The 10 best men's perfumes of all time (2023)

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If you are new to the world of cologne, it can be utterly confusing to come across the technical jargon used in most perfume descriptions. Even a quick glimpse into the world of Cologne reveals a whole new culture, complete with new language, temporary superstars and well-loved classics.

Anyone who knows how important scents are in everyday life can seem almost obsessed when searching for new scents, but that's not as strange as it seems. Once you realize the great effect the fragrance you are wearing has on those around you, it becomes increasingly important to know exactly what you are exuding with your chosen fragrance.

Wearing a cologne isn't just about buying the fanciest bottle, slapping some fragrance on your wrist and instantly looking more sophisticated. In fact, using the wrong cologne can have the opposite effect and make you come across as shabby, cheap, rude, or aloof. Once you know how to choose the right cologne for the right occasion, you can make those around you treat you with renewed respect, charm someone you care about, and give yourself a major boost in confidence.

The language surrounding perfumery must be complex in order to properly express important details that are often insignificant in everyday smells. New terms such as high notes, silage, skin scent and projection were coined to describe the important aspects of cologne in a way that can be easily understood by those in the know. Once you know your vocabulary, you can refine your choices and choose exactly the scent you need for your situation.

You need to be precise about your choices because there are no hard and fast rules as to which cologne smells good on you. Your individual skin chemistry, the environment you are in, and the scents of other products you use can subtly alter a scent in sometimes unpredictable ways. While descriptions and reviews can help you narrow down your choices, the only way to be sure you're getting the right cologne for you is to wear it in the end.

We've put together this list of the ten best men's perfumes of all time to give you a better idea of ​​what makes a good perfume. The scents on this list have been chosen to appeal to the widest possible range of people, so you won't find any niche personalized scents here. We encourage you to try these colognes and find out for yourself how cologne smells good on you.

1.Atlantis, from Blu Atlas

It's hard to be the best of all time when you're a relative newbie to the field, but Blu Atlas' Atlantis tries. Atlantis has broken onto the perfumery scene, offering everything you need in an everyday cologne: versatility, longevity, style and notoriety. Blu Atlas is quickly becoming one of the most well-known men's skincare brands on the market, building a reputation for premium ingredients derived from cruelty-free, vegan sources.

Unless you have a five-figure shopping budget, versatility is an extremely important factor when choosing a quality cologne. Blu Atlas tops the list for its ability to excel in both leisure and work environments.

Atlantis opens with top notes of bergamot, lemon and black currant, providing an invigorating boost of energy to start the day. Heart and base notes of lavender, clary sage, musk and oakmoss create a woody-herbal vibe as you wind down the evening.

The unmistakable nature of Atlantis is created by a tropical blend of peach, apricot and a hint of bergamot, backed with iris and musk. This combination differs from other classic eau de colognes, but the ingredients themselves are so harmless to the average person that the scent cannot be bothersome.

While there's definitely room on your shelf for a distinct, eye-catching fragrance, there's always a risk that it'll be irritating in the workplace. The most popular scents in most colognes are popular for a reason: most people find the scent pleasant. Variations on a number of common combinations are used to achieve individuality. Atlantis relies predominantly on a floral-musky base, while the addition of stone fruit gives it a unique touch.

Atlantis has a good projection for about four hours and stays close up for up to eight hours. If you are new to perfumery, project how far an average person can smell a perfume. While a rough guide can be given, the exact amount will always depend on the temperature and your personal skin chemistry.

If you don't want to be the person who fills the entire train with vanilla scent, choose a medium or low projection cologne. Outdoors, a high projection cologne will keep you smelling amazing even with a light breeze. Atlantis continues to be both alluring and comfortable. The projection of this eau de cologne does not fill the room, but creates a personal scent envelope to welcome those close to you.

As an eau de parfum, you can expect good longevity and reasonable silage from Atlantis. Longevity is self explanatory and silage is how long a perfume stays in a room after you've moved away. Atlantis is made from high quality ingredients, giving it good shelf life, silage and projection.

As well as great smell, it's the ethical, versatile and innovative aspects that make Blu Atlas' Atlantis rank so highly on this list. The cologne itself is of good quality and we love the matte black presentation. Overall, it's a clear winner.

2.Eau Sauvage Eau de Toilette von Dior

A true classic, the original Eau Sauvage was launched in 1966. Although the formula has changed slightly since then due to health concerns about some ingredients, the overall composition has remained largely the same.

