Good/Bad Colognes (men)

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My new monthly obsession. lol

I've tested over 40 colognes at stores, and here's my personal commentary on which colognes I would recommend.

Average cost of cologne ($45-70 for 3.4 oz. which is enough to last you a couple of years of regular use)

Recommended:
Cool Water - One of the least expensive and most commonly used colognes. It has an aquatic, refreshing smell. It is a little perfumy, but not too feminine. It's a play-it-safe cologne; there are not many people who dislike it. It is not weak and not overpowering, perfect strength.

Eternity - Less perfume-like than Cool Water. To me it is like Aqua Di Gio but better. The smell overall seems balanced and pleasant. It would be hard to find someone who hates it, unlike many other riskier colognes. It is the kind that you use to make yourself smell better, but not have it be your dominant feature. It's definitely one of my favorites overall.

Drakkar Noir - A masculine cologne with a distinct smell, definitely stood out from the crowd. There will still be some people who do not like it, but overall, it many people will love it.

Polo Double Black - Different scent than Drakkar, but still the same idea of masculine without being too overpowering. Not as distinct as Drakkar, but still good. Polo Blue is good too if you want a stronger more distinct scent.

Fahrenheit - This is a very unique scent and there's nothing like it. It is musky without being too masculine, it is flowery without being too feminine. It is not overpowering, in fact, the only flaw is it is a little weak. An experience you have to try for yourself.

Others:
Obsession - Smells similar to Polo Green. Strong, overpowering, the most powerful cologne I've tried. Some will love it, many others will gag. You're taking a risk with this one.
Lacoste (Green/Relaxed) - It is not a very powerful scent, but still a refreshing one. Similar in some ways to Eternity. Overall, I like it.
Aqua Di Gio - Similar to Armani Sport Code, I find it a little too soapy.
Chrome - The scent is a little feminine and perfume like, but it is still a good scent.

Both men and women, make your own lists so we can compare.

Burberry. Damn near any type. Although be wary that the summer editions tend to wear off fast.

I like Burberry because their stuff is clean-smelling and subtle. Too many colognes really hit you right in the nose.

I use this... was going to mention when i saw the title of the thread... A girl at work was saying how much she liked the smell... so yeah its what i use...

I liked Burberry too. I forgot the exact scent, but it was pleasant.

Depends on which one. Burberry Brit, generally the most liked, has a more traditional cologne smell. It's just more subtle. Burberry Summer tends to have a more floral or fruity smell.

The unifying feature of Burberry colognes is subtlety.

most workplaces, medical offices, schools etc. up here in canuckville have now restricted the use of scents/colognes as so many people are allergic. i would use that stuff with caution as it could destroy a date (or a chance of a date) if a girl is sensitive.

for me... i like the smell of Axe (aka Lynx) so i use the deodorant and body wash (though the scent doesn't really stick from those products). my favourite cologne scents to wear are Dirt and Thunderstorm by Demeter Fragrance Library, though i don't use them often.

http://www.demeterfragrance.com/

It's also very important to know what setting this advice is applicable in, for example, there's no point in wearing a £100 fragrance if you're attending a high school or secondary school, a simple bottle of lynx or Gillette deodorant will do . The weather also important an important factor, a strong musky smell in hot weather can be overwhelming and in cold weather, aqua and marine scents can be too weak.

^^^ also keep in mind that scents will react with your body chemistry. A fragrance can smell great on one person and awful on the next. Also, the OP says a bottle should last a few years, but the shelf life of fragrances once they're opened is less than a year, and then they'll start to sour.

I like cool water. I dated a guy who wore aqua di geo and it smelled great on him, but it's pretty girlie smelling on most guys.

I don't favor cologne because guys seem to use as much as women. Axe body wash (even though I hate the commercials I have to agree with Hyperlexian). But If it was me I'd take him stinking like a dog.

oh yeah, good point! i like people's natural scent. i had a boyfriend who washed daily but did not wear pit stick or any scents and he smelled divine.

I wear "The Body Shop: Activist Eau De Toilette".

Fahrenheit is my personal favorite.

glad to see another fahrenheit lover.

i found out the main ingredient is honeysuckle.

I agree that a natural, but clean, smell is the best one. Strong smells make me all sneezy and headachey.

Lynx and similar 'men's' smelly things aren't my cup of tea.

Well I am female (I don't wear perfume myself) and I generally dislike the smell of all aftershaves that men wear aswell to be honest.

I don't like the Aveda cologne for men, but I do like their Chakra 4 blend of essential oils. To me, it smells predominantly of Sandalwood, which I like a lot. I don't wear any of the commercial stuff, just essential oils or blends. I like Amber, Sandalwood, Myrrh, and Musk Amber.