Best Men's Fragrances
Davidoff Cool Water Man
Second bottle to fail.the button wont pump out the spray.very disappointing .bought months ago from chemist warehouse three quarters full but cannot utilise it just the same as the last bottle which failed too. Show details
Calvin Klein CK One
Great fragrance, lasts for hours – I bought it on the Black Friday sale. I like how it smells fresh in the beginning and then the fruity smell settles down and "Musk and Cedar" take… Read more
over ( the base ) and it lasts for a few hours. Really Happy with my purchase very refreshing for summer and Moreover it is Unisex.
Joop! Homme
This is the Best Perfume i have ever used! – I bought this for very cheap and was surprised when this exceeded my expectations. It is the best fragrance i have ever used. I wore this to work and… Read more
got 14 compliments from my co-workers in 1 hour. Everyone loved it and wanted to know what it was. I have tested over 100 popular fragrances (dior sauvage, versace, louis vuitton, etc.) and by far none of them come close to this. I highly recommend this fragrance to any man that wants compliments on the regular. 10/10 Masterpeice!
Paco Rabanne 1 Million
[Content Removed] crazy – Best smelling perfume, havent had anything better, great value for what you pay for Show details
David Beckham Intimately for Him
Can you smell the stench? – This stuff should carry a health warning on the front, back and sides of The Bottle, because it smells disgusting! then again, that's only to be expected from a person with his track record!
The best men's fragrance – One of the best fragrances available for men - long lasting and not overpowering. Nice woody tones that are not sickly sweet. Fahrenheit is well… Read more
priced and affordable making it ideal for daily use - easily becoming a fragrance of choice for most men... your man or woman will love it too! Long lasting | suits formal and informal ocassions | very masculine Bottle should be a spray pack
Joop! Jump
Can you smell the stench? – Avoid at all costs because The Girls will cross over the road to avoid you! The opening notes actually smelt lovely but that soon changed, after about a minute, when it turned into what smelt like thousands of pepperpots on overtime!
Sensual, unique, mysterious, longlasting – As said above, this is a unique eau de toilette, so sensual, so mysterious, it captivates you, and takes you away to that spacy orange trees forest,… Read more
even if you are in the middle of the largest cities ever. You once use it, you can't help using it again and again and again !!!! It makes everyone turn around and follow your exceptionnal smell !!!
Love this fresh scent – I wasn’t sure whether to buy the blue or red one, but when the friendly SA at David Jones sprayed the red one for me, I knew, I was buying the red… Read more
one.
It is a plastic spray bottle and the scent is fresh, but pleasant and not overpowering. It’s fresh, but not the green leafy fresh, it’s more fresh like warm cinnamon fresh, but with a slightly sweet cucumber zing, it’s just good. The scent is clean and wonderful to use all year round. This would make a perfect gift for yourself or anyone else.
It is more pricey than other mists, but it’s a superb scent which enlightens my day and makes me happy. I recommend this unique and beautiful scent to make you smell and feel good.
Boss Bottled
Versatile scent – You definitely notice the Hugo DNA. A refreshing, aromatic scent with notes of apple, wood, spice and smooth vanilla to tie it all in. You can wear… Read more
this gem all year round yet mainly great for spring and autumn the only down side is the performance; all I do is spray extra though as it is very cheap at discounters.
Long time user – I have been a long time user. It is my Wife's favorite. The After Shave Balm is almost impossible to get in W. Aust. but thanks to Chemict online have been successful. Great for my sensitive skin. Show details
Yves Saint Laurent Kouros
Great aftershave, last well, not overpowering. Best product as it blends in with body odour Show details
Chanel Bleu De Chanel Parfum
The one – Really good EDP, great scent that lasts a long while Always receive good compliments on it It’s pricey, but worth it for events and to smell good Show details
Smells like a certain Hotel Lounge area in Fortitude Valley on one of their renoun Drag Queen Pageant Nights! – Purchased at chemist warehouse, Townsville on wed 30 jan 2019. I purchased David Beckhams Instinct Au De "Toilet" 75ml for about $50 from chemist… Read more
warehouse in Townsville only because of all the media hype surrounding his name thinking he must have a somewhat exemplary reputation of sorts. Well, after one use "Eau de toilet" went back to its maker and it took 3 flushes to get rid of the odourous stench!
I also made the mistake of purchasing the 'Instinct' brand underarm spray concoction from chemist warehouse in Townsville a day later thinking it must be better than his bottled accomplice. (photo attached).
I often wondered what was behind all this media razz-a-matazz hype of "Bending it with Beckham". I sure as hell know now!
