20 Best aftershaves for men: find your signature scent with our top picks

There's nothing better than having a signature scent, where if someone were to walk past a stranger and smell it, they'd immediately think of you.

In the words of top designer, Tom Ford: "Good manners and good cologne is what transforms the man into a gentleman."

Men's perfume began to transform into its current iteration in the late 18th century, when grooming at home became more common and men needed to soothe post-shave skin.

Fast-forward to today and the world of men's fragrances is vast: think aftershaves, eau de toilettes, perfumes and colognes and many are based on woody, spicy or leather notes.

Whether you're panic buying dad a gift this Father's Day or you want to find a scent that you love for yourself, we've collated our favourite aftershaves below.

What should I look for in a summer scent?

Men's colognes are often musky and warm with amber and smokey notes often working as the foundation. This is what gives fragrances their masculine scents.

However, during summer, you'll likely be wanting something a little lighter and fresher – think fruity, citrus notes and aromatic herbs.

Notes to look out for are lavender, bergamot, neroli, coriander and patchouli to get you started as these will all give you that everyday, brighter summer scent.

1. Dior Sauvage Parfum

• Dior Sauvage Parfum, 60ml, £79 from Boots – buy here

Dior Sauvage is a famous fragrance for a reason.

With a heart of sandalwood, it still has that typically masculine muskiness but the citrusy mandarin and fruity bergamot add a softer, fuller quality than some more traditional smelling colognes.

At £79 for 60ml, it's not going to break the bank and because of it's highly concentrated, you'll only need a couple of pumps for a long-lasting scent.

2. Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme EDT

• Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme EDT, £48 for 75ml from Look Fantastic – buy here

If you're looking for a light scent for summer that feels individual then L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme EDT should be number one on your list.

First off, the bottle looks really chic, with a slim silver cap and a frosted body.

The sent itself, like Dior, is based on Sandalwood but the nutty heart of cinnamon and nutmeg paired with the top note of sharp yuzu gives this a fresh tone.

Add to that the reasonable price of less than £50 for 75ml and only £84 for 200ml and you're on to a summery winner.

3. Pasha De Cartier Noire EDT

• Pasha De Cartier Noire EDT, from £67 from Cartier – buy here

This take on the original Pasha De Cartier is brand new this month. The Noire edition is all about adding warmth and depth to the freshness and citrus flavours of its base material using amber and cedar to create a fuller fragrance.

It comes in a decadent bottle which would look good on any dressing table or bathroom shelf and the option of three sizes (ranging from 50ml to 150ml) means you can even take it through hand luggage without any issues on your next holiday.

Plus, if you're thinking of buying this for your dad this Father's Day, you can get it gift wrapped from Cartier in the brand's signature packaging and a personalised card is included. Boujie.

4. Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka Cologne

• Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka Cologne, £142 for 100ml from Harrods – buy here

The onyx coloured bottle of Myrrh and Tonka by perfume stalwart Jo Malone matches its moody, smokey scent.

Exclusive to Harrods, the woody notes of almond and tonka bean complement the sweetness of vanilla to create a warm, full bodied fragrance.

It's a little bit pricier at £142 for 100ml but its a unique cologne that smells as beautiful and chic as the packaging it comes in.

5. Tom Ford Neroli Portofino

• Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua, £94 for 50ml from Look Fantastic – buy here

Is this offering from Tom Ford expensive? Yes. Is it one of the best fragrances out there at the moment? Also yes.

This one's got 'signature scent' written all over it, any whiff of this out and about and your friends will almost certainly think of you.

It's technically unisex perfume, but the notes of lemon, orange flower, bergamot and mandarin give it a light, refreshing scent which aren't sweet making it a perfect summery male fragrance.

Lavender adds a little bitterness to the fruity cologne and Tom Ford describes it as reminding him of "the endless skies overhead," which is matched by the sky blue bottle.

This is a must-have this summer.

6. Chanel Bleu de Chanel

• Chanel Bleu de Chanel, 100ml, £113 from Harrods – buy here

Chanel's Bleu de Chanel fragrance is one of the brand's most famous beauty products.

Smoothly blending hints of sandalwood and jasmine with woody, spicy and pepper scents, this cologne is the perfect day-to-night companion.

The scent is as memorable as it is powerful, so spritz on a few pumps this date night for an extra hit of sexiness.

7. Byredo De Los Santos EDP

• Byredo De Los Santos EDP, £127 from Harrods – buy here

Byredo is one of the chicest brands out there, offering candles, makeup and its extensive range of delicious fragrances.

You may have heard of its peppery Gypsy Water from TikTok, and De Los Santos is just as well crafted.

