Is there one best Burberry cologne for men? Perhaps so — but we’re definitely of the opinion that any man’s best bet for smelling great all the time is to have a selection of fragrances to choose from.
Because we love this brand so much, we’ve put together this quick guide to the best of the best Burberry cologne for men, with satisfying scents for every season and occasion. Follow along and we’ll provide you with interesting facts and trivia, full aromatic profile notes, and our verdict on which colognes are best for specific situations.
So when you’re ready to choose the perfect Burberry scent for your lifestyle, read on to find out more!
Table of Contents
5 Best Burberry Cologne For Men In 2022
While choosing a cologne that you’ll want to wear everyday is a very personal matter, the scents that follow are popular for a good reason: They smell great on just about any man.
Burberry Brit For Him (Our Top Pick)
Our favorite Burberry cologne, Brit for Him, manages to pull off effortlessly what many colognes struggle with: Incorporating classic, timeless scents into a modern and approachable package.
Released in 2004, Brit for Him won two prestigious awards for fragrance in its first year: One for best national advertising campaign of the year, and one for men’s fragrance of the year. It’s been remarked that the scent is “a perfect illustration of modern English spirit”, with a laid-back vibe that’s still suffused with tradition.
With its immediately apparent notes of ginger and citrus, backed up by wild rose and subtle gray musk, Brit for Him might be the best Burberry cologne for summer — though honestly, we would consider wearing it year-round. It’s the perfect sort of scent for young men to grow into, exhibiting maturity without losing a sense of playfulness.
Notes:
- Top notes of ginger, green mandarin, cardamom, and bergamot
- Middle notes of baking spices, cedar, nutmeg, and wild rose
- Base notes of tonka bean, cedar, gray musk, oriental wood, and patchouli
Best For:
- Wearing all summer long, or all year round!
- Young men looking for a go-to cologne
- Grown men who want to keep a youthful spirit
Burberry London For Men
Draped in Burberry’s signature tartan, London for Men may be the most popular and highly rated cologne for the colder months of the year. It’s a beautifully rich blend of sweet tobacco, rich spices, and wood and leather undertones that will remind you of nothing so much as sitting in an English drawing room, smoking a pipe.
This scent was developed in 2006 by Antoine Maisondieu, the mastermind behind many famous fragrances from Armani, Diesel, and Bottega Veneta. Compared to many other Burberry colognes, London is best suited for nighttime wear in intimate settings, where its close-to-the-skin fragrance can be fully appreciated.
The one thing that London is not, however, is particularly long-lasting. If you’re using it as your daily scent during the fall and winter, we recommend packing the handsome tartan-coated bottle with you so that you can reapply once during the day or evening.
Notes:
- Top notes of cinnamon, lavender, and bergamot
- Middle notes of leather and mimosa flower
- Base notes of pipe tobacco, opoponax, guaiac wood, and oakmoss
Best For:
- Wearing in the fall and winter
- Nighttime use in intimate settings
Burberry Brit Rhythm
One of the longest-lasting colognes on this list, the Brit Rhythm, is also one of Burberry’s most uniquely scented and affordable. With an intensely fragrant herbal opening backed up by deep, dark, and masculine undertones, it’s the sort of “do it all” cologne that’s a hit with anyone looking for a signature scent.
The bottom end of this cologne is based around the exotic tonka bean. The scent of this dried South American seed has been described as a combination of vanilla, marzipan, and allspice — all without being overly sweet. Oddly enough, tonka beans are not available for sale in the United States because they are not safe to eat.
Originally released in 2013, Brit Rhythm saw an immediate spike in popularity before leveling off to a respectable following. If you would prefer a cologne that not many other men will be wearing, Brit Rhythm may be just right for you.
Notes:
- Top notes of basil, lemon verbena, cardamom, and juniper berries
- Middle notes of leather, styrax, and patchouli
- Base notes of tonka bean, cedar, and incense
Best For:
- Value-conscious buyers
- Everyday wear
- Men who want a unique scent
Burberry Touch For Men
For being stored in such a curiously shaped bottle, Burberry’s Touch for Men is a remarkably approachable scent. Long-lasting but with a moderately intense fragrance, its combination of citrus and spice is sure to appeal to almost anyone.
