It can be pretty difficult trying to pick the perfect cologne. Especially if you’re one of those brothers who doesn’t even know where to start or what to look for. But don’t worry. Of course, I’m here to help. Here are the best colognes for Black men this year. These joints will have you walking into every room so confident you’ll be feeling like “King James” in this year’s NBA Finals.
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Azzaro Wanted By Night (Our Top Pick)
Azzaro Paris has been in the luxury fashion space since 1962. And in the six decades since, they’ve studied and perfected the fragrance landscape, creating one of the best colognes for Black men with Azzaro Wanted by Night.
Picture Edris Alba playing 007, walking into a casino in the South of France, dressed in an all-black Tom Ford suit and the cigar girl sticking one in his mouth and lighting it as soon as he walks up to the roulette table. Charismatic and full of macho attitude. That’s the kind of dude who’d rock Azzaro Wanted by Night––the boss in you.
What I really love about this cologne is its power. It’s super long-lasting. You can spritz on a few sprays (but PLEASE don’t overdo it) and not have to worry about it fading for the next 6 to 7 hours.
That’s bomb AF, right?
That kind of long-lasting scent is only found in high-quality colognes that are worth your hard-earned cash.
But then there’s what the scent smells like. It’s an Eau de parfum which means it’s a traditional recipe used to make a refreshing citrusy, spicy, and heavy scent. But it’s also a super masculine, woodsy, warm, and spicy aroma that blends really well with your natural body chemistry.
And it won’t clash with your body wash or lotion. It’s the kind of scent that’ll have every woman around you wondering how TF she can get a closer whiff.
It’s one that’s best for having drinks at an outdoor café in the early Fall, or those cold winter days when you’re bundled up but want to take your girl for a stroll before grabbing dinner at her favorite restaurant.
You want to temp the girl of your dreams with a night of seduction she’ll never forget? Wear this cologne and watch the magic that comes.
Notes:
Top Notes: Cinnamon, Mandarin Orange, Lavender, and Lemon
Middle Notes: Incense, Red Cedar, and Cumin.
Base Notes: Tobacco, Vanilla, Leather, Cedar, Benzoin, Iso E Super, Cypress, and Patchouli
Best For:
- This cologne is best for the Fall and Winter seasons. It’s also one of those colognes that you should put on when you’re going out for the night. Think movie date with your girl, bar hopping with your boys, or a dinner date at one of those fancy, upscale restaurants downtown.
John Varvatos Eau De Toilette
John Varvatos is one of those brands you rock when you want to look sexy, smooth, and get your grown man on. It’s a brand that’ll bring out the gentleman in you, no matter the occasion. Best of all, their Eau De Toilette ties the entire package together. Want to smell great while feeling bold, masculine, and elegant? Want to add to the look of sophistication and success?
John Varvatos Eau De Toilette is the way to go.
What I love about this cologne is its subtlety. Because it’s an Eau De Toilette, it has a light, airy, calm, and inviting feel to it. It’s not one of those heavy and overbearing colognes that stifle everyone around you. Leave that to those colognes you find on the discount table at Macy’s.
I like to think of John Varvatos Eau De Toilette as being a silent killer––it creeps up on your target then goes in for the kill. And trust me, she won’t know what hit her or be able to resist. Think of it as one of those colognes you rock when you’re heading to happy hour after work or taking your girl out for a nice Valentine’s Day dinner at her favorite spot.
That scent tho…
It’s a crisp, woodsy, aromatic scent that oozes money and masculinity, with a dash of mystery. That’s what you’re going to feel like when you wear this cologne. And that’s thanks to the warm cinnamon and spicy black pepper they’ve used in the ingredients. But it’s also the leather and Mediterranean herbs, too, that brings out that manly scent that all the best colognes for Black men have.
Notes:
West Indian tamarind tree leaf, medjool date fruit, Mediterranean herbs, eaglewood [oud], black leather, auramber, sensuous balsams, and vanilla.
Best For:
It’s best to wear this cologne in the Spring, Fall, and Winter. You can wear it during the day, but I like it better for nighttime when you’re going to hit the streets with your boys or taking out that pretty young thang that finally gave you her number.
Hugo Boss Bottled
If you’re one of the corporate brothers who’s driven, ambitious and about his business, Hugo Boss Bottled is for you. It’s another Eau De Toilette I consider to be one of the best colognes for Black men.
Hugo Boss has been killing the game, selling everything from clothes and accessories to footwear and fragrances since 1924. You don’t last a whole 100 years without having great products.
