The Fragrant Dozen for Men
It's no mystery that men have no clue to what they want. So here's something for the men out there to use as a ready reference when they are out hunting for their preferred fragrance
No matter what your sensory preferences are, we all know that the perfect fragrance simply does not exist—some simply won’t match your personality, and what you like could also depend on the season, vibe, and mood you’re feeling that day.
That’s part of the fun of experimenting with different fragrances. To be honest, it can be quite a daunting task to really find your signature scent as the market is overflowing with simply far too many options: From fruity, sweet top notes to woody or musky base notes, there’s a million different combinations and possibilities.
So join our quest with an open mind as we've considered everything from light and fresh to heavy and musky— and in the process, managed to find a number of crowd favorites that can appeal to just about anybody’s tastes.
The Alchemist's Garden The Last Day of Summer By Gucci
This scent from Gucci’s haute perfumery line, the Alchemist’s Garden, allows you to cling onto a summer feeling year-round with a warming, cozy scent made up of cedarwoods, cypress, and nutmeg, with woody undertones of patchouli and vetiver.
Polo Black By Ralph Lauren
Some classics never die, and Ralph Lauren’s Polo Black fragrance stands the test of time. A bold fusion of iced mango, lemon, and tangerine is combined with sandalwood, sage, and patchouli noir for a bittersweet end result. Bold and aromatic, it’s the ultimate scent to get noticed in
Oud Wood By Tom Ford
This cologne by Tom Ford just nails the woody scent. Combined with cardamom, sandalwood, and vetiver—with hints of tonka bean and amber—a few spritzes of this signature scent is like warming up to a nice cozy fire.
Boss By Hugo Boss
This enduring cologne is a cult classic thanks to its timeless, masculine scent. Fruity and citrus top notes of apple, lemon, and plum are balanced against a hefty floral and spicy base, including geranium, sandalwood, and vetiver.
Sauvage By Dior
Inspired by nature, this scent from Dior is earthy and woody. Warm notes of bergamot, pepper, and amberwood take cues from a desert landscape—but can still be worn in the dead of winter, thanks to its refined, non-overpowering finish.
Acqua di Gio By Giorgio Armani
This classic scent, inspired by the ocean, has stood the test of time for a reason. The earthy fragrance is the ideal everyday scent, combining cyprus, musk, bergamot, neroli, rosemary, and patchouli for a fresh finish.
Eternity for Men By Calvin Klein
Another enduring classic, Eternity is a romantic floral fragrance that was inspired by lasting love. It’s decidedly unisex with notes of freesia, mandarin, sage, white lily, patchouli, and sandalwood make for a timeless blend.
Eros By Versace
Versace’s Eros scent is both fresh and tropical. Notes of mint, orange, and woody vanilla are all refreshing—like taking a dip in the pool on a hot summer day. It obviously wears well in the summer, but is a pretty universal cologne overall.
Bleu de Chanel By Chanel
Fresh, clean, and sensual, this men’s scent from Chanel includes notes of citrus, labdanum, sandalwood, and cedar. It can easily transition from day to night and the musky undertone makes it perfect for a date.
Luna Rossa Sport BY Prada
This upbeat, zingy scent takes cues from the pulsing spirit of boat racing; it’s an awakening scent to boost your mood in the morning. Notes of lavender, ginger, juniper berries, tonka beans, and vanilla are the perfect thing to spritz on yourself post-workout—or when you’re about to hop on your first Zoom meeting of the day.
Aventus By Creed
Inspired by the life of a historic emperor and meant to symbolize strength, power and success, Aventus features top notes of apple, blackcurrant, pineapple, and bergamot with heart and base notes of birch, patchouli, vanilla and musk.
H24 By Hermès
A bright, citrusy-scent, Hermès’s H24 fragrance features notes of clary sage, narcissus, and rosewood. It’s perfect for the spring and summer, in particular, though the warming rosewood makes it a year-round favourite, too.
