Are you a young guy, looking for a fragrance to wear? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We know the best cologne for young men to get you compliments, dates, or to just blend in at school.
We Heart Boho has you covered because we have taken all the guesswork out of which fragrance will work and frankly which colognes stink 🙁
I personally have around 100 different fragrances and have read hundreds to thousands of reviews in search of the best fragrances for young men and here is the list you’ve been waiting for…
How To Read This Table
Alright fellas, so we have the top 10 best cologne for young men into a nice easy to read table, but what the heck do all the categories mean?
You probably noticed that we only have 10 fragrances on this list. That’s because we narrowed the thousands of fragrances down for you to make your decision easier.
Overall Rating – This is the overall rating of the fragrance on a scale of 1-10.
Here at CologneMasters just took a nice big sniff of the fragrance and everything considered, this is the rating it received.
We also take into account what other reviewers have to say about it too so it’s not just us that think of a fragrance that way!
Age – This should be obvious. This is the suggested age of who should be wearing the fragrance.
Safe? – This is whether or not the fragrance is safe to wear in an environment where you are close to other people.
Sex Appeal – This is the reason most of us want a fragrance in the first place. To pick up the ladies.
THE SEXIEST – A fragrance does not get more sexy than this. This scent has proven to get results.
VERY SEXY – Although it is not one of the “top sexiest” fragrances, it will get you compliments.
SEXY – Women like this scent, but generally it is not known as a fragrance that will have a lady all over you.
FRIEND ZONE – Although this fragrance may smell nice, it is not designed for an evening of intimacy. Perfect for going to school, work, practice, or chilling with friends and not stinking.
Longevity – This is how long the fragrance lasts out of a possible high score 10. This score is computed by taking THOUSANDS of reviews from what people have worn it have said.
Price – This rating is the cost per ounce of fragrance. I do these averages on a typical 3.4 oz bottle. Prices will vary depending on where you purchase them. I find all of mine on Amazon.
5 Star – Under $7.35/oz (under $25 per bottle on average)
4 Star – $7.35/oz – $14.70/oz – ($25 – $50/bottle)
3 Star – $14.70/oz – $22/oz – ($50 – $75 per bottle)
2 Star – $22/oz – $30/oz – ($75 – $100 per bottle)
1 Star – $30/oz or higher – (Usually more than $100/bottle)
If you’re curious on what some of the most expensive men’s cologne are, don’t be afraid to check out our post that has all that information.
The Best Cologne For Young Men… Period
If you had a chance to browse through the table of incredible fragrances for young men, hopefully, you found a few that you would like to try. Here at CologneMasters, we searched far and wide to bring you a list of the best fragrances for the younger generation and I believe we nailed it.
Don’t like what we have to say? Drop us a comment below and we’d love to respond.
The Best Of The Best… Our Top Overall Fragrances For Young Men
#1 Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani (1996), EdT
Acqua Di Gio (full review here) is a 100% can’t miss cologne for the young men. It has a clean, refreshing smell that will undoubtedly make your scent incredible whether you’re at school, work, or on a hot date.
You’ll find this fragrance on almost every single top list known to man and most recently it sits at #2 for the fragrance that will most likely get you compliments.
Once again, Acqua Di Gio is the closest thing to a mother trucking GUARANTEE that it will be liked by anyone around you. It is the most sold fragrance ever and chances are, you know people already that wear it.
What also makes this fragrance great is that it was created in 1996. This means that the guys that started wearing this right when it came out are only in their mid 30s. This means you don’t have to worry that your girlfriend’s grandpa wears the same cologne.
Why Acqua Di Gio is the #1 Fragrance for Young Men
Well besides women loving it, let’s talk about why Acqua Di Gio is the best cologne for young men by looking at the specific categories.
Overall Rating – Acqua Di Gio received a perfect 10 rating because, for lack of better words, it’s awesome. It’s one of those fragrances that is universally liked by almost anyone that has a soul.
You would have to really be a debbie downer to think this fragrance is garbage. A perfect 10 overall rating is well-deserved and is the top 10% of the personal CologneMasters collection.
Age – 14 years and older is perfectly fine for anyone wearing Acqua Di Gio. Since mostly everyone is wearing it already, as your first fragrance ever, this would be perfect.
School/Work Safe – Acqua Di Gio is one of those fragrances that is safe to wear anywhere. There are some scents that you wouldn’t want to take to grandma’s house and you don’t have to worry about this being one of them.
Sex Appeal – The Sexiest rating is held for only the most sexy fragrances around and Acqua Di Gio claims that prize. Ladies go nuts over this fragrance.
