The 10 Best-Smelling Men's Colognes of 2018

Kayla Ramsey

Clean, woodsy, musky — your scent is your secret weapon of style. A spritz or dab of the right smell tingles the senses and leaves a lasting impression that'll seduce any Tinder date. With the cold-weather months ahead, it’s the perfect time to explore a fragrance that becomes part of your stylish identity. Whether it’s a warm and seductive cologne to contrast the brisk chill of fall, or a complex scent that slowly transforms over time without tampering from summer’s heat, get a head start on your dapper new year with a scent that’ll make you feel like the best version of yourself. To impress without a change of dress, here are the best men's colognes to take you from dud to stud.

Kayla Ramsey

John Varvatos x Nick Jonas Cologne for Men

nordstrom.com $74.00

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Best Celebrity Fragrance

Following the successful clothing collaboration between the hit menswear brand and the seriously cool rock star, John Varvatos and Nick Jonas launched a scent that has us screaming like fan girls at one of Jonas’ concerts (yes, it’s that good!). Fresh, minty, and woodsy — it’s simply electric! The scent settles into a base of Clearwood ( a clean twist on a patchouli scent) and sandalwood making it perform for the modern man. Trust us, wearing this scent might grow your fan base to the Jonas Brothers' level.

Pro Tip: Channel the swag of Nick Jonas with his fragrance and his cool clothing line. Understated and effortlessly cool, it perfectly matches the vibe of your new signature cologne.

More: Affordable Colognes That Still Smell Great

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Jean Paul Gaultier Men’s Le Male in The Navy

macys.com $92.00

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Best Unexpected Scent

Nothing starts your day with a burst of freshness like the smell of mint. Jean Paul Gaultier’s latest fragrance takes the peppermint scent to the high seas with a salty twist that we shockingly can’t get enough of. Oceanic accord will make any man daydream of a sailor’s life of adventure with a vanilla base note that’s warm and comforting. Life has its dull moments, but Le Male in The Navy will keep everyday exciting.

Pro Tip: As exhilarating as peppermint can be, it’s also great for relieving anxiety and stress, among other benefits. Adding a diffuser with peppermint oil to your home or work space will keep you centered and calm, and raise alertness for high productivity.

Kayla Ramsey

Bleu de Chanel Parfum for Men

sephora.com $120.00

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Best Woodsy Scent

Bleu de Chanel has been a top selling men’s cologne for years, but the newest member of the collection, the parfum, delivers the most intense version of the scent with less sweetness and a richer dose of cedar and sandalwood. When it comes to the concentration of perfume oils in a fragrance, among eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and parfum, the highest concentration is found in parfum. It’s still the same lustworthy fragrance with warm, woodsy, earthy notes that’s made Bleu de Chanel a hit, but more powerful, making this best men’s cologne smell as opulent as it gets.

Pro Tip: Bring the sandalwood smell into the shower with you with a men’s body wash from Every Man Jack for an all-over body scent. If you want to take it to the next level, go for a shaving cream from Art of Shaving for a continuous masculine scent.

Byredo Men’s Eleventh Hour Eau de Parfum Cologne

nordstrom.com $165.00

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Best Sweet Scent

The spice is so right in this signature scent that will make you re-think fruity fragrances. Inspired by a peaceful harmony found at the end of the earth, the ban timmur scent (a plant found in the highlands of Nepal) adds a masculine and exotic complement to the sweet smell of wild fig, settling with calming base notes of tonka beans and cashmere woods.

Don’t let the initial spritz fool you, because this powerful fragrance settles over time in a warm, magical way that’s perfect for cold-weather months. In a season of pumpkin-spiced everything, you’ll stand out with an air of mystery and a truly unique scent.

Pro Tip: Complement your personal scent with a signature smell for your home. The sweet smell of this Byredo candle that was one of our favorites last year will give your home a sweet, floral, and woodsy scent with a masculine hint of leather, reminiscent of leather bound books you’d find on a library bookcase.

Kayla Ramsey

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L'Homme for Men

$92.00 BUY NOW

Best Bold Scent

Yves Saint Laurent's La Nuit De L'Homme is a total standout for its sweet-yet-spicy men's fragrance. Lavender and spice will make any guy smell nice!

The combination of cardamom, bergamot, lavender, coumarin, cedar, and vetiver creates an elegant scent that starts fresh and settles into a warmer, mysterious, fragrance that's incredibly sexy. The lingering scent has a powdery, woody aroma with sweet accents that makes it truly intoxicating, and it'll have admirers going in for a closer smell. If you're looking to up your sex appeal and walk with some extra swagger, this is one scent worth trying out.