After using his Instinct I can shout from the rooftops that I too "Bent it with Beckham"!! After that "FRAGRANT" assault, my nostrils will never feel "STRAIGHT" again!
David Beckham wears these?? ...... Really!!! If true one would smell him coming at 100 paces, and my "Instinct" would tell my twiddle butt to boogie on out of there - pronto!
This products pong is best described as a cross between a Kings Cross ladies public convenience in peak hour during a blistering summer heat wave, and, and, and, the fragrance counter at a $2.00 reject shop, and, and, stale urinal tablets! And the underarm spray gunk makes flies drop dead where they fly at just the slightest whiff!! Really!! (try it and see). (and I'm being ever so refined in my description here).
And,
Gosh, I dont even want to begin to imagine what this footballer's change rooms would smell like if he along with all his team mates wore this concoction before a game (And moreso AFTER)! I'm not even going THERE ok!!!!!!
MEN, If you want some right pompous pong for your buck, try unisex opium eau de parfum spray 90ml by Yves Saint Laurent for $200.00. Well worth the couple of extra bucks and a more masculine (new age) pong-a-la-pong that wont "bend" your nostrils! (photo attached) (well tried to attach, only allows one photo).
The matching Beckham "Instinct" underarm spray concoction costs $6.00, and will probably go on sale at $2.00 reject shops in the very near future, or end up being sold under a different label as an alternative to mace spray for the ladies, cause it does bring tears to the eyes!! Well, I can tell you it certainly made god cry! And he cried and cried and cried, (then he cried some more)! For seven days and seven nights cried God over townsville, and yay, it started on the day I first bought and used this gunk. Really!! - honest to God it did!! Other people reviewing this Instinct pong on here are right, it lasts for ages, and is FAR REACHING! OBVIOUSLY TOO FAR REACHING!
It would have been more appropriate for Coty to use the endorsement of famous pianist Liberace and name it "Off key", Or, Hugo Weaving (of Priscilla) and called it "Spank my butt and call me Charlene"!!
In future one will be weary buying any product endor$ed by any $oul $elling celebrity. In fairness to Coty, some people would probably take to this like a lame duck to water, it just did not meet my expectations (or Gods) given all the media hype surrounding Beckham and all.
In short, if you want to be a Beautiful man "ducky", Beckham's instinct is right up your alley.
Peter Townsville
Good – My husband received this as a gift and both he and I really like it. It smells fresh and as it isn't crazily priced like some other aftershaves, we… Read more
continued to purchase it. It is available at most chemists and fragrance outlets. The spray is convenient and no risk of spills. Bottle looks nice on the bathroom bench. It is a refreshing fragrance that can be worn through the day without it ever being overbearing. The bottle is fresh and funky. It is not overpriced. The smell doesn't seem to last for a long time - may need to re-apply throughout the day.
Jovan Musk for Men Cologne
Long lasting – Smells so good, thank you been using this for months and I really like it. Show details
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male
The fragrance use to be a lot stronger and longer lasting, why the change – I don't understand why change a winning formula? It was a lot stronger years ago and now its weak as a cheap $10 bottle no name brand, very… Read more
disappointing. I can only think some bean counter in the company wanted to cut back on costs and increase profits, as the essence of fragrance oils would be expensive. I would rather pay more for a quality product that last. Not happy!
Excellent – It seems to last really well and not go bad. I liked this one a lot on my husband as it is subtle yet inviting. The packaging is simple and user friendly. Not overpowering. A really pleasant scent the just hints at being there. Nothing really.
this is my favorite smell – it smells so nice i have never smelt another cologne like it it even has the best projection and longevity anybody could ask for and it actually smells masculine unlike alot of other mens scents
Suitable for daily use – Great product, I bought it because it was on sale, I was surprised that that the smell wasn't as strong as I thought. Adventure begins with the… Read more
scents of creamy ‘fresh’ citrus and (hints of) pepper and sweet sesame; then, there is a quick chilled-tea break before the fragrance segues to smooth, mellow woods, light vetiver and musk. Great smell, great value Too weak at some occasions
So good – Very sexy fragrance and very masculine. I think it's very unique and hard to find a similar one to this classic. One of my favourites Sexy and masculine Maybe more suitable for night wear, but doesn't bother me
It's ok – I liked this when I bought it as a teenager, but after a year I felt it smelt a bit teenageree. But if it's been around for so long it must be ok. Each to their own I guess.
