The best men’s fragrances and colognes 2018: long lasting scent for the discerning gent

From classic brands like Creed and Acqua di Parma to modern upstarts like Narciso Rodriguez, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best men's scents.

A great fragrance is a powerful thing. It can make you feel put together on a big day, put you in a good mood, and even make people remember you, so finding the right one is hugely important. 

Luckily though, the pressure’s off, because whether you’re looking for a delightfully scented gift for a loved one, or on the hunt for your own signature scent, we’re here to help with our list of the best men’s fragrances 2017 has to offer.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FRAGRANCES FOR MEN

Not sure what they like, or aren’t sure how to put your own preferences into words? Fragrance families can be a good starting point: scents will fall into a floral, fresh, fruity, citrus, oriental, woody or spicy category — all fairly straightforward and telling.

But even the most high-end fragrances can suffer a little from poor application. Every sitcom has at least one episode where a young man heading out on his first date is chastised for wearing too much cologne, so don’t let that be you.

One spritz, on dry skin, will usually do for polite sillage(that’s how much the fragrance lingers in the air after you). Scents are best applied on the warmest parts of the body to help them project, so pick one spot out of the neck and lower jaw, chest, wrist and forearm, or inner elbow. 

If you do apply to your wrists, don’t rub them together, as this can break the molecular bonds in the perfume and “kill” the note — and nobody wants that.

While you're looking for fragrances, why not look for the female in your life too. Take a look at our list of the best women's fragrances. 

THESE ARE THE 9 BEST MEN'S FRAGRANCES:

1. NARCISO RODRIGUEZ FOR HIM BLEU NOIR EAU DE TOILETTE

Woods and spice and all things nice come together in this modern fragrance

SPECIFICATIONS   

Best for: Classic woody scent

Scent family: Woody

Type: Eau de toilette

REASONS TO BUY   +   Warming spices and woody notes

                                              +Smells great; looks great

REASONS TO AVOID   -Not for citrus aficiondos

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Narciso Rodriguez’ Bleu Noir is the very picture of refinement, with its opaque deep blue interior promising something magical. The scent is just as elegantly modern as its vessel, promising fresh, spicy notes of nutmeg and cardamom combining with deep, sensual woods for a superbly sexy masculine vibe. Users commend its daily wear-ability, which tends to be pronounced without being overpowering.

2. CREED ORIGINAL VETIVER EAU DE PARFUM

A fresh and bright addition to any gent’s scent wardrobe

SPECIFICATIONS   

Best for: A luxurious treat

Scent family: Citrus

Type: Eau de parfum

REASONS TO BUY   +    Fresh and citrusy for summer

                                      +Great balance of top, middle and base notes

REASONS TO AVOID    -  On the pricier side

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A fresh, citrusy scent for the man with discerning taste, and deep pockets. Creed fragrances are a designer classic, and with good reason. With the unmistakably masculine hit of vetiver at its heart, this fine fragrance is kept contemporary by zesty bergamot and bitter orange; clean, herbaceous coriander; and smooth sandalwood. Reviewers commend its freshness, with several experts suggesting its scent provokes that 'just out of the shower' feeling — use it to treat your other half, or yourself.

3. DIOR SAUVAGE EAU DE TOILETTE

Both masculine and feminine, rugged yet refined, Sauvage is an enticing enigma

SPECIFICATIONS     

Best for: Evening scent 

Scent family: Woody/floral 

Type: Eau de toilette

REASONS TO BUY    +     Clean and modern

                                       +Interesting mix of notes

REASONS TO AVOID   -More for evening

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Dior Sauvage has been designed to offer fresh top notes of bergamot as the dominant force; but as this distinctive scent begins to dry down on the skin, Dior promise a subtle masculine, woody note left in its wake. Like its poster boy Johnny Depp, Sauvage is an intriguing mix of rugged manliness (vetiver, pepper, patchouli) and borderline feminine refinement (lavender, geranium) that’s hard to pin down, but there's no end of wearers complimenting its wondrous fusion of scents. A great fragrance to opt for if you are looking for an evening scent.

4. PACO RABANNE 1 MILLION EAU DE TOILETTE

This spicy, autumnal scent is one in a million

SPECIFICATIONS    

Best for: Winter

Scent family: Spicy

Type: Eau de toilette

REASONS TO BUY       +      Spicy, wooden and masculine

                                         +Great for autumn and winter

REASONS TO AVOID       -  Bottle is a bit flashy

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If you’re a gent (or you know a gent) who likes to rotate his fragrance wardrobe depending on the season, this warming, spicy fragrance is just the thing for when the nights draw in. Inspired by warming autumnal scents, Paco Rabanne have created a scent which promises to start with fresh grapefruit, mandarin and peppermint, but soon evolves into rich rose absolute, cinnamon bark and musk, with an ultra-masculine leather base. Overall, this is a spicy fragrance so citrus lovers, avoid.

