Top 10 Fragrances for Men

Parfums de Marly describes its exclusive Althaïr Exclusif Eau de Parfum as an ‘olfactory sonata’. Building on the original Althäir fragrance, infused with vanilla, praline and orange blossom, this latest development is split into three musical ‘movements’: bourbon vanilla, velvety amaretto and radiant saffron. The effect is the scent equivalent of 18th-century classical music, once played in the royal salons of Versailles and the Château de Marly.

Another exclusive, Byredo’s Havana Tonka Extrait de Parfum captures the seductive nightlife of its namesake city. Part of the brand’s ‘Night Veils’ collection, it’s a highly concentrated scent built around a fresh interpretation of roasted tonka bean, combined here with patchouli, resinoid and skin musks, revealing an addictive richness and strong, lasting trail – wherever the night may take you.

Evoking rugged, wind-swept heights, Aesop’s Unforeseen Aer Eau de Parfum has a crisp, mineral quality like cool gusts of freshness. An unconventional take on a fougère scent, meaning ‘fern’ in French, this woody fragrance family is grassy, green and fresh, and it creates a ‘Pure Air’ accord of germanium, lavandin and rosemary, grounded by a base of warm nutmeg.

Everyone knows a fragrance can transport you, and this one takes you straight to London’s finest gentlemen’s clubs. Classic, opulent and warm, TOM FORD’s Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum is infused with tonka bean, vanilla, cocoa, dry fruit accords and sweet wood sap, designed to ooze sophistication and confidence. Naturally, it pairs well with some of the finest British heritage brands at Harrods, from Dunhill to Burberry and Purdey.

Another nature-inspired scent, Loewe Perfumes’ Sweet Woodland Eau de Parfum takes you to a calming forest landscape. Crafted in Spain, it blends top notes of ginger, radiant mandarin and spicy Cognac, giving way to middle notes of rose and orange flower. At its base, expect the earthiness of patchouli wood, amber dry and sweet, comforting vanilla.

Are you as artful about your scent as you are about your interiors and clothes? Creed’s new Iris Debonair Eau de Parfum is inspired by the allure of an aesthete’s home, ‘where every room reveals an intentional art of living’. Opening with a luminous blend of bergamot and absinthe leaves, it has a heart of crisp English lavender and a cool, clear base of French iris pallida – one of perfumery’s most precious ingredients.

Florals are at the heart of Dries Van Noten’s DNA – its eponymous founder was known to make prints from the flowers he grew in his own garden. True to its name, Velvet Violet Eau de Parfum blends the freshness of violet with the richness of velvet and warm, nutty sesame. The result is a woody, floral scent of striking contrasts and a play on textures, housed in a deep-purple bottle evoking the flower and the sheen of velvet.

Zegna Fragrances’ Il Lanificio Eau de Parfum is part of the Memorie collection, six scents inspired by Ermenegildo Zegna’s personal memories and his family’s history. In this case? The brand’s mill where the raw wool is made into fabric. Soft, warm and textural, it opens with balsamic Tahitian vanilla, giving way to soft suede accord and creamy sandalwood. Don’t miss the Zegna family crest on the ash wood cap.

A global bestseller, one bottle of Dior Sauvage is reportedly sold every 30 seconds. Inspired by wild open spaces, the fragrance opens with a strong blast of citrus that is firmly anchored by ambery ambroxan and resinous elemi and woods. Instantly recognisable – each spritz is like a breath of fresh air.

The best scents linger long after you’ve left the room. Enter CHANEL’s Bleu de Chanel, a blend concocted to evoke the spirit of a man on an infinite journey that leaves a captivating trail with every step. Aromatic and woody with layers of New Caledonian sandalwood, cedar and tonka bean, it’s a warm, sensual scent that’s spiked with the freshness of citrus.

Looking to treat the man that has everything? You’ll find the perfect present for him in our curated gift guide.

How to find the fragrance that suits your style.