15 Best Fragrances For Men In 2025
Upgrade your personal fragrance with these Esquire-approved scents
Let’s be honest: sometimes your cologne is a better wingman than your drunk buddy at the bar.
A good cologne can whisper stories and create an impression before you even open your mouth. So that lynx Africa you’ve been spraying since university? It’s probably time to retire the scent credentials and graduate to manhood. Your fragrance is your olfactory calling card, an invisible tailored suit, and an extension of your personality.
Finding the perfect scent is less science, and more art. There is no “perfect scent” that’s a one-size-fits-all. Just like a suit or a watch, you need to put in the effort to find the scent that is unapologetically you.
Best Fragrances of 2025
So buckle up, gentlemen. We’re about to navigate the aromatic landscape of 2025's most compelling masculine fragrances.
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Le Labo Thé Noir 29
Nowadays it feels like Le Labo is everywhere – and for good reason. Apart from being a worldwide hit, each fragrance is layered, complex, and individualistic. Apart from the classic Santal 33, Noir 29 is also quite popular with men and women both. The 29 is like a sensory dissertation. Black tea leaves are extracted, then blended with bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedarwood, and musk. The result is a fragrance that oscillates between light and depth, freshness and intensity.
Chanel Bleu de Chanel EDT
This perfume is a modern classic that's become the benchmark of sophistication. Blending citrusy brightness with deep woody undertones, this cologne transitions from boardroom intensity to evening charm. The citrus and labdanum notes create a fresh opening, while sandalwood and cedar provide a warm, sensual base that whispers confidence.
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Dior Eau Sauvage
Demachy's creation is a masterclass in balance. Opening with a burst of Calabrian bergamot that evokes sun-drenched Mediterranean coastlines, it evolves into a complex narrative of pepper and amberwood. It's what James Bond would wear on a Friday.
Tom Ford Oud Wood
Luxury distilled into molecular perfection. Rare oud wood—one of the most expensive fragrance ingredients on the planet—is blended with cardamom, sandalwood, and vetiver. The result is a scent that feels like sitting in a hand-crafted leather armchair in a gentleman’s club – it’s warm, complex, and unapologetically luxurious.
Hermès Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver
It’s the kind of head-turning masculine that you can wear during all events and all seasons. Perfumer Christine Nagel has created something that's part wilderness, part refined exploration. Vetiver, green bergamot, and Sichuan pepper create an invigorating profile that works from boardroom to bar. It's the olfactory equivalent of a well-traveled adventurer—rugged, yet refined.
Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club
Maison Margiela is like time traveling back to a smoky 1940s jazz club, bourbon in hand, surrounded by leather and possibility. The scent profile is a layering of spicy pink pepper, rich rum accord, and deep tobacco notes, anchored by vanilla and styrax.
Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay
Perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin ingeniously balances tart blackcurrant buds with the green, slightly peppery essence of bay leaves. The fragrance uses bucco tree essence to capture the crisp, leafy character of blackberry foliage, creating a scent that's neither purely fruity nor strictly herbal. A lingering base of cedarwood provides depth and sophistication, ensuring this isn't just another fleeting summer fragrance but a complex, year-round statement.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir
The scent builds around a rich vanilla core, enhanced by the resinous warmth of cistus labdanum and a nuanced amber accord. Unlike many heavy evening fragrances, Grand Soir manages to be both intense and remarkably wearable. The vanilla isn't sweet in a juvenile sense, but deep and sophisticated—think aged rum rather than birthday cake.
Celine Black Tie
The white orris butter provides a sophisticated, almost powdery sophistication typically reserved for haute couture. Cedar adds a crisp, woody backbone, while vanilla softens the composition with a subtle warmth. The genius lies in its balance—musky enough to be masculine, sweet enough to be intriguing, but never tipping into excess.
Acqua di Parma Colonia
This scent is the brand's most beloved fragrance. It's composed of ripe, zesty and citrusy notes that are apt for any occasion. With the vibrancy of lemon, bergamot, lavender and patchouli, a few spritzes of this is akin to sipping a freshly squeezed glass of your favourite citrus juice, on holiday on the Mediterranean.
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Loewe Pour Homme
Geranium provides an unexpected green freshness, avoiding typical woody clichés. Vetiver adds an earthy, almost smoky undertone that grounds the composition, while sandalwood contributes a creamy warmth. The result is a scent that feels both natural and refined.
Burberry Hero
Conceived as an ode to modern masculinity, this fragrance captures the dynamic between strength and sensitivity. Pine needle essence provides a crisp, invigorating top note that evokes wild landscapes, while juniper creates a sharp, aromatic counterpoint.
Diptyque Orphéon
Tonka bean provides a warm, almost almond-like sweetness, while cedar contributes a clean, woody structure. Jasmine adds a subtle floral complexity that prevents the scent from feeling too masculine or linear. The result is a fragrance that feels like a perfectly curated playlist—familiar yet surprisingly fun.
Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau
Yes, I'm exercising my rights to add another Diptyque to the list. This scent presents a green, almost raw interpretation. Blackcurrant provides a tart, slightly bitter opening, while rose is rendered as a fresh, almost vegetal note. The base of cedarwood ensures the fragrance remains grounded and wearable.
Le Labo Another 13
This Le Labo is a cult-favourite that was a collaboration between Le Labo and Another Magazine. The scent is built around ambroxan, a synthetic molecule that provides a clean musky base. The Jasmine adds a subtle floral complexity while woody amber creates depth. This is not fully in the masculine territory but sits in a unique territory of minimalist and fresh.