Do you often feel overwhelmed by the number of options when trying to find the best perfume for men? This article narrows down the field to 27 top perfumes for men, catering for different tastes, budgets and needs.
Using Perfume Notes
When selecting a new perfume, considering perfume notes (also known as fragrance notes) is helpful. A perfume note is a distinct type of scent that represents an individual part of a perfume’s whole. Each note can be present due to one ingredient or numerous ingredients combined.
Notes from perfumes that have appealed to you in the past can guide you when selecting a new perfume. For example, one of your favourite perfumes may heavily feature fresh citrus or spicy pepper. This could suggest that you’ll enjoy the presence of such a note in other perfumes.
Seasonal Perfumes
Seasonality is also something to bear in mind when selecting a perfume. Fresh, aquatic and citrus smells are generally suited to spring and summer. Conversely, woody, musky and spicy aromas feel more appropriate for autumn and winter.
Types of Perfume
Each suggestion in this article relates to a specific type of perfume, based on fragrance oil concentration. For example, a suggestion may be an eau de parfum, eau de toilette or cologne for men. Perfumes which share the same name but have a different concentration type may each have a different configuration of fragrance notes.
The Best Perfume For Men
Here's our list of the best men's perfumes in the world:
Bibliothèque - Byredo
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2017
As its name suggests, Byredo’s Bibliothèque evokes a sense of the past, ‘a world of old books’ with ‘leather-bound pages’ and ‘dark wood shelves’. This perfume is intense and woody with notes of leather and birchwood. For complexity notes of vanilla, plum, cinnamon and violet are present, adding spice and sweetness.
Perfume Notes
- plum, cinnamon
- leather accord, violet
- birch woods, patchouli, vanilla
Learn more about Bibliothèque - Byredo
Layton - Parfums de Marly
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2016
With its oriental floral composition, Layton from Parfums de Marly distils the scent of a debonair gentleman. Citrus bergamot and fresh geranium mingle with creamy vanilla, spicy pepper and earthy guaiac wood. Its effect is contemporary, complex and masculine.
Perfume Notes
- apple, bergamot, lavender
- jasmine, violet, geranium
- vanilla, pepper, guaiac wood, patchouli
Learn more about Layton - Parfums de Marly
Oud - Acqua di Parma
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2019
True to its title ingredient, Oud by Italian fragrance house Acqua di Parma is a rich and deep perfume. The composition’s intense oud essence sits alongside sharper citrus notes of bergamot and orange. Providing further complexity are cedarwood, sandalwood and musk which impart an earthy aspect. The result is far from one note.
Perfume Notes
- bergamot, orange
- agarwood oil (oud), Haitian amyris oil, Russian coriander
- cedarwood, leather accord, patchouli oil, sandalwood, musk
Learn more about Oud - Acqua di Parma
Eros - Versace
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 2012
One of the most popular men’s perfumes of all time, Eros by Versace takes its name and inspiration from the Greek god of love and sex. This masculine, confident perfume combines fresh, woody and oriental notes. The presence of notes such as mint oil, Italian lemon and mandarin brings to mind summer.
Perfume Notes
- Italian lemon, mandarin, mint oil, candied apple
- geranium flower, clary sage essence, ambermax
- sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver orpur essence, patchouli coeur orpour essence, cedarwood (Atlas), cedarwood (Virginia)
Learn more about Eros - Versace
Armani Code Parfum - Giorgio Armani
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2022
Embodying the opposing values of strength and sensitivity, Armani Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani is a new take on a classic formula. Citrus bergamot features alongside herby clary sage heart with cedarwood and tonka bean providing a warm aspect. In keeping with the times, this powerful aromatic, woody perfume’s bottle is refillable.
Perfume Notes
- vert de bergamote (from Italy), bergamot heart (from Italy)
- clary sage heart (from Provence), resinoid iris (from Morocco)
- tonka bean absolute (from Brazil), cedarwood heart (from Virginia)
Learn more about Armani Code Parfum - Giorgio Armani
Tobacco Vanille - Tom Ford
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2007
One of Tom Ford’s best loved perfumes, Tobacco Vanille has a scent that is warm, spicy and opulent. In this perfume creamy tonka bean, vanilla and cocoa notes join tobacco flower and ginger. It’s a complex creation that’s charmed many with its rich, smooth and powerful scent.
Perfume Notes
- tobacco leaf
- cocoa, vanilla, tonka bean
- dried fruits
Learn more about Tobacco Vanille - Tom Ford
Baccarat Rouge 540 - Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2016
Designed to mark crystal manufacturer Baccarat’s 250th birthday, Baccarat Rouge 540 from Maison Francis Kurkdjian is floral, ambery and woody. Jasmine, saffron and cedar notes feature in this complex, impactful scent which has become a luxury gold-standard.
