What are the top 10 best colognes for men you should avoid? Why should I avoid them? Ever wonder why nearly every guy you encounter tends to wear the same tired “men’s best cologne?” The reason is simple a lot of men don’t know what they want out of a fragrance.
Most guys are confused by the hundreds of scents out there and don’t put a lot of thought into what they want their frag to say about them.
They generally choose safe colognes they find on a tired “most popular cologne” list put out by people who know next to nothing about colognes & perfumes.
“No shepherd and one herd! Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same, whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Why Most Best Selling Top Cologne Lists Stink
You’ve seen them all over the web, you’ve seen them online everywhere. “The Best blah blah blah. Most Best Selling lists, whether it is cologne, cameras, or hunting gear are based on Amazon sales statistics, presented by people who really don’t wear the stuff. This is cool IF you want to know which cologne every dude in your school, dorm, office, or up in the club will be wearing.
These are great but SAFE colognes that won’t help you stand out from the rest of the flock and get you noticed.
How Some Women Choose A Cologne Gift?
Women don’t have it any easier when they’re on the hunt for a good-smelling cologne. They generally settle on one of the most common, men’s best colognes out there, Acqua Di Gio, an awesome scent (I have a bottle myself) is a great example of one that every guy in town wears.
She getting you this frag as a gift for one of two reasons
- Because of the guy she was with before you. She loves the way it smelled on him. She loves the way she felt when he showed up drenched in her to die for fragrance.
- She’s like most people and doesn’t know what you’re going to like, she turns to a list and picks something.
The Top 10 Best Colognes For Men You Should Avoid
If I were to ask you to Google up the best men’s colognes, I’ll bet somewhere in the top 25 results you’ll find:
- Acqua di Gio
- Anything Hugo
- Anything Nautica
- Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme
- Christian Dio Fahrenheit
- Cool Water by Davidoff
- Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue
- Kenneth Cole Reaction
- Paco Rabanne 1 Million
- Paco Rabanne Invictus
These are scents you should avoid unless you want to be one of the flock.
Understand, there’s nothing wrong with any of these fine scents. Like art, wine, and women beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Heck, I have all of these scents, but I want something different, something that’s can get a conversation started based on a simple “What are you wearing, it smells so good?”
Great Alternatives
1-Instead of Acqua di Gio try Versace Pour Homme
ADG, released in 1996 is one of the most popular men’s fragrances around. So popular you smell it everywhere. For my money, a great alternative would be Versace Pour Homme. This concoction released in 2008, features a better citrus opening, a more complicated floral middle, and stronger closing than Acqua di Gio with notes that include;
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon Neroli Rose
- Middle Notes: Cedar, Clary Sage Hyacinth, Geranium
- Base Notes: Amber, White Musk, Tonka Bean
Where Will Versace Pour Homme Work?
Wear Versace Pour Homme anywhere that you would consider wearing Aqua di Gio. This versatile fragrance makes for a nice casual everyday scent but dresses up well for a great going-out scent.
2-Instead of Anything Hugo Try?
Rather than single out any of the newer sprays in the Hugo Boss line, I felt it would be better to warn you off of any of the Hugo Flanker scents and suggest something better.
Surprised, don’t be. As with most things, if you want the best, you go with the original. Launched in 1995, Hugo, by Hugo Boss is one of the most masculine, long-lasting fragrances for men that you can buy.
- Top Notes: Apple, Basil, Grapefruit, Lavender, Mint
- Middle Notes: Carnation, Jasmine, Geranium, Sage
- Base Notes: Cedar, Fir, Patchouli
Where Will Hugo Boss Work?
This mostly forgotten gem is great for the bar/club scene. It holds up in a hot, sticky smoke-filled place. It’s long-lasting, I’ve smelled it on my skin more than 8 hours after the initial application.
More than enough time to get out there and make your moves.
3-Instead of Anything Nautica try Chanel Allure Sport
Another broad-stroke condemnation of a line of flanker scents. There are so many variations of Nautica I can’t keep up. Speaking of flankers, Allure Sport is the brother of the popular, must-have in your collection, Allure Pour Homme. Given the choice, I’m going with something that features notes such as:
- Top Notes: Aldehydes, Mandarin, Orange, Sea Essence
- Middle Notes: Cedar, Neroli, Pepper
- Base Notes: Amber, Tonka Bean, Vanilla White Musk
Where Will Chanel Allure Sport Work?