This eau de toilette has a family of spin-offs and re-releases, spanning everything from aftershave to perfume, often with multiple variations on each. To add to the confusion, Dior also markets another excellent cologne, Sauvage. This perfume has nothing to do with Eau Sauvage at all. So when you buy this fragrance make sure you have the right one. While most other members of the Eau Sauvage family are of excellent quality, we believe the original cannot be beat.

The Original Eau Sauvage contains an incredible bouquet of individual scents, perfectly arranged in a cologne that is powerful without being overpowering. Eau Sauvage is a very masculine fragrance that opens with an explosion of fresh citrus and herbs. Lemon and bergamot mingle with basil, rosemary and cumin to create a sweet yet refreshing aura.

As soon as the citrus notes fade away, other notes in the perfume emerge. Rose, carnation and jasmine give the fragrance a floral aspect. However, if you're concerned that this might be too feminine for your tastes, rest easy knowing that the base of oakmoss, vetiver, musk and amber provides a powerful backdrop to the fruity floral notes.

Although perfumes in this class usually have excellent effects or longevity, Eau Sauvage is not one of them. The scent quickly dissipates after about an hour, but since this is a perfume designed for the wearer, this isn't as much of an issue as with other colognes. The first boost of confidence and well-being that comes with the first use is the true splendor of this cologne. Anyone in the know who catches even a whiff of Eau Sauvage will recognize it immediately, so there's no need to fill the room.

3.Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette von Chanel

While a quick glance at the descriptions of Bleu de Chanel and Eau Sauvage might make you think they're broadly similar, once you actually smell them, you realize they're two uniquely exquisite interpretations of the citrus, Flower and wood composition is commonly known as chypre.

Bleu de Chanel opens with the familiar scent of grapefruit and lemon, but before the fog clears, notes of mint, pink pepper and a hint of smoky incense are distinctly different from Eau Sauvage. A warm, spicy aspect emerges on drying, with jasmine, ginger, nutmeg and sandalwood softening the citrus-incense combination. While this eau de toilette is certainly refreshing, the use of earthier spices gives Bleu de Chanel a rich, warm feel rather than the more vibrant and invigorating heart notes of Eau Sauvage.

Base notes of patchouli, vetiver and cedar give the cologne a full-bodied character, anchoring the spices and citrus with a woody, earthy incense. Although labdanum and musk are present, these take a back seat to the incense that dominates the base note. The smoky, peppery incense becomes much stronger as it dries, eventually becoming the defining note of the cologne.

Like Eau Sauvage, this classic is extremely versatile and you'll be complimented at work, while shopping or just relaxing with friends. While Bleu de Chanel was an exciting reinterpretation when it was released in 2010, the popularity of similar fragrances has since risen. Bleu de Chanel no longer stands out from the crowd because of a unique combination of ingredients, but because of high-quality materials, good durability and general liking.

4.Terre D'Hermès, von Hermès

It takes master craftsmanship to create a modern classic like Terre D'Hermès. So it's no surprise that the nose behind this eau de cologne is the famous perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena. The original perfume was launched in 2006 and since then has received several awards, including "Best Classic Men's Fragrance 2011" from Shortlist and "Best Classic Men's Fragrance 2012" from Bassnotes. Although slightly overshadowed by the 2018 Eau Intense version in recent years, overall the original still remains the favorite of many perfume collectors, both professional and novice.

What sets Terre D'Hermès apart from other colognes is the fresh, earthy vibe it creates upon application. Terre D'Hermès is often listed as a citrus perfume due to the opening notes of orange and grapefruit. While these sparkling openings certainly add a citrus touch to the perfume, what really sets Terre D'Hermès apart is the woody-mineral scent, reminiscent of a forest growing on nutrient-rich soil.

While there are a few similar scents out there, it's extremely difficult to blend earth tones and citrus notes without reminiscent of rotting fruit. Terre D'Hermès manages to avoid this with a masterful base blend of vetiver, cedar and benzoin that pushes the fragrance in a healthier, growing direction. Although patchouli is present, it serves a fixing role rather than a scent.

Black pepper and geranium are present as heart notes, but again play more of a supporting role to enhance the mineral aspect of the fragrance. This eau de toilette also features 'Flint', a synthetic scent resembling that of clean wet stone. Although the flint ingredient does not contain any rock at all (rock is not known for its fragrance), it somehow grounds the foliar and earth aspects of Terre D'Hermès well.

