Finding the best Gucci cologne for men doesn’t have to be a drag — we’ve done the research for you, and put our findings into this guide to the Italian fashion giant’s finest scents.
Inspired by the long traditions of Florentine artisans, Gucci has earned a reputation for their uncompromising quality and authenticity in fashion — and the same is true of their colognes and perfumes.
By taking the best in classic fragrance design and applying modern touches, Gucci colognes have become some of the most sought after scents for men today. In this article, you’ll discover our top five picks for the best Gucci colognes for men, with complete breakdowns of their aromatic profiles and what occasions to wear them on.
Whenever you’re ready to find the right Gucci cologne for you, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Best Smelling Gucci Cologne For Men In 2022
Which Gucci cologne is best for each man will depend partly on the composition of their skin, and partly on their tastes in aromatics. We’ve chosen colognes that represent the best of both worlds across a wide spectrum, so you’re sure to find one that works for you.
Gucci Guilty (Our Top Pick)
Guilty Pour Homme is a marvel of cologne artistry, seamlessly combining uncommon ingredients into one simple and harmonious scent. In fact, we’re such big fans of Guilty for Men’s unique fragrance that it’s easily our choice for the best Gucci cologne for men. Simply put, it seems to work with nearly every guy’s natural skin chemistry.
An inviting citrus blend leads the nose quickly into Guilty’s unmistakable yet hard to place heart. Orange blossom is immediately apparent, but backed up by two exceedingly rare ingredients: Orris and snowberry, more commonly found in liqueurs than in colognes. But instead of going completely overboard with the exotic ingredients, Guilty is anchored by classic patchouli and musk at its base.
With a moderate longevity and moderate intensity, Guilty is a great cologne to wear to work or a get-together with friends. It’s strong enough to be noticed, but not so powerful as to offend more delicate noses.
Notes:
- Top notes of bergamot and lemon rind
- Middle notes of snowberry, orris, and orange blossom
- Base notes of patchouli and musk
Best For:
- Year-round wear
- Everyday wear
- Just about any occasion, really!
Gucci Guilty Black By Gucci
An elaboration on the wildly popular Guilty series (featured above), Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme has been called “the scent of 21st century seduction”. We’d have to agree; the greater intensity and darker tones push it into deep and mysterious territory, making it a perfect cologne to wear when you’re out looking for a date.
Bright green coriander opens the nose for this fragrance, revitalizing the senses with its powerful burst of spicy character. Sharing the same orange blossom heart as the original Guilty cologne, it leans further into this rich green territory with neroli oil and freshly cut cedarwood notes.
Overall, Guilty Black is a step up in intensity and duration from the original Guilty. This makes it better suited for nighttime wear, and less so for everyday wear to the office. If you’ve been looking for the perfect date night cologne, we cast our vote for Guilty Black!
Notes:
- Top notes of lavender and crushed green coriander
- Middle notes of grass, orange blossom, and neroli oil
- Base notes of cedarwood and patchouli
Best For:
- Nighttime wear
- Using as a date night cologne
Gucci Guilty Intense EDT
If you’ve been reading from the start, it should come as no surprise that we love Gucci’s entire Guilty line. And with their Guilty Intense, they double down on the aromatics that made us love both the original and Black. If you’re looking for a cologne that has serious staying power, Guilty Intense is almost certainly the right choice for you!
A trio of lavender, lemon, and coriander enhances the top notes of Guilty Intense, making it shine brightly from the first spritz. The orange blossom that is signature to the entire Guilty lineup is still marvelously present here, leading into amber and patchouli at its deep, long-lasting base.
Exceptionally intense and long-lasting, Gucci Guilty Intense is not for the faint of heart. It’s a well-balanced cologne, but requires special care to not overdo it when applying!
Notes:
- Top notes of Amalfi lavender, lemon peel, and coriander seed
- Middle notes of orange blossom and neroli
- Base notes of amber, patchouli, and cedarwood
Best For:
- 3-season wear: Winter, spring, and fall
- Nighttime wear
- Becoming the center of attention in a room
Gucci Pour Homme II
Launched in 2007, Gucci’s Pour Homme II cologne is a lighter, brighter take on one of their most popular fragrances. It maintains the masculine spiciness characteristic of Pour Homme while adding floral and green splashes that, in our opinion, make it a much better all-purpose cologne.
