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As someone whose job is to keep an eye on beauty trends, I think it’s safe to say that there’s been a ton of buzz around fragrance this year. It feels like everyone is either looking for their next signature scent or becoming highly invested in expanding their growing perfume or cologne collections. And honestly, I’m here for it.
Even for those who swap out what they wear on a regular basis, fragrance plays such a powerful role in identity, mood, and intention. Candidly, I know far more about perfumes than I do about colognes, but that’s never stopped me from doing whatever I can to get intel on what men are shopping for. In fact, I recently jumped in a group chat with a few of my fellow editors to talk about what the men in their lives are wearing these days.
And in the spirit of keeping everyone up to speed, I decided to compile the top 10 into one concise list with all the details you need to know before you make your next purchase. From luxury buys to affordable dupes, we’ve got you covered and spoiler: their picks did not disappoint.
The Best Cologne for Men, at a Glance
The Best Cologne for Men in 2026
Best Citrus: Aesop Tacit Eau De Parfum
Aesop
Tacit Eau De Parfum
For a long-lasting citrus option, consider something like this Aesop pick. “My partner has to be one of the pickiest people of the planet about fragrances, so I love seeing what passes his barometer,” says associate shopping editor Audry Hiaoui. “I put him onto Aesop’s Tacit, which he now wears regularly.”
Pro: Long-lasting
Con: None
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Yuzu, basil grand vert, clove middle notes, rosemary, mint, fennel, cedarwood, vetiver heart, amber
Scent Profile: Citrus
Customer review: “This is a very masculine scent but it’s incredible!! I sprayed it in the air to test the scent and I can smell the basil and vetiver. It’s perfect for a casual date night or business environment. I absolutely love the way the scent mixes with my husbands natural body scent.”
Best Long-Lasting: Versace Eros Eau De Toilette
Versace
Eros Eau De Toilette
My partner wears this Versace cologne often, and it’s easily my favorite on him. Although it contains vanilla, it doesn’t overpower the other notes. It truly is a warm fragrance, and I’m always impressed by how long it lasts throughout the day. The scent is definitely masculine-leaning, but it’s still youthful and fresh. Some people like powdery colognes, but I personally love how rich this one is.
Pros: Easy to layer, long-lasting
Cons: Bottle can crack easily
Type: Eau De Toilette
Key Notes: Mint leaves, orange blossom, vanilla madagascar
Scent Profile: Warm and spicy
Customer review: “I gifted this to my husband on his birthday, and it has become one of his favorite fragrances. The scent is vibrant, with a mix of fresh citrus and warm, slightly sweet notes. He usually saves it for date nights or occasions when he wants to stand out.”
Best Woody Cologne: Le Labo Tonka 25
Le Labo is known for high-demand fragrances, so it didn’t surprise me when this pick entered the group chat. “My fiancé is on the hunt for a good wedding fragrance, but usually he wears Tonka by Le Labo,” says associate features editor Ana Escalante. Hiaoui is also a fan. Although it’s a bit up there in price, the fresh blend of woody and musky notes makes it worth every penny. But if you’d rather put a feeler out there, you can also buy a mini set and test out a few options before fully committing.
Pros: Fresh
Cons: Pricey
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Orange flower absolute, cedar atlas, styrax resins, absolute tonka, musks
Scent Profile: Woody and musky
Best Spicy Cologne: Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau De Parfum
Tom Ford
Ombré Leather Eau De Parfum Fragrance
If you need a cologne for a special occasion, look no further than this warm and spicy cologne from Tom Ford. “My husband wears either Tom Ford Ombre Leather (what he wore to our wedding) or Le Labo The Noir,” says senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider. “Both of which I often steal.” This bold scent is long-lasting and easy to layer, making it well-worth the investment.
Pros: Unisex, long-lasting
Cons: Some say it’s too strong
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Black leather, violet flower, jasmine flower
Scent Profile: Warm and spicy
Customer review: “This has been the absolute best scent. My partner smells like a sexy version of “new high end car” and I frankly can’t get enough of it. I will be repurchasing this because it’s so elevated and masculine.”
Best Clean Cologne: Prada Paradigme Eau De Parfum
Prada
Paradigme Eau De Parfum
For a mature and confident scent that’s still vibrant try this Prada cologne, which has the perfect blend of earthy, citrus, and woody notes. “My dad likes a strong scent that commands a room—it feels like he wants to walk in and let it be known he’s there,” says Hiaoui. “I recently gifted him this Prada one, and he told me he got so many compliments when he wore it.”
