10 Best Colognes for Black Men [2022]
Updated January 2023
How We Found the Best Fragrances for Black Men
5 Experts Interviewed
16 Fragrances Tested
Top 10 Picks
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Liam Carson
Choosing a signature cologne can be difficult. There are hundreds of thousands on the market, each of them offering you a unique scent. While some men like to have a different fragrance for every occasion, some prefer to have one scent that becomes their signature. A part of their personality. Finding a good cologne for men that matches your aesthetic and style can be difficult. If you’ve ever stood in the men’s grooming section of a department store, you’ve probably become overwhelmed by the attack on your senses.
A cologne is about so much more than its notes or packaging. It’s about the image it creates in your mind when you first smell the scent. We’ve pulled together a list of the best black men’s colognes to help you decide which one is right for you.
Summary List
Fragrances for Black Men Ranked by Cologne Critic
Why we chose it
When you hear Montblanc, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably the brand’s iconic pens. They also have one of the most popular men’s colognes on the market. ‘Legend’ is a scent that works all year round, during day and night, making it an ideal signature scent.
This cologne was released in 2011 and was formulated by Olivier Pescheux, who focused on juxtaposing notes. Legend brings together traditional and modern notes, with stronger scents and those that bring forth a sense of tenderness.
The top notes contain bergamot, pineapple, lavender, and lemon verbena. You’ll smell coumarin, dried fruits, roses, oakmoss, and red apple in the middle notes. Tonka bean and sandalwood make up the base notes.
Legend is a fragrance for a self-confident black man, who stays true to himself, and is passionate about what he believes in. It’s is for the man who embodies understated elegance while being unapologetic in his masculinity.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Fruity
- Aromatic
- Lavender
- Citrus
Our Take
1 Million by Paco Rabanne is one of the most popular men’s colognes on the market, especially in the black community.
The next time you step into a club or a bar, you can be sure to find at least one man wearing it.
This is a fall and winter cologne, lending itself to night use, making it an ideal choice for date nights and special occasions.
1 Million was formulated by Michel Girard, Christophe Raynaud, and Olivier Pescheux, and was launched in 2008.
It became an instant best-seller for the brand, and its popularity has produced a full ‘1 Million’ collection of colognes.
1 Million opens with top notes of blood mandarin, grapefruit, and mint. In the middle notes, you’ll smell cinnamon, spice, and rose. The base notes give this scent its masculine feel, with amber, leather, Indian patchouli, and wood.
This cologne took its inspiration from Paco Rabanne’s metallic fashion and is presented in a gold bottle to represent power and wealth.
1 Million is a loud and dominating fragrance with impressive longevity. This cologne is perfect for a black man who wants a signature scent that tells the world he is in control.
Main Accords
- Warm Spice
- Cinnamon
- Citrus
Our Take
Gucci Guilty is a spring and summer cologne for daytime wear. This woody floral fragrance was released in 2019 as a contemporary reinterpretation of the Gucci Guilty fragrance. It was created by Alberto Morillas and is a classic Italian scent.
The top notes include Calabrian, bergamot, juniper berries, and rosemary. Cypress, heliotrope and violet make up the middle notes. In the base notes, you’ll smell cedar, patchouli leaf, and white musk.
This fragrance isn’t afraid to use floral notes, giving it an aromatic scent that stays true to the signature Italian colognes, while keeping woody notes and citrus accords. Gucci Guilty cologne is unique in its pale green colour, with a stronger scent than you would expect from a summer fragrance, You’ll get about 4 hours of wear-time with each spray.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Aromatic
- Fresh Spice
Our Take
A good cologne for men is undoubtedly Dior’s Homme Intense. The brand has created some of the most recognisable colognes on the market, making it perhaps the most popular men’s cologne brand.
Homme Intense was launched in 2011, and the nose behind the scent was Francois Dernachy.
Lavender is the top note in this scent, while ambrette, pear, and iris make up the middle notes. The base notes include vetiver and Virginia cedar. You’ll want to wear this fragrance at night-time during fall and winter. The bottle has recently had a makeover to give it a sleeker appearance, in line with Christian Dior’s current aesthetic.
Dior describes this cologne as being like a sharp, modern suite. It is grandeur and sophistication without being overpowering. The iris accords and ambrette notes give it a sensual feel. Homme Intense is a signature night-time scent for the man who isn’t afraid to embrace his sexuality.
