Someone’s signature scent can say a lot about them. As such, gifting a fragrance or cologne to the men in your life—whether it’s a boyfriend, dad, or brother—can feel like a daunting task, but it also makes for a personal and thoughtful gift.
When birthdays, Christmas or Father’s Day rolls around a fragrance or cologne set makes for a luxe gift they’ll be sure to appreciate it—you just have to nail the scent.
From woody earthy notes to hints of citrus, there’s a lot to decipher in your search for *the* scent.
To help in your hunt, we’ve rounded up the best cologne and fragrances for men below, as well as everything you need to know about them so you can shop without having to sniff a single sample card.
Best Men’s Fragrances & Cologne Gifts
CREED Viking Cologne 50ml EDP, $369 at Adore Beauty
For the burly man in your life who loves to claim he descended from Vikings, this aptly named fragrance is light and zesty with notes of bergamot, pink pepper, geranium and sandalwood.
Versace Eros Flame EDP Set, $125 at MYER
If he prefers a woody fragrance that still has some oomph to it, you can’t go past Versace’s Eros Flame which perfectly balances dark, sweet and spicy notes thanks to hints of vanilla, sandalwood, pepper and lemon.
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT, $121 at THE ICONIC
With top notes of zesty bergamot, grapefruit and cinnamon leaf and hearty base notes of vetiver, tobacco, leather, this cologne packs a spicy punch.
Paco Rabanne 1 Million 2 Piece Set, $99.99 at Chemist Warehouse
He’ll be smelling delightful 24/7 with this eau de toilette and shower gel duo from of Paco Rabanne’s iconic, woody cologne.
The Sensory Bain de Midi, $99 at Hardtofind.
Like sunshine in (an adorably illustrated) bottle, Bain de Midi is both an Ode to the south of France and skinny dipping, smelling of coconut, bergamot, ylang ylang, vanilla and musk to create a unisex scent.
Byredo Sunday Cologne EDP, $245 at MECCA
Taking the notes of a traditional, citrusy cologne, Byredo mixes notes of bergamot, caradamom, patchouli and vetiver in a new way to give this unisex fragrance a new twist.
Sauvage Eau de Toilette Limited Edition Gift Set, $216 at Myer and Dior
Dior’s iconic Sauvage cologne combines notes of Calabrian bergamot, amber and Papua New Guinean vanilla for a spicy, warm fragrance, which you’ll find in this set with the EDT, after-shave balm and deodorant.
Mont Blanc For Men 5 Piece Mini Set, $59.95 at Chemist Warehouse
Can’t bring yourself to pick between fragrances? This exploratory set is your fail-safe. Plus, he’ll be able to keep one in all the important places—his gym bag, his office, his cabinet—so he’s always smelling great.
Bleu De Chanel, $125 at Chanel
This spirited fragrance hits the sense in three stages with vetiver and pink pepper first evoking a freshness, before notes of grapefruit and labdanum bring a sense of energy and then finally, frankincense and sandalwood ignite a newfound confidence.
