La nuit is a very soft, smooth and sweet cologne. It is not cloyingly sweet, but sweet enough for some women to find it attractive on you. Cardamom is present in the top notes and Bergamot, Lavender are present in the middle notes. This makes for an amazing scent that is just masculine enough to make the wearer feel sexy. It has a moderate sillage and is a scent which lasts approximately 8-hours. YSL La nuit is a safe fragrance for a romantic dinner, a night out, or a date and can be worn winter, spring, summer or fall. There are some fragrances you should at least buy once, and YSL La nuit is considered by many to be that “must have” on any cologne connoisseurs list.
- Top Notes: Cardamom.
- Middle Notes: Bergamot, Virginia Cedar, Lavender.
- Base Notes: Vetiver & Caraway.
1. Creed Green Irish Tweed
There are some things that never age, things that maintain their charm and elegance over the years. Green Irish Tweed, commonly known as GIT, is one of them. Launched in 1985, this signature scent from the house of Creed is a favorite of many celebrities, e.g., Clint Eastwood, Pierce Brosnan and George Clooney. Wearing GIT makes you feel like you’re walking in the countryside. The fragrance has a good smell that implies wealth, confidence, and simplicity – in other words, it implies that the wearer is a gentleman. GIT is an extremely versatile scent and quite inoffensive, so you can wear it both casually and formally. Put on two or three sprays and you’ll immediately be re-energized and ‘ready-to-go’!
- Top Notes: Iris and Lemon Verbena.
- Middle Notes: Violet Leaves.
- Base Notes: Ambergris & Mysore Sandalwood.
Here are 10 of the best mens colognes right now:
1. Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men
One of the best mens cologne on shelves right now is Nautica Voyage by Nautica. As will be covered in more depth later on, grabbing the most affordable cologne isn’t always the wisest idea. In this instance, however, it’s hard to go wrong with this relaxing aquatic men’s fragrance. The cologne leads with the cooling sensation of crisp green apple and leaf notes at the top, which then opens up to a heart of mimosa blended with gentle lotus and linen. It’s very reminiscent of flapping sails flying high over the deck of a sailboat navigating the salty summer sea. At its base, a woody mixture of cedar, musk, moss, and amber give Nautica Voyage some much-needed masculinity. It is a laid-back and casual fragrance that can be worn throughout the spring and summer, designed for men that like to let loose and have a little fun in the sun every now and then.
2. Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men
It’s no surprise that Acqua Di Gio is second on this list because it’s one of the most popular and best-selling fragrance of all time in the USA. This is a light and fresh fragrance, not sharp, not spicy but bright and very nice. The smell is going to be very familiar to most people, which is a good thing but not necessarily good for those who really want to “stand out” or “be unique” in the crowd.
3. Cool Water By Davidoff For Men
Many say that Cool Water is a cheaper version of Green Irish Tweed, but it’s not. GIT is almost like a grass version of the same scent while Coolwater is an ocean version. This clean, fresh and summertime scent is suitable for all ages but the preferably age range for this cologne is approximately 15 – 25 years of age.
4. Guess Seductive Men
Guess Seductive is an outstanding starter cologne for the high school and college crowd. If you are confident and not afraid to smell sexy, then you may want to try this. The scent smells very sweet, perfect for Fall & Winter, but the scent doesn’t last very long.
5. Nautica Blue
Another inexpensive, but not bad cologne from Nautica. Launched in 2005, Nautica Blue is an aromatic aquatic fragrance for men. It is also a bit synthetic, but still a nice aquatic for the price. Smells pretty good, not long lasting or well projecting, but for the price, you really can’t ask for anything more than what it delivers.
6. Mont Blanc Legend
If you’re looking for something versatile and safe, Mont Blanc Legend would be a good choice. This is a masculine fruity aromatic fragrance with interesting notes: lavender, pineapple, oakmoss, coumarin, and pomarose. The projection and longevity of this cologne are not too heavy or lingering but are enough to get the job done. It’s great for Spring & Summer. As a lot of people have said, it does smell a bit like Abercrombie Fierce, very similar, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing because it also happens to be half the price of Fierce.
7. Nautica Classic for Men by Nautica
If you want to smell light and fresh, then this cologne is perfect for your everyday use. Recommended for the warmer weather for sure because it’s too light and soft for the cold.
8. Paco Rabanne 1 Million
1 Million is a cologne designed to draw attention.It is for men that won’t bend under the pressure of a hundred sets of eyes looking at them as they step into a crowd. This cologne is very warm, sweet and fresh. It’s a great fragrance for every season. There seem to be very few men’s fragrances that project well and have good longevity, but 1 Million certainly does and that’s probably what makes this cologne so popular. See more Paco Rabanne colognes.
9. Adidas Team Force By Adidas For Men
This cologne is light fresh & has a clean, non-offensive smell. The smell starts with a combination of wood and flowers, then the woods starts to dominant & it eventually leaves a woody rich smell. It’s a good scent for younger or even middle-aged, sporty men. However, longevity can be a problem with this scent because it generally last 3-hours or less.
10. RawChemistry Labs Pheromones for Men Pheromone Cologne
Called “The Most Effective and Best Smelling Human Pheromone Cologne for Men on Amazon, Period”, Raw Chemistry’s pheromone cologne is a top choice for men that want to attract women. The product uses an exclusive, proprietary blend of natural oils and human grade pheromones including Androstadienone, Androstenone, Andrestenol, and Andresterone. Raw Chemistry’s long-lasting natural men’s cologne has been voted the best-smelling pheromone cologne on the market.