Calvin Klein Eternity for Men
Defunk for boots – I was expecting a really classic CK fragrance. Compared to Issey Miyake Intense, Eternity reminds me of toilet disinfectant. Unfortunately, I'll be using this to defunk my runners and work boots. Show details
Halston 1-12 Cologne Spray
Long lasting – The smell, is good and very long lasting good for an event and used regularly. Show details
Gunk under your arm – blue stratos 48 hr anti perspirant deodorant is a spray on rubbery compound that is hard to remove from your skin when showering- the gunky film requires a good bit of scrubbing to remove Show details
Lomani Pour Homme
I discovered Lomani a few years back.Very happy with the fragrance and price.For a while, it disappeared from the shelves .I was unable to find my… Read more
"go to" fragrance for a couple of months. I bought one a week ago... Absolute rubbish compared to previous bottles. Now, the smell lasts for a Nano second and disappears . Have I got a faulty batch? Why tamper with perfection. Very disappointed.
The Stench Master, can only give this a one! – Avoid at all costs, because this stuff is basically a load of rubbish! Can you smell the stench? Well you most certainly will, because you'll be… Read more
reaching for your gas mask, after the initial burst of fresh mint wears off, so don't go getting any ideas that you'll suddenly become irresistible to The Female Species, because they will run a mile, upon first whiff!
TERRIBLE DON’T BUY…. CHEAP BOTTLE D&G BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE – Perfume smells good but cheap tube got disconnected from nozzle couldn’t use the perfume. Dolce & Gabbana won’t help their customers either, I went to them with the problem and the solution was to ignore me. Show details
It smells nothing like The Seaside! – Ok, I've smelt worse, but there's no excuse for this stench, so i suggest you look elsewhere, if you're the kind of person that likes to smell… Read more
fresh?Can you smell the stench? and blimey what a stinker! are the only comments you are going to get, if you wear this? so avoid at all costs!
Hypnotic, beautiful – This fragrance really is one of a kind. The top notes are very bright and a bit harsh, but they don't last very long and aren't offensive. Soon, the… Read more
bright top gives way to an alluring, dark, magical floral heart: sweet and masculine, absolutely stunning. This lasts for a while. Then the base comes in, tobacco and iris maybe? Still floral and dark. Basically, I love this fragrance. Just don't judge it too soon after you spray. Let it develop. It's worth it. Long-lasting, good sillage. The top notes are quite harsh
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Perfume 101: Fragrance notes
There are three types of notes - top, heart, and base - that when blended together, create a fragrance’s full scent profile. Each of these layers have their own purpose, so it’s important to know which is which when you’re out shopping.
Top notes
Top notes are the lightest of all the notes, however they may seem the strongest at first because they’re immediately recognisable once the perfume is applied. Because of their molecular structure, these notes are the first to fade, but they should make way for a smooth transition into the heart notes.
Heart notes
Heart notes, or middle notes (but we prefer the former), balance the whole scent, and often influence the base notes. They’re named so because they’re the “heart” or main body of a fragrance. They mask stronger base notes, which become more pleasant over time.
Base notes
Base notes are those that emerge once the top notes have completely evaporated. They interact with the middle notes to create a fragrance’s full body. These are the notes that stay on your skin for hours - some are even detectable 24 hours after you’ve applied the fragrance.
Understanding scent families
A fragrance will usually belong to 1 or 2 scent families. While different perfumiers may classify scents slightly differently, the following 4 families are commonly used.
- Floral. Unsurprisingly, this scent family includes floral ingredients, such as jasmine, rose, gardenia, and lily of the valley.
- Oriental. First things first: yes, the name is problematic and the perfume world should definitely consider revising the term, not only because it’s outdated but also because unlike the other family names, it doesn’t say much about its scents. This family is characterised by its warm, sensual notes, including ingredients like vanilla, musk, sandalwood and amber. Armani Code and Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million perfume both fall into this category, although both are also classed as woody.
- Woody. These scents are damp and earthy, and include ingredients like sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, and patchouli. Chanel’s Bleu de Chanel is a woody fragrance.
- Fresh. Fresh scents are clean and bright - often herby, citrusy, and oceanic scents fall into this family. Common ingredients include sage, bergamot, and grapefruit. Davidoff Cool Water is an example of a fragrance in this family.
There are also scent subfamilies, some of which are shown in the fragrance wheel below.
Usually, fragrance subfamilies that are side by side on the wheel blend well, and those directly opposite to each other on the wheel complement each other. This means, for example, that a soft floral scent will go well with a dry wood.
Common ingredients found in men's fragrances
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some common ingredients found in fragrances for men.
- Bergamot. This is a citrus fruit with a smell comparable to Earl Grey (which is made with bergamot rind).
- Musk. Musk is commonly described as earthy, woody, and intoxicating - there’s no wonder it’s a popular scent choice.
- Amber or ambergris. This has a sweet, earthy scent.
- Vetiver. A perennial grass native to South India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia (while vetiver oil mainly comes from Haiti), vetiver has a bit of a nutty smell.
