Key notes: pepper, lemon, rum, sage, tobacco, vetiver | Sizes: 1 oz (30 milliliters), 3.4 oz (100 milliliters)
Best Value: Calvin Klein Eternity for Men Eau de Parfum
Why it’s worth it: Some cheaper colognes mean you have to sacrifice smell for the sake of price. That’s not the case with Calvin Klein Eternity for Men, which provides a decidedly adult-smelling scent for a deeply affordable value. With its notes of sage, apple, cypress, nutmeg, and vetiver, it’s a good combination of sophistication and refinement. Those earthier base notes eventually give way to the top citrus ones, allowing for a fun juxtaposition.
Key notes: sage, apple, cypress, nutmeg, vetiver | Sizes: 1.6 oz (50 milliliters), 3.3 oz (100 milliliters)
Best for Making an Impression: Kilian Paris Old Fashioned Eau de Parfum
Why it’s worth it: Looking to make a great impression on a first, second, or even third date? Kilian’s Old Fashioned draws inspiration from the timeless drink—think sweet and smooth with just the right amount of punch. The scent of wheat, cedarwood, styrax, and balm helps infuse the scent with a silky swagger that might help you get more dates. But really, our favorite detail is that the bottle itself looks like a rocks glass that you’d get when ordering the drink at any cocktail bar worth its salt.
Key notes: wheat, cedarwood, styrax, balm | Sizes: 1.7 oz (50 milliliters), 3.4 oz (100 milliliters)
Frequently Asked Questions
What to look for in a cologne
With so many options in the marketplace, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start selecting a signature cologne, but there are a few good places to start. Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, suggests: “Start by identifying which fragrance classifications you find most appealing—spicy, woody, citrusy, aquatic, or even floral,” she says. “By identifying one or two of these that most appeal to you, you begin to pinpoint the scents that complement you or your style best. Fragrance is an invisible accessory, so the appeal to a classification most likely links you to a scent experience, memory, or even to another place or time.
Bérénice Watteau, a DSM-Firmenich perfumer, concurs with the personal approach. “The most important thing is to find something that resonates with you,” she tells us. “Scent is deeply personal, and it should evoke emotion or memory. It’s best to test it on your skin rather than relying on a blotter, as your body chemistry will influence how it develops over time.”
How to make your cologne last longer
If you invest in a cologne, the last thing you want is the scent to fade away after a few hours. But don’t worry, the experts have a few tips and tricks to ensure those notes and scent tones stick around longer than the latest viral sensation. “One of my favorite ways to keep scents longer is to apply cologne to skin right after showering or cleansing when your skin is moist and can best absorb the scent,” Levy tells us. “A spray later in the day always is a great way to reinforce and amplify the original cologne from the start of the day, or layer on another intensity or complementary note or accord.”