Longevity – This is one of the best features on what makes Acqua Di Gio stand out. Because it lasts longer than most fragrances, this category gives it a boost to make it one of the best for young men.
Price – This is the only downfall of Acqua Di Gio. It can be pretty pricy with only a 2 star rating.
#2 The One by Dolce & Gabbana (2008), EDT
I don’t typically recommend The One (full review) for the younger guys, but when it comes to making girls go wild, this cologne absolutely dominates. Unlike Very Sexy For Him, you can also wear The One as your signature scent. Feel free to wear it all day every day since it has it’s own unique flavor.
What drives the ladies crazy about this cologne is the very sweet and sensual undertones. After you get past the initial opening of this scent, The One settles down and does all the seduction for you. The notes are sweet enough to drive any girl wild and movie in close to make your night. Recently, it was featured as one of the top colognes to get you laid.
This fragrance is a personal favorite of mine and is currently in my rotation of fragrances that I wear. It works.
The Reason Why The One is Perfect For Young Guys
Overall Rating – The One is definitely in the top 10% of all fragrances that are rock the market today. It reaches above where other fragrances do not because of how sophisticated, but yet sensual it smells. A perfect 10 no doubt.
Age – 20+ years old. The One by Dolce & Gabbana is not for the high-school crowd. The reason is because it needs a little more appreciation than most fragrance receive. If you’re a mature high-schooler that also wants to smell professional, be my guest and try this fragrance, otherwise stay away from it until you’re in college.
Sex Appeal – Ohh heck yes this fragrance is one of the sexiest fragrances you can find. Ladies tend to enjoy smelling lighter, softer fragrances with sweet undertones. This is not the case for every woman so if your gal is tougher than you are, maybe this isn’t the right cologne.
School/Work Safe – You bet it is! The One passes the test for wearing to Grandma’s house without offending anyone. In a matter of fact don’t be surprised if she gives you a few more hugs than normal.
Longevity – Unfortunately, this is the only place where The One doesn’t hold up to it’s competitors. It doesn’t last as long as you think it would.
If you work in an environment that is hot, or you do loads of physical activity throughout the day, you may find yourself spraying yourself a little more during the day.
Price – The pricing for The One is pretty amazing actually. Anytime you can pick up a perfect 10 fragrance for under $50, it’s a steal. You can find the best price on Amazon and make sure you purchase directly through them, not through a 3rd party lister.
#3 La Nuit De L’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent (2009)
If you’re ready for the best kept secret in the fragrance world, here you go. La Nuit de L’homme (full review here) has made grown men cry just by thinking about it. Don’t believe me? If you check out our full review on it, you’ll see a guy do just that.
La Nuit has the classiness and sophistication of a cologne that a young man working professional craves. It also doubles as a sexy fragrance that make the ladies drop their panties at the smell of it. (verified by my girl-friend)
La Nuit also is in the top 10% of fragrances reviewed on this site which gives it a pretty incredible PERFECT 10 rating so you know it’s good.
Here is Why You Need La Nuit If You’re a Young Guy Looking For A Cologne
Overall Rating – Like I mentioned before, La Nuit is a diamond in the rough. It is not “well-known” and for a mass produced fragrance, it’s a well kept secret.
If you have time to check out our full review, you’ll find that it is highly reviewed by almost every niche reviewer alive, but for whatever reason, it never received the attention that it deserved.
Age – 22+ is a reasonable age to start wearing La Nuit. The reason behind it is high schoolers and even beginning college aged young men should probably find something else to wear. Save La Nuit for your first job or perhaps your first steady girl-friend. She will thank you.
Longevity – Surprisingly a fragrance with such sophistication, light, and clean properties, this fragrance lasts a long time. You’ll get a full day of work out of this fragrance which is pretty amazing for an eau de toilette.
Price – With a decent rating of 3 stars, you can find La Nuit on Amazon for a discounted price by clicking here!
Best Cheap Colognes For Young Men
Alright so not everyone has a billion dollar budget to buy fragrances. I know overtime I bring another fragrance home, I get the death stare from the ol’ lady.
If you’re a young guy and you’re strapped for cash, here are a few fragrances you can get under $25 or $20 that still smells good.
#1 Nautica Voyage by Nautica (2006), EDT
Not everyone has the money to shell out for fragrances which makes Nautica Voyage (full review here) a perfect fit. Since you can regularly find it for under $20 a bottle, it makes it one of the best, most affordable, fragrances around.
The Reason Nautica Voyage Is Great For Young Men
Overall Rating – When taking a whiff, Nautica Voyage does have a surprisingly pleasant smell to it! When most people think of cheap fragrances, they feel like they are going to smell cheap as well.