Main Accords
- Iris
- Woody
- Powdery
Our Take
Yves Saint Laurent is a go-to brand for anyone looking for a black men’s fragrance. La Nuit is a night-time scent for fall and winter and was created by Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion, and Pierre Wargnye, releasing in 2009. This fragrance is full of contrasts, not afraid to explore darker notes with powerful accords that demand attention. La Nuit is a bold and sensual cologne, designed for the man with an irresistible charm, who can sweep a woman off her feet.
This cologne has a single top note of cardamom. Bergamot, lavender, and Virginia cedar make up the heart notes. The cumin and vetiver base notes give this cologne its sensual feel. If you’re looking for a night-time cologne that will see you through whatever the evening brings, consider picking up a bottle of this cologne.
Main Accords
- Aromatic
- Lavender
- Warm Spice
Our Take
For the man who wants a spring and summer scent, Kenneth Cole Black is for you. This noses behind this cologne are Harry Fremont and Sabine De Tscharner, with the fragrance launching in 2003. This scent takes its inspiration from the boldness of the urban jungle and New York life. Black is for the man who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries in his life searching for power and confidence.
Basil, ginger, mandarin orange, and water mint make up the top notes. You’ll smell cedar, exotic woods, lotus, nutmeg, and incense in the heart notes. The cologne closes out with base notes of amber, musk, suede, and violet leaf.
For its affordable price point, the longevity of this scent is hard to beat.
Main Accords
- Green
- Citrus
- Fresh Spice
Our Take
With its turquoise bottle with a medusa head emblem, this cologne will stand out in your collection. Eros is a year-round scent which lends itself well to both daytime and night-time wear. The nose behind this scent was Aurelien Guichard, with it launching in 2012. Eros takes its inspiration from Greek mythology and is named after the son of the goddess Aphrodite.
Eros encapsulates the DNA of the Versace brand and its Mediterranean way of living. This fresh and woody scent is for the modern gladiator, who fights for what he wants in life and strives to achieve his goals and defend his ideals.
This cologne opens with top notes of green apple, lemon, and mint. You’ll smell ambroxan, geranium, and tonka bean in the middle notes. The base notes contain atlas cedar, Madagascar vanilla, oakmoss, vetiver, and Virginian cedar.
Main Accords
- Green
- Vanilla
- Aromatic
Our Take
Nautica Voyage is one of the most affordable on our list.
Nautica Voyage is a woody aquatic fragrance which was formulated by Maurice Roucel and released in 2006. As a lighter scent, it’s ideal for spring and summer use and daytime wear.
Apple and green leaves make up the top notes. Lotus and mimosa are the middle notes. This cologne closes with base notes of amber, cedar, musk, and oakmoss.
It smells like a fresh sea breeze with a romantic twist, awakening the masculinity in you. Nautica Voyage is for the man who lives life by his own rules.
Main Accords
- Green
- Fruity
- Floral
Our Take
If you’re looking for a black men’s fragrance, don’t sleep on Polo Green by Ralph Lauren. It’s a fall and winter cologne that lends itself equally to day and night-time wear. An unapologetically masculine scent without any intense floral notes.
Polo Green was one of the first two fragrances released by Ralph Lauren, launching in 1978 with Carlos Benaim being the nose behind the scent.
Polo Green opens with top notes of artemisia, basil, caraway, coriander, and juniper berries. The middle notes are loud and masculine with carnation, geranium, pine tree needles, and leather. This fragrance finishes with amber, cedar, musk, and tobacco, which improve its longevity and trail.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Aromatic
- Fresh Spice
Our Take
Millesime Imperial is a unisex fragrance that was launched in 1995 by Olivier Creed. This woody floral fragrance has a musk base and is designed for day-time wear during spring and summer. Millesime takes its inspiration from the seaside landscape of Sicily and the Mediterranean lifestyle.
Fruity notes and sea salt are the top notes of this cologne. The middle notes contain bergamot, Sicilian lemon, iris, and mandarin orange. In the base notes, you’ll find musk, sea notes, and woody notes.
Main Accords
- Salty
- Citrus
- Marine
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Researched by a team of fragrance experts.