10 Best Colognes for Men in 2025, According to a Grooming Editor

I’ve long been obsessed with Tom Ford’s bold, sophisticated Fucking Fabulous scent. The eau de parfum more than earns its name by layering rich tobacco and warm tonka bean into a scent that’s decadent, intoxicating, and impossible to forget. It also amps up the intensity and staying power without ever crossing into overpowering territory.

I love how this scent hits—deep leather and roasted tonka wrapped in warm balsamic depth. The first spray bursts with fresh clary sage and lavender before melting into creamy almond and earthy orris. As it settles, the leather gets bolder, stitched with cashmere for a smooth finish. It’s unapologetic, addictive, and every bit as bold as its name.

It could also double as the longest-lasting fragrance on this list. This scent lingers for a long time, even by parfum standards. I’ve had days where I give myself a couple of sprays before leaving my apartment in the morning around 7 AM, and I can still smell it when I get home close to 7 PM. That’s nearly 12 hours of staying power.

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I get why this fragrance is iconic—it’s just flat-out good. The blend of grapefruit, cedar, and sandalwood hits that sweet spot: fresh and masculine without shouting for attention. I reach for it during the day when I want something subtle but still sharp. What I love most is how it evolves—once it dries down, the brightness fades and the warmer sandalwood takes over, making it perfect for the office. It never overwhelms a room, but it always leaves a mark.

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Margiela’s Replica fragrances are designed to capture a vibe, and this one is no exception. The infusion of oud wood, leather, smoke, and crackling black pepper instantly transports you to sitting around a crackling fire, the sky ablaze with stars above you. It’s deep and layered, the type of cologne that invites people to get closer to you, and the inclusion of oud adds an air of masculine sophistication that makes it an ideal date night cologne. Compared to other oud-forward scents, this one is both identifiable as oud (i.e., elegant and sexy) but isn’t so overpowering that it’s going to leave a scent trail wherever you go.

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I’ve always loved the smell of campfire smoke; the deep, woody burn that clings to your clothes and stays in your memory. City on Fire captures this feeling better than any cologne I’ve ever tried, and I wear it year-round—bold in winter, magnetic in summer. It opens with spicy black pepper and dark berries before revealing layers of cardamom, labdanum, and clearwood that flicker like embers. The scent of cade oil and burnt match adds a rugged, smoldering edge that feels both primal and sophisticated.

Like all Imaginary Authors fragrances, it’s built around a story—in this case, a noir-like tale about two matchmakers drawn together by murder and mystery—and that narrative energy inspires the scent’s smoky, cinematic depth. I love how it lingers for hours, shifting from bright heat to soft ash, like the last glow of a fire you never want to leave. To be clear, this stuff is strong. If you’re not a fan of smoky fragrances, you’ll want to look elsewhere. But if you do dig a smoky cologne, this will quickly become a favorite.

I’ve never passed the folks playing chess in Washington Square Park and thought, “Man, I’d love to smell like those dudes.” But the strategy and tension of the game somehow inspired one of my favorite emerging fragrance houses, Mind Games. Its best release to date, Opera Mate, swaps checkmates for curtain calls, channeling the drama of the Paris Opera House into scent form. To me, it smells like a grand finale—elegant, layered, and impossible to ignore.

Opera Mate pulls me in from the first spray with creamy sandalwood and a touch of caramel that melt together into smooth, golden warmth. As it opens, roasted chestnut and grapefruit give it a lift, like a spark before the curtain rises. Then it deepens, revealing rich suede, smoky vetiver, and resinous benzoin that linger on the skin. It feels elegant yet bold, the kind of scent that commands attention without shouting. I wear it when I want to smell like confidence with a touch of drama.

How to Apply Cologne

Apply cologne to the places where you can feel the beats of your heart. This means wrists, the sides of your neck, and over your ticker. The throb adds impact to the scent.

• Keep It Light: If you’re constantly smelling the fragrance, you’ve applied too much. People should have to get close to you to say, ‘Gee, you smell nice.’ A couple of spritzes or splashes is enough.
• Don’t Clash Scents: You don’t have to use every variation of a fragrance—cologne, aftershave, body wash, deodorant, etc. One at a time is fine. But make sure the other products don’t clash with the scent you choose.
• Make It Last: Dry skin? Apply fragrance more often. Oily skin holds scent longer.
• Wake Up with a Midday Splash: Cologne can beat the 3 PM slump. A quick splash midafternoon is a psychological pick-me-up and keeps you smelling wonderful.
• Wear Different Scents for Different Seasons: Heat intensifies any fragrance, and scents are stronger when combined with sweat. That’s why an aromatic or citrus scent works in the summer; you can go heavier in the winter.

How to Test Cologne

No cologne is perfect for every person, but there are a few best practices to follow when testing a new scent to find the right fit for you. For starters, don’t bombard your skin with too many scents. When testing colognes, stick to no more than three on your skin so you can clearly tell each scent apart, says fragrance developer Ann Gottlieb.

So be selective with which you want to trial when browsing in-store because, as Gottlieb warns, testing too many too quickly can lead to nose fatigue. Gottlieb also recommends allowing a scent to linger on you for at least 30 minutes before deciding to buy. This lets you see how a fragrance reacts and develops with your own, unique body chemistry.