The 17 Best Colognes You Can Buy on Amazon, According to Esquire’s Fragrance Experts

If you’re going to spend $400 on a cologne, it better be unique, long-lasting, and display-worthy—and Layton by Parfums de Marly ticks all those boxes. A modern take on a fougère fragrance, it starts off with crisp apple and lavender before revealing smoky, spicy notes of vanilla, patchouli, and guaiac wood. All in all, it’s a serious compliment magnet. What’s more, it’s Bad Bunny-approved—fans spotted a bottle in one of his Instagram stories.

An absolute menswear classic. The olfactory sense of standing on the Irish coast, rolling hills behind you, nothing but sea in front of you ’til you hit America. It blends in at a cocktail bar, fits right in at a pub—like The Pogues Fairytale of New York.

Green Irish Tweed opens with a lot of iris and violet, but it settles into a lovely ambergris. It’s masculine and musky without being stuffy. It’s fresh and spring-y without being reserved for warm months. The sillage is hefty, especially with that floral opening, so be careful.

Until 1995, pretty much all fragrances were marketed to either men or women—and nary the two shall meet. CK One changed all that by billing itself as the first unisex fragrance. (Whether that is true is up for debate.) That was a pretty big deal in itself, but what it really did was capture the minimalist vibes of the era with its fresh, citrusy, slightly floral juice that smells clean but also alluring. It’s ideal for warm weather and daytime wear and remains one of the best-selling scents to this day.

Woody notes are a shortcut to smelling sophisticated, and Cedrat Boise combines some of our favorites: cedar, patchouli, and sandalwood. It’s balanced with jasmine, black currant, and a hefty dose of citrus for a dynamic scent that transforms on the skin throughout the day. One of our editors gifted this one to her boyfriend, and she says he earns compliments every single time he wears it out.

The name might be a little unassuming, but Vanilla Man won an Esquire Cologne Award for a reason. It spins our recent obsession with vanilla fragrances into something darker and sultrier, with the help of aromatic juniper, grounding cedar, and ambery resins. If you’re craving something sweet (but not saccharine), this scent is sure to satisfy.

This zingy 1990s scent retains popularity because of the unique mix of herbs and spices—not to mention the sweet yuzu citrus notes—that turn it into something subtle and elegant. There’s a light touch to this one, which you’d expect from the iconic Japanese designer. It transcends decades and keeps buyers and wearers coming back over and over.

For a fruity-musky scent that lasts all day, all night, and then some, reach for Erba Pura. Perhaps one of the most potent colognes ever made, it smells like summer in the Italian Riviera with notes of white musk, amber, lemon, and Sicilian bergamot. A word of advice? Stick to just a spray or two, or risk nauseating anyone within a 10-foot radius. On the bright side, it means this bottle should last for years.

Inspired by late nights at an underground cocktail bar, Maison Margiela’s Jazz Club is an Esquire editor-favorite for its rich, booze-forward aroma. Dark rum and tobacco mingle with clary sage, pink pepper, and a touch of citrus-y neroli and lemon for a distinguished scent, much like a well-balanced drink.

This light and citrusy cologne from Dolce & Gabbana is inspired by the Amalfi coast. The bright notes of lemon are followed by a smooth, seductive aroma from base notes of patchouli. It’s masculine without being overpowering, so it’s a great pick for anyone who finds heavier scents headache-inducing.

While there’s no denying that Amazon’s cologne department leans more mass-market, there’s a handful of under-the-radar brands to choose from if you know what to look for. Case in point: this Esquire Cologne Award winner from Italian niche fragrance house Orto Parisi. It was developed by perfumer Alessandro Gaultieri after an ayahuasca session in the Amazon, and it shows (in a good way). It’s green, citrus-y, and distinctly earthy and damp, like a rainforest after a deluge.

There are a ton of fragrances in the Boss Bottled family, including the iconic original, but this one is darker and sexier than the others. Thanks to the frankincense, this one has a smoky, sensual quality right off the bat, and as it dries down, it only becomes deeper thanks to notes like patchouli, vetiver, and cedar. It has insane longevity, so you can be sure it will last you deep into the night. We highly recommend pairing this one with your best-fitting suit for the ultimate date night.

As far as season-less, signature-scent-worthy colognes go, this one is top of the list. It’s fresh and slightly fruity at first (that’s the pineapple leaf) but evolves into something deeper once the base of sandalwood and tonka bean starts to come through. It’s not overwhelming or aggressive but still smells cool and masculine, making it equally appropriate for office wear, a post-gym spritz, or a pre-date refresh.

Yes, this is called Leather, but it’s no one-trick pony. This is a surprisingly complex fragrance with notes of spicy pepper and cloves, floral lotus, and orchid, and a base of woods like sandalwood and cedar (with, of course, leather). And while you can’t deny the sexiness of the worn leather aroma, it’s not aggressive or overpowering, making this an ideal scent for day or night. Not for nothing, it smells way more expensive than the price tag, too.

You know that ultra-specific feeling of cool aloe gel slathered onto slightly sunburned skin after a long day sitting by the pool? This unique fragrance captures that feeling—and scent—perfectly, but in a way that you actually want to wear. (No cloying, fake aloe smell here.) It’s an unusual scent that’s complex and nostalgic and instantly transports you to cocktail hour at a fancy tropical resort. We won’t pretend that this is a versatile, everyday type of cologne, but when the mood is right and you want to feel like you’re on vacation even when you’re not, this is the ticket.

This bold, spicy cologne is all about confidence in a bottle. A spicy-sweet opening of clove, cinnamon, and apple gradually gives way to masculine woods like sandalwood, cedar, and birch with a hint of earthiness from patchouli and vetiver. It’s bold and long-lasting but still quietly powerful. Wear this when you want to nail a big presentation or close a deal.