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Best cologne and perfume for men in Australia

We collated dozens of expert ratings and customer reviews to select the best men’s fragrances available in Australia.

Luke Holmesby
Luke Holmesby

Updated

Fact checked
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The best cologne and perfume for men in Australia

How did we pick this list?

Our editorial team chose these products based on expert consensus in leading men's grooming publications, retailer lists of popular products and customer reviews on Basenotes and Amazon Australia.

Read more detail on our methodology below.

Best cologne for most people: CK One Eau De Toilette

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Many reviews claim it strikes the right chord for both everyday wear and night outings

Cons

  • Not the most unique scent
  • Some users have said that it doesn't have the striking masculine presence of some colognes more specifically tailored to men

Price (RRP): $38.35

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Chemist Warehouse

Why we chose it

A collection of more than 500 customer reviews from Amazon, Chemist Warehouse and Product Review as well as expert analysis from leading grooming publications including GQ, Luxe, Harper's Bazaar, Fragrantica and Parfumo, saw the classic CK One rated highly for how well it covered the fragrance needs of most people.

Calvin Klein was the first to launch into the unisex fragrance market with this offering in the mid-90s and it still holds up as the go-to for most people. The citrus, aromatic fragrance has notes of bergamot, mandarin, papaya, violet, rose, green tea, musk and nutmeg.

Reviews of what has become an iconic fragrance still talk it up as the perfect balance between masculine and feminine scents. The world has a far different outlook on gender fluidity in 2020 than it did in 1994, which if anything makes this more appealing now than when it was a trailblazer in the field.

Best overall perfume for men: Dior Sauvage

Pros

  • Long lasting
  • Holds its own against offerings marketed to the higher-end customer with a lower price tag

Cons

  • More suited to night-time than daytime
  • Some customers say the strong scent could be more subtle

Price (RRP): $224

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Catch
Buy at Chemist Warehouse

Why we chose it

When the quality of a product relies on such a subjective sense as smell, it is testament to that product for it to be as consistently praised as the Sauvage offering by Dior.

With a heritage going back to 1966 when it was launched as Dior's first masculine fragrance, Sauvage still features strongly on every esteemed list of men's fragrances from GQ to Forbes to Luxe to Dmarge, Influenster and Allure.

It is also telling that it is ranked high in popularity among luxury fragrances at high-end store David Jones, as well as among more affordable options at pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse.

With a peppery opening, it has heart notes of lavender and nutmeg before a Papua New Guinean base note. Some of those elements may seem contrasting, but reviews say it gives the scent a good balance with an obvious masculine aura. Users have said it is more suited to a night-time event, even though it has longevity that means it will last right through any event and beyond.

Best cheap cologne: David Beckham Instinct

Pros

  • Its versatility means it can work as well for a night out as it could for a day in the office
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Not particularly long lasting
  • While the Beckham brand does have worldwide appeal, the association with a sportsman may deter some who want a more sophisticated, established fragrance brand

Price (RRP): $12.99

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Chemist Warehouse

Why we chose it

David Beckham Instinct was a consensus great value fragrance according to customers on Amazon, Product Reviews, retail websites and personal research.

Instinct was the first product in the David Beckham range and still holds up as a dependable, affordable option.

With top notes of Italian bergamot, orange and mandarin, heart notes of star anise, cardamom and red pimento, and base notes of Haitian vetiver, patchouli and white amber, it has a distinctively masculine aroma. While cheap in price, that does not correlate to the product quality.

The magnetic cap on a sleek bottle is a nice touch that makes this an even more appealing choice for an everyday cologne.

Best high-end fragrance for men: Creed Aventus

Pros

  • Reported to have great projection and be long lasting, meaning no need for constant reapplication
  • Achieves a balance of fresh and earthy

Cons

  • High-end product means a high-end price tag
  • Some users have reported that the scent can be overwhelming

Price (RRP): $404

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Chemist Warehouse

Why we chose it

Dozens of personal grooming magazines, websites and blogs had rated Creed as one of, if not the, choice for a high-end men's fragrance. Reviews on GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Men's Health, Executive Style, The Trend Spotter, Scents Event, Man of Man and Luxe all gave high praise to the flagship choice in the Creed range.

The top notes include blackcurrant, mint, green apple, pineapple and bergamot, complemented by heart notes of birch, jasmine, rose and patchouli rounded out with base notes of oakmoss, vanilla, musk and ambergris.

With a strong projection and longevity, it is reported to have a dominant, masculine aroma with a price tag that matches its quality. Creed backs itself as a strong player in the high-end market without relying on celebrity endorsements, truly marking itself as a niche performer.

Best long-lasting fragrance for men: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle Eau De Toilette

Pros

  • Suitable for daily use
  • Reported to outlast most other men's fragrances

Cons

  • Mid-range price
  • Can be too strong unless applied carefully

Price (RRP): $69.99

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Chemist Warehouse
Buy at Myer

Why we chose it

The common phrase found in all reviews of Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle is "long-lasting". The overwhelming feedback from experts, retailers and customers is that when it comes to this fragrance, a spray goes a long way. This has been echoed on Amazon, Product Reviews, Chemist Warehouse and reviews from around the world.

With a combination of mint, lavender, cumin and cinnamon, Le Mâle is said to have a spicy sweetness to it that can resonate well beyond many other competitors.

These dominant ingredients are complemented by artemesia, vanilla, cardamom, amber, bergamot and sandalwood, and makes a statement as Jean Paul Gaultier's first venture into male fragrances with a bottle crafted in the shape of a man's torso.

Best earthy cologne: Tom Ford Oud Wood

Pros

  • The woody tendency can make it a masculine scent but many online reviews also highlight its ability to be a unisex option
  • Customer feedback suggests it is a unique scent

Cons

  • Higher end of the price range
  • Reported to struggle with projection

Price (RRP): $299

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Catch
Buy at Myer

Why we chose it

A thorough review of men's grooming platforms and customer reviews shows that Tom Ford Oud Wood is a common go-to for the more earthy and woody fragrance.

Part of the Tom Ford Private Blend collection, this offering blends notes of amber and vanilla with a musky oud as well as elements of cardamom, exotic rose wood, sandalwood and vetiver, not to mention a hint of Chinese pepper.

This combination makes for a savoury, sweet and woody result and a unique scent.

It is reported to be a strong odour but is said to capture the rare oud wood impression as well as anything on the market.

Methodology

  • We have compared more than 104 different fragrances from 65 manufacturers.
  • The brands were assessed according to customer reviews, expert recommendations, professional preferences and in-store sampling.
  • The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.

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