The 7 Best Dior Colognes for Men

The original Sauvage remains one of Dior’s best sellers for one simple reason: It’s just that good. Since its debut in 2015, there have been a thousand imitations, but the unique scent of Sauvage will always stand out. The fresh top and middle notes of Calabrian bergamot, lavender, and geranium are uplifting and energizing while the base of warm ambroxan and woody cedar anchor it to your skin as the three different types of pepper offer a spicy kick. It’s a cologne that’s as versatile as it is singular.

The newest addition to the Sauvage family – Elixir – is a darker, sexier take on the classic cologne. It dials up the spice in a big way, but also adds a bit of warmth that turns it into a more mature, seductively masculine cologne than the more versatile original. It’s bolder and more concentrated, so it will last longer on your skin and creates a sillage that’s noticeable but not overpowering. Think of this as the mature older brother to Sauvage. Wear it at night for optimal effect.

This version of Dior Homme, reimagined in 2020, is a modern take on the classic woody men’s cologne. Crisp cedar and smooth cashmere wood take center stage through the entire fragrance but the freshness of bergamot and pink pepper at the opening perks up your senses at the first spray. The dry down, while still very wood-forward, slowly reveals a skin-like white musk note. It’s not as aggressive as some of your more traditional woody colognes, but that’s the point; it’s a modernized take that’s incredibly easy to wear for nearly every man.

The word sport in men’s cologne speak is always code for “fresh,” which this scent is—very much so. The lemon and bergamot at the top are sharp and zingy and give it a bit of a kick to the nose, but what keeps it from being too literal are the aldehydes, which give it a clean soapiness that also lends an elegance to the citrus. The dry down—which reveals warm amber, smokey olibanum, and masculine woody notes—lasts for hours (and we mean hours). It’s one of those colognes that you keep coming back to because it’s not just easy to wear, but you actually want to keep smelling it.

This cologne can be polarizing because it is old school (we’re talking “released in 1988” old school). But for those that like a deep, dark, traditionally masculine cologne, this is one of the best. It’s very much a leather fragrance, and some say it has a sharp gasoline quality (also very polarizing). It’s sharp at first but dries down quickly to a leathery, musky, warm, skin-type scent that’s bold but not overpowering. It’s the type of cologne you can imagine an ’80s Wall Street power broker wearing on a night out and honestly, who doesn’t want to harness some of that energy every once in a while?

Widely considered one of the masterpieces of perfumery, the original Eau Sauvage is all about vintage vibes (it debuted in 1966 after all). Think of it as what Dickiy Greenleaf would wear while tooling around on his Vespa—crisp, fresh, herbaceous, and refreshing with a slight undertone of a fresh barbershop shave. Not only is it the quintessential summer fragrance, but it’s also extremely gentlemanly. It’s subtle and never aggressive and is appropriate for every occasion. It’s professional but somehow also alluring at the same time. And even though it’s not the most modern cologne on the market, it’s the perfect example of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

This new unisex fragrance is anything but mainstream. It’s deceptive in its simplicity, with a top note of clean, crisp aldehydes, which are usually used more as background players than the lead role. As it dries, the smoky, smooth frankincense and warm amber reveal themselves and help it stick closer to your skin, but it never loses a slightly sterile aspect that’s unexpected and utterly unique. Inspired by the couture designs that put the House of Dior on the map, this scent is definitely niche, but so attention-grabbing people can’t look away.