Perfume Notes
- Hedione, Ambroxan, cedar (from Virginia), saffron
Learn more about Baccarat Rouge 540 - Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Eidesis - Aesop
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2022
Drawing upon the scents of nature, Australian brand Aesop’s Eidesis features bright notes which give way to dry wood, damp earth and deep spices. This ambery, woody perfume deploys the trio of black pepper, frankincense and sandalwood to intense effect.
Perfume Notes
- petitgrain, black pepper, frankincense
- cumin, cedar, frankincense
- sandalwood, cedar, vetiver
Learn more about Eidesis - Aesop
Imagination - Louis Vuitton
Released: 2021
In the short time since its release in 2021, Louis Vuitton’s Imagination has become one of the French fashion house’s best regarded perfumes. Taking musky, woody ambrox as a starting point, Imagination adds an intriguing list of notes such as black tea, neroli, cedar, bergamot, ginger and cinnamon. The resulting profile is a fresh citrus mix punctuated with spice and wood.
Perfume Notes
Ambrox, black tea (from China), Tunisian neroli, Sicilian cedar, Calabrian bergamot, Nigerian ginger, Ceylon cinnamon
Learn more about Imagination - Louis Vuitton
French Lover - Frederic Malle
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2007
Created by esteemed perfumer Pierre Bourdon, Frederic Malle’s French Lover channels the spirit of seduction. The perfume aims to complement and enhance man’s natural scent. Spicy freshness is present thanks to notes such as juniper, pimiento and angelica while a woody sensibility is added by cedar, patchouli and vetiver.
Perfume Notes
pimiento, angelica, juniper, cedar, galbanum, patchouli, vetiver, frankincense
Learn more about French Lover - Frederic Malle
Sauvage - Dior (Eau de Parfum)
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2019
Sauvage by Dior is ‘an ode to nature’ with ‘the desert in the magical hour of twilight’ serving as a point of initial inspiration. Reflecting this, Sauvage contains a complex mix of contrasting plant notes such as bergamot for sharp freshness and vanilla extract for smokiness. The formulation is powerful and virile yet also smooth. This scent lends itself particularly well to wearing in the evening.
Perfume Notes
- Calabrian bergamot, Papua New Guinean vanilla extract, patchouli
Learn more about Sauvage - Dior (Eau de Parfum)
Santal 33 - Le Labo
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2011
Santal 33 is Le Labo's runaway hit perfume, and with very good reason. Inspired by the rugged, wide expanse of the American west, the perfume is a mix of spicy, leathery, musky and smoky notes. Cardamom, iris, violet, sandalwood and cedarwood all feature in this cult perfume’s line-up of notes.
Perfume Notes
- cardamom, iris, violet, Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, spices, leather, musk
Learn more about Santal 33 - Le Labo
Acqua Di Giò - Giorgio Armani
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 1996
Launched in the ‘90s, Acqua Di Giò by Giorgio Armani remains a timeless favourite. Cool aquatic notes mingle with bergamot, jasmine essence and patchouli. The result is a perfume which adds surprising woody, warm depth to a light and fresh formula.
Perfume Notes
- bergamot, neroli, tangerine
- ozonic marine notes, sambac jasmine essence, rock rose, persimmon fruit
- cedarwood, patchouli, musk
Learn more about Acqua di Giò - Giorgio Armani
Elysium - Roja Parfums
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2017
Freshness and strength define Elysium from British perfumery house Roja. Citrus, apple, blackcurrant and juniper berry add a fruity character, with pink pepper and cedarwood imparting spice and wood. This perfume’s overall scent profile is complex, masculine and bright.
Perfume Notes
- grapefruit, lime, lavender, thyme, musk, pink pepper, cedarwood, juniper berry, benzoin, musk
Learn more about Elysium - Roja
Bleu De Chanel - Chanel
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2014
Bleu De Chanel by Chanel is an ‘an ode to masculine freedom’. This manifests as an aromatic, woody perfume with musky notes. To achieve this perfume’s sensual warmth, sandalwood features alongside notes of ambery cedar and rich tonka bean.
Perfume Notes
- New Caledonian sandalwood, cedar, tonka bean
Learn more about Bleu De Chanel - Chanel
Replica Jazz Club - Maison Margiela
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 2013
The antithesis of light and airy, Replica Jazz Club by Maison Margiela is a perfume that’s warm, cosy, rich and smoky. To achieve its heady scent, Replica Jazz Club brings together pink pepper with sweet rum and smoky tobacco leaf. This perfume is well suited to evenings on the town.
Perfume Notes
- pink pepper essence, Primofiore lemon oil, neroli oil
- rum absolute, clary sage oil, Java vetiver oil
- styrax resin, tobacco leaf absolute, vanilla bean CO2
Learn more about Replica Jazz Club - Maison Martin Margiela
Aventus - Creed
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2010
Creed’s Aventus perfume exhibits ‘strength, power, success and heritage’ via an intense cocktail of notes. These include fruit notes such as blackcurrant and lemon, rich notes such as jasmine and woody notes such as oakmoss and cedarwood. The resulting perfume is bold and sophisticated yet fresh.
