Best Smelling Colognes

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Best Smelling Colognes

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How to Choose the Best Smelling Cologne

Finding a cologne that smells wonderful and lasts all day without being overpowering is no small feat. There are so many different scents available, it’s a little overwhelming to figure out which one has all the qualities you’re looking for. That’s why we researched some of the best-selling, top-rated scents to help you find the one that works best for you. Before we get into our top picks, let’s take a look at some of the key features.

Best Smelling Colognes

Eau de Toilette: Eau de Toilette is a measure of potency. It contains 4-15% perfume essence. For comparison, eau de parfum has 10-25% while eau de cologne has 2-5%. Eau de toilette is typically perfume mixed with alcohols.

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Fragrance Type: It’s really difficult to explain how complex these scents are. Each is designed with top, middle, and base notes that develop over time. We gave you a general idea of what to expect using classifications like citrus, spice, and woody.

How to Choose the Best Smelling Cologne

Spray: All of these products are sprays which is typically how eau de toilette and eau de cologne are applied because they’re somewhat diluted. Some stronger concentrations can be applied more directly using a roller ball or wand.

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Use: You can wear these scents whenever you want but there are a few that are suited for certain times of the day. Light, citrusy scents are great for daytime while some of the warmer, spicier scents are better for the evening.

Best Smelling Colognes

Size: The dimensions of the packaging don’t tell you how much the bottle holds but they will give you a good idea as to whether you can easily toss it in your bag to freshen up after the gym.

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Volume: This is how much cologne is in each bottle. It varies quite a bit from 1 to 6.7 oz. How much is needed for each application varies depending on how strong the scent is. Most of these bottles last a long time.

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Now that you know what to look for, let’s take a look at our picks for great smelling colognes. If you’re in a hurry, make sure you check out our top and budget picks first. They’re the first two items on our list and give you a pretty good idea of the range that’s available. Stick around if you can, each of these scents is truly unique and you never know which one will work for you. Ready? Let’s go!

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette
Our top pick for good smelling men's cologne is Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette. This fresh, sunny scent has notes of grapefruit and orange, mint, rose, and cinnamon that feels warm and masculine. Although the scent is difficult to put into words, this cologne has been described as “warm”, “spicy”, and “leathery”, each of which we feel is pretty spot on. This is a casual scent that’s suitable to wear to the office during the day but also translates well when heading out at night for a special occasion. It’s not too overpowering but lasts a long time without reapplying. One of the most recognizable things about this cologne is the bottle. It resembles a gold bar and is somewhat iconic.
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Curve Crush Splash

Curve Crush Splash
It’s not easy to find cheap cologne that smells good, but we think our budget pick is exactly that. Introduced by Liz Claiborne in 2004, Curve Crush Splash is made of a blend of warm, cleans scents chosen to help you learn how to live in the moment. It features notes of natural herbs like basil, coriander, ginger, and sage along with the sweetness of pear, apple, and mandarin all over a musk base to give it a bit of a sexy edge. This is a bright smell that’s great for daily wear but bold enough to carry you into the evening as well. Because this is an eau de cologne, it’s less concentrated than an eau de toilette and is not particularly potent.
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JIMMY CHOO Man Eau de Toilette

JIMMY CHOO Man Eau de Toilette
This is the first men’s fragrance from Jimmy Choo, a brand most commonly known for making highly sought-after women’s shoes. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, they know a lot about how to make a great men’s cologne, too. The scent is described as seductive and modern, created for a refined yet confident and rebellious man. While we can’t promise this cologne will give you confidence, we can assure you that this cologne smells amazing. The first things you’ll notice are the sweet notes of citrus and honeydew. There’s some lavender in there, too, as well as geranium and patchouli. The warm, woodsy base gives this scent a strong, masculine feel. It comes in a smoky glass bottle that was designed to look like an antique hip flask.
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RawChemistry Pheromones

RawChemistry Pheromones
If you believe that pheromones are the basis of human attraction, you’re going to lover RawChemistry Pheromones. Here’s the deal, this is a patented blend of human pheromones that was specifically designed to attract women. Not only that but, at its core, it’s a really good smelling cologne. The woody undertones have accents of citrus that work with the musk of the pheromones without interfering with potency and effectiveness. This is a delicate balance to achieve and RawChemistry does it well. Once applied, the pheromones continue working for up to 24 hours. The formula was developed in a lab and uses a high concentration of androstadienone, androstenol, androstenone, and androsterone. That’s not all, it’s even been called the #1 pheromone blended cologne available in the USA.
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Xeryus Rouge By Givenchy

Xeryus Rouge By Givenchy
Xeryus Rouge by Givenchy is a rich, very masculine cologne that has a lot of complex layers to it. At a distance, it smells sweet but when you get up close, you’ll really be able to pick up the spicy, earthy notes. Top notes include cactus and tarragon along with kumquat and orange to brighten it a bit and geranium for some sweetness. Red pepper gives it a little bit of spice and the cedar and sandalwood finish is perfect for a romantic evening. This is not a subtle scent and is best used in the evening by men who aren’t afraid to be noticed. Once applied, it lasts for a long time and you don’t need to use a lot so this 1.7 oz bottle will last for a while.
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United Colors of Benetton B-united Jeans

