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These Colognes (All Vetted by Cosmo Editors) Are Blind-Buy Approved and Perfect for Valentine’s Day
These scents will make them the best smelling person in any room.
A cologne is the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift: luxe, intimate, and undeniably romantic. It’s the kind of present that feels deeply personal, because scent creates memory, chemistry, and attraction all wrapped into one spritz. Plus, gifting fragrance means you get a say in how your favorite person smells. Whether your partner gravitates toward a classic, luxury scent or something skin-like and niche, Cosmo editors have you covered. We’ve sniffed all the best colognes worth gifting, no guesswork required.
These scents are far from the headache-inducing, overly pungent locker room–esque sprays your partner's probably used to. They’re layered, unique, and something you might even find yourself stealing to spritz on your own skin. We’ve rounded up everything from scent families like warm ambers to crisp citruses, straight from our (and our partners’) very own shelves.
The best
Ahead, you’ll find the best colognes we’ve personally tried, loved, and would absolutely gift for Valentine’s Day. Consider this your guide to gifting a scent that feels romantic and makes you want to pull someone closer.
Why we love it: Lore is our new fragrance hyperfixation, and this bottle is perfectly balanced—primarily woodsy, then warm, soft, and a little sweet. As a chic bonus, the cap doubles as a candlestick holder, we love a two-in-one gift.
One Cosmo editor says: "I picked up a travel size of Somewhere But Nowhere a few weeks ago, and I've almost used the whole thing—I can't stop spritzing it. Cardamom and carrot seeds enliven this with the perfect amount of spice, while glossy leather and cedarwood wrap me in warmth. I love how it then becomes slightly sweet with vanilla and honey." —MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Cedarwood, Vanilla Cream, Cardamom |
Why we love it: Thé Noir 29 instantly transports you to a luxe hotel lobby, with a spicy and warm scent that also gives a hint of fresh fig and bergamot. The genderless scent feels effortless and is super layerable, and it's sure to bring in many compliments.
One Cosmo editor says: "I go feral for fig notes in a perfume, so I'm not shocked that this spicy, black-tea fragrance is one of my top favorites from Le Labo. It's fresh and crisp, thanks to the bergamot and fig, but has a smooth warmth from musk and cedar. And ooooh, the tobacco note gives it a deep, smokier finish. I wear this when I wanna be wrapped up in a cozy cashmere blanket (or smell like I'm at the Edition—IYKYK)."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Fig, bergamot, cedar, vetiver, musk, tobacco |
Why we love it: Prada's newest cologne is the perfect masculine fragrance that's complex, yet complete, so it doesn't require any layering. It opens with bergamot for a bright and fresh scent, geranium adds a floral crispness, and the ambery woods create a warm, and earthy finish.
One Cosmo editor says: "I gifted this to my boyfriend over the holidays, and it’s been his signature scent ever since—and neither of us are even close to sick of it yet. It's fresh and just the right level of strong with a blend of woody, earthy, and warm notes. He even checks a bag on trips just to bring it, so a travel-size bottle will definitely be part of his V-Day gift."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT SHOPPING EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Bergamot, bourbon geranium, ambery woods |
Why we love it: Parfums de Marly makes some of our favorite perfumes in the entire world (no, we're not being dramatic) and Layton is the perf fresh and spicy scent to gift a partner.
One Cosmo editor says: 'An eagle-eyed TikToker spotted this Parfums de Marly scent in the background of one of Bad Bunny's thirst traps, and it's become one of my fave scents for men since. It's the perfect balance of spicy and floral that anyone is sure to be obsessed with."—SARAH MABERRY, COMMERCE EDITOR
| Notes | Apple, bergamot, pepper |
Why we love it: This is the ultimate edgy cologne. If you want the man in your life to smell effortlessly cool, this blend of rich leather with subtle florals and spices creates a warm fragrance that just exudes confidence. This is what I imagine Harry Styles smells like (even though he was rumored to be a Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille fan years back).
One Cosmo editor says: "I’m obsessed with Tom Ford Ombre Leather on my boyfriend, it’s a great spicy and rich scent with a very slight floral note that I love. It actually lasts all day on him and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants their partner to smell amazing for hours on end."—HANNAH OH, SHOPPING EDITOR
| Notes | Black leather, violet, jasmine |
Why we love it: Instead of being an overpowering fruity perfume, this scent opens with sharp, zesty orange then rounds out with elevated base notes of sandalwood and amber for a warm finish. It’s the perfect bottle to spritz for a blend of fresh and woody.
