If you typically go for men’s colognes that are described as “marine” or “aquatic,” this is a fun way to switch up your usual rotation without breaking the bank. It’s a clean, energizing staple that my partner and I reach for equally. Noyz Unmute Eau de Parfum was also one of Glamour’s best perfumes for women and won a 2024 Glamour Beauty Award so you know the brand is backed by plenty of beauty editors.
Best Woody Cologne: Maison Louis Marie No.09 Vallée de Farney
Glamour’s Smith describes Vallée de Farney as “a forest on the first nice day of spring,” and I completely agree. This oil starts with a sharp kick of black pepper before it leans into a deeply grounding, earthy blend of patchouli and vetiver. You get the smell of the tree trunks, the leaves, the dirt, and the crisp, sunny air of the woods all in one whiff. Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I reach for this for a boost in mental clarity.
Unlike a lot of perfume oils, which tend to stay close to the skin, this one has impressive projection and lasts for hours. If you want to touch up between a day at the office and a night out to dinner and drinks, the travel-friendly format makes doing so easy. We recommend it as your next summer fragrance.
Best Citrus Cologne: Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette
Calvin Klein CK One launched in 1994 to instant notoriety. It was the first fragrance to be marketed as unisex, complete with black-and-white ads of the era’s top female and male models to play up its androgyny. While the concept of a unisex scent is relatively tame in 2025, the fragrance still holds up. Bright, zingy notes of mandarin and bergamot mingle with refreshing green tea and jasmine, while a light musk keeps the scent lingering on your skin for hours.
Because this is an eau de toilette, there’s no risk of overspraying. It’s perfect for when you want to smell good but not too loud in the office, during class, or while lounging on a hot summer day. Our shopping editors say it’s a great perfume for a teenage guy.
Best Spicy Cologne: Dior Sauvage
There’s a reason Dior Sauvage is constantly championed as one of the most popular colognes for men. It opens with a blast of of citrus, salty marine notes, and warm, rich elemi, which perfectly balances a hit spicy Sichuan pepper in the heart note.
When Lauren Rivera, a marketing and communications manager, and her now-husband were planning their wedding and honeymoon, they each picked out a scent to wear for the milestone moments. “He chose Sauvage, and to this day (three years post-wedding), I can immediately tell he’s wearing it on the days he opts for it,” says Rivera. “I cannot tell the difference between any of his other colognes, but the scent of Sauvage truly carries memories for me. It brings me back to the fresh, newlywed days on our honeymoon wandering the streets of Lisbon and Barcelona. I don’t even know if I can pinpoint exactly what I love about the scent itself, but I do think it’s pretty special that it triggers those memories for me in an instant.”
Best Date Night Cologne: Billie Eilish Your Turn Eau de Parfum
Spices, jasmine, peach skin, and a musky base make this an alluringly mysterious scent for a night out.
“Your Turn is this balance of bright, spicy, sweet, and earthy that’s always evolving on your skin,” says Sinks. “The peach skin comes through here without turning it into a true fruity fragrance, and the ginger and cardamom add some spicy depth without weighing it down. It’s an effervescent scent that sparkles on the skin throughout wear and makes you look forward to the next time you spray it on.” Plus, the dice-shaped bottle looks undeniably cool sitting on any guy’s shelf.
Best Aromatic Cologne: Henry Rose Boys of Summer Body Spray
Boys of Summer is classified as a fougere, a classically masculine scent categorized by herbaceous top notes (usually lavender), a floral heart, and a green, woody base. Other popular fougere scents include Azzaro Pour Homme, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, and Guy Laroche Drakkar Noir.
None of these options captures the same youthful, refreshing energy I get from this body spray. The second I sprayed this on, I felt like I could go for a five-mile run, clean my apartment, and still have energy left over to go out that night. It smells clean, light, and herbal, with lavender as the star and a subtly minty, cooling note I noticed in the background. It contains orris (iris root), an ingredient that Watteau notes is “extremely costly” and usually reserved for more expensive ‘fumes. The spray’s mist is ultra-fine and comes in a lightweight aluminum can, which makes it easy to toss in a gym bag, backpack, or briefcase for touch-ups.
Best Leather Cologne: MALIN + GOETZ Leather Perfume Oil
As a self-proclaimed hater of most leather scents, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this perfume oil. However, it’s quickly climbed to the top of my scent rotation, on its own and layered under other favorite fragrances.