Another year, another signature scent. If you’re looking to jazz up your new year with a new best-selling fragrance, our list of the top 10 is your next great read.
Are you interested in a bold, daring scent? Or maybe you’re going full-on digital nomad this year and want to spend your time on as many beaches as possible, so you need that tropical vibe scent. We’ve scoured the sales records in search of the fragrances that consistently sell out year after year. Some show up under the Christmas tree year after year, while men purchase others in easy online shopping hauls.
Our 10 best-selling men’s cologne list includes the best colognes available in the market. They’re the popular brands that consistently hit it out of the park and appeal to most, if not all, men.
1. Blu Atlas Atlantis Eau de Parfum
Putting the needs of men first is at the heart of this brand which skyrocketed to fame in 2022. Blu Atlas is the best option if you’re looking for a brand that sells out every season and can’t keep its products in stock due to high demand.
Atlantis, their signature EDP, is a vegan, cruelty free liquid that is free from all the usual toxic chemicals such as parabens, sulfates and phthalates. Instead of creating a fragrance with cheap chemicals, the brand scoured the earth’s natural materials to create a skin-loving, man-loving aroma.
To truly experience the scent, you’ll need to travel with us to the farthest reaches of a jungle oasis. Splashing in the ocean waves, discovering secret waterfalls and enjoying much-needed R&R in seaside towns, the scent is a master class of cool, calm and confidence. Premium ingredients collide to create an intoxicating aroma that works for daytime and nighttime activities.
Notes from the coastal jungle blend a professional signature scent with a fragrance for all life’s activities. Lemon, bergamot and black currant give the fragrance its citrusy bite, making the grand entrance for the scent. Smoothly merging with the heart of the fragrance, notes of peach, apricot, lavender and clary sage gives the cologne a fruity brightness. Transforming the scent into a cologne for true men with base notes of violet, ambrette seed, orris and oakmoss.
With such a versatile scent, you never have to think, “Can I wear my cologne tonight?” ever again. Giving men more than a signature scent to brag about, the brand also offers money-saving options. Get up to 15 percent off your cologne purchase by ordering a backup bottle or extras for your next Christmas party.
2. Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Eau de Toilette
Helping men smell seductive and fresh since 1996, this golden classic is the wingman for bachelors all around the world. Whether you need a scent for your next trip to Positano or just want a fragrance that smells like worldly charm, Aqua di Gio is sure to please your senses.
Jump into a refreshing scent with Giorgio Armani’s aquatic yet woody formula. Strong rosemary, rock rose and jasmine heart notes create the fragrance’s powerful center. Dancing around the heart notes are the light top notes green tangerine, neroli and Calabrian bergamot. Pulling the scent together are sensual base notes of Indonesian patchouli and sweet persimmon.
It’s one of the best fragrances for guys who want a revitalizing, aquatic green scent that makes you feel super fresh all day. We hear this cologne is best for sunny, bright seasons like summer and spring.
3. Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette
Transcending the cologne category and going straight to “one of the best-smelling fragrances of all time,” Sauvage by Dior is a best-selling cologne. The Sauvage scent is an absolute winner: well-loved, well-used and well-worn by men on every continent.
What’s in this legendary scent? Raw plants and materials that creates a masculine, ambrosial scent that is both seductive and professional. Distinct notes of Calabrian bergamot and ambroxan are the magic weapon in the cologne. Highlighting fresh, peppery fragrances and deep musky tones, the blend creates an aroma that delights men and women.
With no “best time” to wear the scent, this crisp blue bottle is a versatile buy that you can use daily. If you’re looking for an easy go-to pick for yourself, or someone else, we recommend Sauvage because you really can’t go wrong with this scent.
4. Versace Eros Eau de Toilette
Bringing the ancient gods of Greece into the mix, Versace’s Eros Eau de Toilette is a powerful aroma reminding wearers of what true lust, desire and passion smell like. Eros is quite rightly the Greek God of love, where Versace drew their inspiration.
What does bottled-up love smell like? A heady, intoxicating brew of refreshing notes that make the cologne truly unique. Aromatic top notes of green apple, mint oil and lemon Italy orpur introduce the fragrance with its light, refreshing scent. The fragrance’s core is a natural mix of ambroxan, geranium flower and tonka bean that ground the light top scents. Base notes add masculinity to the liquid with base notes of vetiver, oak moss accord, cedarwood and vanilla.
Eros is our favorite fragrance for men who want an exceptional scent.
5. Tom Ford Oud Wood Eau de Parfum
Smoky, sultry and smelling of days long past, the Oud Wood formula is a powerful fragrance for men who know exactly what they want. Like walking into a Wild West Saloon, the scent transports you into wild abandon, gunslinging days where you can live out your dream of being an outlaw.