With the words "feel the earth, lie on the ground, look at the sky" the creator Jean-Claude Ellena sums up his fragrance better than it would be possible with other words. Suitable for all occasions, Terre D'Hermes offers reasonable longevity and projection.

5.Acqua Di Giò Perfume by Giorgio Armani

The original Acqua Di Giò was launched in 1996. Almost 20 years later, the 2015 Acqua Di Giò Profumo has become a staple of many men's cologne wardrobes and is widely recognized as the pinnacle of the Acqua Di Giò line.

Acqua Di Giò Profumo is another classic that goes great with everything from the workplace to the gym to Friday night drinks. This otherwise everyday cologne is enhanced and given a touch of sophistication by the herbal marine notes that dominate in the first hours of use. Acqua Di Giò captures the essence of a suave gentleman by the sea and layers it with a smoky and pungent base of patchouli and incense.

Interestingly, the latest release in this line, Acqua Di Giò Eau De Parfum, dispenses with incense. This is probably because even the lower concentration of fragrance in Profumo, an eau de toilette, can easily be over-applied and the high concentration of incense in the eau de parfum would just be too much for the senses. Nobody wants to be the person to fill the whole building with incense, no matter how good it smells.

Acqua Di Giò Parfumo and, to a lesser extent, Eau De Parfum deserve their place in our top 10 men's fragrances of all time for their strength, versatility and sophistication. While this cologne is a significant investment, we're confident you'll get your money's worth.

6.Le Male Perfume by Jean Paul Gaultier

Another refinement of a classic, the original Le Male was designed by Francis Kurkdjian and launched by Jean Paul Gaultier in 1995. 25 years later, Jean Paul Gaultier showcased the style of the brand he had built by releasing Le Male Le Parfum, the revised, amplified version of a now cult classic. Although the creators of the 2020 version, Quentin Bisch and Natalie Gracia-Cetto, have simplified the scent, it still retains the alluring complexity of the original.

While many of the other perfumes on this list are fragrances that evolve over time, Le Male Le Parfum is a much more linear scent with the benefit of a longer shelf life. The less volatile nature of the scents chosen allows for a longer effect, although warmer temperatures are also required to be fully appreciated.

On first application, soft and spicy notes of vanilla and cardamom are immediately recognizable. The middle notes of iris and lavender accentuate the cardamom well, adding some astringency to the blend and preventing it from becoming too sweet. This oriental blend is grounded with the addition of earthy woody notes, creating a scent that is strong but not overpowering.

Le Male Le Parfum is suitable for most occasions, but is particularly popular with people looking for a partner. The gentle warmth of Le Male Le Parfum contrasts with the heavier musk and leather notes often associated with masculine scents, resulting in a much more approachable, less intense vibe. The classic character of this fragrance and its excellent longevity earn it a sixth place in our top ten men's fragrances of all time.

7.Tobacco Vanilla by Tom Ford

It's strangely difficult to choose just one of Tom Ford's colognes to represent the brand. Although all Tom Ford lines share a similar character, the uniqueness of each one means we've had to vacillate between several colognes. In the end, we chose Tobacco vanilla as the front runner, as the nostalgic nature of tobacco scents is rapidly increasing.

Part of the dilemma in narrowing down the best men's perfumes of all time is that popularity wanes and wanes over time. The smell of tobacco radiates a significantly different behavior today than it did fifteen years ago. However, there is something timelessly classic about the pleasant, familiar spiciness of Tobacco Vanilla. Tobacco vanilla was launched in 2007 and is one of the last high quality tobacco perfumes to be developed before the negative impressions associated with smoking today began to diminish the popularity of tobacco fragrances.

Tobacco as a fragrance differs from the harsher rustle of tobacco smoke. Earthy, sweet, and masculine—it's no surprise that tobacco has long been associated with well-being and wellness. Tobacco vanilla combines the tranquil nature of tobacco with vanilla, another sweet scent often associated with good times.

A warm, spicy blend of cocoa, tonka, spices and fruits forms the base of this fragrance, supported by woody notes. If you could sum up Tobacco vanilla in one word, it would be cozy. This is a very strong scent that is easy to apply too heavily, resulting in an obnoxiously sweet aroma. Apply in moderation and wash off the original thoroughly before reapplying.

Perfect for the winter months, this cologne is suitable for both leisure and work, but also as something to enjoy alone with a cup of hot cocoa on cold, windy nights.

