The 15 Best Colognes on the Planet Right Now (2024)

The best cologne for men might vary across budget, preference, and occasion, but each operates in service of the same fundamental goal: helping you smell really good. Cologne formulations differ substantially from one scent to the next, but what unites the greatest of the genre is their ability to smartly punctuate your personality—and enhance everyone else’s experience while they’re at it. The opposite is true of bad colognes, too (if you’ve ever been stuck in the elevator with a colleague doused in Axe you know exactly what we mean), so it’s especially important to choose wisely.

The choosing part is where we come in. Landing on the best men’s cologne for you starts with understanding fragrance families, and identifying which ones work in any given context. Woody, citrus, or aromatic colognes, for example, tend to wear well as daily “signature scents”—the smell your coworkers, friends, and the guy at your local bodega associate with you.

“Woody fragrances have depth, richness, and are more [inherently] masculine,” says Leila Zagwolsky, co-founder and CEO of the perfume discovery platform Luxury Scent Box (LUXSB). Aromatic and citrus colognes, on the other hand—scents Zagwolsky describes as “bright, refreshing, and energizing”—are better suited to year-round wear. They’re also better candidates for your signature scent than, say, a sensual spicy or leather option, though those sultrier formulations have their time and place.

Regardless of what you’re looking for in a cologne—an everyday go-to, a gloomy-day pick-me-up, a special-occasion statement-maker—there’s a superlative, compliment-eliciting option here with your name on it, each one sprayed, tested, and ultimately loved by us.

The Best Cologne for Men, According to GQ

• The Best Signature Cologne: Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 EDP
• The Best Classic Cologne: Ralph Lauren Polo EDT
• The Best Niche Cologne: Arquiste Misfit EDP
• The Best Iconic Cologne: Chanel Bleu de Chanel EDT
• The Best Luxury Cologne: Louis Vuitton Imagination EDP
• The Best Long-Lasting Cologne: Tom Ford Beau de Jour EDP
• The Best Subtle Cologne: Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 EDT
• The Best Unisex Cologne: Calvin Klein CK One EDT
• The Best Woody Cologne: Hermès Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver EDP
• The Best Citrus Cologne: Ormonde Jayne Gatsby 22 EDP
• The Best Fresh Cologne: Diptyque Eau de Minthé EDP
• The Best Floral Cologne: Aesop Rōzu EDP
• The Best Spicy Cologne: Dior Sauvage Elixir Parfum
• The Best Leather Cologne: Malin + Goetz Leather EDP
• The Best Musk Cologne: Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur EDP

Take Me To: How to Find Your Signature Scent | Understanding Cologne Types | How We Tested | Meet Our Testers

Best Signature Cologne: Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 EDP

Why we love it: Let everyone else have Santal 33—in my book, Thé Matcha 26 is the Le Labo scent to beat. I can never quite tell if it's more smart or playful, more introverted or sexy. In reality, it's all of those and more, which makes it such a platonic signature scent for the fella with an equal amount of layers. In the time since its debut, I've converted half a dozen friends to the cause, and I’m happy to take partial blame if half a million more make the switch, too—it's exquisite in every way, and more than deserving of its rank here. Many notes in the bottle, zero notes from me.

Vibe: Sunset hike on the summer solstice |Key Notes: Green notes, fig, tonka, wood, coconut

Why we love it: I didn't include too many “sweet” scents here, but Debaser made the cut for a reason. It's sweet, sure, but it also oozes earthy freshness. It feels like a forest bath near a patch of fig trees, and it very well might be the most broadly appealing fragrance on this entire list.

Best Classic Cologne: Ralph Lauren Polo EDT

Why we love it: There’s a reason the original Polo continues to hold strong nearly half a century into its existence: It manages to be both sexy and professional, a versatile woody-aromatic scent that works in almost every context. Better yet, because there are so many remixes of the OG, wearing the version that started it all still feels as refreshing as the latest launch.

