Which Perfume Is Best For Men?

Which Perfume Is Best for Men?

 

Finding the perfect perfume for men is just as challenging as finding perfume for women. The criteria are much the same. You want the perfume to be appealing to yourself as well as to others.

 

Are there some fragrances that are better than others? I know personally what men’s perfume I prefer my husband to wear. Fortunately for me, my husband likes the same scent.

 

I know that I am lucky. Not all women like the scent their men like to wear.

 

What Are the Top 10 Men’s Fragrances?

 

I would say that there are no hard and fast rules. But, when I worked as a perfume adviser and personal shopper for an upmarket London department store, I kept a secret list.

 

This is my go-to list:

 

1. Dior Sauvage Elixir
2. Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum
3. Ralph Lauren Polo Black
4. Hugo Boss Bottled
5. Armani Di Gio
6. Versace Eros in EDT and EDP
7. Versace Dylan Blue
8. Carolina Herrera
9. Hermes Terre D’Hermes
10. Hermes Eau de Basilic Pourpre Eau de Cologne

 

This list is in no strict order. My job was to match the perfume to the man. For that, I took a range of things into consideration.

 

Lifestyle Shopping For Men

 

Lifestyle does matter when it comes to shopping for perfume. If you are a member of the cabinet, you may not want to turn up wearing Carolina Herrera Bad Boy to your next meeting. However, Bad Boy does make a great date night perfume.

 

When you want a more subtle and sophisticated scent, you need to err on the side of caution and choose a cologne from Hermes or perhaps Hugo Boss.

 

On your days off, you could opt for Polo Black which I think is a great all-rounder. What I am trying to say is that you should have more than one cologne to choose from.

 

What Size After Shave Should I Buy?

 

Buying a larger bottle of your everyday scent is a good idea. This is the scent that you are going to use most frequently, You don’t want to risk running out. If you can, look out for box sets containing shower gel and deodorant. Buying men’s perfume this way saves money.

 

If you can’t find a box set containing everything you need, it is a good idea to buy a deodorant and shower gel of the same cologne. Having the same deo and gel helps the cologne to last longer and adds to the overall effect.

 

Another good idea is to buy a smaller bottle of the same cologne to keep in your man bag. It is nice to top up your fragrance during the day.

 

When it comes to date night and special occasions colognes, you can opt for smaller bottles.

 

How many different colognes should you have in your collection? There are no hard and fast rules, but I think you should have at least 3 - 4 men’s perfumes.

 

Which Perfume Is Best for Men and Long Lasting?

 

Many perfume advisers recommend a specific perfume or brand. I don’t do that.

 

When it comes to men’s perfumes and colognes, I think the primary deciding factor is lifestyle. If you have a very busy lifestyle and need to smell good for longer, you need a scent that is going to last.

 

Good choices for long-lasting men’s fragrances are the Dior Eau De Sauvage range and Hermes colognes. Yes, I know you pay more for Hermes but it is worth those extra pennies. Versace Eros is another good choice.

What Is The Number 1 Perfume In The World For Men?

 

This is hard to say. One of the best-selling perfumes for men is undoubtedly Dior Eau de Sauvage. I think all men should have Sauvage Eau de Parfum in their bathroom cabinets.

 

Best Male Fragrance for Work

 

As mentioned, this depends on where you work. If you work in an office, Sauvage is a great scent. When you want to add variation, you should try Hugo Boss Bottled and Armani Di Gio.

 

These three scents are great for splashing on before you pop into work or go about your day.

 

When you want a special cologne, you should turn to one of the others on the list. As I said, aim to have about 3 - 4 men’s perfumes ready to go.

 

Let’s take a closer look at my top 10 men’s fragrances.

 

Dior Sauvage Elixir

 

Sauvage Elixir has a range of interesting notes. Many say that it is targeted toward more senior gents. I disagree with that. This a beautiful sophisticated scent that many women find appealing. What I am trying to say is that it is perfect for date nights or special occasions.

 

Not all men have discovered Elixir as yet. If you want to be relatively certain to stand out in a crowd, Elixir is a great choice.

 

Thanks to cinnamon, this is a warm sweet scent that is very masculine. The opening note of cinnamon is backed up by nutmeg and cardamom. In the midrange of the perfume, lavender takes the opportunity to add depth. A touch of grapefruit adds freshness to this men’s elixir.

 

If you are looking for a gift for the man in your life, Dior Sauvage Elixir is a good choice. The scent was launched in 2021 which means it is relatively new.

 

Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum

 

Many men would say Dior Sauvage is a must-have men’s perfume. I would have to agree. The cologne was first launched in 1966 and was Dior’s first perfume for men. Despite the rather silly advert with Johnny Depp, it remains one of the best perfumes for men in the world.

 

What does Dior Sauvage smell like? This is a clear crisp scent. Top notes of bergamot and pepper are the first to burst out of the bottle. They are quickly followed by tones of amber, vanilla and cedar. A few botanical floral notes have been added to lift the cologne.

 

Eau de Sauvage wears well all day and is perfect for almost any occasion. If you like Dior Sauvage, I would always opt for Sauvage Elixir as a date night perfume.