8.Eau D'Issey for men by Issey Miyake

L'Eau d'Issey is an interesting combination of citrus, floral, spicy and woody notes. Although it might seem on paper that this is too much for one scent, Issey Miyake has managed to blend the overall scent into a harmonious whole. Rather than the individual characteristics of each fragrance family competing, the similarities between them are amplified, resulting in an exquisitely balanced perfume.

Although the well-known lemon and bergamot are present in the opening notes, yuzu takes center stage. This bitter member of the citrus family creates a more shocking opening than the refreshing scent of orange and lemon, but pairs well with this cologne. The spiciness is needed to break through the floral sweetness of lotus, lily, geranium, saffron and mignonette and balance the herbal notes of sage, tarragon and cypress with the sweeter citrus scents of tangerine and lemon verbena.

This refreshing combination of floral, herbal citrus wafts with the fragrance's warmer base notes, composed of vetiver, musk, cedar and amber. Interestingly, the two scents seem to alternate over time, with the cool, refreshing nature of the citrus note returning to break the warmth of the spicy-woody base.

There's definitely some interesting chemistry here, as not only does the scent change over time, it also changes significantly depending on who wears it. L'Eau d'Issey is the perfect example of why it's important to try Eau de Cologne before you buy it. This eau de cologne varies from a masterpiece of contrasting but complementary scents to a scent of window cleaner. What is dominant depends on how it is applied, who is wearing it, and what the ambient temperature is.

Most of the time, this scent is mesmerizing, complex, and uplifting. A select few will be unlucky enough to find that their personal body chemistry doesn't resonate well with this cologne and should stay away.

9.Black Phantom, by Kilian

No top ten list is complete without at least one gourmet scent creeping in. This is a unisex scent than others on this list as the blend of sweet spices and coffee is not traditionally assigned a gender. One thing is for sure: no matter who wears it, they will smell amazing.

If you're on a low-sugar diet, don't agonize over the smell of this fragrance. It literally smells good enough to eat, and you'll find you'll sniff it again as surely as you would another bite of luxuriously decadent chocolate cake. Dark chocolate is the main note of this eau de cologne, accented with a hint of coffee and rounded off with a dash of sugared rum. Hints of almond and sandalwood complete the fragrance. Heliotrope is also said to be present, but the chocolate and coffee immediately drown out any floral notes.

If you love gourmet scents, this is for you. It just smells so incredibly delicious that you want to lick the bottle - but don't, it tastes terrible. Not that we tried.

10.Aventus, von Creed

Those of you familiar with the perfumery scene will either cheer or heave a long-suffering sigh at the sight of this entry. Creed Aventus is a classic, there's no arguing about that. Whether or not it deserves a spot in the top ten is up for debate.

Aventus, one of the most popular perfumes of recent years, was launched in 2010. By 2015, it was a ubiquitous scent in every high-end nightclub around the world. The popularity inspires many men to wear Aventus just to be seen wearing Aventus, and so the popularity snowball attracts new followers, resulting in even more men wearing the cologne in the first place.

Although this Eau de Parfum is of excellent quality, those of us who have been in the perfume scene for a while are absolutely sick of hearing, smelling and seeing Creed Aventus, the most prevalent niche fragrance on the market. You know that one music album that you fall in love with and play over and over again until you've listened to it so many times you never want to hear it again? This is Aventus.

However, there is no denying that this is a superbly crafted perfume. The popularity snowball had to start somewhere, and Aventus' high-quality, distinctive scent is certainly a perfumery masterpiece. A fruity explosion of tart, slightly astringent top notes immediately touches the senses with the first splash. Pineapple reigns supreme, with tart green apple, black currant, and bergamot filling the top notes—a seemingly unusual combination until you smell it for yourself and recognize the electric note that lies behind the sweetness in each of these notes.

The middle notes of birch, jasmine and rose give the eau de cologne a soft floral note. This is needed to balance the strong masculinity of the base notes, with patchouli, musk and vanilla providing a strong, lingering background. The fruity start of Aventus has quite a long shelf life but is still gone within an hour. Aventus shines in the rich floral musk middle and base notes and offers an effect of at least five hours.

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In most cases, this very masculine scent is not suitable for the workplace, no matter how good it smells. This is an eau de cologne that goes with the evening, with drinks with friends and with finding new company. You really can't go wrong with Aventus, but be aware that it certainly won't make you stand out from the crowd.

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