This is not the case with Nautica Voyage as it rocks a good 8/10 rating. It’s not perfect, but for the price, it is simply amazing.
You can also find Voyage as one of the most popular cologne for men in the US right now.
The more popular a fragrance is, the more people that like it.
Age – 14+ years of age or older, if you’re in high school, college, or just looking for an inexpensive fragrance to wear day-to-day, this one will work.
Longevity – Cheap fragrances are made with cheap ingredients which makes them “cheap”. However surprisingly of all the inexpensive fragrances, Nautica Voyage is one of the best for longevity.
Price – Of course the reason we’ve been waiting for! Nautica Voyage is amazing for the price!
#2 Guess Seductive by Guess (2011), EDT
Maybe you’re a young guy looking to take your lady out for an evening to remember. You have plans to head to dinner, a movie, mini golfing, a walk through the park, and maybe top it off with some dessert. Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll get to take your new lady friend home and get a good make-out session in if you can stay clear of the parents.
Guess Seductive (full review here) is the fragrance you need. If you’re on a budget, this fragrance can be found on Amazon here for under $20 a bottle.
What also makes this fragrance perfect is how weak it is. Yes, I know you’re probably wondering why a weak fragrance is actually better for taming the ladies. The answer is, you’re going out for the evening, not the entire day. You don’t want a scent that will knock your date off their rocker. Secondly, something sweet but the light makes those ladies want to get next to you. This is the mood you’re trying to set.
The Reason Guess Seductive by Guess Is The Cheap Fragrance You Want
First of all, this fragrance is sweet and sexy. It’s almost like you’re covered in candy without being sticky.
I know most of you will say, “I don’t want to smell like a Jolly Rancher”. The short answer is that you won’t. Although Guess is “sweet”, it doesn’t do it in a way you’ll feel gross.
This fragrance is perfect for young guys that are on a budget but also want to smell a little more sexy.
Overall Rating – Guess Seductive overall isn’t the greatest fragrance to wear. It does have a better than average 7 rating, but for an inexpensive fragrance, it’s perfectly fine.
Age – 14+ years of age or older works great with Guess Seductive. If you’re a beginner to cologne and need something to impress the young ladies, you can try this.
Longevity – As a typical inexpensive fragrance, this one doesn’t last very long. You’re going to need to bring your bottle with you.
Price – You guessed it! This is the best part! CLICK HERE to find out where I bought mine to save a few bucks.
Colognes For Young Men Guide
Tip #1 – Choose a cologne that was not created 50 years ago. Colognes like Stetson, Drakkar Noir, Brut, Old Spice, and many others have a scent most people associate with old men.
Are you going to approach a nice young lady and smell like her father? Heck no! Colognes you should be wearing need their heyday within the last 15 years to make it safe so you won’t get confused with older men.
Tip #2 – You need something considered harmless, non-offensive, and well-liked. These colognes shouldn’t be “in your face” and driving everyone crazy that comes into contact with you.
A good example of this problem is “Sex Panther” from Anchorman. Save these pungent colognes the movie stars. When you’re married and have six kids or grandkids, bust those old school colognes out and give them a whirl.
When you put these fragrances on, make sure you’re doing it right. If you haven’t yet, check out our how to wear cologne guide to get you started.
Tip #3 – Find something that has a reputable name. When you’re young, you don’t need to find a diamond in the rough cologne to impress someone. When you’re young, people don’t care if the cologne you are wearing is only sold in South Africa.
Some Interesting Fragrances For Young Guys
I remember when geeks and nerds used to be the biggest insult you could tell someone. Now I think everyone has a little bit of geek or nerd in them and are proud of it. I know my girlfriend will yell at me every time she hears the infamous Clash of Clans screen loading up. I can hear her mumble “nerd” under her breath each time it happens.
Since I truly believe we all have a bit of Geek or Nerd in us, these colognes are great for situations when you want to geek out and read a book or play Call of Duty for 8 hours straight. For those of you however that think of themselves as nerds all of the time, don’t feel bad about wearing these colognes. If anything they might get you a few compliments and prevent you from smelling like the guy just getting out of the gym, or Mr. goody-too-shoes.
Colognes for nerds and geeks should blow people’s minds when you tell them what you’re wearing. How awesome would it be to tell someone you’re wearing a bacon flavored cologne, whopper, or something else sounding crazy. True nerds, like myself, would love to blow someone’s mind with a crazy sounding cologne.
