We’ve collected every option for the best dior cologne for men, and want to share them with you in this guide. Read along, and you’re sure to discover the perfect Dior scent to add to your cologne collection.
Famous both for his fashion and fragrances, Christian Dior is an instantly recognizable name in French perfuming. With a repertoire that spans almost 70 years of fragrance production and over 200 distinct bottlings, there truly is a Dior fragrance for everyone.
In this review, we’ve narrowed down that huge selection to a much more manageable series of our five favorite dior colognes for men. You’ll discover classics and overlooked gems, complete with notes on their aromatic profiles as well as suggestions for when each cologne is best to wear.
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5 Best Dior Cologne For Men In 2022
Choosing just five colognes from Dior’s massive catalog was quite difficult, but we’re confident that each of the five fragrances listed below represents the best of the best for what the company has to offer.
Sauvage (Our Top Pick)
Easily stealing the top spot on our list of reviews, Dior Sauvage is a veritable legend of a cologne. Named after Dior’s Eau Sauvage from 1966, it’s a modern re-imagining of classic aromatic fougere styles.
If you’ve been wondering why Dior Sauvage is so popular, look no further than its stunningly subtle and complex aromas: Calabrian bergamot peel and crushed black peppercorns create an invigorating introduction to the scent. Where Sauvage truly shines, however, is in its complex heart notes of szechuan and pink peppercorns, lavender, patchouli, and a bouquet of floral scents that keeps on giving. Anchored by a strong note of cedar at its base, Sauvage is a shining example of the perfumer’s art.
Offering excellent longevity and a moderate to strong intensity, Sauvage is a truly fascinating cologne throughout all of its 8 to 10 hours of wear. You can wear it anytime and anywhere, as a special occasion cologne or your daily scent — it truly is that versatile. In fact, it’s so popular that you can pick between the aftershave vs cologne or even the deodorant vs cologne variations.
Notes:
- Top notes of Calabrian bergamot and black peppercorns
- Middle notes of szechuan peppercorns, lavender, pink peppercorns, vetiver, patchouli, geranium, and elemi
- Base notes of Ambroxan, cedar, and labdanum
Best For:
- All day wear
- Everyday wear
- Year round wear
Dior Fahrenheit
Launched at the height of the intensely woody cologne craze of the late 1980s, Dior Fahrenheit is a strongly masculine scent with an admirable complexity that will keep you coming back for more. While it feels like a little bit of a throwback cologne now, the composition has aged remarkably better than many of its peers of the same era.
Complexity of character truly is the name of the game with Fahrenheit, whose nearly one dozen top notes mingle beautifully to produce a spicy, savory, woody, and floral introduction to the scent. This continues in the heart notes, where nutmeg is joined by cedar and sandalwood as well as a host of floral scents. Not to be outdone, Fahrenheit’s base is redolent of musk, amber, patchouli, and leather.
With an excellent wear time of 10 hours or more and a sometimes overwhelming intensity, Dior Fahrenheit is not for the faint of heart. Its spicy notes are best suited for wear during the fall and winter, or on a chilly night any day of the year.
Notes:
- Top notes of nutmeg flower, lavender, cedar, chamomile, mandarin orange, hawthorn, bergamot, and lemon
- Middle notes of violet leaf, nutmeg, cedar, sandalwood, honeysuckle, carnation, jasmine, and lily of the valley
- Base notes of leather, vetiver, musk, amber, patchouli, and tonka bean
Best For:
- Fall and winter wear
- Nighttime wear
- Date nights
Dior Homme
Made for men but appreciated by both genders, Dior Homme is a fascinating blend of woody, floral, and musky tones. You may wonder: Is Dior Homme Unisex? We’re inclined to say “not quite”, but it is very close. Think of it as the most feminine side of a masculine cologne, and you’ll be on the right track.
Fields of aromatic lavender join bergamot peels and freshly crushed sage in Dior Homme’s top notes, which act as a foil to the rich heart of cacao pods, iris flowers, and resinous amber. Leather is present through the entire scent, supported by vetiver and patchouli in the base.