Vibe: Summer in Colorado |Key Notes: Pineapple, black currant, musk, birch

Why we love it: For hard-boiled fragrance buffs, Aventus’ ubiquity has catalyzed a polarizing love-it-or-hate-it binary, probably because it continues to be enormously popular for its crisp, birch-tinged, pineapple-esque zeal. I'd strongly recommend you ignore that debate completely—for most folks, the fragrance is as straightforward as a tidy rom-com ending: Love at first sniff.

Best Niche Cologne: Arquiste Misfit EDP

Why we love it: In the perfume industry, all noses are pointed towards Arquiste right now, and Misfit is the niche house’s absolute best scent. Misfit errs on the sexier side—perfect as an evening or date-night scent—but it works great in the daytime, too, if your vibe skews vibrant and extroverted (or you'd really like it to). Fair warning: You will get asked about it, so prepare to play dumb if you're the gatekeeping type. There’s a reason that my personal bottle is half empty despite the hundreds of other options in my scent library—and why I'm going to order another as soon as it's finished.

Vibe: The high-school crush you should’ve asked out |Key Notes: Orris, orange blossom, rose, incense

Why we love it: I can’t fully explain why, but few scents have impacted me as strongly as this one. It feels like a memory I never made, a happy, nostalgic sensation I find myself turning to for purely selfish reasons—knowing full well that anyone else who smells it will find it uplifting and profound, too.

Best Iconic Cologne: Chanel Bleu de Chanel EDT

Why we love it: Even if you weren't aware of it at the time, you've probably caught a whiff of Chanel Bleu at one point or another—and likely haven't forgotten it since. Its pleasant omnipresence tends to conjure happy memories from those who smell it, especially in passing. (It reminds me of an ex-boyfriend who was all-too-fun and none-too-serious—exactly what I needed him to be.) I always treat myself to a huff when I amble into Sephora, if only to feel 22 again. How's that for time travel?

Vibe: Oval Office-ready | Key Notes: Bergamot, clove, amber, musk

Why we love it: A chosen scent of one George Washington, this American stalwart persists for its crisp, sophisticated projection. It feels like a modern evolution of the classic aftershave cologne—the same barbershop-adjacent vibe, but with a lot more lasting power. (Much like George, I simply cannot tell a lie.)

Best Luxury Cologne: Louis Vuitton Imagination EDP

Why we love it: I legitimately get goosebumps every time I smell Louis Vuitton's flagship EDP, a tingle in my scalp that sends serotonin surging through my veins. Before I encountered it, I never thought a scent could make me feel like the gravity had left my body. To put it in less poetic terms: If I had to choose one scent to wear for the rest of my life, it'd probably be this.

Vibe: Tatted West Village bar-owner | Key Notes: Leather, rum, oak, black pepper, cherry

Why we love it: I could spill endless ink on Mind Games’ nuanced selection of parfums, but I have to tip my hat to Ruy Lopez. It’s a perfect option for buttoned-up events—at weddings and work dinners alike, it never fails to announce you as a good-time guy. Its long-lingering machismo will continue to remind you of said good times weeks after they've rolled.

Best Long-Lasting Cologne: Tom Ford Beau de Jour EDP

Why we love it: Every time I wear Beau de Jour, I feel like I'm cosplaying as a genteel man-about-town. (Joke's on you: I hate the opera.) More realistically, though, I feel like a writer who hits all of his deadlines with zero notes from my editors, who are all very proud of me. That's exactly what it's supposed to do: turn you into the best version of yourself.

Vibe: The impression you want to make at your high school reunion | Key Notes: Lemon, oud, almond, vanilla, musk

Why we love it: Other scents on this list might boast better sillage or longevity, but Mancera wears like an extrait even though it’s a surprisingly affordable EDP. It’s also a best-seller among Zagwolsky’s LUXSB customers. “It’s become a staple in a fragrance wardrobe year-round, but especially during the summer months,” she says. “That touch of almond contrasted with the depth of leather provides the perfect balance—a terrific signature scent.”

Best Subtle Cologne: Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 EDT

Why we love it: This scent might be the most famous “no-fragrance fragrance” on the market; its Iso E Super molecule expresses itself differently on each wearer. You can layer it with another fragrance or let it mix with your skin's natural chemistry for an oh-so-subtle effect. Some folks won’t notice a thing, others will instantly demand to know what you're wearing.

