The Top 10 Best Mens Cologne in the World

#10 D&G Light Blue Intense

A Fresh-Citrusy Aquatic

I’ll make it super easy for you:

This is a newer, improved, and MUCH better smelling version of the already loved original Light Blue pour Homme.

Can you say jackpot?

Even better:

This newer release is a stronger Eau de Parfum concentration — making it perform better, and last MUCH longer than the previous version.

So if you liked the original, this is a no-brainer. However…

New & Improved

If you’re unfamiliar with the original, let me give you a quick rundown of how this newer version smells…

Right off the bat, you get a blast of bright zesty grapefruit and orange citruses… mixed with a fresh, slightly salty, marine sea note.

And finally… it dries down with a masculine, nice clean musky and smooth woody undertone.

And it smells GREAT.

Zesty Marine Freshness

This one’s perfect for the spring/summer months and… Great for dates, the office, and casual everyday use. Also, this would make a good vacation beach scent. Does it last long?

On first spray, it projects nicely for about 2 hours (within arm’s length), and then softens up, and hangs on for around 5–8 plus hours.

In short:

It’s a very safe, fresh mass-appealing warm-weather scent… which will bag you a TON of compliments.

#9 Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male

An Unfair Advantage?

If you’re looking for a seductive scent… which will attract you a LOT of positive attention… then Ultra Male is for you.

Just a quick heads up though: This has a nice dose of sweetness, so if you don’t like sweet ­— stay well clear. But if that’s your thing, read on….

Now, in case you don’t know… this is a modern update of the iconic original JPG Le Male.

In fact, this one is made by the same superstar perfumer Francis Kurkdjian (now the head perfumer at Dior). And again, he did NOT disappoint.

Let me break it down for you:

Inviting Sweetness

Ultra Male opens with an inviting sweet juicy pear, mixed with a dash of fresh mint. Nice.

And as it starts settle, the minty freshness fades… and is slowly joined with creamy vanilla and warm cinnamon…. Which morph beautifully with the pear.

The end result?

A sweet sexy playful seductive scent… which is PERFECT for clubbing, nights out, bar hopping, parties, casual, dates… You get the idea. And understandably…

This is a massive, MASSIVE compliment getter. ‘Nough said. 🙂

Attention Grabber

What’s more, this projects excellent for the first few hours… then dials back and creates a gorgeous scent bubble around you. With ballpark 6–9 plus hours of awesomeness.

However, this is strictly for cool weather, as it becomes overly sweet in high-heat — trust me.

Now, this has a youthful vibe, but still can be pulled off by mature guys and teenagers alike.

It almost gives you an “unfair advantage.” Ain’t complaining. 🙂

#8 Carolina Herrera CH Men Prive

Masculine, Leathery & Boozy Sweet

Now, you may have never heard of this one before, but…

Smart guys have been quietly using CH Men Prive for years to get TONS of positive attention.

Sort of like their secret weapon. 🙂

Anyways… this little-known scent has a unique, masculine smooth leathery boozy vibe… with a nice warm captivating sweetness. But here’s the cool part…

Splash of Sweet Whiskey

The bottle is designed to represent a whiskey hip flask — complete with a curved design and a captive flip-top cap. Nice touch. Anyway…

It’s what’s inside that counts, right? Let’s take a sniff:

When you first spray CH Men Prive, you’re greeted with a burst of grapefruit freshness…. mixed with a splash of whiskey… and some smooth leather buried underneath.

Smooth Dark Sexy Leather

However, the grapefruit quickly fades… and then the leather rises and morphs with the whiskey… These are joined with a pinch of warm spicy cardamom and a nice hint of sweetness (tonka bean).

Its dark, warm, rich, and very, VERY masculine.

Does it smell sexy? Absolutely!

Now to be crystal clear:

This is NOT for teenagers, as it’s more geared for the mature 20+ crowd. And in terms of seasons, it’s more for fall/winter evening wear. (Or even cool spring nights.)

Perfect for dates, nights out, bars/lounges, dining… or even the office (spray lightly).

Perfect for Date-Nights

Also note:

This doesn’t scream out for attention. So if you’re looking for a heavy-hitter, this is NOT it.

