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The Best Father’s Day Colognes, According to Editors Who’ve Actually Gifted Them
These scents will make them the best smelling person in any room.
Cologne is an unfailing gift for any guy in your life. Whether you’re shopping for your picky dad who never treats himself, or a partner celebrating their first Father’s Day, scent is a deeply personal present that holds a place in their memory long after the first spritz.
And these editor-approved bottles are a far cry from the basic, overly pungent, locker-room sprays that some men might be accustomed to. Instead, they’re layered and unique, from luxury scents to niche fragrance houses we’ve bought for the guys we love, and even wear ourselves. Whether you’re looking for a note profile that’s fresh, woody, earthy, or somewhere in between, there’s a cologne on this list that your giftee is sure to fall in love with and make their signature scent.
Ahead, the best colognes to gift for Father’s Day this year.
Why we love it: YSL MYSLF is one of those scents that feels really easy to wear, like it just becomes part of your skin (thanks to YSL’s signature Ambrofix). It opens bright and citrusy with bergamot and orange blossom. As it dries down throughout the day, you get that warm base built around Ambrofix and clean musks, with a touch of patchouli that keeps it woodsy. It’s that fresh “your skin but better” finish that’s also a bit sensual.
One Cosmo editor says: “I first sniffed this because, allegedly, it’s what Austin Butler smells like, and I refused to believe a man that sexy wouldn’t smell good. But I really grew to love it and have it in my personal collection, even though I don’t have a partner to hand it over to. It’s that classic ‘hot man’ scent, but elevated and unique, largely thanks to the warm skin musks.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, orange blossom, patchouli, Ambrofix |
Why we love it: Lore is our current niche fragrance hyperfixation. The brand boasts unique and genderless scents, 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
| Key notes | Cedarwood, black tea, vanilla cream, cardamom |
Why we love it: This latest iteration of Glossier You pushes the beloved ambroxan skin-scent in a slightly deeper direction. It lives in the solar family, where bergamot and tiare water create a fresh, aquatic brightness that settles into a salty, ocean finish. The result is beachy and addictive, aka perfect for summer, and completely unique on every wearer.
One Cosmo editor says: “This scent takes beachy in a different direction, something more airy and subdued. The milk and rice notes add a softness that’s not sweet—I’m used to perfumes veering gourmand these days, with milk and vanilla alongside other sweet notes to cozy up a scent. But rice, combined with the O.G. DNA of Glossier You (aka ambroxan), adds a nice muskiness. The florals here are creamy and solar, in fact, it smells a bit like clean laundry to me.”—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, rice milk, tiare water, ambrox, jasmine |
Why we love it: Prada's newest cologne is the perfect masculine fragrance that's complex and 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 go-to 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."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Bergamot, bourbon geranium, ambery woods |
Why we love it: Parfums de Marly is basically immune to making a scent that doesn’t become beloved by Cosmo editors, and the latest cologne to enter our rankings is Althair Eau de Parfum. This genderless blend of bergamot, vanilla, and amber, is a deep and rich scent that lasts all day long.
One Cosmo editor says: “I just traveled to Europe with only this scent in tow—the ultimate stamp of approval a beauty editor could give. I was with a huge group of people, many of which I didn’t know, for work, so I wanted a scent that felt universally appealing but would still make me smell sophisticated and fresh. Althair is exactly that. It’s warm and gourmand, but packs a jolt of citrus in the initial spritz that makes it really addictive. I can’t stop smelling my wrists when I have it on, which is exactly why I can’t wait to give it to an eventual partner. One day!”—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Orange blossom, bergamot, bourbon vanilla, cinnamon, ambrox, musk |
Why we love it: Despite its name, Tobacco Memories is not an overly smoked scent that smells like straight-up cigarettes and leather. Instead, it’s light and layered thanks to a unique note combination of saffron, iris, and vanilla alongside its tobacco base. It settles into a warm finish that’s slightly sweet without ever getting too heavy and headache-inducing.
One Cosmo editor says: “I gifted this to my dad back in May for his birthday, and it’s become his signature fragrance ever since. It pulled him out of those classic masculine bottles and into the world of niche fragrances. It’s slightly smoky, yes, but also soft and fruity, and it lasts all day. Plus, the unique bottle looks really nice atop his dresser.”—JH
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Saffron, cherry, iris, tobacco, vanilla, oakmoss. |
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
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Citrus, sandalwood, cedar |
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
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Black leather, violet, jasmine |
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
Features at a Glance
| Key Notes | White musk, sandalwood, cedarwood |
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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