Vibe: The first co*cktail you order on vacation | Key Notes: Vetiver, lime, grapefruit, amber, musk

Why we love it: St Johns Vetiver harnesses one of the most reliable notes in the fragrance world to warm and rapturous effect. It won't last as long as other options on this list, but that’s part of its appeal: If you're looking for a classically masculine scent for the occasional date night or fancy event, look no further.

Best Unisex Cologne: Calvin Klein CK One EDT

Why we love it: By any metric, this is the unisex cologne. It’s great for couples who share scents, especially when both parties prefer wearing something down the middle. I think of CK One as the perfect weekend warrior, too—when all I want to throw on is a beefy hoodie and shades, it's mine to enjoy.

Vibe: A speakeasy in Kyoto | Key Notes: Juniper berries, nutmeg, musk, coriander

Why we love it: I get a giddy sense of satisfaction whenever I wear Gentle Fluidity Silver; it's my happy hour scent of choice. It feels like the first sip of a gin and tonic, provided the gin is the top-shelf Japanese stuff they definitely don’t sell back home.

Best Woody Cologne: Hermès Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver EDP

Why we love it: Over a decade-plus of grooming coverage, there are only two bottles of fragrance that I've used to the last drop. One isn’t on this list (shoutout to the brilliant Arquiste Nanban, a wintry staple); the other is Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver, the best expression of Hermès’ iconic cologne. I went through an entire bottle in just a few months, and it remains one of the best buys you can make for yourself, your partner, or your son. It's a reliable, invigorating, and head-turning masculine scent that's perfect for all scenarios and seasons—and it should be triple the price.

Vibe: Shy friend with a wicked sense of humor | Key Notes: Cypress, cedarwood, resin

Why we love it: I love the headiness of this strong woody cast; it's extremely smart and undeniably masculine—not unlike your engineer colleague who's a low-key CrossFit freak, but is too shy to bring it up at happy hour. Naturally, he'd prefer to let Hero Parfum do the talking. It feels curious and intellectual, a great conversationalist of a scent.

Best Citrus Cologne: Ormonde Jayne Gatsby 22 EDP

Why we love it: Positivity, bottled. Every time I get a lil' huff I smile. To me, Gatsby 22 feels like a leveled-up version of Dior Homme, a little more nuanced and niche than its iconic mass-market counterpart. It makes me want to get outside, to see and be seen, with every spritz.

Vibe: The first hit of Vitamin D after a long winter | Key Notes: Grapefruit, green mandarin, black currant, cashmere wood

Why we love it: This one makes me so happy I've almost considered drinking it. It’s like a sunny spring afternoon, or the first day of a cloud-free vacation—before you get sunburned. I wear it every spring and summer, and on plenty of the doldrum days between when I need a pick-me-up.

Best Fresh Cologne: Diptyque Eau de Minthé EDP

Why we love it: No scent is fresher than this. Wearing it is like stepping out of the best shower of your life, wrapping yourself in the plushest robe on the planet, and ordering room service on the company tab. It might be a pinch too buoyant for some fellas, but it’s catnip for anyone who might be in the suite (or, heck, the shower) with you when that room service arrives.

Vibe: Sailing around Cape Cod | Key Notes: Cashmere wood, absinthe, calone/marine note, mint

Why we love it: Alto Mar bottles the essence of an ocean breeze. It’s a great post-shave cologne, and a perennial signature scent candidate, thanks to its easy-but-sophisticated take on masculinity.

Best Floral Cologne: Aesop Rōzu EDP

Why we love it: Whenever I wear Rōzu, I swear that some of my high school AP Calculus knowledge comes back into focus. It sounds corny, but it really does make me feel, well, smarter. Maybe I should give the debate team another go after all.

Vibe: Surfer bro with a soft side | Key Notes: green cognac, pink pepper, mandarin flower, resin, frankincense

Why we love it: If my boyfriend wasn’t allergic to wearing fragrance (he simply refuses to do it), this is probably what I would ask him to buy. It's exactly what I want to smell at the end of a stressful work day, an olfactory antidote to the bills I need to pay or the errands I need to run. It offers total floral-backed serenity with a slightly masculine bent.

