Abercrombie & Fitch have a diverse catalog of colognes to choose from — so how can you know that you’re getting the best Abercrombie cologne for men? Put your worries away, because we’re here to help you decide.
Most notable for their casual luxury clothing line, Abercrombie & Fitch has been producing distinctive colognes and perfumes since the late 1990s. With their modern and cutting-edge formulations, A&F has carved out a fragrance niche for itself thanks to affordable formulations of approachable styles.
In today’s guide, we’ll be introducing you to our picks for the five best Abercrombie colognes for men, including options for every season, time of day, and occasion. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear picture of which Abercrombie cologne is best for you.
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5 Best Smelling Abercrombie Cologne For Men In 2022
Abercrombie sells some the most well known colognes you can buy online. But of all the colognes they sell, here are the top 5 we’ve curated just for you.
Abercrombie & Fitch First Instinct (Our Top Pick)
Released in 2016, First Instinct is an aromatic fougere that has quickly become Abercrombie’s top performing cologne. Perfumer Phillipe Romano has this to say of his creation: “I wanted to create a modern fragrance that balances both the fresh elements of fougère with oriental warmth. All the notes together, create a scent with worldwide appeal for the Abercrombie & Fitch man and beyond.”
The fresh, zesty, and herbal scent of a fine gin and tonic forms the majority of First Instinct’s top notes, with a dash of green melon thrown in for good measure. A wide array of citrus fruits comprise most of the heart notes, alongside violet and cooling szechuan peppercorns — all of it built on a classically masculine base of musk, suede, and amber.
Featuring a moderate longevity of 4 to 6 hours, and a fairly intense dispersion from your skin, First Instinct is the cologne of choice for making a strong and memorable first impression. It’s great for date nights or job interviews, and especially excels during the warmer months of the year.
Notes:
- Top notes of melon, tonic water, and gin
- Middle notes of violet leaf, szechuan peppercorns, and mixed citrus peels
- Base notes of musk, suede, and amber
Best For:
- Making a great first impression
- Projecting freshness and confidence
- Spring and summer parties and dates
Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce
Abercrombie & Fitch’s take on the classic woody aromatic fragrance is quite powerful. The bottle’s risque depiction of a muscled man’s torso gives a strong clue to what’s inside: An assertive and masculine cologne that’s brimming with youthful vigor.
Fir trees mingle with seawater notes in Fierce’s top notes, supported by lemon, orange, cardamom, and bitter orange leaves. In the heart, you’ll find rosemary and sage juxtaposed with jasmine, rose, and lily of the valley. Anchored by powerful and long-lasting base notes of musk, vetiver, and oakmoss, you’ll also detect a hint of rosewood and sandalwood to fully round out the scent.
Long lasting and intense, Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce is many a man’s go-to cologne for impressing potential mates. It’s designed to make a splash, and is brashly masculine without going so far as to be offensive. Though it’s not for the faint of heart, we think Fierce is an excellent cologne to add to your collection.
Notes:
- Top notes of fir, lemon, orange, cardamom, petitgrain, and sea notes
- Middle notes of rosemary, lily of the valley, jasmine, rose, and sage
- Base notes of musk, vetiver, oakmoss, rosewood, and sandalwood
Best For:
- Date nights
- Leaving a lasting impression
Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce Confidence
A follow up to the original blockbuster Fierce, Abercrombie & Fitch’s Fierce Confidence was released in 2014. It adds a noticeable fruity tone to the original without losing the intensity and masculinity that established this line of colognes.
Just as with its predecessor, cardamom and citrus are present in Fierce Confidence’s top notes. You’ll find them complemented by juicy pear and fresh green basil before transitioning to heart notes of lavender, pineapple leaf, and sage. Deepened by base notes of white amber, musk, and driftwood, it takes a decidedly oceanic turn that makes it perfect for summertime fun.
Offering a moderate duration and moderate intensity, Fierce Confidence is much more restrained than the original Fierce. It’s absolutely ideal for days at the beach, or for going on daytime coffee dates in the spring and summer.
Notes:
- Top notes of pear, bergamot, mandarin orange, cardamom, and basil
- Middle notes of lavender, orris root, pineapple leaf, elemi, and sage
- Base notes of white amber, musk, and driftwood
Best For:
- Spring and summer wear
- Days at the beach
Abercrombie & Fitch Woods
An excellent all-rounder of a cologne at an affordable price, Woods is a woody aromatic style cologne that was released in 1997. Rather than banking on complexity or rare ingredients for its appeal, Woods draws on simple and recognizable aromatics to create a warm and inviting scent that’s versatile enough for almost any occasion.