I love this cologne because it brings out your inner elegance and style––you just feel super swaggy when you rock it. And it’s one of those casual colognes that’s great for a day in the office or out to grab some lunch with your pops.
But it’s the spectacular scent I love most about this cologne. And you know what word comes to mind when I think of Hugo Boss Bottled? Fresh, because that’s exactly how it smells. Like a burst of fresh, crisp air in the woods. And because it’s an Eau De Toilette, it’s airy and light, while still being super manly and undeniably masculine.
I give credit for that genius blend to the apple, cinnamon, vanilla, and other citrus fruits that are used here. They’re the ultimate compliment to the sandalwood and cedar wood used in the base notes.
But it’s also warm, too.
And that’s what makes it a great cologne that will compliment your natural body scent rather than clash and work against it. I also love that it’s super long-lasting, too. You can expect a good 8 – 10 hours of wear with this cologne. It’s not going to fade off into the wind like an Axe Body Spray.
Trust me.
Notes:
Top Notes: Apple, Plum, Lemon, Bergamot, Oakmoss and Geranium
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Mahogany, and Carnation
Base Notes: Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cedar, Vetiver, and Olive Tree
Best For:
Because of its light and subtle scent, this cologne is best for wearing during the day in the Spring or early Fall. Think outdoor business lunch with a prospective client or Spring picnic in Central Park with your fiancée.
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Profumo
Who doesn’t love a cool, aquatic scent that is deeply fresh and uber masculine? That’s exactly what you get with Giorgio Armani’s Acqua Di Gio Profumo.
This cologne comes from iconic luxury brand, that’s been creating everything from clothes and shoes, to jewelry, cosmetics, and home goods since 1975, would have a bomb ass cologne. In other words, you can be confident that their Acqua Di Gio won’t disappoint.
It’s an Eau De Parfum which means it’s a lot richer and lasts longer than an Eau De Toilette. And lasts longer it really does. You can expect the scent to linger on your skin for 7 to 9 hours––an outstanding amount of time for a cologne to last.
But it’s one of the best colognes for Black men who want to smell sophisticated and intensely masculine thanks to the Patchouli, Incense, and Marine Notes.
Thanks to the Marine Notes, it’s one that wears great for any kind of event out by the water. Think of taking your girl out for a day of sailing on the Mediterranean.
That’s the feel you get from this cologne.
And because it’s aromatic, light, and cool, it’s a great cologne for the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. I particularly like it for the Spring or for those BBQ pool parties in the summer. This is the perfect cologne for that.
Notes:
Top Notes: Sea Notes and Bergamot
Middle Note: Rosemary, Sage, and Geranium
Base Notes: Incense and Patchouli
Best For:
This cologne is versatile. It can be worn during the day or at night. But it’s best for the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. I would wear a stronger, more intense cologne in the winter.
Sauvage by Christian Dior
Christian Dior has been one of the top luxury brands since 1946. In fact, in 2019 alone, they raked in almost $54 Billion dollars. That kind of success is testament to how awesome their products are.
But their Sauvage cologne. It’s one of those Eau De Toilettes that is light and airy, yet bold, fresh, and masculine. It’s got some of the best fragrances around that mix incredibly well together to create this one-of-a-kind scent. There’s stuff like Bergamot and Smoky Vanilla Accents.
It’s the blending of ingredients like those that give Sauvage the scent that makes it one of the best colognes for Black men––and a personal favorite.
It’s a fresh, raw, and super masculine scent that is light but effective. You don’t have to worry about using way too much because just a spritz or two is more than enough to have you smelling like a boss.
It’s one that’s strong and unmistakably manly aroma that I guarantee will be a hit with the ladies. If you consider yourself one of those romantic dudes who knows what a woman wants and exactly how to give it to her, this is your cologne.
You can’t go wrong with Sauvage. It’s easily one of the best colognes for black men.
Notes:
Top Notes: Calabrian bergamot and Pepper.
Middle Notes: Sichuan Pepper, Lavender, Pink Pepper, Vetiver, Patchouli, Geranium, and elemi.
Base Notes: Ambroxan, Cedar and Labdanum.
Best For:
Sauvage is another versatile cologne you can wear during the day or night. It’s also a cologne that’s great for all four seasons, which I love 1,000%. You can rock it in the summer at the beach or in the winter when you take your girl ice skating.
Andrew Kennedy
Andrew Phillip Kennedy is a men's style & grooming specialist who has spent years testing his knowledge in the real world on himself to land jobs, get girls, and improve his life overall. Andrew's advice is regarded as the some of the most well-researched and well-grounded in the game. For the perfect combination of men's grooming theory and real world results, you'll want to follow Andrew.