Best Spicy Cologne: Dior Sauvage Elixir Parfum

Why we love it: Of all the Sauvage expressions out there, Elixir excites me the most. I find it perfect for the colder months of the year, the darker half of the day, and any date nights throughout. It has a nice bite, too—a signature licorice-tinged zing that makes it memorable. Memorable on date night…that’s a decent sell, no?

Vibe: Syrah for one at a SoHo bar | Key Notes: Hookah, tobacco, bourbon vanilla

Why we love it: What do you expect from a scent literally called Smoking Hot? It's all your vices, bottled into one tempting tipple. The bourbon vanilla lends it a chest-puffing vibe that I find extremely alluring; I practically feel my posture correct itself whenever I spray it on. Harness its powers carefully.

Best Leather Cologne: Malin + Goetz Leather EDP

Why we love it: Malin+Goetz has conjured an approachable—dare we say…polite?—way to wear leather, while still announcing to the world that you are, in fact, just as confident as you are sexy. I love that this expression offers so many notes besides just raw, dripping leather. Despite that sex appeal, though, nobody will call you out for wearing it to the hardware store (or in the middle of May).

Vibe: Off-duty beefcake | Key Notes: Cherry, suede, fennel, moss, musk

Why we love it: The olfactory equivalent of wearing your brashest pants for a night on the town. It’s irreverent, sultry, and cheeky in equal measure. Its suede notes stand out strongest to me, but that cherry is pushing hard on the gas, too. Have fun with it.

Best Musk Cologne: Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur EDP

Why we love it: Musc Ravageur is aptly named, in that it evokes exactly what it advertises: musk-infused sex appeal—but in a playful enough manner that won't overwhelm your date. I wouldn’t wear it to the office, but I would wear it if I wanted to suggest—politely, of course—to someone special that I have the place to myself that evening. It’s a nice way to broadcast your complexity without coming on too strong, if you catch my musky drift.

Vibe: Freelance writer in full black tie | Key Notes: Frankincense, pink pepper, grapefruit, resin

Why we love it: Éclat is a charm, the olfactory equivalent of a friend telling you "hey, you clean up nice”. Your hair is slicked back, your neckline is cleaned up, your Brioni suit is tailored to a T—nobody clamoring to score your number has to know you ordered Papa John’s on Uber Eats last night. All they know is the you in this particular moment, and damn, that you is making a killer impression.

How to Find Your Signature Scent

Your signature scent is the one you wear most often—to the office, to after-work drinks, to re-up on toilet paper at the bodega down the street. Think of it as your olfactive personality. “A signature scent becomes your identity,” says Leila Zagwolsky, co-founder and CEO of perfume discovery platform LUXSB. “Fragrances are not only part of our lives: they’re as individual as a favorite song or pair of jeans.” Here's how to zero in on the best signature scent for you.

1. Understand notes and fragrance families. Familiarizing yourself with scent families and key olfactive notes is a great starting point—as is understanding which ones work best as “everyday” scents. At the onset of your journey, Zagwolsky recommends considering woody, aromatic, or citrus fragrance, which work across most occasions and tend to be less polarizing. (Yes, cologne can be polarizing!)
2. Consider the vibe. In the fragrance world, the same notes can manifest differently depending on how they're employed—so it’s also important to understand a scent's ever-elusive vibe. Is it designed to transport you to the sun-dappled beaches of a private island? Or conjure memories of a rainy day spent indoors? If you're looking for an everyday scent, steer clear of any vibes that immediately read as overly powerful or expressive.
3. Ask around. This one's simple: If you like how someone smells, ask them what they're wearing. You don't need to jack their signature scent wholesale, but compliments have a way of loosening people's lips—and they might put you onto a fragrance that feels more distinctly you.
4. Use the web: Websites like Fragrantica can help you discover new scents or those similar to fragrances you already know about; they're a great place to search by brand, season, and fragrance family. (We're also fans of Fragrances of the World always-helpful matching tool.)
5. Try before you buy: Have a scent in mind? Double-check if the brand behind it offers samples before you commit to a full size. Discovery sites like LUXSB are great platforms for building a low-cost fragrance library, too, if you want few options in the starting lineup once you land on a star player.

