The Best Office Colognes For Men (That You Haven’t Heard Of)
If you’re tired of the Polo cologne line up or if you consider Axe body spray cologne, it’s time to graduate to the next level of colognes and find one that’s work appropriate, not worn by an entire generation, and suits your vibe.
What most men neglect when getting dressed for the office is the perfect cologne. You’re not ready to tackle your day until you wear a great cologne that matches your personality and your demeanor. If you’re someone who loves to take things in stride, your cologne should say that about you. If you’re a team player with a work hard play hard mentality, you need a cologne that lasts for more than 8 hours. Choosing the best office cologne is an important decision, since it’ll be what your co-workers know as your “signature scent”. Here’s a couple of pointers that can help you get started on identifying some of the best office colognes for men.
When considering the best office cologne, you want to think about selecting a fragrance that isn’t too loud. It should blend in well with your office environment, your client’s décor, and your own personal workspace. It sets you up for success long after you leave the room, and it makes a good impression on the people you meet every day.
Set yourself apart by picking any of these 5 best office colognes for men that’ll make a mark in the workplace.
#1 Le Labo Another 13
Commissioned 7 years ago by AnOther magazine, Le Labo Another 13 was designed to create a feeling of exclusivity in aroma. It’s comprised of animal musk, blended with 12 ingredients including jasmine, moss and ambrette seeds. It gives the wearer a sense of spike and shine when wearing the cologne. It’s a premier fragrance for men who are stylish and outgoing. Designed with handpicked scents and tones, its citrusy base notes make for an interesting conversation starter.
Le Labo Another 13, $180
#2 Valentino Uomo intense
A true connoisseurs selection, Valentino Uomo is a great office cologne for the man with a charismatic allure. This is the right choice for men who are assertive and have a dominant masculinity. They take their work seriously and have a strong penchant for distinct tones. It has a suave leathery base tone that’s deep, unforgettable and has a strong baseline of strength and concentration. It’s one of the stronger colognes that’s best used lightly. It’s a long lasting cologne that’s perfect for a long day at work that lingers even at a long night in the pub.
Valentino uomo intense, $100
#3 Christian Dior Sauvage
An excellent selection from the house of Dior, Sauvage is a polarizing cologne that’s loved by a select few. Those who wear it the first time, fall in love with it instantly. The name originating from the Eau Sauvage in 1966, inspired by wild open spaces and forests that run for acres at length. Dior’s Sauvage has a raw but fresh essence to it, making it one of the most unique office colognes for men in the office. With fresh top notes of Calabria Bergamot, it’s woody trail ensures that the room remembers you after you’ve left.
Christian Dior Sauvage, $95
#4 Versace Man Eau Fraîche
The cologne is a great option for men who like the smell of Rosewood and Cedar leaves. It’s a man’s man kind of cologne that works well with men who are active and on-the-go. It’s a mix of multiple scents that are blended into a masculine tone. It’s a gentler version of some of the stronger perfumes that Versace releases, and it has a great allure that reminds people of nature. It’s the perfect cologne for hotter climates when the pressure is on.
Versace Man Eau Fraîche, $45
#5 Salvatore Ferragamo – F Black
Touted as one of the most affordable office colognes for men on our list, Salvatore Ferragamo – F Black is a unique fragrance that has spicy notes mixed with lavender. This allows the full expression of a man’s natural essence, by giving a balance of notes to work with. It’s the perfect cologne for men who dress to impress. Salvatore Ferragamo F Black imparts a mysterious vibe from the wearer, leaving everyone around him wanting more but at the same time keeps a distance that can never be covered. It’s a contemporary cologne that is perfect for a date right after work. It’s long-lasting and has an intriguing Madagascar pepper and lavender mix to signify sophistication and charming masculinity.
Salvatore Ferragamo – F Black , $23
The search for the best office colognes for men doesn’t have to be hard. You can ask the woman in your life to pick one out for you and see how you feel wearing it around the workplace. It’s all about where you want your career to be, and how your aspirational-self feels when wearing a certain cologne. With the perfect notes and blends, you can choose any of the colognes mentioned above for a perfect signature scent.
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Are there any updates to this list?
Really nice list. I would like to add couple of more into the list, Armani Profumo and YSL L’Homme. I am also working in a consulting firm and I enjoy wearing non offensive perfumes at work. People around me also appreciates it.
More offices are going fragrance free, so one should always check policies before the spritz, and be prepared to stop wearing cologne to work, if need be because of co-workers with scent sensitivities…
That being said I am partial to Geo F Trumper’s Eucris… Trumper is known for their shave products (which I am also partial to), and have many royal warrants over the years for the British Royals in this regard… Eucris is a more mysterious scent, so much so, it was selected by Ian Fleming as the fragrance of choice for James Bond in the books.
I’m sure these are all great colognes and all, but please don’t wear cologne to work. The idea that “you’re not ready to tackle your day until you wear a great cologne that matches your personality and your demeanor” is not good advice. Honestly and I say this out of respect.
Maybe it’s different if you work at a fashion/e-commerce company like Black Lapel. But if you work a traditional office job, you should not wear cologne.
Rajesh,
We value your insight on the cologne debate, but we still stand with the idea that a spritz of cologne is a big part of your morning routine. Now, we’re just advising the best colognes you haven’t heard of. What we didn’t touch on as much is the best way to apply it. When you’re strolling into your office, you want your cologne to add to your character, not overpower it. So, once you’ve picked out a scent that reflects you, apply it to your skin directly (not your clothes), and only at a couple touch points. TL:DR, don’t apply it like this.
I’ll have to ask if you’ve worked in a traditional office setting before. Honestly.
Because no one wears cologne to the office in traditional finance, consulting, marketing, etc. If you did, especially as a junior (which are the type of people likely to read this blog), it would backfire.
I’m not questioning your cologne choices, I’m saying this is just bad career advice.
We may have to agree to disagree here. There are many varying degrees of formality and office culture in the finance/consulting industry (the founders of Black Lapel worked in two such contexts) and seniority is not the final arbiter of cologne/perfume use. Either way, we don’t advocate for a heavy-handed application and so short of dousing yourself in scent, a subtle application twice a day on the neck and/or wrist is entirely acceptable in our humble opinion. Again, readers should use their judgment on this point. If you work in an environment where no one ever wears cologne, you’re welcome to ignore our selections and go with a scent-free deodorant instead. Hope that helps clear things up!
Idk, worked in traditional offices for years and most of the people wear some sort of cologne, it’s just extremely conservative. Work colognes are meant to be innofensive and not oversprayed. I mean no one is saying to douse yourself in something heavy but a light fresh cologne is usually pretty safe. It seems you have had a different experience, but in most of the offices I have worked at, it was rare to see someone who wasn’t wearing something.
What about Obsessions?
Are these scents readily available in any specific department store chain? I’d like to take a whiff first rather than just buying online. I’m leaning more toward #4 & #5 as the more budget friendly options. BTW- been scouring your pages for a few days straight and loving the information. I’ll be posting in several threads tonight.
Stephen,
We’re assuming some of these brands are available at department stores. As far as their readily available samples, we’re not as sure on. If you order online, you could very likely return depending on brand policies, so you might be able to get a whiff that way!
You’re right, #4 and #5 are more budget options. But how can we assign a value to scent anyways?!
Thank’s for the kind words, we’re lucky to have readers like you!
Yves st Laurent Gingembre is my jam. Light, pleasant and not offensive. Save heavier scents for nighttime. La nuit de l’homme also ESL is a great night out scent. And the two ar close enough that one can go over the other.
Thanks for the rec! All good choices.