Cologne #1 – Anything from Eccentric Molecules
If you haven’t checked out these guys yet, you are missing out. This is by definition the geekiest site I have ever seen regarding cologne. I’ve even heard some people say they received a virus alert when they went there, but I was able to do it on my Mac just fine.
Reading through how they make their cologne will make your head want to explode. Now I have never tried any of their cologne but I certainly will have read about them. If anyone has ever tried them before, please drop a comment below so we can discuss it.
Cologne #2 – Star Wars by Marmol & Son
Here comes another cologne that I have never smelled. But how awesome would it be for someone to come over to your house and see this sitting out and immediately ask you what it’s all about. Better yet, imagine sitting in class and someone complimenting you on the way you smell and when you tell them it’s the smell of Star Wars you get to watch them freak out.
I feel like the most important thing for nerds is to blow people’s minds when someone asks them why they smell so good. Even if the cologne is an average smelling cologne, to be able to explain how the ingredients within the cologne creates a chemical reaction that scientifically emits a stronger smelling cologne like Eccentric Molecules does, would also be a win for any nerd or geek anywhere.
Because they don’t want to smell like their Dad (sorry fathers out there) the younger generation needs a scent that is going to help them stand out and stand on their own two feet in the world. It can be part of what makes them feel like an individual which is why there are specific products tailored towards this age group.
The better products tick certain boxes, which is why we have created this guide so you can get it right. If you are a parent buying a gift, you don’t want to give them something that will make them cringe. Even if you are looking for something for yourself, here is your guide to getting it right.
What To Look For In A Cologne For Young Men
Brand Reputation
The first bit of advice we give to any young man when it comes to cologne is to go with a brand that has a good reputation. Purchasing cologne from a little-known brand can be dangerous as you aren’t sure how reliable they are, or their ingredients.
Not only are reputable brands more trustworthy, but they make quality products that turn heads.
Value
Because not everyone has the same budget, you might think it should be hard to find a quality cologne for young men. This isn’t the case with some big brands in the niche being available at a small price
Not only this but when not worn excessively, they last a long time. A lot of people tend to have more than one cologne on the go to match their different moods, occasions, and even seasons which extends the lifespan of each cologne.
Alcohol Content
Because young men often have sensitive skin, finding a cologne that has a low or no alcohol in the formula can be beneficial. There are plenty of good products out that without alcohol that does not put your skin at risk or irritation.
Concentration
This is what defines how strong the oil content of the scent is. Most of the time it will affect the price and a lot of brands offer their fragrances in more than one of the common concentrations below:
Parfum – This is the same for feminine and masculine fragrances of a concentration of 20 – 30% generally. These are the most expensive, better quality products that last the longest.
Eau de Parfum – There is more of a concentration of water in this than the previous option but they still last a fair while. Anything between 10 – 20% concentration falls into this category.
Eau de Toilette – One of the most common types of concentration as it offers a good opportunity to grab a quality brand at a cheaper price. Anything of 5 – 10% is likely to be known as EDT.
Cologne – The cheaper and weaker of the options but for most young men, a perfectly fine option. It won’t last as long, nor will it set you back as much.
Easy Application
The applicators that come with the better brands are usually pretty reliable so this shouldn’t be a concern for most people. The best places to spray the cologne is on your body’s pulse points. The most common are the wrists and on the base of your neck.
Colognes For Young Men: Types of Scents
This is where you need to find something to match your personality. The following are the more common types of scents on the market:
Musky – These are often more masculine and at times spicy and oriental. For the mature young man.
Floral – Not as feminine as they might sound, they can still have a masculine feel but with undertones of the likes of jasmine, and even fruit.
Fresh – Some people will find these to have a bright appeal and a summer vibe. Expect citrus fruits and a smell that reminds you of the sea.
Sweet – Easier for a lot of people to get on with, they are light and a common choice for younger men based on the alternatives.
Wood – More pleasant than it sounds, these can fall into the fresh category depending on the fragrance as cedar and sandalwood are among the popular ingredients.
Cologne and Skin Types
Because cologne tends to react with the chemicals omitted by the skin, some brands and fragrances can smell stronger on different people. The opposite is also true. If the brand you choose isn’t jumping off your wrist or neck, don’t worry, you just might not be as compatible.
How Much Cologne Is Too Much?
This is a common question so you are not alone. The main thing to remember is that cologne should be smelt when close up, so anyone over a foot or so away should not be able to pick up your scent.
For most products, one press of the applicator is enough, and two maximum. Wearing too much cologne can have the opposite effect so it is better to be sparing than too generous.
If you are unsure as to how strong it smells, ask a friend as your cologne could be coming up weaker because of the chemicals emitted by your skin.
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