The 24 Best Colognes of 2024 (2024)

At Esquire, we take fragrance very, very seriously. We firmly believe that, just like the best-fitting suit or most eye-catching sneakers, what fragrance you’re wearing has the ability to transform. The perfect cologne, however, does not have to be the same one every day. The options are endless, so why limit yourself to just one or two? Fragrance has the unique ability to transport and evolve not just your look, but your entire vibe.

But the perfect fragrance means something different to everyone, which is why we spent the entire year trying every single fragrance launch. We’re talking dozens and dozens. Seriously, not a day has gone by that we haven’t sprayed or spritzed or sniffed something new. Smelling colognes may be part of our job, but it’s also a passion. So, yeah, we don’t fuck around.

Which is why we decided to launch the first annual Esquire Cologne Awards, celebrating our favorite fragrances of the year. But you’ll also notice that we highlight innovations, new brands, and more. That’s because the world of fragrance is vast and isn’t just confined to what you smell. Perfumers are some of the most innovative people on the planet and aren’t just concerned with what their creations smell like, but also how to make them more wearable, more sustainable, and more exciting. There has been a lot of innovation this year, from fragrances that purposefully pull on our memories to ones that feature cutting-edge technology that pushes the idea of what fragrance can be into new frontiers. There are also trends, like the advent of more floral and sweet fragrances specifically designed for men. (The idea of what makes a man-friendly fragrance is constantly evolving; this year was no exception.)

Was it hard to narrow all those dozens and dozens of new fragrances down to just a few? Yes, of course. But we’re confident that these are the very best. There’s something for everyone on this list, from the fraghead to the casual enthusiast to the guy who just wants to smell good. Because, after all, don’t we all just want to smell good at the end of the day?

Reimagining a fragrance is always a tricky proposition, but when that fragrance is the best-selling men’s fragrance in the entire world, it’s especially fraught. There is perhaps no better person to take on the challenge than Francis Kurkdjian, the iconic perfumer who has been Dior’s perfume creation director since 2021. Sauvage Eau Forte is his first men’s creation for the house, and in reimagining it Kurkdjian ushered the Sauvage family into the future. He chose to use an innovative water-based formula instead of the usual alcohol, which allows the florals and spices of the original Sauvage to bloom differently. Whereas the original is sharp and crisp, Eau Forte is smooth, silky, and somehow both cool and warm. Whereas the original Sauvage is zingy and fresh from bergamot, the new Eau Forte is fresh in a different way. Kurkdjian removed the bergamot and allowed the distinctive lavender note to bring a new kind of sophisticated freshness to the scent. The final creation feels elegant and modern but still youthful and unfussy. Eau Forte is a visionary fragrance, but most important, it’s one we want to wear every day.

Most fragrances are designed to evolve as you wear them, which is why their notes are conceptualized as a pyramid. Top notes fade quickly, base notes linger on your skin for the longest time, and heart notes act as the bridge between the two. This is how it’s been for generations of perfumery—until now. Coty Infiniment, which launched this year with 14 fragrances, does away with the traditional scent pyramid in favor of new technology called the molecular aura. Basically, the brand has figured out a way to create scents that don’t evolve, so what it smells like when you first spray it on your skin is how it’s going to smell hours from now. (It also helps with the longevity of the scent.) Out of the 14 scents, our favorites are Aristo Chypre, a verdant, earthy, somewhat-traditional chypre; Noir Encens, a smoky, woody cologne with a pop of black pepper; and Santal A La Vida, which has a creamy, slightly sweet sandalwood vibe.