United Colors of Benetton B-united Jeans
For a fresh smelling cologne that’s a little more playful, check out United Colors of Benetton B-united Jeans. Launched in 2007, this scent is a creative blend that’s both elegant and exotic. It’s an interesting blend of mandarin, ivy, and pink pepper with heart notes of jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, and warm scents like sandalwood, cedar, and sweet vanilla. Overall, it’s a clean, earthy fragrance with just a bit of sweet spice. This perfume is really affordable and lasts about 5 or 6 hours before needing to be reapplied. It’s not at all overpowering. Generally, this is a great everyday cologne that’s perfect any time of year but it seems to be especially suited for summertime. The light, playful scent reminds us of summer vacations and sunny days that never end.
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John Varvatos Artisan Eau de Toilette

John Varvatos Artisan Eau de Toilette
The best thing about John Varvatos Artisan Eau de Toilette is that it’s one of the best daily go-to colognes we found in our research. This is an ideal choice for the man who is looking for a signature scent to wear during the day. The scent starts out with notes of citrus then develops into a mix of floral and spices. You’ll find hints of clementine, mandarin, orange tree blossom, jasmine, and thyme before moving into a woody finish. That’s not all, we also have to mention how much we like the bottle. Each one is shaped like an old flask and bound in hand-woven resin. That means each and every bottle is unique which is truly a perfect representation of the Artisan name.
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Intimately Beckham By Beckham

Intimately Beckham By Beckham
Intimately Beckham by Beckham for Men is a nice balance of sweet and spicy that’s refreshing without being overpowering. The first things you’ll pick up on are both spicy and citrusy and include grapefruit zest, cardamom, and bergamot. Next comes violet, nutmeg, and star anise for a little more kick. From there, the scent develops into the warm, earthy base scents of patchouli, sandalwood, and amber. This is a great daytime scent that’s well-suited for the cool, crisp weather of fall and winter but can really be work anytime. If you’re looking for something manly that’s not overpowering, this scent might be just the right fit. It lasts about 5 or 6 hours and is light enough to wear to the office every day. It’s a small bottle but a little goes a long way.
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Marc Ecko Unltd Exhibit for Men

If you were trying to find a cologne that smells like summertime, Marc Ecko Unltd Exhibit would be a perfect choice. The scent starts off with a combination of orange and apple then adds a hint of lavender, cardamom, and sugary lemon sweetness. It also has a woody, earthy base that makes the overall profile very masculine. This cologne is best suited for everyday wear but can work well in certain formal situations, especially when it’s summer and the sun doesn’t set until later in the evening. This is a subtle smell that will last a few hours before needing to be reapplied. The bottle looks like a can of spray paint and the artwork was done by a famous Spanish graffiti artist named Pez.
If you were trying to find a cologne that smells like summertime, Marc Ecko Unltd Exhibit would be a perfect choice. The scent starts off with a combination of orange and apple then adds a hint of lavender, cardamom, and sugary lemon sweetness. It also has a woody, earthy base that makes the overall profile very masculine. This cologne is best suited for everyday wear but can work well in certain formal situations, especially when it’s summer and the sun doesn’t set until later in the evening. This is a subtle smell that will last a few hours before needing to be reapplied. The bottle looks like a can of spray paint and the artwork was done by a famous Spanish graffiti artist named Pez.
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Givenchy PI for Men Eau De Toilette

Our last pick for best smelling cologne is Givenchy PI for Men Eau De Toilette. It’s got its name from pi, the mathematical constant, and is meant to celebrate the intelligence, courageous man willing to explore uncharted territory. Pi is a dry scent that has notes of ironwood and sweet mandarin. It’s distinctive and a great choice for formal occasions. If you choose to wear it during the day, it will soon become the scent you’re known for. This is a strong cologne that’s smell lasts from morning to night. That’s not all, this is an oversized 5 oz bottle that will last you a really long time. It’s also a really good buy, costing the same as some comparable colognes that come in bottles half its size.
Our last pick for best smelling cologne is Givenchy PI for Men Eau De Toilette. It’s got its name from pi, the mathematical constant, and is meant to celebrate the intelligence, courageous man willing to explore uncharted territory. Pi is a dry scent that has notes of ironwood and sweet mandarin. It’s distinctive and a great choice for formal occasions. If you choose to wear it during the day, it will soon become the scent you’re known for. This is a strong cologne that’s smell lasts from morning to night. That’s not all, this is an oversized 5 oz bottle that will last you a really long time. It’s also a really good buy, costing the same as some comparable colognes that come in bottles half its size.
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About the Author

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Samantha Dewitt

Expert Researcher and Writer

Samantha Dewitt is a lead researcher and writer for GeekWrapped, writing under a pen name. She gets excited about pet, baby, and science products and has over 12 years of experience.

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Article last updated on:

September 30, 2019

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TOP PICK

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette

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