Fragrance is highly personal, both from a preference perspective and also due to its distinctly unique interaction with each person’s body chemistry. Regardless of the subjective nature of scent, there are some men’s fragrances that have stood the test of time.
What’s the difference between aftershave, cologne, eau de toilette, and eau de parfum for men?
While many men use the terms eau de parfum (EDP), eau de toilette (EDT), cologne, and aftershave synonymously, these all refer to completely different products.
Typically the most expensive of the lot, a men’s eau de parfum has the highest concentration of perfume oil, at 15% to 20%. Eau de parfums have the most staying power (lasting around half a day), and are the best option for richer, deeper fragrance notes.
With up to 15% perfume oil, an eau de toilette lasts for up to eight hours and is an ideal option for everyday use – just be sure to keep a bottle on hand for a top up as the day wears on!
A cologne, or eau de cologne, has a perfume oil concentration of 2% to 5% that is cut with alcohol and lasts for a few hours (around two to four).
Although men often refer to fragrance as ‘aftershave’, aftershave is for just that; freshening up post-shave. Often sold as splash, aftershave has a very low perfume oil content, around 1% to 2%, making it safe to splash on your face after shaving. The scent of aftershave lasts for a couple of hours, with the formulas often containing soothing ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin to help heal and moisturise the skin.
The best men’s fragrances of all time
Whether you’re into earthy, woodsy, citrus, or fruity fragrances, these men’s fragrances are sure to deliver an enjoyable olfactory experience.
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1. Guerlain Vétiver
Fresh yet masculine, Vétiver is one of the best Guerlain men’s fragrances of all time. Initially launched in 1961 before being reintroduced in 2000, Vétiver has top notes of citrus, with bergamot, orange, and lemon, intensified by hearty spices like pepper and nutmeg which give way to undertones of vetiver, tonka bean, and tobacco. Wearing Guerlain’s Vétiver kind of feels like smoking a pipe in the forest after the rain, but in the best possible way.
Brand: Guerlain
Scent notes: bergamot, orange, lemon, pepper, nutmeg, vetiver, tonka bean, tobacco
2. Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum
Renowned English perfume house Creed has been creating beautiful scents for over two centuries. A sophisticated blend for the discerning gent, Creed Aventus EDP is not for the faint-hearted, with the fragrance designed to celebrate strength, power, and success. With fruity top notes of blackcurrant and bergamot, underscored with roses, jasmine, patchouli, and an ambergris, oak, and musk base; Creed Aventus EDP is sure to leave an impression.
Brand: Creed
Scent notes: blackcurrant, bergamot, apples, pineapple, roses, dry birch, jasmine, musk, oak moss, ambergris, vanilla
3. Calvin Klein CK Everyone
A unisex iteration of the cult scent CK One, CK Everyone is sure to become a classic scent. Vegan-friendly, CK Everyone is a fresh, citrusy, woodsy scent, opening with notes of orange essential oil and ginger which make way for blue tea accord, and end in cedarwood, patchouli, and amber.
Brand: Calvin Klein
Scent notes: orange, ginger, blue tea accord, cedarwood, patchouli, amber
4. Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur
Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele teamed up with master perfumer Alberto Morillas to create the Italian luxury fashion house’s first genderless scent. The resulting formulation has created its own olfactory category, ‘mineral aromatic’, a combination of airy, musky, transparent, easy to wear notes. With Harry Styles as the fragrances poster boy, Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur combines Roman chamomile with Indian jasmine petals, musk, cedarwood, sandalwood, and a hint of vanilla for an irresistible sensory experience.
Brand: Gucci
Scent notes: Raman chamomile, Indian coral jasmine petals, musk, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla
5. Narciso Rodriguez For Him Bleu Noir Extreme
A remix of Narciso Rodrquez’s original For Him Bleu Noir, this scent is heavier in concentration, fresher, and more aromatic than the original. For Him Bleu Noir revisits the duality of masculinity with notes of musk encased in green mandarin and basil, alongside cedarwood and ebony notes to create a fresh, yet woody and sensual fragrance.
Brand: Narciso Rodriguez
Scent notes: green mandarin, basil, musk, cedar, ebony
6. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Inspired by the American designer’s love of London, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is reminiscent of an English Gentleman’s club. Tonka bean, vanilla, cacao, dry fruit accords, and sweet wood meet in a distinctly opulent yet contemporary scent.
Brand: Tom Ford
Scent notes: tonka bean, vanilla, cacao, dry fruit accords, sweet wood
7. Tiffany & Co Tiffany & Love for Him
One of a pair of his & hers fragrances, Tiffany & Love for Him marks the first masculine scent to be released by the American jeweller. Renowned perfumers Sophie Labbe and Nicolas Beaulieu teamed up to craft this scent, which shared blue sequoia with its feminine counterpart. Additionally, Tiffany & Love has notes of juniper, mandarin, cyprus, and cardamom, mingling with sandalwood and vetiver.
Brand: Tiffany & Co.
Scent notes: juniper, cyprus, mandarin, ginger, cardamom, vetiver, sandalwood
Words by Theo Rosen