One Cosmo editor says: "This scent is so lovely in the winter (oranges are in season then, after all). It's light and bright, but also offers a tang of sandalwood and amber for a smooth finish. It's like sipping hot tea with an orange slice by a fireplace."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Sweet Orange, Bitter Orange, Sandalwood |
Why we love it: This fragrance is, quite literally, unforgettable. Its notes are the epitome of alluring, with spicy cinnamon, fizzy cola, and warm cedarwood creating a sexy, spicy scent. If you’re into a modern, masculine fragrance and want your partner to smell amazing at all times, this is the one to buy.
One Cosmo editor says: “If you want your giftee to be the best-smelling person in any room, trust me: this genderless scent is it. It’s warm with unexpected notes of cola and cinnamon that work to make a totally addictive scent. It smells like a spicy night out in a bottle. I wish you could spritz it through the screen and smell the magic for yourself—but you’ll just have to take my word for it and know that any recipient will be obsessed.” —JH
| Notes | Cola, cinnamon, cedarwood |
Why we love it: Cosmo editors say this scent reminds them of stepping into a rich person’s living room, with grand furniture, a burning fireplace, and a touch of regal amber to top it all off. It's woody, warm, and super comforting.
One Cosmo editor says: "Somebody Wood is a straightforward sandalwood and cedar fragrance with some warm amber and uplifting bergamot to give it depth and dimension. It kinda smells like being inside a sauna (in the best way), so it's no wonder that I find this perfume so soothing."—LAUREN GRUBER, ASSOCIATE COMMERCE EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Bergamot, saffron, cedar, sandalwood, amber |
Why we love it: We love so many of Maison Margiela's fragrances, but Jazz Club is ideal if you prefer a smoky and sultry scent. Each spritz feels like a little escape into an intimate night in a dimly lit bar.
One cosmo editor says: "Jazz Club is packed with everything you’d expect in, well, a chic jazz club: rum, tobacco, creamy vanilla, spicy pink pepper, warm vetiver, and a jolt of citrus floating in your drink. It captures that speakeasy vibe perfectly—forbidden, deep, and utterly captivating.”—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Pink pepper, rum, tobacco, vetiver |
Why we love it: Bleu de Chanel is a fail-safe and classic pick, with a fresh scent profile that boasts notes of citrus, cedar, and sandalwood to make it clean, woody, and a little addictive. It’s the kind of fragrance that always leaves a lasting impression without being an overly strong masculine scent.
One Cosmo editor says: “My husband absolutely loves this scent so I always get him a restock, whether it’s Father’s Day, a birthday, or holiday. It smells fresh and strong without being overpowering. It's just a great classic men's fragrance, even if your guy isn't super into cologne."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
| Notes | Citrus, sandalwood cedar |
Why we love it: Kayali founder Mona Kattan actually made this scent specifically for her husband to wear on their wedding day. I tell all of my friends with partners to give this to them because it just feels soooo romantic.
One Cosmo editor says: "It's woodsy but with some musk and jasmine that don't veer too heavy or intense. Also, it feels pretty special: It was originally a limited edition cologne, but people begged for Kayali to bring it back because everyone loved it so much."—BG
| Notes | White musk, sandalwood, cedarwood |
Why we love it: Our fragrance-obsessed editors can’t get enough of this undeniably sexy scent—and for good reason. It’s all about dialing up your sense of smell and creating your own interpretation of the fragrance (hence the name), with warm spices, soft woods, and a skin-like finish that cocoon you in something intimate and deeply personal.
One Cosmo editor says: "I've worn Blindfold every time I've gone out at night yearning for a meet-cute with the love of my life. The scent sits close to your skin, but lingers for a long time. My friends have complimented this scent more than maybe anything I've ever worn—and I own 200+ perfumes." —BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Saffron, tobacco, sandalwood, patchouli, tonka bean, amber |
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she tests all kinds of fragrances for a living. For this story, she, along with the rest of the Cosmo team, spritzed dozens of colognes to find the best ones to gift.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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