Pull out your starchiest denim, don your cowboy hat, pull up your boots and spritz yourself with Oud Wood for a dominating, independent scent. Mixing the heady aromas from the woody fragrance family with the wild side of the amber category, the blend is a mix of East meets West. Nothing is more exotic than a cowboy in his natural habitat, though.
Eastern spices, sandalwood, rosewood, amber and cardamom are at the heart of the scent. Helping it come alive with bold, powerful notes, the Oud Wood fragrance envelops all your senses.
While we know this cologne isn’t for every man, it’s the perfect pick for mature gents who want a commanding atmosphere.
6. Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum
As timeless as the iconic Chanel bag or other runway fashion looks, Bleu de Chanel is a best selling men’s cologne that never goes out of style. This fragrance is a perfect example of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” when it comes to men’s colognes.
Iconic, charming and undeniably attractive, the scent is a magnetic aroma. What some may call sexy, and others simply seductive, the fragrance is an undeniable success. Grapefruit, pink pepper, lemon, vetiver, cedar, patchouli, mint, ginger, nutmeg and white musk power the cologne and give it a truly delightful aroma.
7. Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette
A modern fragrance that has struck gold with its divine signature scent, Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million EDT sells like hotcakes. Defined by its gold bar-inspired bottle, the fragrance screams, “Honestly, I’m worth a million bucks.”
Spicy, trendsetting, and full of yummy notes, the fragrance is a hit with all men. Full of hearty notes like blonde leather, cinnamon bark, patchouli, grapefruit, mandarin, rose absolute and peppermint, the fragrance is a remarkable cologne for men.
Often, men buy colognes they don’t love because they can’t find anything better. With 1 Million EDT, you can feel confident in your choice and know that you’ll smell incredible daily.
For men who want to smell and look rich, 1 Million EDT is your next cologne.
8. Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme Cologne Bleue Eau de Toilette
Stunningly fresh and aquatic, Cologne Bleu is a scent that carries reminders of summers spent on beaches and winters spent trekking through the snow. Icily crisp and made with natural materials, the scent is fierce while remaining undeniably attractive.
Zesty notes of mandarin, grapefruit and blood orange mingle with cedarwood, black pepper, thyme, geranium and lavender to create this striking fragrance. Wear this fragrance when you want to add a dash of bold freshness and feel like becoming a daring man.
9. Ralph Lauren Polo Cologne Intense
Not a sports pro, but still want the ladies to notice you? Ralph Lauren’s Polo Cologne Intense can help with that. As the name suggests, it’s a hard-hitting, powerful cologne that gives you an enduring scent.
Mixing modern and sporty aromas, the fragrance is an exclusive scent for men who want to skip the traditional colognes. Base notes of vetiver oil, patchouli and ambroxan are the sturdy foundation of the fragrance, endowing the liquid with its wild side. Erupting from the heart of the cologne, the middle notes of violet leaf absolute, thyme oil and clary sage leaf give the fragrance a mellow, fruity center. Ethereal top notes of grapefruit oil, spearmint oil and basil oil turn the cologne into a crisp, biting, masculine scent.
This Ralph Lauren cologne is bottled confidence for men who want to stand out from the crowd. With a cologne like this, you’ll have no issue striking up conversations with strangers or swiping right on Tinder and planning a date with your potential future mate.
Polo Cologne Intense is for men who just want to go for it and grab life by the horns.
10. Hugo Boss Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette
Suit up with Boss Bottled EDT. Trendy and immersed in the 21st century, the cologne is a splash of refreshing scent. Deep, masculine notes fold into light, airy tones that make the fragrance smell like a triumphant win. Straddling the line between fresh and fruity notes of cedar, vetiver and sandalwood woo the senses and smell divine.
Guide to best-selling men’s cologne
When thinking about switching to a new signature scent, there are tips and tricks to follow. We’ll help you find the best cologne and get the most from every spray.
Safe ingredients vs. harmful ingredients
If you’re not a newbie to the self-care scene, you know many popular products are full of “fillers.” Fillers are chemicals added that make products look, feel or act a certain way.
They provide a range of benefits for the actual product but have adverse side effects on a person’s microbiomes.
Ingredients to avoid
While this isn’t a definitive list of every harmful ingredient to look out for, we want to highlight the most common ingredients that can cause adverse side effects.
Parabens can cause unwanted reactions and responses to your natural hormonal systems. Synthetic dyes may look nice when added to products but can cause skin issues and irritation. Other harmful ingredients include PEGs, sulfates, phthalates, DEA and TEA.