The top notes for Abercrombie & Fitch Woods are all about citrus, featuring lemon, lime, orange, and bergamot peels in abundance. Fading quickly after application, Woods transitions to heart notes of lavender, clove, cinnamon, and cardamom. Based on a classic formulation of vetiver and musk, Woods manages to convey its woody tones without ever straying too far into intensely resinous aromas.
Fairly long lasting and possessing a moderate to strong intensity, Woods is one of our favorite budget priced colognes. You can wear it anytime and anywhere, and may come to love it so much that it’s your daily go-to.
Notes:
- Top notes of lemon, lime, orange, and bergamot
- Middle notes of lavender, clove, cinnamon, and cardamom
- Base notes of vetiver and musk
Best For:
- Anytime wear
- Becoming your new go-to scent
Abercrombie & Fitch Icon
An aromatic spicy cologne debuted in 2015, Abercrombie & Fitch Icon sticks with the popular citrus top notes and spice heart notes while going for a much more woody and masculine base. If you’ve enjoyed the previous colognes but want something deeper, richer, and woodier, Icon is almost definitely the way to go.
Lemon, lime, grapefruit, and bergamot peels lead the way into Icon, creating a zesty and pungent first few moments after application. In the heart, you’ll find a bevy of baking spices, from clove to allspice to cinnamon and nutmeg. The strongly masculine base is present throughout the entire composition, displaying assertive tones of cashmere wood and musk.
Featuring only a moderate longevity but an exceptional intensity, Icon seems destined for wearing in the busy nighttime environment of a crowded club. It’s a real statement piece, and should be applied sparingly for best effect.
Notes:
- Top notes of lemon, lime, grapefruit, and bergamot peels
- Middle notes of cinnamon, clove, allspice, black pepper, and star anise
- Base notes of cashmere wood and musk
Best For:
- Men looking for a strongly masculine cologne
- Nighttime wear
Is Abercrombie And Fitch Cologne Good?
Though more renowned for their fashion and advertising than the composition of their colognes, Abercrombie & Fitch’s fragrances are undoubtedly good. In fact, the sales of their signature cologne, Fierce, may prove their quality: They’ve sold over $200 million of it since its debut in 2002.
What’s more, many of Abercrombie & Fitch’s colognes are available at prices far below what you’d expect given the quality of their ingredients. Since they’re not a European luxury brand, you can expect to find their colognes at nearly half the price of what a similar composition might cost from a French fashion brand.
What Is The Best Abercrombie Cologne?
If we could only choose one Abercrombie cologne to fit the widest variety of situations, we’d put our money down on First Instinct. It’s a versatile cologne that manages to avoid the pitfalls of many overly-specific compositions, and can be worn well year round on almost any occasion.
Of course, Fierce is easily the most recognizable Abercrombie cologne. It’s the company’s official fragrance, and has been their most popular cologne since its debut in 2002. Intense and long-lasting, it’s a great cologne for making a strong first impression.
If you’re looking for a casual daily cologne on a budget, though, there’s no beating Woods. It’s such a friendly and approachable cologne that you can wear it anywhere and anytime, and the price is low enough that you’ll be able to afford to do just that.
What Cologne Is Similar To Abercrombie Fierce?
As an example of the classic woody aromatic style, Abercrombie Fierce has plenty of colognes that are similar to it. Here’s a selection of a few of our favorites:
Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million Lucky is the first fragrance that comes to mind, thanks to its incredibly intense woodines and strong masculinity. In addition to those notes, you’ll also find fascinating additions of honey, hazelnuts, and plum to give it a distinct character.
Dolce & Gabbana’s The One takes the woody aromatic style and significantly deepens it, making for a rich and lush experience that’s perfect for date nights. It easily matches or exceeds Fierce’s intensity and longevity.
Versace Man Eau Fraiche offers a remarkably similar experience to Fierce, but doubles down on the woody tones throughout the entire composition. It’s accented by an unmistakable aquatic quality that gives it year-round appeal.
For more cologne recommendations, check out our buyers guide on the best Hollister cologne.
Brian Adee
Brian has been fascinated with fragrances since his 8th birthday, when his Dad gifted him a bottle of Acqua di Gio. Since then, he has become a men's grooming & style aficionado who teaches men how to look sharp. Backed by personal experience, Brian's articles are known for his no-holds-barred style where he holds nothing back. You will get his real opinions on the latest men's grooming products and best practices where he reveals the best (and worst) style advice every man should know.