The 18 Best Colognes Will Help You Smell Like You, Only Better

Vanilla might sound a little, well...vanilla, but this take on it—rooted by a fusion of woods like sandalwood and cedar, infused with patchouli and coriander—takes the scent to a place that's downright sexy. It's not overwhelming, but it is intoxicating.

If you want something low-key, you can't do better than Bleu de Chanel. It's the fragrance for guys who think they don't like fragrance.

You can probably tell, from the name and the color, that you're looking at a fresh and watery scent here. What you can't see—and what takes this cologne from standby to standout—is the layers of cedarwood and amber, plus the almost-electrical charge crackling through the scent profile. It's what you're used to, sure, but so much more, too.

Dior Homme is a genuine classic. This reinvented version takes the best parts of the OG formula—the cedar, the patchouli, the vetiver—and makes them all feel brighter and lighter. It's an everyday wear that still feels bold and more than a little enticing.

This cologne has a bit of hot chili pepper in the mix, and, honestly, how can you not love a cologne with a bit of hot chili pepper in the mix? If you still need convincing, though, the patchouli and cedar, not to mention the dash of florals, should do the trick.

There’s a category of fragrances, especially ones created with men in mind, called “aquatics” - which are supposed to remind you of water (obviously). And no one does beachy like Tom Ford. This bright, sunny mix of woods (like driftwood and oak) and citrus (lemon and yellow mandarin) with some vanilla, salt, and herbs thrown in is like sunning in Santorini instead of the Jersey Shore.

Are you a citrus guy, a marine guy, or a woods guy? If you’re having a hard time deciding where you fall, sometimes you don’t have to choose. This cologne is like a greatest hits collection of classic men’s fragrance notes: a top note blast of citrus, a marine heart note that smells vaguely aquatic, grounded by a base of woods and leather. It’s a great every day, all-around great mix.

The dominant note in this fresh, green cologne is clary sage which somehow smells earthy and fresh at the same time. At first smell, it’s crisp and light, but as it dries down the rich rosewood and narcissus reveal themselves. It doesn’t stop there; the note of sclarene, a molecule that smells metallic, gives an electric buzz that you can’t quite put your finger on and adds a depth you won’t find in other fresh colognes.

Vetiver is a men’s fragrance staple because of it’s instantly identifiable green, fresh scent. But this version doesn’t smell like the vetiver you’ve ever smelled before—probably because it’s layered with an unexpected cornucopia of notes like sour orange, sea grass, clove leaf and rhum agricole (which smells like rum). The result is deep, spicy, and vegetal in the best way.

Acqua Di Giò is one of the most popular colognes, and to be honest, we get why. It's earthy and woody (thank goodness for natural fragrances), with masculine, sleek notes of green tangerine, persimmon, and rosemary.

Le Labo is, in the grand scheme of things, a newer cologne, but no less popular of a fragrance than it deserves to be. Perhaps the most iconic scent, Santal 33 is a warm, unisex fragrance inspired by the American West, with notes of ardamom, iris, violet, and ambrox.

Dossier is quickly making its name in the world of colognes, as one of the freshest brands with vegan and cruelty-free ingredients. This scent is fresh and sophisticated, with notes of bergamot, rose, oakmoss, and patchouli.

For a clean, everyday scent that won't weigh you down (or make anyone in an enclosed space wrinkle their nose), this is the perfect lightweight fragrance. The musky blend has a honeyed neroli scent.

Surely, no cologne list is complete without Jo Malone London. One of the best scents for the everyday, this cologne evokes the seaside and waves crashing onto rocks, with woody, earthy notes of sea salt and sage.

What's that you say? I don't wear rose cologne. Sure you do! As long as it's this one, which balances the floral side of things with spices and woods that ground it in a smokier, darker place. Seriously: You can wear a rose cologne. You're looking right at it.

Perfumers use amber to add warmth and depth to colognes and this one has a lot of it. But unlike other amber-forward scents, which can sometimes be heavy, this one also has a lot of citrus in the mix along with other notes of cinnamon, ginger and neroli. It definitely doesn’t smell like your typical men’s cologne, which is exactly the point.

Inspired by a specific 1960s-era cafe in Paris called The Orpheon, this deep fragrance blends notes of tobacco and burnished wood to create a warmth that feels old, but like in a good way. There’s also notes of tonka mean (which smells kind of like vanilla) and juniper berries (which smells a little like gin). It’s the kind of cologne you wear when you want to pretend you’re somewhere else.

Citrusy fragrances are a dime a dozen in the men’s cologne world, but what sets the fresh scent apart is the note of green apple, which adds a crisp sweetness to the citrus-heavy top note, and the base of oakmoss, amberwood and musk. Wearing it is the perfect balance between fresh, herbal and woody vibes.