 

Ralph Lauren Polo Black

 

It is easy to get confused by the Ralph Lauren Polo range of men’s fragrances. Unless you are experienced when it comes to buying perfumes, I think it is hard to pick your way through it and find the right one for you.

 

All of the fragrances have something to offer modern men. Ralph Lauren Blue is a good choice and you can often pick up Blue box sets which contain everything you need.

 

If I would have to direct a gent in a particular direction, I would point out Ralph Lauren Black to him. Polo Black was created by experienced perfumer Pierre Negrin. The scent was launched in 2005 and quickly became popular.

 

As a men’s fragrance, it is slightly different from the rest of the Polo range. It is the member of the range that dares to be different.

 

Top notes include citrus and mango. Let the scent linger, and you soon pick up on tonka bean and sandalwood. It is a modern scent which offers the wearer a touch of sophistication while still remaining masculine.

 

Hugo Boss Bottled

 

Almost all men that I speak to are aware that Hugo Boss makes perfume as well as good quality footwear and accessories.

 

As a company, Boss dates back to 1924. This is a company with experience when it comes to knowing what men like. Its range of fragrances and men’s body care products is impressive.

 

Hugo Boss Bottled Parfum is another men’s perfume I think is a must-have. The base of this scent is vetiver which means other notes blend well. Let it linger for a moment, and you will pick up cedar and sandalwood for spiciness. The scent also offers freshness thanks to the addition of lemon, bergamot and a touch of apple.

 

It is a masculine scent that many men appreciate. A touch of vanilla makes it a good choice for a night out. The perfume is always a much-appreciated gift. I have never known a man not to like Hugo Boss Bottled. You can often pick up Hugo Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette gift sets.

 

Armani Di Gio

 

I have to be honest and say that Armani Di Gio is one of those men’s perfumes that needs warming up. Don’t expect all of the notes to make themselves known immediately.

 

This is a great men’s cologne to put on after you have come out of the shower. If you like a special scent on your days off or on Sunday morning, Armani Di Gio is perfect.

 

What does Di Gio smell like? It is fresh and packed with light aquatic notes. At the same time, it offers hidden depths thanks to rosemary, bergamot and neroli. A touch of green tangerine along with rosemary and the sweetest persimmon hold it together. As it develops, you also pick up nuances of patchouli.

 

Versace Eros

 

Versace Eros comes in both an eau de toilette and eau de parfum. Eau de parfums last longer than eau de toilettes. As this is a very exquisite scent, it is worth investing in the Versace Eros Eau de Parfum.

 

This is one of the men’s perfumes that dares to incorporate mint. It makes Eros extra appealing. As the scent increases in intensity, you discover geranium and clary sage. They are backed up by sweet apple, lemon and fresh mandarin orange. Wait a moment and you discover popular men’s tones including leather, sandalwood and patchouli.

 

 

Versace Dylan Blue

 

Let’s not leave the Versace range of men’s fragrances yet. I think that Versace Dylan Blue deserves a mention.

 

The scent was launched in 2016 and is another unique scent. As it contains both papyrus and violet leaves, it is a fresh scent that works well during the day. Dylan Blue is also a good going-out perfume. After the initial burst of fragrance, you pick up on pepper, amber and bergamot. A touch of husky incense has been added for depth. Freshness comes from delicate grapefruit nuances.

 

Carolina Herrera Bad Boy

 

Yes, this is a naughty but nice fragrance for men.

 

This is a cutting-edge men’s cologne from this popular designer brand. It has everything you need for a night out. As it contains touches of pepper, it remains fresh. You can also rely on classic masculine notes including amber, bergamot and cacao. Tonka tickles the nostrils making the scent fun and flirtatious.

 

Hermes Terre D’Hermes

This is a relatively new men’s cologne to this classic brand. It was first introduced in 2006. Many men have yet to discover this scent.

 

It is both a sophisticated and masculine men’s perfume. Terre D’Hermes offers all good things in one bottle. When you are looking for a scent with the perfect balance of fruitiness, spiciness and woodiness, this is the one for you.

 

The best of essences make up the fragrance. You quickly pick up cedar, vetiver and patchouli as the woody base of the scent. Orange and grapefruit add freshness and interest.

 

Hermes Eau de Basilic Pourpre Eau de Cologne

 

Experienced perfumer Christina Nagel is the woman behind this men’s fragrance. The first time I caught a waft of it, I knew that it was something special.

 

It is a bit of a rarity in the world of perfumes. If you like you can say that it celebrates the herb basil. The smell of crushed basil is not one you are going to forget in a hurry.

 

Basilic Pourpre cuts through the air but always remains pleasant. The fragrance is masculine, fresh and long-lasting. This is a men’s fragrance which you don’t smell every day. If you are looking for something different, it is an excellent choice.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Never rely on only one men’s perfume. It is best to make sure that you have a selection of choices sitting on your bathroom shelf.

 

Remember to buy large bottles of everyday colognes and smaller bottles of special occasions fragrances. As a final reminder, don’t forget what I said about box sets - they offer excellent value for money.