Search EWG’s Skin Deep website and database for the simplest way to find brands that fit your skin and hair care needs and are safe for use.
Safe for skin ingredients
If you’re not interested in becoming a house witch and brewing up your own self-care potions, being able to identify safe ingredients is essential.
The easiest way to find safe products is by looking at the labels. Look for items with labels stating organic, vegan or others like sulfate-free, paraben-free, dye-free, alcohol-free and phthalates-free.
Some common safe ingredients for the skin include organic or all-natural essential oils. Common oils include rose, geranium, orange, juniper berry, sandalwood, clary sage, peach, apricot, violet, orris and oakmoss. When popular colognes use organic essential oils, they not only add incredible bursts of aroma but also nourish and moisturize the skin.
For guys with allergies or seriously sensitive skin, look for products approved by the National Eczema Association badge. These products cut out fillers and harmful irritants and are more gentle on the skin.
Best application process
Want to be at the top of your game, including smelling super fresh all day long? Our top tips will help you be the best-smelling guy in every room.
Perfect time to apply
When you’re not using Axe body spray or other intense fragrances, applying at the perfect time will help you get a longer-lasting, more potent scent.
What’s the magic behind long-lasting scent? Applying products at the right time! Always apply your cologne to clean, dry skin. The best time for application is after you’ve just showered, dried off and are getting ready for your day or night.
When cologne is applied to fresh, clean skin, the liquid can mix with your natural oils without the interference of unwanted body odors mixing up the scent.
Where to apply cologne
We often hear from men that they want to know the most effective cologne application strategy. Spraying fragrance on your pulse points is hands down the best area of application. When applied correctly, your fragrance will dry down and release slowly throughout the day, to the delight of your senses and everyone you share an office with.
So what are pulse points, and how many sprays should you use? Pulse points are areas of your body where the pulse is closer to the top of the skin. Areas like your wrists, neck, back of the knees and in your elbow creases are popular pulse points. You only need one spray per pulse point. If you overdo it, you may smell like a walking cloud of cologne.
Desired fragrance
Have you ever heard of fragrance families? They’re categories of fragrances that have distinct scents that are grouped together for easier identification. For example, if you know the fragrance family you like, it will be easy to find a new cologne within that group.
Fragrance families include amber, fresh, floral and woody. Each group brings a distinct blend of notes that evoke unique aromas and feelings. While popular colognes often use a blend of two fragrance families, they are still easy to classify and pin down by category.
Amber’s fragrance family is a mysterious, spicy group. Previously referred to as “oriental,” this family is full of yummy, warm notes that feel safe, cozy and are appealing, especially in the colder months of the year. Popular amber notes include anise, vanilla, myrrh, musk, cinnamon, patchouli and sandalwood.
Men who are looking for the extremely masculine cologne category should look to the woody fragrance family. This category is full of earthy, dark notes that smell rugged and outdoorsy. Woody notes often include vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood, leather, amber, patchouli, vetiver and oakmoss.
The floral fragrance family name explains it all. This group of notes is a riotous mix of fresh flowers and plants that give a fragrance a soft, ethereal, powdery aroma. Some of the typical notes include rose, jasmine, pear, apple, orange blossom and lily.
Keeping things sharp in the fresh floral family, this group bursts with ripe, in-your-face smells that lighten up dark spaces. Often identified by luminous citrus and oceanic notes, the fresh family is full of acidic bursts of aroma. Prevalent notes include lavender, bergamot, grapefruit, sage and mandarin.
Eau de parfum, Eau de toilette, and Eau de cologne explained
Breaking down the mystery behind these terms, we’re here to spell out the differences between Eau de parfum (EDP), Eau de toilette (EDT), and Eau de cologne (EDC).
The distinction between each variation of cologne is the difference in fragrance oil concentration. Each bottle possesses a unique combination of fragrance oils and produces a different scent strength and longevity.
Eau de parfum
Want the most potent scent that many famous brands make? Spring for their EDP. They’re often the strongest fragrance available unless the brand makes a seriously concentrated parfum. An EDP bottle offers six to eight hours of wear and slowly transforms into a unique scent throughout the day. Eau de parfum has a 15 percent to 20 percent fragrance oil concentration, which is why this fragrance option is so powerful.
If we were your cologne advisor, we’d recommend splashing out and buying a nice EDP. They last a long time, offer a lovely scent and pair well with life activities.
Want our top recommendation for EDP? It’s none other than Blu Atlas Atlantis EDP. With a fresh tropical side that warms up into warmer masculine layers, the fragrance is a fun, natural scent that uses safe, premium ingredients.
