Perfumes have the power to seduce and completely change the first impression you give to people, especially on a first date. This is why they are absolutely fundamental for first dates. You may have picked the best location, a wonderful activity, and a great outfit, but if your date doesn’t like your smell it probably won’t end up well.Â
If you’re now wondering which are the best first-date colognes for men, no worries! In this article, we created a list of all our favorite men’s fragrances for you to choose from. Whether you opted for a picnic in a park, a night at the cinema, or an elegant dinner, we got you covered.
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1. Bleu de ChanelÂ
Bleu de Chanel was created by Jacques Polge for Chanel in 2010. This perfume is woody and aromatic and is perfect for a night out. As soon as you spray it on, you will smell lemon, mint, pink pepper, and grapefruit. But its base notes, those that will last longer, are sandalwood, patchouli, and labdanum.Â
You surely can’t go wrong with Bleu de Chanel. Soon after its release, this fragrance became Bloomingdale’s Christmas top seller! To this day, it is still one of the most popular colognes on the market. Not by chance, in June 2021, the British Fragrance Shop revealed this was the second most popular scent in Britain. This is one of our favorite first-date colognes for men, one smell and you will know why!
2. Invictus by Paco Rabanne
Invictus by Paco Rabanne is an ideal cologne for a date at a café or a picnic in a park. This fragrance is fresh and vibrant and is therefore perfect during a hot summer day. Described as a woody aquatic fragrance, this scent was launched in July 2013.
Invictus opens with fresh grapefruit and marine notes that leave their space to a woody base. Its base notes include guaiac wood, patchouli, oak moss and ambergris.
Its name ‘Invictus’ is a Latin word for ‘invincible’. Not by chance, Paco Rabanne wanted to create a scent representing power, energy, and dynamism. The bottle is in fact shaped like a trophy and comes in two sizes, 50 and 100 ml.
3. Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford
Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford is a warm and sweet fragrance. If you’re planning to grab a drink with your date during a cozy fall evening, this is the cologne for you. Tobacco Vanille has tobacco leaf and spicy top notes and vanilla, cacao, tonka bean and tobacco blossom middle notes. For the base, Tom Ford opted for dried fruit and woody notes.
This scent was first launched in 2007. Despite this, it is still extremely popular today and is considered one of the most attractive colognes for men. Tom Ford was inspired by his love for London for the creation of this scent. Talking about this product, he commented: “Tobacco Vanille is opulent, warm and iconic. Reminiscent of an English Gentleman’s Club and blended with rich spices, vanilla and tobacco flower, it leaves a powerful impression.
4. Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club Eau de Parfum
Ralph’s Club Eau de Parfum was released in 2021 and became an instant hit. This aromatic and woody scent can be worn on all occasions. It doesn’t matter whether it’s summer, winter, day or night, you can always count on this product. Its notes are lavender, clary sage, cedarwood, and vetiver.Â
Ralph’s Club Eau de Parfum was created by perfumer Dominique Ropion who has almost 300 perfumes in his database. Mr Ropion studied at Roure Bertrand Dupont and received the title of Master Perfumer at IFF in 2018.
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5. Bibliothèque by Byredo
One spray of Bibliothèque will immediately teleport you to an ancient library stuffed with novels. With this scent, Byredo managed to capture the smell of old books, leather-bound pages, and dark wood shelves in a bottle. As you put it on, you will smell plum and cinnamon but its middle tones are leather and violet. Its base consists of birch woods, patchouli, and vanilla notes.Â
Bibliothèque is perfect for a night out in a cozy café or an evening stroll in the fall. On top of this, this fragrance is completely vegan and cruelty-free!
6. Eros by Versace
Eros by Vesace is surely one of the most popular fragrances for men of all time. Sold in its iconic blue bottle, you can’t go wrong with this scent. Launched in 2012, this fragrance is inspired by Greek Mythology.Â
Aurelien Guichard, its creator, opted for mint, green apple, and lemon top notes. At the base, Eros has Madagascar vanilla, Virginian cedar, vetiver, and oakmoss notes. This scent is described as fresh, woody, and slightly oriental.
According to its creators, the intent was to release unrestrained passion and accentuate desire. Not by chance, this cologne is called ‘Eros’. Eros was in fact, the Greek god of love, son of Aphrodite.
7. Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera
Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera is an everyday cologne for all occasions. The perfumers behind this product are Louise Turner and Quentin Bisch. Its top notes are black and white peppers. But the scents that will last the longest on your skin are tonka bean, cacao and amberwood.
Bad Boy is sold in three different sizes and can be easily recognized by the iconic design of its bottle. Herrera opted for a lighting bolt shape to represent men’s erotic strength. This is an amber spicy scent first launched in 2019
8.Luna Rossa Sport by Prada
 Luna Rossa Sports by Prada was created by Daniela (Roche) Andrier and launched in 2015.
This fragrance opens with juniper berries and ginger which soon leave their space to lavender. Its base notes are vanilla and tonka bean that will stay on your skin all day.Â
Luna Rossa comes in an elegant bottle. This combines smooth silver parts with red glass. Its design is representative of sports style and sailing techniques.
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9. Acqua di Gio by Giorgio ArmaniÂ
We couldn’t talk about men’s fragrances without mentioning Acqua di Giò by Giorgio Armani. This was inspired by Pantelleria, the island where Armani spent his vacation.
With this product, Giorgio Armani created an aromatic aquatic scent with citruses’ top notes. Its base notes range from white musk to cedar, oakmoss, patchouli, and amber.
Acqua di Giò was first launched in 1996 but is still popular today. This scent is perfect for a date at the beach or a picnic in a park on a spring day.
10. Ambre Nuit by Christian Dior
Ambre Nuit by Christian Dior combines the best ingredients sourced from all corners of the world. Only a few brands, in fact, have managed to create such a high-quality product in the last few years.Â
This fragrance opens up with bergamot and a hearth of Damascena. Its base notes are cedar, guaiac wood, ambergris, and patchouli. This product is ideal for a night date in the winter or fall.Â
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed our selection of the 10 best first-date colognes for men. Do you have a favorite and if yes, why? is it the smell, because it lasts longer than others, or because women always complement you on it? Leave your comments below.