Pro Tip: Purchase the deodorant stick in the same scent to complement your cologne! It'll give you a consistent smell that others will recognize as distinctly your own.

More: 10 Men's Deodorants to Put Your Freshest Foot Forward

Kayla Ramsey

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum for Men

$235.00

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Best Smoky Scent

Smooth, modern, and sophisticated, Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille cologne is inspired by an English gentlemen’s club and will have you feeling like an elite man. This tobacco scent with dry fruit accords, vanilla, cocoa, creamy tonka bean, and spice will make every guy smell nice. It sprays on a little sweetly, and settles into this warm, smoky, vanilla scent that’s intoxicating on any gentleman (without smelling like an ashtray).

Pro Tip: Want to spice up your fragrance more? Layering simple scents is a great way to enhance a note you love. Try adding Comme de Garçons Black Pepper fragrance for an extra kick.

More: The Best Affordable Scents That Smell So Luxe!

Jo Malone London English Oak & Hazelnut Cologne

Kayla Ramsey

Jo Malone London Men's English Oak & Hazelnut Cologne

from $68.00

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Best Light Scent

One whiff of this cologne and you'll get the brand's reference to an enchanted walk in the woods. Roasted oak absolute is the key ingredient that makes this sweet earthy scent smell smoky and rich. With notes of green hazelnut and cedarwood, this intoxicating cologne gives any guy an air of mystery with the warm woodsy smell. While this cologne is great to wear any day of the year, the earthy scent is ideal for the colder months. Clean and smoky, spicy and sweet — it's simply irresistible.

Pro Tip: Apply after showering and moisturizing to make this light scent last. Dry skin (made even drier by colder weather) takes away from the scent's staying power.

Kayla Ramsey

Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men

$118.00

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Best Fresh Scent

A clean and fresh scent can liven up any morning or midday slump to make you feel (and smell!) your best. This aromatic cologne will freshen up any day with its zesty Italian lemon, lively fresh mint, and fruity apple scent that settles into the skin with a smooth vanilla base. With the addition of cedarwood, moss, and vetiver, this sweet-yet-masculine scent will make you a total babe magnet.

An invigorating scent to combat the dark mood of winter gloom, it also works yearlong for men who prefer a fragrance that's more refreshing than musky. Versace is an Italian label known for its sex appeal, and thankfully Eros doesn't disappoint. Plus, they make a great travel-size bottle for a great scent at a super low-price! Versace, Versace, Versace!

Pro Tip: Try adding this Ursa Major Citrus Riot Body Wash to your shower routine for an extra energy jolt in the morning or post-gym workout. With the same notes of vetiver and cedar, as well as complementary ingredients such as lime peel and ginger, you'll smell fresh from head to toe.

Louis Vuitton Sur La Route Cologne for Men

us.louisvuitton.com $240.00

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Best Citrus Scent

When Louis Vuitton launched men’s colognes recently, we expected something seriously luxe, and Sur La Route goes beyond expectation with a cologne that’s totally exhilarating. The sophisticated citrus scent comes from the key ingredient of cédrat, which perfectly complements the sweet, woody, vanilla aroma of Balsam of Peru extract.

With a touch of green grass, nutmeg, and pepper, this citrus scent is far from a basic lemon or orange smell you’d would expect from a citrus cologne. Masculine and elegant, this new men’s cologne will truly transform any man into a suave and sharp gent.

Pro Tip: Love that citrus smell? Wash that mug of yours with a killer citrus face wash! Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash has citrus extract, caffeine, and menthol!

Memo Paris African Leather Eau de Parfum

Kayla Ramsey

Memo Paris Men's African Leather Eau de Parfum

$295.00

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Best Complex Scent

Take a walk on the wild side with this safari-inspired men's fragrance from Memo Paris. This warm, spicy scent — made up of bergamot, saffron, cardamom, geranium, and more — starts with a sweeter citrus note that settles into a leathery musk scent, making it a great subtle cologne to wear year-round.

While the price might be a bit steep, oud is one expensive and rare ingredient extracted from agar trees with a woody and sweet scent found in only certain areas of Southeast Asia (and these trees are in danger of extinction!). When it comes to fragrances, you usually pay for what you get in terms of quality, and this cologne proves that.

Pro Tip: Parfums are more concentrated than toilette sprays, making them stronger and longer-lasting. Spray from a good distance so it applies evenly and doesn't overwhelm one part of your body with an intense aroma. Spray cologne? Yes. Drown yourself in cologne? No.

Kayla Ramsey

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