You see, CH Men Prive is an EDT and radiates softly (within arm’s length) for around 2 hours… it then sits politely close to the skin (and lures people in).

That said, it may not shout… but we found it wafts confidently for a good 5–9 plus hours. And even longer if you spritz your clothes.

Bottom line: It does its job and does it well!

#7 Versace Dylan Blue

Hyper Versatile

Another solid release from Versace. The women’s favorite mens cologne.

Now, this is a very safe fragrance, so it would make the perfect gift for a loved one. Or for yourself!

How’s it smell?

Dylan Blue smells very fresh and fruity with an underlying sweetness. Women love this.

The beautiful part?

This is super versatile and can be worn in all seasons and for all occasions. Dressed up, casual, dates, office, clubbing — you name it.

But what you might not know is:

Dylan Blue makes an excellent cheaper alternative to the more expensive, Chanel – Bleu De Chanel, as they both have the same sort of vibe. In fact, we think Dylan Blue smells nicer! (So did our testers.)

Plus, it has good performance for a fresh fragrance and can be worn by both teenagers or mature men.

By the way, you can check out our best Versace cologne list here.

Long story short:

If you’re simply looking for a safe crowd-pleasing fragrance to wear in any season for almost any situation…

Get this.

#6 John Varvatos Artisan Pure

A Modern Freshie

In a nutshell:

Artisan Pure is a modern take on a summer freshie. It has a fresh, bitter-green herbal/citrus and white-floral aroma — that smells refined and natural. Very unique.

And when it dries down on your skin, the citrusy-green, floral freshness is backed up with some light woods and a pinch of sweetness. So…

To be crystal clear:

If you’re looking for something super masculine, this may not be for you. As this walks the line of unisex.

Bitter Green Freshness

Now, of course, this fresh, clean uplifting vibe makes it a perfect wear for ANY occasion in the spring and summer daytime.

However, it’s not something I would recommend for nighttime activities.

Does it last long?

In our tests, it stuck around for 4–6 hours max. Which is not too shabby for a fresh uplifting scent.

Oh, did I mention the Bottle looks awesome as well?

#5 Versace Eros

Versace Eros is currently one of the best clubbing cologne on the market.

This is more suited for younger guys but can be worn by all ages.

Eros is a very playful scent, which makes it perfect for dates, nights out, bars and clubs. You get the idea 🙂

In fact:

This is THE fragrance for guys looking to attract women.

It smells like fresh apple with a minty vibe mixed with a creamy sweet woody backbone.

In plain English:

This smells phenomenal. 🙂

Now, a quick word of warning:

This is for the cooler seasons and best suited for nights. Do not use this is the summer heat and go easy with the sprays. 

The best part?

Versace Eros Lasts for hours and is a compliment monster!

#4 Prada L’homme Prada EDT

The Perfect Office Scent

Heads up:

Be sure to go for the Classic “Eau de Toilette” version as this is the best one. As Prada also have a L’Eau, Intense, and Absolu versions, so be carefully while choosing.

Speaking of… check our updated best Prada colognes post. Spoiler alert: this is one of them. Anyway…

What it is:

L’Homme Prada is an amazing fresh, clean and luxurious smelling scent. It’s very elegant and mature smelling.

In fact:

L’Homme Prada contains high-quality ingredients and an Iris note that makes it smell super unique.

Best for daytime use and formal situations. This is the best office cologne; it’s perfect with a suit and tie. You can, of course, also use this for casual situations.

In short:

L’Homme Prada is a very safe, clean smelling scent, that will get you a lot of compliments.

#3 Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Profumo

Question for you:

What happens when you take the best selling mens cologne of all time, add some patchouli and incense, then make it smell even better… and last longer?

Answer: You get Acqua Di Gio Profumo!

In fact, this has the DNA of the original Acqua di Gio but smells more mature and lasts nearly 2 times longer.

Smells like a fresh fruity ocean breeze with a slight woody note and hints of smoky incense.

In a word: awesome.

All seasons, all occasions, this is super versatile. Better suited for summer evenings than summer days.