Founded by a Chicago-based father-son duo, Bianco Profumo is all about the vibes. Inspired by the scents and aesthetics of the 1980s and ’90s, the tongue-in-cheek packaging reflects the sense of humor and fun that’s apparent in the scents themselves. So far there are three: Cherry Leather (a very leathery, slightly spicy scent with a healthy dash of sweet cherry—and our favorite), Neroli Pomodoro (an in-your-face blast of freshness that’s anchored in herbs, amber, and musk), and Remix (a citrus-forward party scent that screams summer). We know that there are more coming and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

We may as well call 2024 the Year of the Fragrance Collection. It seems like it wasn’t enough to launch just one scent. Instead, brands released multiple scents in one drop. Out of all the new collections, the long-awaited Bottega Veneta fragrances topped our list. The five fragrances, meant to reflect the progression of a perfect day in Venice, are all housed in unique glass bottles (no two are the same) and include a green marble base that turns the bottle itself into a piece of art. But it’s what’s inside that counts, and each scent is not only naturally derived but distinctive and thought-provoking. Our personal favorite, Alchemie, is a sophisticated and somewhat mysterious concoction of mandarin, leather, myrrh, nutmeg, and vetiver. In the chronology of the collection, it’s a night scent, but we say wear it all the time.

Versace Eros will always have a fun, fresh party vibe, but this new Energy version takes it to the next level. It’s an absolute citrus bomb, with a lemony top note that’s not cloying or medicinal but instead crisp and slightly sweet. The lemon citrus zing sticks around for the life of the fragrance, which for the record is very long, but gradually softens ever so slightly thanks to the amber, oakmoss, and musk that emerge as it dries down. This may just be the ultimate summer scent, and you can bet as soon as the temperature rises, we’re reaching for it.

Tom Ford’s Oud Wood will forever be one of our favorite colognes, but this new Parfum earns its own spot as well. The DNA of the Oud Wood we love is still there (oud, sandalwood) and the woody, spicy quality that we love is intact. However, with the addition of vanilla, this version is warmer, cozier, and—dare we say?—sexier. There’s a smoothness that the original lacks, and even though it’s bold and long lasting, it’s not overwhelming. It’s one of those colognes that sticks to your skin like a glove and brings out your best qualities.

Named after one of New York City’s most special and exclusive neighborhoods (the real estate equivalent of IYKYK), this fresh, green scent might smell traditional, but it’s also effortlessly sophisticated. There’s a nostalgic ’90s quality to the slightly watery, slightly woody scent that gives it a traditionally masculine, barbershop feel. Yet somehow it fits right into our modern times with a hint of herbs and earthiness from the patchouli and oakmoss. It’s a crowd-pleaser for sure and perfect for daily wear.

As far as fresh scents go, this is one of the best we’ve tried in a very long time. The bergamot and lemon at the opening are tempered with sweet pineapple, while the addition of herbal juniper, floral rose hip, and goldenrod gives it a sunny, natural quality that rounds out the edges of the citrus. Anchored in earthy patchouli and vetiver, this is masculine but not heavy. Instead it has a happy, youthful quality that makes it ideal for summer and casual events.

“This is the only fragrance I’d consider myself loyal to. My grandpa, we called him Pops, wore it as an aftershave back when Coty produced the fragrance, and it was more herbaceous. You can buy new old stock bottles on eBay, but I’ve just transitioned to the new stuff. The new stuff is sweeter but still has that old-man earthiness. You can buy it at Walmart or a drug store for $30. It lasts way longer than a cologne should. It’s not for everyone, but it’s classic American man, like Pops, and it’s always got a spot on my shelf.” —Luke Guillory, Commerce Editor

The distinctive sweet-floral orange blossom of the original MYSLF is still here in this new parfum, but the addition of black pepper and bourbon vanilla give it a warmer, cozier quality that skews more masculine. It perfectly walks the line between floral and woody, light and dark, day and night—which makes it into a highly versatile, modern scent that’s never out of place no matter where you are.

Musk is almost always a winner in our book, and if you want to talk about musk, this fragrance oil is one of the best we’ve smelled in a very, very long time. According to the brand, it contains a whopping 12 different kinds of musks, which all work together to bring out the natural musk of your skin, allowing it to develop a unique quality for each wearer. This stuff is potent, which is why it comes in a rollerball instead of a spray. Apply a bit on your pulse points and let the musk magic do its job.