With excellent longevity but only moderate intensity, Dior Homme’s supple and ever-present chocolate notes make it best suited to cold weather wear. It’s also a fantastic date night cologne, and worthy of inclusion in your collection for special occasions.
Notes:
- Top notes of lavender, bergamot, and sage
- Middle notes of iris, cacao, and amber
- Base notes of leather, vetiver, and patchouli
Best For:
- Cold weather wear
- Date nights
Eau Sauvage
Eau Sauvage may not have been the first fragrance produced by the company, but it is definitely the cologne that put Christian Dior on the map. Debuted in 1966, it paved the way for a whole generation of citrus aromatic colognes that are clean and fresh, with woody masculine undertones.
Strong notes of lemon and bergamot are joined by fresh and stewed fruits, basil, and rosemary in Eau Sauvage’s top notes. An intensely aromatic heart of jasmine, wood, patchouli, and spices keeps on giving through the entire duration of the cologne, while a robust base of moss, musk, and amber maintains a distinctly masculine tone.
Possessing only moderate intensity and a duration of 4 to 6 hours, Eau Sauvage is far from being a statement cologne. This makes it perfect for daytime wear to the office, or for freshening up before a summertime get-together with friends.
Notes:
- Top notes of lemon, bergamot, basil, rosemary, caraway, and fresh fruits
- Middle notes of jasmine, coriander, patchouli, carnation, orris root, sandalwood, and rose
- Base notes of oakmoss, vetiver, musk, and amber
Best For:
- Spring and summer wear
- Daytime wear
- Everyday cologne for the workplace
Dior Homme Intense
Homme Intense is truly a cologne that lives up to its name, offering a powerfully masculine scent that’s as unique as it is unforgettable. Released only as recently as 2014, it has become a polarizing scent with a “love it or hate it” reputation amongst cologne aficionados.
Iris is the main note for the first few hours of Homme Intense, joined only by minor tones of orange peel. Later, leather lays alongside rose to make an intensely earthy and floral heart, supported by a constant base of rare woods and resins.
A genuinely strong and masculine cologne, Homme Intense has an incredible duration of 12 to 18 hours, as well as an exaggerated intensity that requires a delicate hand in application. If you’re looking for a cologne that can make an impression as soon as you walk in a room, this is the one.
Notes:
- Top notes of Tuscan iris and orange peel
- Middle notes of leather and rose
- Base notes of sandalwood, ambrette, agarwood, and cedar
Best For:
- The man who wants to make an impression
- Wearing in the depths of winter
Is Dior Cologne Good?
With any Dior cologne, you can expect a few things. It will be impeccably balanced, have approachable top notes, and surprise you with its depth and complexity. In our minds, this makes buying any Dior cologne a safe bet.
From their simplest offerings to their most complex, every Dior cologne is worthy of a space in someone’s collection. Furthermore, many Dior colognes have a long duration and great intensity, making them an affordable cologne in the long run.
Which Dior Cologne Is Best?
If we could only choose one Dior cologne, the answer is simple: Dior Sauvage. A legend of modern perfuming, Sauvage is an incredible improvement on an already excellent classic cologne, and can be worn year-round to almost any occasion.
For the man who wants a perfect date night cologne, however, Dior Homme may be a better choice. It’s hard to beat its combination of rich cacao tones, flowers, and citrus when you’re looking to make a great impression on a potential romantic partner (other great “first date” colognes include brands like Vince Camuto).
What Cologne Smells Like Dior Sauvage?
Sauvage is, without a doubt, Dior’s most famous and popular cologne. If you like it but don’t love it, however, consider one of these other similar colognes:
Armaf has a cologne called Hunter Intense that offers a similarly complex, masculine, yet approachable scent as Sauvage. It’s heavier on the sweet tones, making it a better date night cologne.
Salvatore Ferragamo’s F by Ferragamo may interest you as well, since its drydown is remarkably similar to Sauvage. The top notes are noticeably different, but after a few hours of wear the two colognes are almost indistinguishable from one another.
Versace Pour Homme is another excellent choice, displaying a more restrained and refined take on Sauvage’s sometimes over-the-top complexity. It’s light enough to wear to the office, but interesting enough to wear out on a summertime date as well.
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.