Pros: Long-lasting
Cons: Some think it’s too sweet
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Bergamot, geranium, ambery woods
Scent Profile: Earthy, citrus, and woody
Customer review: “My husband loved this fragrance. So clean and fresh. I will for sure buy the full size bottle. I love all Prada products but this went through the gate!”
Best Splurge: Parfums de Marly Haltane Eau De Parfum Spray
Parfums de Marly
Haltane Eau De Parfum Spray
Open to splurging? If so, this woody gourmand cologne from Parfums de Marly won’t disappoint. It contains notes of bergamot, lavender, clary sage, saffron, and leather (just to name a few). “I got my dad Parfums de Marly’s Haltane as a gift, and he loves it,” says Schneider. “He says he always gets compliments.”
Pros: Rich, bold, long-lasting
Cons: Expensive
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Bergamot, lavender, clary sage, saffron, praline, natural agarwood (oud), leather, cedar
Scent Profile: Woody gourmand
Best Budget: Zara Seoul 532-8 Sinsa Dong Gangnam-Gu Edt
ZARA
Seoul 532-8 Sinsa Dong Gangnam-Gu Edt
In case you didn’t know, Zara also sells fragrances. And according to the group chat, there are plenty of underrated and affordable options worth looking into. “Don’t sleep on Zara colognes—they’re really good. They have a lot of good dupes,” says Escalante, whose partner wears this Seoul 532-8 Sinsa Dong Gangnam-Gu.
Pros: Highly affordable
Cons: Some say it doesn’t last long
Type: Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Hazelnut, pepper, amber
Scent Profile: Warm and spicy
Best Powdery Cologne: Armani Beauty Code Eau De Parfum
Armani Beauty
Code Eau De Parfum
If you want a confident cologne that’s less citrus-forward and more spice-heavy, you’ll love Armani Beauty’s Code. It’s especially nice for those who prefer a powdery finish. “This one and Burberry Touch are my dad’s top two favorites,” says Hiaoui. “The Armani is good for people who want long-lasting something more long-lasting.”
Pros: Sustainably sourced
Cons: None
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Green mandarin, nutmeg, tonka bean
Scent Profile: Ambery Spicy
Customer review: “Love the longevity and scent intensity, doesn’t come off too strong. Gives that nice clean, light powdery, spicy, citrusy smell. Quite a large bottle size too.”
Best Warm Cologne: Myslf Eau De Parfum
To cast a wider net, I reached out to a few long-time friends of mine to see which colognes they’ve recently gravitated towards. One stand out was YLS’s Myslf. “I like scents that give you a warm feeling and make you feel at home,” one friend told me. “The longevity is pretty good—it lasts a few hours.” This bold scent has a well-rounded blend of citrus and woody notes, making it a true standout. Plus, it’s relatively affordable compared to some of the other options on our list.
Pros: Easy to layer, long-lasting
Cons: Some find it too strong
Type: Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Orange blossom aboslute, woods accord, vanilla bourbon
Scent Profile: Citrus and woody
Customer review: “Absolutely love this cologne! Got my husband the gift set and it smells amazing on him and the scent lasts forever. Definitely a keeper!”
Best Bold Cologne: Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Eau De Toilette
Carolina Herrera
Bad Boy Eau De Toilette
Another friend of mine called out Carolina Herrera’s Bad Boy (the counterpart to the viral perfume Good Girl). He notes that it gets him far more compliments than some of his other colognes, and it has noticeably long lasting power. This fragrance has a classic blend of warm and spicy notes, making it a bit tricky to layer with other scents. That said, it’s still an attention-grabber as is, so trust that it’s worth it.
Pros: Well-balanced
Cons: Not ideal for layering
Type: Eau De Toilette
Key Notes: Grapefruit, white pepper, vetiver, clary sage, tonka bean, cocoa
Scent Profile: Warm and spicy
Customer review: “Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera is one of the most striking men’s fragrances I’ve experienced — bold, confident, and unforgettable. From the first spray, it opens with an energetic burst of fresh and spicy notes that immediately wake the senses.”
How We Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best colognes for men, we leaned heavily on personal insights, first-hand testing, and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including key notes, scent profile, and type. We’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
Why Trust Who What Wear
Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