Perfume Notes
- lemon, pink pepper, apple, bergamot, blackcurrant
- pineapple, jasmine, patchouli
- birch, ambroxan, cedarwood, oakmoss, musk
Learn more about Aventus - Creed
L’Homme Prada - Prada
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 2016
L’Homme from Prada is a perfume which represents duality and layers. It brings together the classic and the contemporary, the sensual and the sophisticated. Contrasting notes such as neroli, violet, iris, pepper, amber, cedarwood and patchouli all sit alongside each other. The effect is one that skillfully balances masculine and feminine scent characteristics.
Perfume Notes
- amber, iris, ginger, neroli, sandalwood, cedarwood
Learn more about L'Homme Prada - Prada
Bvlgari Man In Black - Bvlgari
Energy and strength were integral to the formulation of Bvlgari Man In Black which is an adaptation of the original Bvlgari Man perfume. Invigorating spices, leather and rum all feature in this rich perfume’s formula. The resulting fragrance is simultaneously vibrant, warm and powerful.
Perfume Notes
- vibrant spices, ambery rum, tuberose flower, iris concrete, leather accord, benzoin, tonka bean, guaiac wood
Learn more about Bvlgari Man In Black - Bvlgari
Gentleman Givenchy - Givenchy
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2018
Gentleman by Givenchy is a rich and magnetic perfume which emits masculine sophistication. An oriental character is present thanks to earthy patchouli and sensual black vanilla. Spicy black pepper adds heat while iris offers a bold floral characteristic. Balanced yet complex, the perfume is modern and elegant.
Perfume Notes
- pepper essence, lavender
- orris concrete, Peru balsam
- patchouli essence, black vanilla
Learn more about Gentleman Givenchy - Givenchy
La Nuit de L’Homme Le Parfum - Yves Saint Laurent
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2010
Yves Saint Laurent’s La Nuit de L’Homme Le Parfum is an oriental, woody perfume inspired by overdose and contrast. Expect a varied list of notes including fresh bergamot and anise, spicy black pepper, floral lavender, smooth vanilla and earthy vetiver. True to its aim, it’s a powerful perfume which contrasts the fresh with the rich.
Perfume Notes
- bergamot, anise, black pepper, lavender, vanilla, vetiver essence, labdanum absolute
Learn more about La Nuit de L'Homme Le Parfum - Yves Saint Laurent
Explorer - Montblanc
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2019
Taking its cue from the free spirited, Montblanc’s Explorer is a masculine perfume which emits woody, leather character. Rich vetiver contrasts with citrus bergamot and fresh sage. To round things off, akigalawood, sandalwood and patchouli add earthy complexity.
Perfume Notes
- bergamot, sage, pomarose
- vetiver, leather, sandalwood
- patchouli, Ambrofix, akigalawood
Learn more about Explorer - Montblanc
Orphéon - Diptyque
Type: eau de parfum
Released: 2021
Created as an ode to the bar in which the founders of Diptyque would meet, Orphéon captures the variety of sensation one might expect to find in such a place. Deep, woody cedar mingles with warm tonka bean, jasmine provides richness while juniper berries add a spike of fruit. Expect an expert balance of fresh floral character and sensual and woody aspects.
Perfume Notes
- juniper berry, cedar, tonka bean, jasmine
Learn more about Orphéon - Diptyque
Invictus - Rabanne
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 2013
Rabanne’s Invictus takes its name from the Latin word for unconquerable. As a result, this popular perfume is both bold and vibrant. This is achieved by bringing together fresh grapefruit and marine notes with warm, deep guaiac wood and labdanum.
Perfume Notes
- grapefruit
- marine accord
- guaiac wood, patchouli, ambergris
Learn more about Invictus - Paco Rabanne
Cool Water by Davidoff
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 1988
Davidoff’s Cool Water is a definitive marine men’s perfume. Launched in 1988, the reason for its enduring appeal is a timeless balance of fresh notes which elevated the perfume to icon status. Notes include mint, lavender and coriander.
Perfume Notes
- mint, lavender
- oakmoss, geranium, sandalwood
- amber, musk
Learn more about Cool Water - Davidoff
Wanted by Azzaro
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 2016
Woody, citrus and spicy, Wanted by Azzaro is a perfume that makes an unambiguous, powerful impression. The headline notes of lemon, cardamom and vetiver combine to create an alluring scent that’s intense and invigorating.
Perfume Notes
- lemon, ginger, cardamom, cade, vetiver, tonka bean
Learn more about Wanted - Azzaro
Boss Bottled by Hugo Boss
Type: eau de toilette
Released: 1998
Though it launched in 1998, Hugo Boss’ Boss Bottled has become a familiar men’s perfume mainstay. Vibrant, fruity and fresh, yet warm, spicy and woody, Boss Bottled balances diverse notes to powerful effect.
Perfume Notes
- fruits
- germanium, clove
- sandalwood, cedar, vetiver
Learn more about Boss Bottled - Hugo Boss
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