Eau de toilette
Affordable, popular and offering incredible scents, EDTs are the unsung heroes in the cologne industry. The EDT is a lighter, fresher scent with an oil concentration between 5 percent to 15 percent. Lasting between two to six hours, depending on the cologne, it’s the perfect midrange cologne for days when you won’t need a heavy fragrance.
Experts recommend EDTs for men looking for a light summer scent or a fragrance that won’t be overpowering. Our top recommendation for EDT is Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette. One of the longest-lasting EDTs, it’s a charming, sexy scent that consistently tops the charts.
Eau de cologne
Perfect for men who want a short-term scent, EDCs are brief scents that make an impression while they’re around. With their insect-like longevity, the oil concentration of 2 percent to 5 percent means the fragrance can last up to two hours.
EDCs are the best fragrance for newbies or young men who want to gently dip their toes into wearing cologne. While we didn’t include any Eau de colognes in our list, one that comes highly recommended is Dior Homme Cologne. As a light, fresh scent, it delivers a refreshing aroma with musky notes that won’t overpower the wearer.
Three reasons men buy best-selling cologne (and why you should, too)
A lot goes into buying a new cologne. Sometimes though, the effort doesn’t feel worth it, and you just want a cologne that works well without any hassle. Here are the top three reasons some men buy top-selling colognes.
Buy without testing
You can buy a best-selling cologne without ever testing it. While there’s no guarantee the scent will be absolutely perfect for you or fit your vibe and lifestyle, there’s a good chance the cologne will smell fantastic, and you’ll be happy with your pick. If millions of men love a particular scent, it’s probably a safe bet that you’ll enjoy it, too.
Great as gifts
Whether someone is buying cologne for you as a gift or you need a quick, easy buy for a brother, dad, or nephew, buying popular colognes is an almost guaranteed success.
Best selling colognes are verified crowd-pleasers by the sheer number of men who love and wear each scent. With a popular cologne, it’s hard to “go wrong” and buy a scent that you, or others, will hate.
Buying a best-selling scent gives you confidence that you’re spending your money on the best product available.
High-quality
Popular colognes and the brands that sell them make it to the top of the charts for a reason. These colognes are usually full of high-quality ingredients that make the fragrances long-lasting, potent and smelling delicious.
When it comes to cologne, it’s often better to spend a bit of extra cash to get a high-quality cologne. Having a scent that you can trust is always worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I spray cologne on my clothes instead of my body?
Of course, you can, but we don’t recommend it! Spraying cologne on your clothes means your fragrance won’t last as long, and it won’t be able to mix with your natural oils. Mixing with your natural oils is an easy way to get the best scent that smells especially delightful to those around you. Spraying cologne onto your clothes also means that the scent is gone as soon as you change your clothes! The best application spot for colognes are areas like your wrists, neck or back of the knees.
Can I keep cologne in my gym bag?
While you could keep your cologne in your gym bag, we don’t recommend it. Extreme changes in temperature, like a bag going from your hot car into an air-conditioned gym, may cause changes in your cologne’s structure, leading to a shorter shelf life. Instead of a bottle of cologne, toss a sample-size cologne or just the smallest bottle you can find. Like a 50ml bottle to help you smell hot after every gym sesh. If you have to keep a bottle of cologne in your car or somewhere similar, find a cool, dark place to put it. Ideally, place it in a spot that experiences the slightest fluctuations in temperature so your cologne will last more than one year.
Is Eau de toilette or Eau de parfum better for a date?
Why’s an EDP better? Stronger than an EDT, an EDP will have your date smelling a sultry, sexy scent all night long. Standard EDPs last anywhere between four to eight hours. Depending on the length of your date, you may want to freshen up with a quick drive-by spray to be even more attractive. If your date is short, sweet and to the point, like a quick coffee date, an EDT will serve you well.
What’s the best-selling men’s cologne?
The best-selling men’s cologne is none other than fan-favorite Blu Atlas Atlantis. Carrying the raw power of a man on his next hero’s journey, discovering the beauty of the world and the adventure it has to offer. Quietly confident, the scent carries the aroma of the natural world around you and blends it with a rich, masculine scent. As a leading men’s cologne, they have a lot to offer men and their fragrance. Blu Atlas sets itself apart from other popular men’s colognes by crafting a vegan, cruelty free formula that is free from harmful parabens, sulfates and phthalates. By putting men’s health first, they have created a world-class cologne that is safe and smells incredible.
The opinions expressed in this article are for entertainment purposes only, and do not Necessarily represent the opinions or Ideas of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal were not involved in the creation of this content.