5. CLINIQUE HAPPY FOR MEN COLOGNE SPRAY

This zesty mood-booster, bright with citrus, is a classic for a reason

SPECIFICATIONS      

Best for: Awesome budget buy

Scent family: Fruity

Type: Cologne

REASONS TO BUY      +    Bright and zingy

                                          +Great value

REASONS TO AVOID          -   Doesn't last long

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Packed with joyful notes of lime, lemon, mandarin and ultra-fresh sea spray, backed up by armfuls of delicate white flowers, this classic Clinique fragrance has been praised for its fresh, summery scent, making way for its chirpy name. With a woody base for structure, a pleasing floral heart, and the brightest, zestiest citrus tones up top, this is highly rated as a wonderfully 'happy' fragrance that seems to be loved by men and appreciated by women. 

6. ACQUA DI PARMA BLU MEDITERRANEO MANDORLO DI SICILIA EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY

Whisk yourself away to Sicily for a touch of 'la dolce vita' with this almond blossom scent

SPECIFICATIONS        

Best for: Fresh outdoor scent

Scent family: Floriental

Type: Eau de toilette

REASONS TO BUY     +   Lovely light, fresh scent

                                          +Perfect for summer

REASONS TO AVOID        -Almond notes may be too sweet for some

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After originally striding onto the market in 1916 with their original Colonia, it seems that Acqua di Parma have perfected a new set of classics with their Blu Mediterraneo range. Reminiscent of a sun-drenched stroll through the almond groves of Sicily, this fresh, green, citrus-laden scent is just the thing to evoke that holiday feeling. Reviewers frequently commend its surprising amount of staying power for an eau de toilette, which makes it an equally as fresh, but better value, alternative to Creed’s Original Vetiver. A true holiday scent.

7. DIESEL ONLY THE BRAVE TATTOO

A strikingly fruity scent for a great price, perfect for young dudes

SPECIFICATIONS       

Best for: Strong, long-lasting scent

Scent family: Fruity

Type: Eau de toilette

REASONS TO BUY      +  Interesting, noticeable fragrance

                                           +Lasts forever; no need to reapply

REASONS TO AVOID       -   Will be too sweet for some tastes

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This bold fragrance promises to be pure fruit on the nose, coming in straight away with a hit of zesty-sweet apple and mandarin before mellowing to a sage and bourbon pepper middle. Finally, there’s a distinctive patchouli and tobacco base, which adds a dark and dangerous note to an otherwise uncomplicated fragrance. Those in search of a refined classic would be better off looking elsewhere, but for the brave (see what we did there?) it appears to be a real standout scent — strong, long-lasting, and good value for money. An ideal gift for young guys.

8. JOOP! WOW! EAU DE TOILETTE

Woody and spicy with a hint of sweetness — Wow! Is the word

SPECIFICATIONS       

Best for: Dads

Scent family: Woody

Type: Eau de toilette

REASONS TO BUY      +    Warm and masculine

                                            +Nice design

REASONS TO AVOID    -  Doesn't last long

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Joop have ensured that this classic scent hits all the right notes with high-up bergamot and vetiver, and a deep, sweet base of cardamom and warm vanilla. Spicy and fresh all at once, it’s a confident and intoxicating fragrance that reviewers say makes an impressive initial statement before ebbing away to subtler tones. The bottle looks great, too, with its amber colour and sleek black screw top making it look rather like a sample of a posh whisky. Perhaps better suited to older gentlemen and dads, this is a popular, widely-available fragrance.

9. MOLECULE 01

A bespoke, pheromone-esque scent — for “science”

SPECIFICATIONS     

Best for: Attracting a partner

Scent family: Woody/aromatic

Type: Cologne

REASONS TO BUY    +    Adapts to the wearer's body chemistry

                                       +Unique

REASONS TO AVOID     -Unisex

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For lads or ladies in the market for a romantic partner, this oddball fragrance makes a slightly bonkers, but interesting accessory to the search. The titular molecule is used in most modern perfumes to recreate scents, but here, it’s an almost undetectable velvety, woody scent which adapts to each wearer’s unique body chemistry. For anyone interested in the science of scent and willing to be approached by strangers, it’s one to try.