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15 best aftershaves and colognes to gift any guy in your life – men's fragrances tested & reviewed, 2025
Trust us, these are the scents you're gonna want them to wear
Colognes and aftershaves have always been unfailing gifts for the men in our lives – and with Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to decide exactly how we want them to smell. Whether your dad gravitates toward a timeless, woody men's fragrance or you want your partner to smell deliciously spicy 24/7, we Cosmo editors have sniffed out the best fragrances worth gifting this year.
Gone are the days of headache-inducing locker room sprays (thank goodness). Today’s scents are sophisticated, layered, and swoon-worthy. Think warm amber, creamy sandalwood (yes, Santal is present), and crisp citruses that feel personal without being overpowering. We’ve rounded up everything from the best genderless and spicy fragrances to signature scent-worthy colognes he’ll actually want to wear, straight from our beauty shelves and editor-approved gift lists.
Our top picks for best colognes of 2025:
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ralph lauren Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette 125ml | Men’s Perfume
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Keep reading for more of the best colognes for all the men in your life...
One Cosmo staffer says: "This fragrance is, quite literally, unforgettable. If you want your giftee to be the best-smelling person in any room, trust me: this genderless scent is it. It’s warm and spicy with unexpected notes of cola and cinnamon that work to make a totally addictive scent. 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 male recipient will be obsessed."
Key notes: Cola, cinnamon, cedarwood
ralph lauren Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette 125ml | Men’s Perfume
One Cosmo staffer says: "IMO, there's something so comforting about this Ralph Lauren pick. Combining zesty grapefruit, bergamot, and cranberry with warm amber and coffee, it smells like being wrapped up in a flannel blanket on a crisp winter morning. Smelling this on your man's sweater on a cold day is otherworldly – but it's light enough to wear throughout the warmer months, too."
Key notes: grapefruit, bergamot, amber
One Cosmo staffer says: "Even if he doesn't consider himself a ~cologne guy~, there's a strong chance he'll still like this one. Case in point: my picky brother chose this exact scent on his wedding day because it's one of the only colognes that doesn't give him a headache. It's a subtle yet long-lasting combination of bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, and amber that is oh-so-smooth and great for everyday wear."
Key notes: Orange blossom, spicy black pepper, vanilla Bourbon
One Cosmo staffer says: "To me, this scent is exactly what you’d expect a fit man to smell like after a really long ‘everything’ shower. Fresh and clean, but also a bit earthy and musky: it’s like they just smell good naturally. It’s warm and comforting, but also has refreshing top notes, so you won’t get sick of it."
Notes: Pear, Apple, Moss and Jasmine and Ambrettolide.
One Cosmo staffer says: "Dior Fahrenheit is what my dad has worn since the mid-90s almost exclusively, and he is one of my favourite people on this earth. So, while it may be weird to some, I love giving people this scent, so that they can remind me of my dad.
"It's a beautiful blend of smoky cedar and patchouli paired with a touch of honeysuckle, nutmeg, and tonka bean for a rounded sweetness. It's broody and strong, but also has some softness."
Key notes: Bergamot, honeysuckle, cedar, sandalwood
One Cosmo staffer says: "I'm not kidding when I say that my picky mum (she complains about almost every scent being 'too much') has been gifting my dad this cologne for ten years now – and neither of them is sick of it yet.
"It's a nice spicy scent with a bit of citrus that gives a fresh-out-of-the-shower vibe without being overpowering or headache-inducing."
Key notes: Mint, orange blossom, vanilla Madagascar
One Cosmo staffer says: "I would tell all of my friends with partners to give this to them because it's so romantic. Kayali founder Mona Kattan actually made this scent for her husband to wear when he walked down the aisle (it's so cute, I can't).
"It's woody 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, but people begged for Kayali to bring it back because everyone loved it so much."
Key notes: White musk, sandalwood, cedarwood
One Cosmo staffer says: "Have you ever been pulled in for a kiss with a hot guy and he's just chewed gum or had a mint? This is exactly what this scent reminds me of – a hot, clean guy with minty-fresh breath, lying in a park in the summer. It's super herbaceous with basil, mint and grass among the notes, and it's inspired by natural swimming pools in Italy, which just feels chic to me."
Key Notes: Nigerian Ginger Extract, Egyptian Basil, Chinese Spearmint, Eucalyptus, Wet Grass, White Woods
One Cosmo staffer says: "I gifted this to my (adult) nephew because the packaging screamed 'YOUTH' to me. And while yes, it was judging a book by its cover, it is indeed youth, a perfect scent for a younger sibling or nephew. Imagine a slightly spicier and sweeter Bleu de Chanel, and you have this."
Key Notes: Pink Pepper, Lavender, Basil, Haitian Vetiver, Clearwood and Tonka.
One Cosmo staffer says: "When it comes to style and grooming, my brother has a relatively modest taste, so it makes sense that this is his go-to fragrance. It's a light and fresh woody scent that doesn't project loads; it makes a quiet statement."
Key Notes: Cardamom, Sandalwood, Cedar, White Musk and Indonesian Patchouli Leaf.
One Cosmo staffer says: "When I asked my bestie the fragrance that he would love to be gifted over and over, he said this without hesitation. "I don’t really like the really mainstream men’s scents, you never catch me wearing like Sauvage or something like that, and this is like the total opposite," he told me. "I would say that it is like a smoky, woody leather kind of vibe, but also a bit herbal and fresh, which is a bit unexpected and makes it less heavy than something I would usually go for."
Key Notes: Wild Thyme, Bergamot Basil, Rose Otto, Vetiver, Grass, Ambergris
One Cosmo staffer says: "This is one of my top musky male fragrance recommendations since this launched in 2021. It's perfect if the guy you're gifting prefers musky, spicy scents over fresh, clean and crisp scents.
"Put it this way: The guy who picks this is more likely to order dark liquor, straight up, than any kind of mixed drink."
Key Notes: Black Pepper, Labdanum, Seaweed, Myrrh and Cedar.
One Cosmo staffer says: "It's the quintessential woody scent that's been duped time and time again, but the original will forever one of my favourites Yes, it's chock-full of sandalwood and cedar for that fresh chopped wood scent, but it's also blended with warm amber and spicy cardamom that help it smell a bit more perfume-y than legit wood to me."
Key notes: Sandalwood, cedar, cardamom
Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum 50ml
One Cosmo staffer says: "I’m obsessed with Tom Ford Ombre Leather on my boyfriend, it’s a great spicy and rich scent with a very slight gourmand 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."
Key notes: Black leather, violet, jasmine
One Cosmo staffer says: "I got this for my husband ages ago, and it has become his signature scent! It's inspired by icy mountain air, combining juniper berries with Alaskan cedar for a crisp, clean scent.
"Overall, it's a really nice balance between woody and fresh and is long-lasting without being overpowering – I can't stand colognes that enter the room before the person does, if you know what I mean."
Key notes: Juniper berry, cedarwood, sandalwood
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.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
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