Bright green violet leaf and citrus-heavy bergamot peel develop quickly into a fascinating heart in Pour Homme II. Redolent of black tea, freshly shaved cinnamon, and spicy pimento peppers, it’s an incredibly unique scent that’s graciously intertwined with tobacco and musk. While the pepper may sound overpowering, the heavy base lends a sophisticated balance to this cologne.
A moderate intensity and moderate longevity give Pour Homme II its final bit of versatility, making it equally wearable at your workplace, around the house, or on a date. If you can’t decide on which Gucci cologne is best, Pour Homme II might hit all the right notes.
Notes:
- Top notes of violet leaf and bergamot
- Middle notes of black tea, cinnamon, and pimento pepper
- Base notes of tobacco, myrrh, musk, and olive tree
Best For:
- All-day wear
- Year-round wear
Gucci For Men
The deepest and woodsiest of Gucci’s cologne offerings, Gucci For Men was released in 2008 to excellent reviews. As evidenced by its partnership with James Franco as the face of the cologne, Gucci For Men is a decidedly masculine cologne that truly shines during the colder months of the year.
Cypress tree and violet introduce the scent softly, before quickly transitioning into deep and rich tobacco tones in the center. The real magic in Gucci For Men’s aromatic composition, however, is its base: A complex blend of leather, resins, and patchouli that gives it an intoxicating depth.
Quite intense and long-lasting, Gucci For Men is likely to last all day with a single application. Its rich base notes may be overpowering during the hottest months of the year, but it is still an excellent nighttime cologne year-round.
Notes:
- Top notes of cypress, violet, and bergamot
- Middle notes of pipe tobacco and jasmine
- Base notes of patchouli, leather, amber, elemi resin, and olibanum
Best For:
- Fall and winter wear
- Nighttime wear
The History Of Gucci Cologne
Established in 1921, The House of Gucci was founded by none other than — get this — Guccio Gucci. After a trip to London, the Italian artisan was inspired by the beautiful luggage and fine style of rich travelers, and set out to form his own Italian fashion brand.
First entering the fragrance market in 1974 with Gucci No. 1 for women, the renowned fashion house has since developed its fragrance offerings into nearly 100 colognes and perfumes. A number of their discontinued fragrances have become sought-after collectors’ items, such as Gucci 3 and L’Arte de Gucci.
Today, Gucci’s ever-expanding cologne selection focuses on making uncommon aromatic ingredients accessible through skillful blending with traditional formulas.
Does Gucci Cologne Smell Good?
Fragrances are one of the most subject products out there. What smells amazing to one man will smell average or even below average to another. So while determining if Gucci cologne smells good depends on the scent you try, we can attest to their overall quality.
While difference scents will arouse different people, we’ve found that Gucci colognes are of quality. We’re not the only ones who say this though. Gucci colognes have thousands of positive reviews from ravings customers who love the different scents they offer.
So yes, Gucci cologne does smell good. The key is to figure out which scent profile best suits you and the situation you’ll be using them for. Luckily, all of our reviews come with the exact best situations to use each cologne.
For more fragrances as great as Gucci, make sure to check out brands like Burberry, Givenchy, and Hermes.
Which Gucci Cologne Smells Best?
Different colognes are designed for different situations. So you really should analyze what you’re truly going after with your scents. Picking a cologne to seduce your date is not the same as picking a cologne to position yourself as an authority during a business event.
With that said, if we had to pick just one Gucci cologne try, it would be Gucci Guilty. This is a men’s fragrance that has thousands of raving reviews due to its artistic blend of aromas. It contains a citrus blend that is combined with extremely rare and exotic ingredients you’re more likely to find in liqueurs than you are in cologne.
Gucci Guilty is a cologne you pick if you want to be noticed in a crowd, but without overpowering the room. Funny enough, this same attribute also makes it good cologne to wear anyplace, anytime, anywhere.
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.
