The Most Sensual Colognes for Men, According to Women

• Long-lasting
• Woodsy but still bright

• Can smell intense when first sprayed

Santal 33 is one of the best unisex perfumes on the market, both for its complex, deep scent. It’s woodsy but bright, wears for hours, and can be layered with additional scents.

Key notes: Sandalwood, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, leather accord

Size: 0.5–3.4 fl. oz.

Nordstrom rating: 4.4/5

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I buy a lot of fragrances and this is the best by far. I have received so many compliments since purchasing and it’s only been 3 days! I’ve had complete strangers stop me in the mall, the grocery store, and even the movie theater to ask me what I was wearing. The fragrance is a little woodsy, a little floral, and very long-lasting. I can still smell it on me the next day. I’m very pleased with my purchase and I think you would be, too.”

• Serene and woodsy
• Good for scent layering

• Some reviewers say the fragrance does not last

One of the best aspects of Jo Malone’s scent range is that they can all be worn together. Plus, all of them are considered unisex fragrances. “Any of the ‘intense’ cologne scents from Jo Malone London are great for men, especially Jo Malone London Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense or Jo Malone London Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense,” says West.

Key notes: Hinoki, cedarwood

Size: 1.7–3.4 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I recently received Hinoki and Cedarwood as a gift, and I am absolutely thrilled! This fragrance turned out to be exactly what I needed. The notes of hinoki bring a fresh, serene feeling, while the warm cedar adds depth and tranquility. I especially love that this perfume is long-lasting and stays with me throughout the day, making it perfect for both everyday wear and special occasions.”

• Fresh and bright
• Long-lasting

• No online reviews

While many colognes can lean moody and dark, this scent from D.S. & Durga is just the opposite. While it does have notes of wet wood and cypress, it’s offset by eucalyptus and rosemary that makes it feel fresh and clean on the skin.

Key notes: Wet wood, eucalyptus, cardamom, rosemary, cypress

Size: 1.7–3.4 fl. oz.

• Long-lasting
• Highly rated

This cologne is a retelling of classic notes. While you’ll find common go-tos like cedarwood and vanilla, cognac accord and plum keep it from smelling too intense. “I love that the sweetness offsets the spice with oud and cognac. This one is very alluring,” says West.

Key notes: Cognac accord, plum, saffron, pepper, rose, cedarwood, vanilla

Size: 1.7 fl. oz.

Rating: 5/5

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “Bought this on our trip to New York Christmas 2021. It’s my favorite cologne in my collection! Long lasting, at least 8 hours. Highly recommend!”

• It’s a little too strong for some

A new take on a men’s cologne, this scent marries orange blossom and vanilla with deep, woodsy notes. It’s at times sweet, at times deep, but nonetheless stays fresh and bright. Plus, the bottle is refillable, so you don’t need to buy the entire bottle again when you inevitably run out.

Key notes: Orange blossom, vanilla bourbon, woods accord

Size: 0.33–3.4 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “My son picked this out on a recommendation from a sales associate and he loves it. I think it’s great–it’s not too heavy or overpowering. Great balance of fresh and woodsy.”

• Long-lasting

• Some found the scent too feminine

With juicy notes of currant and mandarin, balanced with moss and sandalwood, this scent is sensual but not too sweet. “This is giving sweet, spicy but so crisp with the added citrus, like a well-tailored suit,” notes West.

Key notes: Black currant, Italian mandarin, lavender, sandalwood, bourbon vanilla, moss accord

Size: 2.03–3.7 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.8/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “Wow Ralph Lauren really made this an amazing, sexy scent. So many compliments from everyone. My wife loves this. It’s seductive and lasts for 8+ hours. Highly recommended this one!”

• Fresh and lightweight

• Some disagree about how long-lasting it is

While Diptyque’s scents generally veer more floral than woodsy, this one is fresh and minty, with a depth that keeps it grounded. It’s not as overpowering as the notes may suggest, but rather offers a clean, gentle envelopment of perfume that pairs nicely when layered.

Key notes: Patchouli, mint, rose

Size: 2.5 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.2/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I love all of the Diptyque perfumes. This one is slightly different to the others with its mint, geranium scent. It wears well and the smell will last throughout the day. It is one of the stronger smelling perfumes. I would definitely buy this again. A fabulous addition to anyone’s collection of perfumes.”

• A little goes a long way
• Long-lasting

Chanel’s Bleu de Chanel line is a fan favorite for a reason. It’s a deep, long-lasting scent–particularly in the L’Exclusif version–but doesn’t feel overpowering on the skin. “This is a more intense version of the existing classic and leans into the amber notes a bit more,” says West.

Key notes: Sandalwood, amber

Size: 2 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.9/5

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “The scent has a nice woodsy smell and when sprayed, it feels like it’s got a good and lasting scent. I think the cologne lasted a couple hours which is great! My husband smelled really nice with it and it’s really one of the top colognes that he uses now. You don’t even need a lot to smell nice, 1-2 spritz and it lasts a while!”

• Beautiful scent

• Pricey
• Some reviewers claim it’s not long-lasting

Searching for a zesty scent? With lemon and peppermint, Creed’s Green Irish Tweed cologne feels fresh and bright on the skin. Sandalwood and amber add a depth to the fragrance, while iris adds just the right amount of florals.

Key notes: Lemon, peppermint, iris, sandalwood, amber

Size: 1.7–16.5 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “My husband questions me every time he sees this charge on the credit card bill and I have to remind him that it’s his purchase! Despite the hefty price tag, it has been his daily cologne for over seven years now because it is WORTH IT! He gets lots of compliments from the ladies.”

• Long-lasting

• Can be intense when first sprayed

Tom Ford has a huge selection of scents to sort through, but time and time again, Oud Wood comes out on top. It’s a deep, smoky fragrance, balanced with bright Chinese pepper and plenty of zest.

Key notes: Sandalwood, pepper, rosewood, amber

Size: 0.33–3.4 fl. oz.

Rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is probably my most favorite fragrance in my collection. I’ve always loved Tom Ford colognes and this one lives up to the hype. It’s got a beautiful woody musky body with cardamom undertones, super unique and amazing compliment-getter. The sillage is nice and strong, this is certainly a fragrance you shouldn’t overspray. In terms of longevity, Oud Wood is a solid 7-10 hours depending on the heat around you. Overall I’d give this a 10/10. Thanks Tom, will definitely buy more from you.”

Autumne West is Nordstrom’s National Beauty Director.

While we often think of perfumes being for women and colognes being for men, the difference is actually more technical. “While generally assumed that cologne and perfume are based on gender and almost the norm in naming standards, the actual difference is the oil concentration,” says West. “Perfumes tend to have higher percentage of oil versus a cologne, thus more elixirs or extraits in cologne have higher percentages of oils.” When a scent has more of these oils, they often last longer than their counterparts. For this reason, colognes tend to fade more quickly on the skin than perfumes.

Because colognes have lower percentages of oil concentrations than perfumes, they tend to not linger as long on the skin. Luckily, there are a few tricks to make your fragrances last. “To make your scents last longer here are three pro tips," says West. “One: Apply your fragrance to skin freshly moisturized after the shower. Two: Don’t be afraid to layer by using the shower gel, lotion and then the scent for an even longer lasting effect. And lastly for the most lingering, don’t be afraid to shop scents that include parfum, intense or elixir in the title or description.”

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, Tatjana Freund asked trusted fragrance expert about colognes. She also searched the internet for the best colognes for men, consulted other editors, perused reviews for dozens of popular options, and evaluated each on their features and customer reviews.