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The 9 Best-Smelling, Last-All-Day Colognes for Men

These scents go the distance

by Julia Savacool
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
best smelling cologne for men dolce and Gabbana set against a blue backdrop

The biggest challenge in choosing the best smelling cologne for men isn’t in finding one that smells wonderful the moment you spray it on. The real challenge is finding a men’s cologne that still smells like…well, anything at all, five hours later. Discovering a long-lasting cologne is a big win.

A scent’s ability to last is determined by several factors, including concentration, quality, and application. The higher the concentration of scented oils used, the stronger your cologne will smell. And the better the quality of the oils, the longer the fragrance molecules will remain on your skin. Part of this has to do with application. It’s is essential to know where to apply cologne so that it stays strong over the course of the day. When you’re done with your shower, spray your pulse points. You want to focus on your neck, chest, and wrists. If that’s not enough for you, spray a mist in the air and walk under it, so the fragrance stays on your clothes as well.

Pay attention to the scent composition of your cologne, too. Amber and musk have better sillage, which is a fancy way of saying their smell lingers in the air longer, rather than evaporating quickly. Floral and fruitier fragrances tend to start off strong but fade faster. Whatever cologne you choose, you can get more mileage out of it by applying it to well-moisturized skin. The better lubricated your body’s surface, the easier it is for the scent molecules to stay put on the surface of the skin. A long-lasting cologne for men that also smells great might be a unicorn, but we’ve got you covered. Here are eight of the best-smelling, and longest lasting colognes for men.

The Best-Smelling Cologne for Men

Voyage Men's Cologne By Nautica
$18.89
Bleu De Chanel Eau de Toilette by Chanel

Chanel may have made its bones in women's fragrances, but Bleu has been an annual best-seller since its release (the brand's first in six years) in 2010. Grapefruit, sandalwood, and cedar combine for a manly scent that's equally at home on date night or at the nearby cigar bar with the boys.

$77
Explorer Eau de Parfum Men's Cologne by Montblanc
$100
Molecule 05 by Escentric Molecules

If you're sick of mass-marketed, one-size-fits-all scents, you need to check out this brand, which comes at you from intrepid perfumer Geza Schoen. He plays with molecules to create combinations that you've never smelled before. In the best way possible. Molecule 05 is velvety and smooth, but also musky and aromatic. And it's built around the molecule Cashmeran, which was created in a laboratory at IFF in the late 1970s. Think of it was the scented version of that once in a lifetime camping trip: Sunny, warm, and woodsy.

$150
K Eau De Toilette Spray by Dolce & Gabbana
$54.93
Costa Azzurra by Tom Ford

So you're picturing yourself on a craggy hilltop somewhere in Ischia, sipping a rich red, watching the sunset. Here's the fragrance version thereof. It's a truly glorious blend of sea air, fresh aromatic notes of lemon and cypress, evergreens and citrus. In other words, a weekend trip to the Mediterranean.

$136
The Scent Cologne for Men by Hugo Boss
$77.34
Jazz Club by MAISON MARGIELA

So you're a night owl, most at peace when you're sipping a complex cocktail in a speakeasy. Or just your local watering hotel. There's a fragrance for that, and it's this one. It's a complex yet never overpowering blend of rum, citrus, and tobacco, and rich leather. Pretty much like sitting in your favorite booth, at your favorite bar, ordering your favorite libation.

$135
Reserve Skin by CLEAN RESERVE

A wonderful gender-neutral scent, this one is delicious and spicy, full of musk and praline. It's light, wearable musk, the kind of second-skin scent you can wear forever without ever clearing out a room. The brand itself is about sustainability: It's made with sustainable vanilla from Madagascar, and the cap is made of sustainable wood from Spain while the glass bottle is recyclable and the cellophane it's wrapped in is biodegradable and compostable.

$98

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