HOW TO PICK A COLOGNE: A GUIDE TO THE BEST FRAGRANCES
A signature scent is a contributing factor to making a great first impression. Whether it’s an important interview or a first date, the perfect cologne will carry you through any occasion with confidence.
Essential to finding the right scent is understanding which fragrance notes and families best represent you. Stick to a particular cologne or build a fragrance wardrobe filled with different aromas to suit any mood, event, outfit, or season. Either way, Neiman Marcus is here to help. We’ll introduce fragrance types, show you how to pick a cologne for any occasion, and give some examples of some of the best men's cologne.
TYPES OF COLOGNE
Meet the five fragrance classes and what each entails:
Parfum has the highest concentration of fragrance and uses less alcohol. Parfum lasts the longest after application and has the most prominent scent.
Eau de parfum has the second-highest concentration of fragrance. Where parfum tends to last more than 12 hours, eau de parfum lasts 8–12.
Eau de toilette is a delicate scent composed of fragrance and alcohol. This type will last three hours and is often more affordable than parfum varieties.
Eau de cologne has less fragrance than eau de toilette and typically lasts two hours. The light scent gives a subtle peak of aroma without being overpowering.
Eau fraîche has the lowest concentration of fragrance and is best for those who desire an airy, light scent. Eau fraîche is a blend of fragrance and water, making it perfect for sensitive or dry skin.
HOW TO PICK A COLOGNE
Here are our top five recommendations for choosing the right cologne:
1. Identify notes
Fragrance notes are the individual ingredients that—when combined—create a beautiful perfume accord. An accord is the final result of the unique combination of notes, with each note playing a role in the final scent. Fragrance notes are divided into three key elements: top notes, middle notes (heart notes), and base notes. These terms describe each note's weight in the scent.
Top notes are the lightest notes, the first ingredients you smell in a fragrance that give it its first impression. They’re often citrus scents, such as lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, and mandarin.
Middle notes fall between top notes and base notes in terms of longevity. They create the foundation of all fragrances, accounting for 40–80% of the total scent. Heart notes come to the forefront when the initial smell of the top note subsides, making way for the fragrance's core. These notes are full-bodied and may include ylang-ylang, lemongrass, lavender, and cinnamon.
Base notes are the heaviest ingredients in the perfume accord from a molecular standpoint. These notes are often recognized after the top and heart notes have faded away. They make up 10–25% of the total scent and are used to uplift other notes while extending their longevity. Standard base notes include cedarwood, tonka bean, vanilla, and musk.
In summary, top notes create a first impression, heart notes establish the scent's core, and base notes enrich the entire formula.
2. Identify fragrance families
There are four prominent fragrance families under which all scents identify: woody, oriental, floral, and fresh. Within these four families lie distinct subcategories from which characteristic aromas can be formed:
Woody scents are warm and comforting. The subcategories within this family may share notes of earthy vetiver, dry cedar, and pine.
Oriental scents are exotic and intricate. These scents often consist of warm spices, herbs, light florals, musk, rich sandalwood, and patchouli.
Floral scents are indicative of spring and summer. Subcategories boast bouquets of evening lilies, fresh flowers, sweet fruits, and slight aromatic spice.
Fresh scents are green, tart, and fruity. These notes may carry crisp oceanic tones, zesty bergamot, freshly cut grass, and subtle raw herbs.
3. Research scents and their ingredients
Researching fragrances is a smart way to discover new scents and find the perfect fit. Discovering which ingredients comprise each note helps identify the elements that most appeal to you and, in turn, narrows down the search.
4. Pick a scent to evoke the desired mood
Scents should feel like an extension of oneself, expressing inner character and complexity through each distinct layer. Florals best suit the lighthearted romantic, while fresh scents convey energy and optimism. While woody scents exude a charming and homey feeling, oriental fragrances bring out one’s passionate and daring side.
Although any fragrance can be worn during any time of year, it's possible to correlate scents to seasons. When matching fragrance families to seasons or weather, the natural flow dictates florals for summer weather, fresh for springtime, woody for autumn, and oriental for winter’s cold.
5. Explore and experiment
Fragrances tend to smell different on different people, so the best way to choose one is to smell it on your skin. Although top notes may be alluring when smelled from the bottle, the scent can change once applied. This may be due to the skin's unique pH level or individual dietary differences.
Placing cologne on pulse points (where veins run close to the skin) provides the fragrance with warmth, allowing the scent to develop faster and reveal its true depth.
THE BEST MEN’S COLOGNE
Here are eight of the best designer cologne brands and their most coveted men's fragrances:
TOM FORD’s Oud Wood Eau De Parfum
TOM FORD Oud Wood Eau De Parfum
This scent from TOM FORD belongs to the woody fragrance family and carries notes of resin-filled agarwood, sandalwood, and Chinese pepper. The combination of exotic spices and smoky wood creates a sensual and compelling aroma.
Dior’s Sauvage Eau de Parfum
Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum
Sauvage, from Dior, merges citrus and wood with bergamot, vanilla, and nutmeg notes. The bergamot gives the top an energetic zeal and spice, while the heart is rich in smoky vanilla, finally giving way to a nutmeg base. Inspired by the magic of twilight skies cast over open deserts, the scent encapsulates fearless summer nights.
Gucci’s Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum
Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum
This Gucci scent gives an alluring burst of orange blossoms and lemon, supported by subtle teases of lavender and patchouli. Top notes of rose and hot chili pepper are followed by intriguing citrus to create a fragrance that expresses emotional freedom—a feeling of being completely infinite.
Acqua Di Parma’s Arancia di Capri Eau de Toilette
Acqua Di Parma Arancia di Capri Eau de Toilette
Arancia di Capri Eau de Toilette is a fresh fragrance from Acqua Di Parma that embodies bright, fruity notes of mandarin, orange, and lemon. At the heart of the scent lies the bitter green essence of petit grain and cardamom, all enriched by a foundation of caramel and musk.
Hermès’ H24 Eau de Parfum
Hermès H24 Eau de Parfum
Hermès’ H24 elicits an earthy, fresh aromatic scent owed to notes of sage, oakmoss, and woody sclarene. The fragrance aims to accurately represent the contemporary man through botanical notes.
Diptyque’s Orpheon Eau de Parfum
Diptyque Orpheon Eau de Parfum
Reminiscent of '60s Paris, Orpheon paints a portrait of the late-night St. Germain bar frequented by the three founders of Diptyque. The scent pays tribute to the bar's elegant liveliness through sweet juniper berries, warm cedar, and tonka bean notes.
Byredo’s Eyes Closed Eau de Parfum
Byredo Eyes Closed Eau de Parfum
Eyes Closed is a refreshing scent from Byredo that renders an idyllic portrait of endless love—full of curiosity, imagination, and hopefulness. The scent’s first blush emits the subtle heat of cinnamon and cardamom, giving way to invigorating notes of carrot, orris butter, and ginger before settling with the tenderness of papyrus and patchouli.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Baccarat Rouge 540 merges woody, amber, and floral aromas to create a sophisticated scent reminiscent of a “breeze of petals.” The fragrance, from Parisian perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, carries exotic top notes of saffron and jasmine, accompanied by deeper notes of cedarwood and ambergris accord.
MERGING SCENT AND STYLE
No matter the occasion, step out with confidence by wearing men's cologne and clothing that represent your unique tastes. Neiman Marcus has the finest collection of men's skincare, haircare, shaving essentials, and grooming products to leave anyone looking their best. For those who need help deciding, gift sets provide an excellent way to try new products. Journeying to distant destinations? Peruse our collection of travel-size kits and mists.