When it comes to colognes, here's the cardinal rule: The season changes, and so does your go-to scent. Well, sorry, but I think that's total bunk. If you find a fragrance that smells great—one that strikes a perfect tonal mix, that's masculine without being overbearing—there's no reason you shouldn't wear it 24/7/365.
With that in mind, here are 15 brand-new colognes worthy of such vaunted placement in your repertoire. Some are much-needed tonal updates of fan-favorite fragrances. Others are from-scratch concoctions designed with only olfactory bliss in mind. But one thing's for certain: you've never caught wind of a crop of colognes this endlessly versatile and suitable before. Wear them with confidence and you'll never have to set aside a nearly-full bottle of perfectly fine cologne again. Turns out rules (cardinal or otherwise) really are meant to be broken.
1
Calvin Klein CK One Platinum Edition Eau de Toilette Spray
$78; buy now at macys.com
A sumptuous blend of Granny Smith apple and red cinnamon, tempered with lighter notes of vetiver and amber, make this update of Calvin Klein CK's iconic fragrance the type of scent that works with any occasion.
2
Giorgio Armani Men's Acqua di Giò Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray
$130; buy now at macys.com
There's a reason Giorgio Armani's Acqua di Giò is consistently one of the most popular and best-selling men's fragrances: The mix of patchouli oil and lemon gives off a seriously masculine vibe. If you want to exude power, wear this.
$85; buy now at bloomingdales.com
Mandarin orange, ruby grapefruit, crisp lemon, zesty mint—you wouldn't be wrong to associate Polo Red Rush with a citrusy beachside cocktail. But the added notes of cedar and lavender balance the concoction out to make it a highly versatile, year-round scent.
4
L'Homme Lacoste Intense Eau de Toilette
$84; buy now lacoste.com
Befitting its name, this Lacoste cologne is certainly intense. But if you can nail the spritzing balance (we recommend just two or three), you'll walk through your days with a bright, airy, pleasant fragrance that's worthy of "signature scent" status. (Full disclosure: This cologne is the fragrance of choice for a Best Life editor.)
5
Bulgari Man Wood Essence Eau de Parfum
$97; buy now macys.com
Yes, the bottle is a MOMA-worthy piece of art. But the contents—a delicious concoction of lemon, rosemary, violet, and moss—is nothing to turn your nose at, either. (Unless you're turning your nose to smell it, that is.)
6
Burberry Mr. Indigo Eau de Toilette
$91; buy now at bloomingdales.com
There's a lot going on in Burberry's latest iteration of their signature cologne, Mr. Burberry. But if you can pull off the mix of blackcurrant, rosemary, moss, driftwood, mint, amber, and lemon oil (like I said: a lot going on), you'll be the better for it.
7
Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Now For Men Eau de Toilette Spray
$59; buy now at usa.tommy.com
For a new twist on daily fragrance, check out Tommy Hilfiger's latest, a novel combo bergamot, geranium, and ginger.
8
Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau De Parfum
$175; buy now barneys.com
You may associate everything Tom Ford with going as big and loud as possible. Not so, when it comes to scents. Exhibit A: this fragrance here, which features understated leather and subtle white floral notes for a totally laissez-faire scent—fit more for a candlelit dinner than a grand affair.
9
Chanel Bleu de Chanel Parfum
$150; buy now at nordstrom.com
A bit more intense than it's been in years past, Chanel's familiar Bleu de Chanel has been updated with a more woodsy scent spectrum, featuring cedar and sandalwood, plus a dash of balsamic.
10
Acqua di Parma Colonia Mirra Eau de Cologne Concentrée
$245; buy now at bergdorfgoodman.com
For a whiff of true luxury, look no further than this potion from Acqua di Parma. You'll find notes of smokey balsamic, orange, nutmeg here. But the true star of the show is the myrrh extract: A rare resin that's extracted from a tree only found in parts of northeast Africa. Once upon a time, people used to believe myrrh was imbued with magical properties. One smell of this cologne, though, and you might believe it still has such latent power.
11
Gucci Gucci Guilty Oud Eau de Parfum
$146; buy now at macys.com
Yes, it's called "guilty," but you shouldn't feel guilty for a second for treating yourself to a cologne of this caliber. Front-loaded with notes of berries and all manner of wood, spritzing this feels like spritzing the fragrance equivalent of A Midsummer Night's Dream: Pure magic.
12
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum
$115; buy now at nordstrom.com
You won't find a scent more elegant than this stalwart flagship men's cologne from Yves Saint Laurent. Just as the bottle is pure minimalist bliss, the fragrance is, too: the tried-and-true combination of apple, sage, ginger, and cedar smells just as fantastic as it always has.
13
Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum
$115; buy now at bloomingdales.com
Supposedly designed to conjure feelings of a clear-night twilight, if you're looking to turn the romance up a notch, look no further than this ever-popular Dior Sauvage cologne. Featuring notes of vanilla and bergamot, plus a dash of pepper, it's the type of warm, masculine scent that oozes comfort.
14
Dolce & Gabbana The One Grey Eau de Toilette
$88; buy now at nordstrom.com
They say opposites attract. Well, Dolce & Gabbana's signature fragrance, The One, is chemistry-driven proof of that. Basil plus tobacco and grapefruit plus sage are just two of the combinations tucked away in the bottle that seem ludicrous but, in practice, actually smell quite great.
15
John Varvatos JVxNJ Eau De Toilette
$74; buy now barneys.com
Superstart designer John Varvatos teamed up with superstar actor-musician-pretty-much-everything-else Nick Jonas to design this scent. Yes, most celebrity-endorsed products are mere gimmicks. But this cologne—a decadent mix of sage, lavender, and sandalwood—is a total exception. Bonus: the bottle looks amazing.