Though you’ll notice the aromatic floral and mandarin orange notes right away, the real magic of Touch for Men lies in its downy-soft base. As the immediate scents fade away throughout the course of the day, only a dry, powder-soft aroma is left on your skin. Wonderfully sweet without being cloying, this staying power is what makes Touch a wonderful choice any time of year.
Though it was developed as far back as 2010, Touch for Men has only recently begun to attract attention among cologne lovers. If you’re looking for a great all-rounder of a scent at a great value, this one is definitely worth considering.
Notes:
- Top notes of violet leaf, artemisia, and mandarin orange
- Middle notes of white pepper, cedar, and nutmeg
- Base notes of white musk, tonka bean, and vetiver
Best For:
- Year-round use
- Everyday use
Burberry Weekend For Men
Originally created in 1997, Burberry’s Weekend for Men differs substantially from the dry fragrances now favored in the market. Sweet, unctuous resins and honey give it a heft that’s a definite throw back to the over-the-top vibes of the early 90’s.
If you love citrus and sweet aromas, Weekend for Men may quickly become your favorite cologne. From lemon to mandarin and bergamot — as well as hints of tropical fruits — the first spray of Weekend will enliven your senses.
Where most citrus-heavy scents tend to fade quickly, though, Weekend transitions smoothly into aromatic woods and rich, sweet musk. It’s a surprisingly durable scent, showing substantial development over the course of about 6 hours.
Is this cologne for everyone? No. But if you find that you’re not a fan of modern colognes’ obsession with dry, leathery, spicy scents, Burberry’s Weekend for Men will be a breath of fresh air.
Notes:
- Top notes of lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, pineapple, mandarin orange, and melon
- Middle notes of ivy, oakmoss, and sandalwood
- Base notes of honey, musk, and amber
Best For:
- Spring and summer use
- Daytime use
- Men who prefer sweeter scents
The History Of Burberry Cologne
From humble beginnings as a drape-making apprentice, Thomas Burberry opened his own store in England focusing on outdoor apparel. With the development of fine proprietary fabrics and the design of the first “trench coat”, Burberry’s momentum continued to develop rapidly after recovery from World War II.
Long before making a splash in the world of fine fragrances, Burberry had already become a well-established designer of high fashion clothing in England. But with the release of their first cologne in 1981, Burberry for Men, their place as a perfuming icon was set in stone.
Now, nearly 40 years later, Burberry offers a line of over 80 fragrances for men and women alike. Through collaborations with famous perfumers and celebrities, their scents are now known worldwide for their combination of sensual beauty and uniquely refined aromas.
What Does Burberry Cologne Smell Like?
Pinning down a single fragrance that best encapsulates Burberry’s style is almost impossible, given that they’ve produced over 80 scents in 12 fragrance lines. Really though, this is the strength of the Burberry cologne catalog: If you search hard enough, there’s almost definitely a Burberry cologne that matches you perfectly!
Still, highly aromatic and woodsy colognes are a signature Burberry style. In each of their fragrance lines, at least one scent will be made For Him, incorporating scents like oakmoss, sandalwood, and leather alongside herbs and citrus.
Lastly, a recommendation: While a description of any cologne can give you a great insight into whether you might like it, your nose will always know best. If possible, consider visiting a department store to sample a few of Burberry’s most popular colognes. Take notes of which are your favorite, and you’ll often be able to buy them online at a significantly reduced price.
Looking for something else? Try Givenchy colognes, YSL colognes, or even Hermes colognes.
What Is The Most Popular Burberry Cologne?
While many of Burberry’s 80+ fragrances have had sporadic bouts of popularity, just one keeps men coming back time and time again: Burberry’s London for Men.
Though the signature tartan bottle covering may be what first draws men in, it’s London for Men’s incredibly rich combination of sweet pipe tobacco, warm baking spices, aged leather, and fragrant woods that keeps people coming back for more.
Masculine without being overbearing, if London for Men were a person it would be a fine English gentleman. It might be a little bit too rich for year-round wear, but we’re quite impressed with it as an everyday cologne during the fall and winter.
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.