A medium intensity, aromatic scent, it combines sage, amber and iris root for a beautifully musky finish.

This fragrance is made using a vegan formula which is good news for any vegans who are looking for an accomplished new cologne.

Plus, the bottle is the perfect minimalist addition to your bathroom shelf.

8. Maison Francis Kurdjian Amyris Homme Extrait de Parfum

• Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Homme, £245 for 70ml from Selfridges – buy here

Before you're put off by the, admittedly, very expensive price tag, hear us out because it's all about Paris.

Inspired by the unique energy of the French capital, it's a warm, woody fragrance created by the inclusion of the amyris the perfume is named after, spicy vanilla and amber.

This is a truly unique blend that you're unlikely to find on many others so this cologne would be your signature.

It's highly concentrated so, although it is pricey for 70ml, you'll only need a little and the woody scent lasts so no need to keep topping up.

Francis Kurkdjian is renowned as one of the world's most celebrated perfumers so you're in good hands with this one.

We love it.

9. Floris Vert Fougère EDP

• Floris Vert Fougère EDP, £120 from Harrods – buy here

Floris is steeped in history. Opened in 1730 by Juan Famenias Floris on Jermyn Street, it is still run by the family today in the same shop. The brand has esteemed customers including King George IV, Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana so you'll be in good company with a purchase from this perfumery.

Vert Fougère is a real blend. It begins with the bittersweet smell of grapefruit and bergamot before becoming sweeter with introduction of neroli. Ginger and lavender add freshness while base notes of amber and smoke give ground the perfume.

This is a perfect everyday cologne because of its light, fresh quality.

10. Hermès Bel Ami Vétiver EDT

• Hermès Bel Ami Vétiver EDT, £100 from John Lewis – buy here

Just like its famous silk scarves, this Eau de Toilette by Hermès is bold and beautiful. It has hints of leather and green vetiver to create a warm, slightly smokey scent.

It's a moderate fragrance that's long-lasting and at £100 form 100ml, it's not too extortionately priced.

It comes is a classically structured bottle just like the brand's other perfumes and looks like liquid gold.

This one's probably best for evening wear as it's a little richer than some of the other fresher scents on this list, but its smokiness feels mysterious and sultry. Perfect for date night.

11. Creed Green Irish Tweed Eau de Parfum

• Creed Green Irish Tweed Eau de Parfum, 100ml, £245 from Liberty – buy here

Creed is the elite of men's colognes, with the Green Irish Tweed perfume famously worn by tonnes of stars, including Kodak Black, George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, and Prince Charles.

Before you run for cover from the £245 price tag, it's worth noting that the brand still uses traditional, top quality methods when it comes to producing its perfume. So appreciate the hints of lemon, Indian verbena, sandalwood and violet leaves, and the sultry woody scent that lingers long after application.

Realistically, you've probably already heard all about this one as it's Creed's best-selling fragrance.

12. Jo Loves Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar

• Jo Loves Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar, from £75 from Cult Beauty – buy here

Jo Loves is Jo Malone CBE's second outing into the fragrance world after selling her original eponymous brand at the turn of the century.

Her fragrances are just as bold and punchy and Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar is no different.

A blend of grapefruit, patchouli, cedarwood and geranium, this is a bright scent with a sultry undertone that feels summery and fresh.

It's vegan and cruelty free, and can now be used in pen form (seriously, it's the best way to top up on your fragrance throughout the day) with the brand's newly launched fragrance paintbrushes.

13. Hugo Boss BOSS Bottled After Shave

• Hugo Boss BOSS Bottled After Shave, 100ml, £39 from Look Fantastic – buy here

Hugo Boss' BOSS is the perfect combination of fruity notes, spice and woody musk.

At just under £40, this is a more affordable aftershave lasts just as long as some of the pricier options and its worked with heartthrobs Ryan Reynolds, Gerard Butler and Chris Hemsworth on its campaigns.

Simply apply it to clean skin after a shave and let it work wonders, giving you a freshly shaven smell all day.

14. Mont Blanc Montblanc Explorer Eau de Parfum

• Mont Blanc Montblanc Explorer Eau de Parfum, from £33 at House of Fraser – buy here

Men can be really difficult to buy for (anyone else bought their dad every piece of football paraphernalia in their team's colours they can find?) so being able to gift them a good fragrance at a reasonable price is a good solution.

From 30ml for £33 to £106 for 200ml, Mont Blanc's Explorer is a woody aromatic leather scent that's affordable, but doesn't look or smell 'cheap'.

Looking for a Father's Day gift? This is your best shot.

15. Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum

• Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, 100ml, £123 from Selfridges – buy here

A best-seller on the male beauty scene, Tom Ford's Black Orchid Eau de Parfum is a strong, recognisable scent.

Packaged in a 1920s-inspired bottle, the hints of bergamot, black orchid, black plum, black truffle and patchouli make for a deep, lingering aroma.

Reviews say you only need a small amount for it to last all day long. Dreamy.

16. Diesel Only The Brave

• Diesel Only The Brave, from £42.99 from The Perfume Shop – buy here

Released back in 2009, Diesel's Only The Brave fragrance has been going strong ever since because of its citrus and spicy scent.

The bottle isn't one you'll forget quickly and is hyper-masculine, so if that's what you're looking for, this is the cologne for you.

At £42.99 for 125ml from The Perfume Shop it's really affordable and is a great one to give as a gift.

17. Giorgio Armani Black Code For Men Eau de Toilette

• Giorgio Armani Black Code For Men Eau de Toilette, from £52 at John Lewis – buy here

Heartthrob actor and beloved Wrexham FC owner Ryan Reynolds has many strings to his bow including being appointed as the face of this best-selling Giorgio Armani fragrance for men in 2019, which gives it celeb-backed kudos.

Combining citrus and woody notes, it's an elegantly sophisticated scent that's perfect as an everyday fragrance.

The sleek bottle also makes it a great gift idea for birthdays, Father's Day or anniversaries.

18. Versace Eros for Men Eau de Toilette

• Versace Eros for Men Eau de Toilette, from £32 from Look Fantastic – buy here

Add revitalising freshness to any man's skincare and beauty regime with this bestseller from Versace.

Inspired by the Greek god of love, Eros, this aftershave will have you falling in love with its at-first tangy and citrusy scent, followed by fresh, zesty apples and mint.

Then, a masculine sweetness takes over with hints of vanilla, tonka bean before ending on musky oak moss and cedarwood. It's quite the journey, and worth a sniff.

19. Acqua Di Parma Colonia Discovery Set

• Acqua Di Parma Colonia Discovery Set, 12ml x3, £78 from Space NK – buy here

Can't decide which Acqua Di Parma scent to reach for and would rather have a little bit of a few?

Then look no further than this Colonia Discovery Set, complete with three different scents to get your fragrance wardrobe started.

The miniature set includes 12ml bottles of Colonia, Colonia Ezzenza and Futura which are all inspired by the fresh, revitalising nature of the Italian sun.

Colonia includes citrus notes as well as lavender and patchouli for a fruity fragrance; Essenza leans into the freshness of grapefruit and mandarin undercut by deeper, woody notes, while Futura is earthier, drawing on lemon, pink pepper, and sage for a spicier scent.

20. Prada L'Homme Prada EDT

• Prada L'Homme Prada EDT, £57 from Harrods – buy here

This offering Prada is a little less musky than some of the others on this list and spicier.

It's a good one for everyday with its inclusion of black pepper, geranium and patchouli which together create an unmistakably masculine cologne.

Spray a little on your neck and the back of your wrists for the strongest and longest lasting scent.

What is aftershave?

Aftershave originally referred to the scented ointment men would pat on after shaving to soothe their skin, but today, it basically covers any male perfume.

If we're going to get technical, cologne or eau de toilette is specifically for smelling good, whereas when a product is labelled as aftershave, it is usually formulated to reduce any post-shave irritation.

Does aftershave go off?

Unexpectedly, aftershave can actually expire. You can tell if the colour changes, it smells slightly different or some perfumes actually note an expiry date.

Don't worry though, it is usually up to about 10 years and when an aftershave's good, your bottle definitely won't be lasting that long.

How long does aftershave last?

You know you've found a great aftershave when it stays on for over six hours.

We love wearing a jacket days after spraying some Eau de Toilette to find it still smells delicious.

How to apply aftershave?

People tend to put aftershave on their pulse points, from their wrists to their neck.

Around three sprays is best – you don't want to suffocate everyone you encounter and you can always apply more to freshen up later.

What's the difference between aftershave and eau de toilette?

As we mentioned earlier, aftershave is traditionally the post-shaving ointment that looks after your vulnerable post-shaven skin whilst making it smell lovely in the process.

Eau de Toilette is specifically made for a longer-lasting aroma, so you should shop according to what you're trying to achieve.

more sun selects beauty

Enjoyed our round-up of the best aftershave for men? Check out our hand-picked recommendations of the best face cream for men, too.

Want more skincare for men? Here's our round-up of the best skincare for men available on the market – suitable for all skin types and budgets.

Sun Selects is always full of shopping guides and news, full of reviews and recommendations to make your life that little bit easier.

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