- Oud. Derived from the Agar tree and one of the most expensive perfume ingredients in the world, this ingredient can be polarising - people tend to either love it or hate it. It’s often described as warm and woody, and sometimes smoky.
- Patchouli. A favourite among hippies and sometimes used in alternative medicine, patchouli has a smoky, musky, earthy smell.
- Sandalwood. Unsurprisingly, this ingredient has a deep, woody scent.
- Oakmoss. Oakmoss has an earthy, mossy aroma with leather-like undertones.
- Tonka bean. This has an aroma similar to vanilla, but also has hints of cinnamon, cloves, and nuts.
What to consider when looking for a fragrance
Type of perfume
- Eau fraiche has the lowest concentration of all fragrances, typically containing somewhere between 1 to 3% of perfume oil. This small amount makes these a great choice for those with sensitive skin.
- Eau de cologne usually contains 2 to 4% of perfume oil, and usually lasts up to 2 hours.
- Eau de toilette can contain anywhere from 5 to 15% of perfume, and usually lasts 2 to 4 hours. This low potency makes them cheaper than eau de parfums and also a popular choice for use day to day, as even if you spray a lot, they won’t be too overwhelming.
- Eau de parfum usually contains 15 to 20% of perfume oil, and usually lasts up to 6 to 8 hours. It’s more intense smell makes it a popular choice for those looking for an evening fragrance.
- Parfum is the most highly concentrated fragrance formulation, which means it’s also usually the most expensive. It contains anywhere from 20 to 30% of perfume oil, and usually lasts over 8 hours.
- Perfume oils are fragrances with an oil base, so they don’t contain alcohol or water like most other perfume types. The concentration of these can vary greatly, but most will have up to 20% of perfume.
Longevity
If you’re wondering which men’s perfume lasts the longest, then in addition to looking out for the type of perfume, you can also look out for certain fragrance families. Long lasting perfumes for men are often more woody or “Oriental”, as these scents are more enduring than the citruses and florals in other scent families.
Although harder to test, your skin type can also affect the longevity and sillage (how much a fragrance lingers in the air) of a perfume you’ve applied.
Choosing between natural and synthetic ingredients
Fragrances usually either use natural fragrances, synthetic fragrances, or a blend of both.
Natural fragrances
Synthetic fragrances
Just because a fragrance is natural, it doesn’t mean that it’s more sustainable. To extract some essential oils, you often need a lot of raw material - the scale of farming of which isn’t good for the planet. For example, 4 tonnes of rose blooms only yield around 1kg of rose oil.
If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your fragrance, look instead for companies who can trace the origin of their ingredients and source them in an ethical and sustainable way, as well as products that haven’t been tested on animals. You can also look out for biodegradable materials and minimal, plastic-free packaging.
What about custom blends?
If mass-produced designer fragrances aren’t piquing your interest, and you haven’t found the right scent in a more niche brand, then you might want to try out a custom blend.
In this case, a perfumier will usually ask you which scents you like, which fragrances you already own and use, and what kind of “feel” you want your scent to have.
You may need to pay for a consultation fee, or spend a bit initially to get a few testers of different fragrances before you commit to buying a full-sized bottle. Because of the labour that goes into making a custom blend, you should expect these to be more expensive than most fragrances you can buy off the shelf.
Price
Male perfumes can cost anywhere from $10 to $500 and upwards. Male cologne and eau de fraiche will generally be quite cheap, while eau de parfums and custom blends will usually set you back anywhere from $100 to $200.
It’s also worth snagging the scent you’ve settled on at a mens perfume sale at a discount pharmacy - they often stock perfumes at much cheaper prices than you'd find at department stores.
Tips for when you shop and wear your fragrance
- Try to refrain from buying a perfume until you’ve worn it for a whole day. This will help ensure that you like the smell of all the perfume's notes, and will also help you see how a fragrance interacts with your own natural smell.
- If a store has coffee beans for you to smell between trying scents, then use them, as they help refresh your palate after each tester.
- Store your fragrance in a cool, dark, dry place (such as in a bedroom closet) to prolong its lifespan. Exposure to heat and sunlight can cause the molecules in your fragrance to break apart, which may change its smell.
The bottom line
Understanding notes and scent families can help you detect smells and assess how a fragrance’s smell will change over time, but ultimately, it’s all down to personal preference.
If you find yourself drawn to a fragrance marketed towards women, then go for it. If you find that you’re not a fan of some of the common ingredients found in most fragrances, then keep experimenting until you find a scent that you and your nose love.
At the end of the day, what matters most in a fragrance is that it helps give you the confidence to be who you want to be.