This strong, complex cologne is great for a first date. Thanks to the top citrus notes, this stuff will help ease both your nerves and the nerves of your date. The luxurious base notes will get you that second date if you want it.
4-Instead of Cool Water by Davidoff try Creed Cologne Green Irish Tweed
Released in 1988, in an effort to create a generic version of a famous “green” scent, Cool Water isn’t what it used to be. The juice in this bottle has been reformulated at least 2 times to my knowledge. That doesn’t make it a bad scent. Some fragrances are reformulated for reasons as simple as something in the original version no longer grows on the planet or is too expensive.
When buying cologne, you have a choice on how to spend your hard-earned money. You can spend it on something that everyone including me has, or you can put down a little change on something great.
I’m not going to lie, Green Irish Tweed costs more than your average bottle of scent but when you spray it on, you know where the money went. Tweed hit the shelves in 1985 and features a simple list of notes that include:
- Top Notes: Iris, Lemon Verbena
- Middle Note: Violet Leaf
- Base Notes: Ambergris, Sandalwood
Green Irish Tweed If you’re wondering why it’s so expensive, one of the most expensive compounds used in the fragrance industry is Sandalwood. This note provides a deep lust-producing aroma in this and many other scents. If you were looking for a perfect scent, this is the one. Long-lasting, has great sillage, and great projection, and an awesome attention-getter.
When buying cologne, you have a choice of how to spend your hard-earned money. You can spend it on something that everyone including me has, or you can put down a little change on something great. Green Irish Tweed costs more than your average bottle of scent but when you spray it on, you know where the money went.
Tweed hit the shelves in 1985 and features a simple list of notes that include:
- Top Notes: Iris, Lemon Verbena
- Middle Note: Violet Leaf
- Base Notes: Ambergris, Sandalwood
Green Irish Tweed If you’re wondering why it’s so expensive, one of the most expensive compounds used in the fragrance industry is Sandalwood. This note provides a deep lust-producing aroma in this and many other scents.
If you were looking for a perfect scent, this is the one. Long-lasting, has great sillage, has great projection, and is an awesome attention-getter.
Where Green Irish Tweed Work?
I’ve worn this to Christmas parties, weddings, and many high-end, nose-up-in-the-air events where I’ve achieved olfactory domination of my surroundings. This scent is a great conversation starter in that folks always ask, “What are you wearing?”
5-Instead of Paco Rabanne 1 Million try Bergamot Bleu Note
Bergamot Bleu Note
If you’re looking for the citrus zip, look no further than Bergamot Bleu by Note Fragrances. Released in 2016, this cologne should be considered a welcome upgrade to Paco Rabanne 1 million provides.
My feelings on this cologne are similar to that of Versace Pour Homme, in that Bergamot Bleu is a much better-blended cologne with a sharp kind of sweet opening that dries down to a manly scent within a couple of hours of application.
Notes include:
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon Zest
- Middle Notes: Coriander, Violet
- Base Notes: Rosewood, Vetiver
Where Will Bergamot Bleu Work?
Bergamot Bleu isn’t an in your face cologne. It is, however, a great cologne that works in the background. This is better suited for everyday use in places such as work or school. Thanks to its subtle nature, this is a great date scent that can be paired with an unscented pheromone for added effect.
6-Instead Of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue try Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Bergamot
I’m sure wondering why I would advise against using one cologne from D&G but recommend one from the same house. Again, none of these “men’s best colognes” are horrible. They’re actually pretty good fragrances for men but they are a bit too common. Every man needs his own signature scent, not something that rates high on Amazon and has hundreds of thousands of users.
With that in mind, Velvet Bergamot makes the perfect, signature scent for a mature (not old at heart) man. A man who is still a boy at heart but controls the inner him and releases it when the time is right.
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange Blossom, Petitgrain
- Middle Note: Clary Sage
- Base Notes: Ambrette, Vetiver
Where Will Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Bergamot Work?
This long-lived cologne, launched in 2014, fills two roles in the collection. It plays well around the office should you decide to wear it there but it is best suited as a night out cologne. With or without a date this cologne will help you to own the night. This unique, to most venue scent, will get you noticed thanks to its great projection and sillage. It holds up well to bar/club scents as well. Just about every time I wear it, I’m asked what are you wearing.
Nothing starts a conversation quicker than that question.
7-Instead Of Paco Rabanne Invictus try Triomphe Millesime
I know what you’re thinking. Not another cologne with bergamot in it. This man must be in love with Bergamot. I’m not sure if I love bergamot but I sure like her and want to keep her around. The more I think about it, yes I do love her. Bergamot like most citrus oils has the ability to affect the mind by 
relieving depression, creating a fresh vibe while encouraging relaxation at the same time.
