Aftershave is a fail-safe Christmas gift (or birthday present or anniversary gift) that almost any man would love to unwrap. Struggling to decide on a gift for him?
Whether you're shopping for your partner, your dad or your brother, you're in the right place. I've curated an edit of all of the best perfume for men, from new scents to popular classics, and almost all of them are in the Black Friday sales.
- The bestselling scent: DIOR Sauvage Eau de Parfum, £52 / $135
- The fresh scent: Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau De Toilette, £63 / $112
- The luxury scent: Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum, £132 / $323
- The woody scent: Jo Malone Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense, £116 / $136
- The leather scent: Tom Ford Ombre Leather Eau de Parfum, £75 / $140
A good fragrance can boost confidence, evoke memories, and give his bathroom shelf a serious upgrade, but if you're unsure of which one to choose, I'm here to help.
From the bestselling Dior Sauvage and Chanel's new icon Bleu de Chanel, to luxury options from Creed and more niche fragrance from Byredo, scroll on for the best men's aftershaves to shop now.
How I chose the best men's aftershave
- Personal favourites: As well as working on HELLO!'s Shopping Team, I was previously a beauty editor at a major online retailer. All of these scents are tried and tested.
- Bestsellers: Maybe you already know he loves one of these scents, but if you're blind-buying a gift, it's often a good idea not to go too rogue. Everything featured in this edit is a bestseller for the brand, and for good reason.
- Budget: I've included aftershaves for a range of budgets, so you can purchase a gift from £55 up to £220.
DIOR Sauvage Eau de Parfum
Notes:
Top - Bergamot
Middle - Sichuan Pepper, Lavender, Star Anise, Nutmeg
Base - Ambroxan, Vanilla
With crowd-pleasing notes of Italian bergamot, warm nutmeg and soft vanilla, Dior Sauvage is fresh, sweet and spicy all at once, so it's no surprise it's one of the world's bestselling scents for men. Inspired by the desert at sundown, its sensual and a little bit exotic.
Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau De Toilette Spray
Notes:
Top - Citrus Accord, Vetiver, Pink Pepper
Middle - Grapefruit, Dry Cedar, Labdanum
Base - Frankincense, Ginger, Sandalwood
Bleu de Chanel is the most popular men's fragrance by the French fashion house. It begins fresh and clean but develops into something warmer, masculine, woody and aromatic. Subtle with impressive longevity, it's the ultimate everyday scent.
Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum
Notes:
Top - Bergamot, Blackcurrant, Apple, Pineapple
Middle - Juniper Berries, Birch, Patchouli, Jasmine
Base - Musk, Oak Moss, Ambergris, Vanilla
Creed Aventus is iconic in the fragrance industry, paving the way for many similar scents that followed, but none capture that luxurious 'expensive' feeling it evokes in quite the same way. It has a woody and heady centre, complemented with floral notes and a rich musky base.
Jo Malone London Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense
Notes:
Top - Cypress
Middle - Grapevine
Base - Amber
A lot of fragrances get labelled 'addictive' but I truly can't tear myself away from Jo Malone's Cypress & Grapevine Cologne. Like many of their scents, it's totally intoxicating, but the woody-amber blend is also very wearable. Rich and warm with a bit of spice, it has amazing longevity that makes it worth the price tag.
Tom Ford Ombre Leather Eau de Parfum
Notes:
Top - Cardamom
Middle - Leather, Jasmine Sambac
Base - Amber, Moss, Patchouli
Sensual, rich, and a little bit floral, Tom Ford's Ombre Leather is the definition of sophisticated and alluring, which could explain its unwavering popularity. If you really want to treat him, it's an easy win.
Byredo Bal D'Afrique Eau De Parfum
Notes:
Top - Bergamot, Lemon, Neroli, African Marigold, Bucchu
Middle - Violet, Jasmine, Cyclamen
Base - Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Virginia Cedar
Bal d'Afrique is one of luxury fragrance brand Byredo's most iconic scents. Romantic and decadent, intense but fresh, it makes the perfect gift. It mixes earthy bucchu with spicy-musky African marigold and zesty bergamot, lemon and neroli.
Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Toilette
Notes:
Top - Bergamot Essence, Pink Pepper Essence
Middle - Iris Accord, Sage Essence
Base - Vetiver Essence, Tonka Bean
A cocktail of citrus and fresh, floral scents, Prada's Luna Rossa Ocean also has a unique leather heart and sensual accord of suede to add a delicious dose of masculinity.
Gucci Guilty Eau de Parfum For Him
Notes:
Top - Fresh Rose, Hot Chili Pepper
Middle - Lavender, Orange Blossom
Base - Cedarwood, Patchouli
Gucci scents are always a little more unique than your average. This dark and seductive fragrance mixes classic notes of rose and patchouli with red hot chili pepper for an added kick.
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum
Notes:
Top - Apple, Ginger, Bergamot
Middle - Sage, Juniper Berries, Geranium
Base - Amberwood, Tonka Bean, Cedar, Vetiver, Olibanum
If he likes a bit of spice, Y by Yves Saint Laurent will fit the bill. Mysterious, modern and masculine, it's just soft enough to leave you wanting more.
BOSS The Scent Absolute For Him Eau de Parfum
Notes:
Top - Ginger
Middle - Maninka Fruit & Mondia Roots
Base - Vetiver
Rich and intense, the notes of aphrodisiac Maninka fruit combined with elegant Vetiver is what has everyone obsessed with this bestselling BOSS fragrance.