Now:

Acqua Di Gio Profumo is a gorgeous fragrance that will give you an unbelievable amount of compliments.

And:

If you used to wear the original Acqua di Gio when you were younger then this one is a no brainer. 🙂

#2 Christian Dior Sauvage EDT

Want Compliments?

Dior Sauvage is a mass-appealing fresh, spicy, peppery smelling scent… which is suitable for all ages, all seasons, and all occasions. You can wear this one anytime!

What’s that you say — how’s it smell? Let me tell you:

This opens with a blast of super fresh citrus mixed with spices. When it settles down you get a slightly fruity sweet spicy vibe with some woody nuances.

And it smells awesome.

It’s fresh; it’s clean; it’s sexy, and Classy.

Plus, it can be used ALL year round — shines in the warmer weather and gives you long-lasting freshness.

To be clear:

Go for the Eau de Toilette version, as this is the first and the best smelling concentration. You don’t need the Eau de Parfum version or new Parfum version — the EDT smells the best.

Oh, and make no mistake:

This ones a brutal compliment getter and crowd pleaser.

#1 Creed Aventus (Classic Version)

Creed Aventus is a superstar in the fragrance community — and for good reason.

In case you don’t know, Creed are a niche fragrance house that use hand-selected, super high-quality ingredients. But they also come with prices to match (understandable).

In short:

This is a sweet and fruity masculine woody scent. It’s very unique smelling, yet mass appealing. In fact…

Imagine: the fresh, fruity combo of pineapple, blackcurrant and apple, with underlying smoky woods and musk. That’s Aventus.

The best part?

This can be used in all seasons and for all occasions; days or nights. GREAT for nights out and dates. Oh, and it lasts for hours.

And it’s a huge, HUGE compliment getter, by the way.

Because here’s the thing:

Since it was released, other fragrance houses have tried (and tried) to copy it with their own similar versions and twists. But Aventus is still the original and the best.

By the way, to discover what are Creed’s best smelling colognes be sure to check out our top 10 best Creed colognes list. 

Is it worth the splurge? Absolutely. That is — if you want the best smelling mens cologne in the World. 🙂

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Perfect Cologne

Seasons & Temperature

Now, when you’re choosing a cologne (or aftershave – as the Brits call it), you should consider the season/temperature when you will be wearing it… And also, the scenario (but more on that in a minute).

Why does it matter?

Well… fragrances which are specifically designed to be worn in the winter are typically more powerful and sweeter smelling. By the way…

These will quickly become OVERLY sweet and sickly smelling if you apply them in warm temperatures. Not good.

Don’t be that guy! 🙃

On the other hand:

A scent designed for the summer will typically be lighter and fresh smelling… and may not perform in the colder months. So nobody will even smell you. That sucks, right?

But that’s not all…

Situations

Certain scents are better suited for certain situations.

What am I talking about?

Well, some are more appropriate for casual wear, some for formal wear. And some are geared for romantic date settings. Or the gym. You get the idea.

For example:

A powerful sweet fragrance, which was designed for a teenager to rock in the club, would be an unwise choice for you to wear formally at work! This is a HUGE mistake. And…

On top of all this, some scents can even be geared towards only daytime use or only night-time usage. That said:

Many can be used for all seasons and all situations (days or nights) – making them HIGHLY versatile. These make perfect signature scents.

But here’s the crazy thing:

The brands typically don’t inform you of ANY of this information on their website, box, or bottle. So you’re left to guess. Never fear…

We’ve Got Your Back

We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you, and eliminated ALL the guesswork.

Because in the descriptions above, we inform you which seasons and which situations each of the colognes is perfect for… making it super easy for you to choose.

Now, over to you…

We would love to hear from you

Do you agree with our picks? Did we miss any hidden gems?

What is your favorite cologne?

Or maybe you have a question.

Either way, please let us know by leaving a comment below right now.

Where to go from here?

I highly recommend checking out our Top 10 best summer cologne list and also our best cheap colognes for men for some amazing smelling budget friendly fragrance recommendations.

We hope you enjoyed our article and found this list useful.  If you did, we would love it if you would share it to your favourite social networks!