What is the A1A event where you would like to create such a feeling? The first thing that comes to my mind is that first date. On a first date, you want to feel relaxed, confident, and fresh. You also want her to feel the same. Citrus oils such as bergamot are what you’re looking for.
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Cardamom, Tangerine
- Middles Notes: Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Tarragon
- Base Notes: Amber, Benzoin, Guaiac Wood, Incense, Leather, Patchouli, Vanilla, Vetiver
Where Will Triomphe Millesime Work
Originally released in 2009, this is a scent I love to wear anytime I feel a little funky. Remember, when wearing any fragrance or pheromone, the first person you have to please is yourself. Once you’re set, others you encounter feel this and are easier to work with be it a first/second date, or a meeting at work.
8-Instead Of Kenneth Cole Reaction try Dolce & Gabbana The One Cologne
Taking a break from colognes with bergamot notes, a great alternative to the popular cologne Reaction is The One. While very popular, I don’t smell it everywhere.
- Top Notes: Basil, Coriander, Grapefruit
- Middle Notes: Cardamom, Ginger, Orange Blossom
- Base Notes: Amber, Cedar, Tobacco
Where Will The One Cologne Work?
This spicy concoction is one that I like to use during the colder months or strange enough when I visit Florida. This is a dual-use cologne in that it has the ability to work in a bar or club and could make for a nice signature scent. The thing about The One is that it seems to morph based on the person who’s wearing it.
9-Instead Of Bulgari Aqua Pour Home try Gucci Pour Homme II
Back on the Bergamot, it would seem. Gucci Pour Homme II, is a flanker to the great and hard-to-find Gucci Pour Homme.
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Violet Leaf
- Middles Notes: Black Tea, Cinnamon, Pimento
- Base Notes: Musk, Myrrh, Olive Tree, Tobacco Leaf
Where Will Gucci Pour Homme II Work?
It will work anywhere you would a spicy masculine cologne is needed to draw attention to me.
10-Instead of Christian Dior Fahrenheit try L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Issey Miyake for men
When I think of good-smelling cologne, one scent comes to mind. L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Issey Miyake is a fragrance that I first saw in action on a 
job I once had. An older gentleman who I describe as a suave muthaf@#$# wore this cologne with pride and to great effect. Combined with his smooth ways, he was able to pull women of any age from 21 to 58.
I just had to have some of that precious juice. Once I sprayed it on and upped my game and learned the girl code, I was able to get my fair share of women in the office. Sadly I also learned the meaning of an old adage, “Never dip your pen into company ink.”
That said to this day I still use L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme as one of my go-to signature scents. Thanks to the cornucopia of notes, this not-so-common scent still draws them in. Notes such as:
Where will L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Issey Miyake Work?
Clearly, this cologne will work in any office environment. It stands out while not being overpowering. This frag is a multi-role player. In addition to work/school, this will do the job on a first date, bar/club, and a special occasion scent. I’ve found that on its own or combined with an oxytocin-based pheromone, this cologne is very well received.
Its lightness lends itself to a nice warm weather scent as well.
Closing Thoughts
Buying a nice cologne for yourself or as a gift doesn’t have to be a major chore. It’s easy to go with the flock but every once and a while, jump the fence and run wild. Trying new scents doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition, grab yourself some samples. No, I don’t mean to go to the mall and bring home a bunch of swatches. That’s a good start but not good enough. Give yourself time to fall in love with a scent by buying cologne testers.
Cologne testers are what you see sitting on the counter at Macy’s. These bottles are available to the general public on the cheap. They’re cheap because all you’re getting is a no-frill bottle of scent. Typically there won’t be any packaging fancy caps etc.
If buying a full bottle to try isn’t your cup of tea, consider sample vials and sachets. They’re available just about everywhere online.
Resources
Samples
- Amazon.com(Affiliate Link)
- Lucky Scent.com
- My Perfume Sample.com(Affiliate Link)
Testers
- Fragrancenet.com
- Fragrance Shop.com
- FragranceX(Affiliate Link)
I am an affiliate for Amazon FragranceX and MyPerfumeSamples.com. This means if you buy something I mentioned in the article, I earn a small commission.
Please know that I only recommend products that I believe in. I don’t try to hide the fact I earn money from this blog, my credibility is more important than making a quick buck.
Thanks for your support and feel free to post questions below
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