Fragrance guide
A first cologne should be easy: fresh, clean, not too strong and not too expensive. The goal is to smell good up close, not to fill a classroom.
Every fragrance here is a fresh or sporty scent for men or unisex with a typical price of $110 or less.
How we picked. We took the men’s and unisex fragrances in our catalog with a fresh or sporty style and a typical price of $110 or less, and ranked them by versatility and price. Prices are typical US retail prices and may differ at checkout.
Versace
$85 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Aromatic
Aquatic citrus and mineral incense in a deep blue bottle. Fresh, powerful and very versatile.
Versace
$95 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Aromatic
Lemon, neroli and clean musk: a Mediterranean freshness that is bright, soapy and very easy to wear.
Bvlgari
$85 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Aquatic
Mineral and oceanic, with seaweed and mandarin. A greener, more technical marine freshness than the classic aquatics.
Dior
$110 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Citrus
Lemon, basil and oakmoss. The aromatic citrus that defined masculine freshness in 1966. Timeless.
Giorgio Armani
$110 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Aquatic
The aquatic icon of the nineties: sea breeze, salty citrus and clean musk. It smells like skin after a swim in the Mediterranean.
4711
$17 · 3.4 oz · Eau de Cologne · Unisex · Citrus
The original Eau de Cologne, from the city that named the genre. Citrus and rosemary in a fleeting, invigorating freshness.
Davidoff
$40 · 4.2 oz · EDT · Men · Aquatic
The father of modern aquatics. Mint and lavender over a sea of freshness, at an unbeatable price.
Calvin Klein
$70 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Fougère
A clean, soapy lavender with herbs and soft woods. The definition of a fresh-out-of-the-shower scent from the early nineties.
Bvlgari
$110 · 3.4 oz · EDP · Men · Citrus
Luminous neroli and white woods: a sunny, clean woody citrus for fair-weather days.
Answer 7 quick questions about the person and the occasion, and we will match the fragrances that fit best.
Take the quizTwo sprays: one on the chest and one on the neck. If people can smell it from a few steps away, it is too much.
There is no rule. Many people start around 13 to 15 with a light, fresh scent, which is hard to get wrong.
Yes. A 1 oz or 1.7 oz bottle costs less and lasts months with daily use. It is the sensible way to find out whether you really like a scent.
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