There are plenty of colognes marketed to teens and 20-somethings, but what’s the best cologne for older men? Whether you’re looking for a cologne for yourself or one to give as a gift, read on to find out which fragrances combine maturity and masculinity in a refined and elegant way.
To find the best cologne for older men, you’ll need to disregard many of the heavily fruity compositions that dominate the market today. Instead, try focusing on classic cologne styles: Fougeres and woody colognes are a great place to start.
In this guide, we’ll be sharing our favorite picks for the best colognes for older men, with options available for a wide range of styles and budgets. We’ll give you the full aromatic profiles for each choice, too, so you can pick the one that best suits your style.
Table of Contents
5 Best Cologne For Older Men In 2022
We’ve chosen a wide range of colognes for older men here, with examples that range from recent releases to timeless classics. Whether you have a collection already or are looking for your first cologne, there’s an option here for you. If you also happen to be looking to buy one for a son or nephew, you can check out our list of best cologne for young men instead.
Calvin Klein Eternity For Men (Our Top Pick)
Made in the perennial classic aromatic fougere style, Calvin Klein Eternity for Men is a reformulation of the 1989 original. It’s a fascinating play in balancing opposites, somehow managing to simultaneously be robust and refined, masculine and sensual. It’s a slightly more modern take on cologne, making it our choice for the best cologne for a 50 year old man.
Fresh air and ozone notes introduce Eternity’s top notes, complemented by sage and green apple for a powerfully fresh introduction. In the heart notes, you’ll find cypress and lavender juxtaposed with geranium and nutmeg, creating a double burst of fresh and spicy fragrance. Anchored by suede and ambergris as its primary base notes, Eternity for Men is a strongly masculine experience.
Calvin Klein Eternity for Men has an impressive longevity, with an intensity that’s ever-present but finely balanced. It’s a fantastic choice to wear year-round, and is easily deserving of becoming an older man’s go-to daily cologne. Heck, we even picked it as the best Calvin Klein cologne for men, period.
Notes:
- Top notes of sage, green apple, and ozone
- Middle notes of cypress, lavender, geranium, and nutmeg
- Base notes of suede, nagarmotha, ambergris, and orris root
Best For:
- Year-round wear
- All day wear
- Exhibiting maturity and refinement
Azzaro Wanted by Night
A woody spicy style cologne, Azzaro Wanted By Night is a seductive reformulation of Wanted, Azzaro’s most popular cologne for older men. Inspired by the designer’s hedonistic lifestyle in the 1970s, it’s a modern cologne that feels like a throwback to another era.
Cinnamon and lavender are paired with lemon and mandarin orange in Wanted by Night’s top notes, giving a fresh and crisp introduction that hints at the spicy aromas yet to come. Burning incense is the key heart note, with cedar, cumin, and a bowl of mixed fruits dancing around its center. In the startlingly deep base, you’ll find tobacco and vanilla duking it out with cedar and cypress, moderated by leather and patchouli.
Featuring a long duration of 12 hours or more and a pronounced intensity, Wanted by Night is the perfect date night cologne for older men. It’s characteristically masculine base notes give it a warmth and sensuality that’s invigorating to the senses. For all of these reasons and more, we also included Azzaro Wanted by Night as one of the best panty dropper colognes out there.
Notes:
- Top notes of cinnamon, mandarin orange, lavender, and lemon
- Middle notes of mixed fruits, incense, red cedar, and cumin
- Base notes of tobacco, vanilla, cedar, leather, benzoin, cypress, and patchouli
Best For:
- Tempting someone to get closer to you
- Displaying your most masculine side
Calvin Klein Obsession
The most classic of the colognes for older men featured here, Calvin Klein Obsession was originally released in 1986. An oriental woody style cologne with a traditional composition, it’s a great choice for the best cologne for a 60 year old man.
Citrus and spice team up in Obsession’s top notes to give a warm and zesty introduction to the scent, with cinnamon and coriander nestled up next to orange, lime, grapefruit, and bergamot. In the heart notes, nutmeg and myrrh provide spaciousness for red berries, pine, and carnations to show their most intense and complex sides. Built on a foundation of amber and vanilla, the base notes also include musk, patchouli, and vetiver for added depth.
Quite long lasting and noticeably intense, Obsession is a particularly excellent cologne for the holidays and family get-togethers. A little bit goes a long way, so give this cologne plenty of room to breathe before heading out the door.
Notes:
- Top notes of cinnamon, lavender, coriander, mandarin orange, lime, bergamot, and grapefruit
- Middle notes of myrrh, nutmeg, carnation, rosewood, pine, sage, jasmine, and red berries
- Base notes of amber, vanilla, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, and vetiver
Best For:
- Fall and winter wear
- Special occasions
Montblanc Legend
Subtle and complex, with a strongly developing masculine tone, Montblanc Legend is our pick for the best cologne for a 70 year old man. Made in the ultra-classic aromatic fougere style, it was released in 2011 and has steadily gained in popularity since then.
Pineapple plays a key role in Montblanc Legend’s top notes, where it is gracefully balanced by bergamot, lavender, and lemon verbena to create a refined entrance to the scent. Oakmoss and rose give an interesting contrast in Legend’s heart notes, and are lovingly accented with dried fruits and geranium. A simple base of tonka bean and sandalwood helps to showcase the uniqueness of each top note throughout the entire duration of wear.
Offering a moderate longevity and a restrained intensity, Montblanc Legend is a fantastic cologne for men who still feel young at heart. It seamlessly blends classic and contemporary influences into a modern take on traditional forms, and is worth including in any man’s cologne collection.
Notes:
- Top notes of lavender, pineapple, bergamot, and lemon verbena
- Middle notes of red apple, dried fruits, oakmoss, geranium, coumarin, and rose
- Base notes of tonka bean and sandalwood
Best For:
- Staying fresh and relevant without abandoning the classics
- Men who feel young at heart
John Varvantos Artisan
Created to announce the freshness of springtime, John Varvatos Artisan is a citrus aromatic style cologne that was released in 2009. It’s a wonderful diversion from the more traditionally masculine scents featured here, and is friendly enough to wear just about anywhere.
Clementine and tangerine are paired with marjoram and thyme to create a culinary-inspired collection of top notes, which segue elegantly into a heart of orange blossom, ginger, lavender, and jasmine. The strongly present base of musk, wood resin, and amber gives it a welcome addition of mascluine character without becoming overpowering.
With a moderate longevity and intimate dispersion, John Varvatos Artisan is an excellent cologne for day-to-day wear while at work. It’s freshness shows itself best during the spring and summer, but any sunny day is a great occasion to wear it.
Notes:
- Top notes of clementine, tangerine, marjoram, and thyme
- Middle notes of orange blossom, ginger, lavender, and jasmine
- Base notes of musk, wood resins, and amber
Best For:
- Spring and summer wear
- Daytime wear
- Wearing at the office
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.