Understanding Cologne Types

Ever wondered about the difference between an “EDT” and an “EDP”? It's not actually all that complicated. The primary differentiator comes down to the percentage of perfumed oils used in the product, which dictates how brands classify their scents. These days, we tend to treat “cologne” as a catchall term for any men’s fragrance, but technically speaking, the term is just one of many you should know about. These are the rest.

• Eau Fraiche. 1-3% perfume oil concentration. Very few fragrances are true eau fraiches these days; those that are classified as such will last for just an hour or two.
• Cologne/Eau de Cologne/EDC. 3-5% concentration. We tend to refer to the broader category of men’s scents as “colognes”, even when they don’t fall in this range.
• Eau de Toilette/EDT. 5-8% concentration. Shop in this range or higher if you want a scent to perform past lunchtime. (And yes, the translation from French is literally “toilet water”. We promise you'll still smell great.)
• Eau de Parfum/EDP. 8-15% concentration. This wide range of concentrations makes EDPs the hardest category to predict in terms of longevity and performance. Either way, an EDP should be noticeably stronger than an EDT.
• Parfum/Extrait de Parfum. Parfums tend to be in the 15-30% perfume concentration range, but they can climb up to 40% before a brand switches to “pure parfum oil”. Some extraits and parfums are described as “eternal”—but remember, that’s not necessarily what you should be looking for.

The classifications above aren't an exact science, of course, but the concentration levels they allude to are a solid indicator of where to set your expectations, and how much a fragrance will cost.

How We Tested (and Chose Our Winners)

Testing colognes is one of the best parts of this gig. Writing for GQ affords me access to new scents as soon as—and sometimes, well before—they hit the market; at any given point in time, my personal collection includes dozens of gleaming, unopened bottles. Testing all of them is a full-time job in and of itself, so I keep on ongoing tally of which formulas feel best for which occasions. (You'd be surprised by how many of them don't pass the simplest sniff test, regardless of where I'd wear 'em.)

In compiling this guide, I kept a particularly close eye on context and budget; not every guy wears cologne the same way or for the same reasons, and the breadth and depth of this list is designed to reflect those differences. Generally speaking, I evaluated each winning pick on the basis of its universal appeal, factoring in a mix of opinions from my sources in the fragrance community, to ensure that every scent included here will leave its wearer looking—and feeling—like the absolute best version of himself.

About Our Tester

Adamy Hurly has been covering the grooming industry since 2013. For most of that time, he's been GQ.com’s primary grooming contributor, too. For this article, Adam also spoke at length with Leila Zagwolsky, co-founder and CEO of perfume discovery platform LUXSB, to solicit her insights on signature scents and fragrance wardrobes.

Men’s Colognes FAQs

What is the best men’s cologne?

According to GQ, the best men’s cologne for year-round wear is Le Labo Thé Matcha 26, which imbues a smart and sophisticated formula with a welcome dose of subtle sex appeal. We consider it the platonic signature scent for its four-season versatility, too—it's ideally suited for professional and personal settings, along with every context between.

What is the best way to test a cologne?

Fragrance notes evaporate over time and aromas can change, so if you're trying a new cologne for the first time, you need more than a first impression. “It’s important to let the fragrance dry-down on skin [before making a final decision],” says Leila Zagwolsky, co-founder and CEO of perfume discovery platform LUXSB. “Wait a few hours and smell your skin again. If you can imagine yourself wearing this fragrance for a certain occasion or [a specific] mood, it’s a keeper.”

What is one underrated fragrance family that men should consider?

Zagwolsky recommends trying gourmand fragrances, like vanilla colognes, which are often perceived as cold-weather-oriented. Many vanilla scents, Zagwolsky says, can be worn year-round, too. Look for notes that that make you drool, like vanilla, chocolate, almond, honey, and caramel.