We have to admit, we’re not always fans of sweet fragrances, even when they are trending as hard as they are this year. Our favorite sweet scents usually have sweetness mixed with darker notes like leather—and this one is the ideal mixture. The bitter almond isn’t jarring but instead gives this a marzipanlike feel (there’s also honeycomb and sugar in there to sweeten it up), though that all just acts as a complement (and sometimes background) to the smooth, sultry suede. In our minds, this is a leather fragrance that just happens to be sweet, not the other way around.

Wood fragrances can go a variety of ways, and while this one is most definitely woody (the cedar and sandalwood are front and center, not to mention the crispy, dry papyrus in the base), but it’s also softly floral, slightly vegetal, and a smidge spicy. While the first spray may feel a bit femme for some, we found that as it dried down on our skin, it became deeper and more masculine. It’s a modern take on some of our favorite notes and, while subtle, a guaranteed attention-grabber.

Another new take on woods, this unique scent is inspired by bark. That means instead of a heavy, in-your-face wood fragrance, it’s lighter and more subtle. On your skin, that translates to a smoother take on sandalwood and cedarwood, with a nutty sweetness brought to you by tonka bean and a snap of coffee at the top. It’s warm and cozy, like sitting around a fire, but without the smoke you find in similar scents. It’s ideal for cold weather or whenever you need a bit of comfort.

There is absolutely no denying that this is a eucalyptus fragrance. The initial blast of fresh, green eucalyptus is undoubtedly intense—enough to open your sinuses even—but as it dries down, it evolves into a woody, green vibe with a slight kick of spice. It’s an incredibly unique interpretation of a fresh scent, the kind that we’ve come to expect from D.S. & Durga. Eucalyptus may be one of our favorite smells in the entire world, but you don’t often find it in perfumery, especially at this level. If you’re a eucalyptus fan, or just want a new take on a fresh scent that doesn’t lean on citrus, this is a must-have.

There’s no denying that Aventus is one of the most iconic men’s colognes. The sweet, fruity chypre has a traditionally masculine yet still soft-ish edge that keeps it popular even more than a decade after its launch. This new version dials up the fruitiness with a blast of pineapple at the top but still retains much of the earthy, woody freshness that makes the original so popular. This new version is also denser and bolder, with a longer-lasting projection and a wider sillage. This is a statement fragrance best reserved for when you want to make a lasting impression.

“I used to flit around trying lots of different fragrances, most of them vetiver based, until I stumbled on the one and only vetiver. Actually, it’s called Vetiver 46 by Le Labo. First I found the Eau de Toilette and then Vetiver 46 perfume oil, which is maddeningly expensive but fortunately dispensed from a pipette so you can be sparing. If, that is, you don’t knock it over while faffing with the pipette, spilling precious drops in the sink. The smell is heaven and something about the oil feels less synthetic than the eau de toilette. It’s certainly a deeper aroma than the EDT, especially as you really rub it into the skin.” —Nick Sullivan, Creative Director

This surprising fragrance is a study in subtlety. It’s not going to punch you in the face when you first smell it, though the opening is slightly sweet and floral. As it dries and evolves on your skin, the desert ironwood, leathered woods, and saffron create a sultry warmth that mixes with the natural musk of your own skin to create what perfumers call a skin scent (think: your skin, but better). It’s not the kind of fragrance that’s going to fill up a room or create a cloud of scent around you. It’s really only apparent when someone gets close to you—and it invites them to get even closer.

There’s one word that comes to mind when you smell this fragrance: opulence. It just smells rich. Inspired by Middle Eastern perfume traditions, this concoction leads with a spiciness that quickly reveals an intoxicating aroma of oud, smoke, leather, and amber. It’s incredibly elegant but also mysterious and deeply sensual. This is the type of scent that stops people in their tracks, and even though the spiciness eventually fades, it sticks on your skin for hours and only gets better and better.

You know those cool dads when you were a kid who had the sports car in the driveway, were the first among your friends’ parents to get a cell phone (the brick-sized kind), and always hosted the best pool parties? This is what those dudes smelled like. This nostalgia-laced scent harkens back to the aquatic fresh colognes of the ’90s (you know the ones), complete with the smooth sandalwood and manly musk at the base. It might take you right back to your childhood, but somehow it smells just as cool today as it would have back then.