The 7 Best Prada Colognes for Men

<p>There are a few <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g46870608/best-new-colognes-2024/” target=”_blank”>olfactory signatures</a> you’ll find as a throughline in Prada fragrances. Many have a soapy quality, which makes them feel clean and dries down to a powdery finish on your skin. They also often have a <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g60294565/best-fresh-fragrances-for-men/” target=”_blank”>freshness</a> to them that, unlike other fragrances, doesn’t come from <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g43794361/best-citrus-colognes/” target=”_blank”>citrus</a>. Instead, Prada fragrances tend to get their freshness from florals and <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g45242258/best-spicy-colognes/” target=”_blank”>spices</a>, which brings a different idea of freshness to the table. You’ll also find that, even though these are all masculine-leaning colognes, none of them are aggressive or rely too heavily on traditional masculine notes. Even when you find things like <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g43520997/best-woody-colognes/” target=”_blank”>woods</a> in the juice, they’re usually smoother and more subtle than other traditionally masculine scents. They’re really more about twisting your notion of what a cologne can—and should—be, which is why we love them. So whether you’re searching for your next signature scent or just adding to your collection, one of these seven best Prada colognes is a great bet. <br></p>”/>

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Best Fresh Prada Cologne

Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette

Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette

It’s tempting to call this scent minimalist and really, you wouldn’t be wrong if you did. This fresh, citrus-forward cologne is all about clean vibes. There’s a kick of herbaceousness from the mint and clary sage as they mingle with the bite of bitter orange, but then the lavender comes forward to give this a soapy, freshly showered vibe that adds to the fresh feeling without the need for more citrus. It’s all grounded in a double dose of amber that adds a subtle warmth and anchors it to your skin. It’s a versatile, lightweight fragrance that’s handy to spritz on whenever you want to feel fresh, especially in warm weather.

Fragrance Family Fresh
Notes Lavender, bitter orange, mint, clary sage, ambrette, ambroxan

Best Prada Cologne for the Office

Prada Luna Rossa Carbon Eau de Toilette

Luna Rossa Carbon Eau de Toilette

The freshness of the original Luna Rossa is in here at the top, but it quickly evolves into something different. It smells familiar, in the way that many takes on the fresh/spicy combo can, but something about this is smoother and slightly more mature than similar scents we’ve tried. Maybe it’s the more conceptual metal, coal, and soil notes that add a smooth, grounded factor to the mix. The addition of patchouli at the base, as well, adds a maturity and earthiness that also increases the longevity of this juice on your skin. It’s a solid everyday pick that is well suited for the boardroom.

Fragrance Family Fresh, spicy
Notes Bergamot, pepper, lavender, metallic notes, watery notes, coal, soil tincture, ambroxan, patchouli

Best Prada Cologne for a Date

Prada Luna Rossa Black Eau de Parfum

Luna Rossa Black Eau de Parfum

While the original Luna Rossa is all about the freshness, this one is smoother, deeper, and darker. The most striking thing is the powderiness, which adds an unexpected element to the otherwise sweet and deep mix of notes. It’s a very masculine fragrance, but in the Prada way, which isn’t ever obvious or literal. Instead, this turns the idea of a masculine fragrance on it’s head (again, it’s that powder) and makes it unexpected and attention-grabbing. This one, being an eau de parfum, has a better longevity than some of the other Luna Rossa versions, which means a couple sprays last all night. It’s also ideal for colder weather when the warm, powdery quality invites people to get closer to you.

Fragrance Family Amber, woody
Notes Bergamot, angelica, patchouli, coumarin, amber, musk

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Most Versatile Prada Cologne

Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum

Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum

We’re partial to the eau de parfum version of Ocean because there is a depth and smoothness to it beyond the fresh, aquatic elements. The opening is a juicy blast of grapefruit, which brings that freshness you want, but this one is really about the dry down, which reveals the woody notes, smokey frankincense, sweet vanilla, and warm amber. It’s a little sweet, but very deep and masculine, even with the freshness. It’s the best of all worlds, a versatile cologne that can be worn pretty much anywhere at any time without ever being inappropriate. Consider this the workhorse of your cologne collection.

Fragrance Family Amber, woody
Notes Grapefruit, woody notes, frankincense, vanilla, amber xtreme

Best Floral Prada Cologne

Prada L’Homme Eau de Toilette

L'Homme Eau de Toilette

True to form, this Prada scent subverts what we typically think of as a masculine fragrance. It’s clean, powdery and floral—but not in an “old lady” way. And instead of relying on citrus for the freshness, this one brings in floral notes of neroli, iris, violet, and geranium to give it a clean, soap-like feel. Yes, we said soap, and yes, that’s a good thing. It smells like you just took a shower using the fanciest soap on the planet. As it dries down, it allows the wood notes of cedar and sandalwood to peek out and add a smooth, earthy element that anchors it to your skin. As subversive as it is, it’s also incredibly wearable and versatile.

Fragrance Family Woody, floral
Notes Neroli, black pepper, cardamom, carrot seeds, iris, violet, geranium, mate, amber, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli

Best Sophisticated Prada Cologne

Prada Infusion de Vétiver Eau de Parfum

Infusion de Vétiver Eau de Parfum

Prada’s Infusion collection might seem like it’s all about single-note fragrances, but don’t let the simplicity fool you. In true Prada form, these scents might be inspired by specific notes—vetiver in this case—but they are anything but literal. This one pairs the grassy-woody-herbal note with spices like ginger and pepper to give it a deeper, more layered quality that keeps it smelling fresh and zingy, but with a more elegant touch. The dry down lingers on your skin with a slightly powdery finish, but the overall impression is an incredibly elegant fresh scent that’s reminiscent of gin and tonics.

Fragrance Family Woody, spicy
Notes Vetiver, tarragon, ginger, pepper

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Best Subtle Prada Cologne

Prada Infusion de Cèdre Eau de Parfum

Infusion de Cèdre Eau de Parfum

Once again, don’t let the simplicity of the idea fool you. This might be a cedar fragrance, but it doesn’t have an intensely woody vibe. The cedar is mixed with iris and neroli for a fresh opening devoid of citrus notes. Instead, you get the signature Prada soapiness with a dash of freshness. As it dries down (and it dries down quickly), the smokier, resinous notes of incense and benzoin reveal themselves and act as anchors to your skin. The cedar vibe sticks around, of course, but it’s incredibly subtle. This is a truly understated fragrance, with less longevity than some others on this list, but that’s kind of the point. After a while, it blends with your skin perfectly.

Fragrance Family Woody, floral
Notes Iris, cedar, Tunisian neroli, incense, benzoin

What to Look for in a Prada Cologne

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Of course, picking a fragrance is a deeply personal decision no matter what the brand, but there are some things to keep in mind when you’re choosing a Prada cologne. While most Prada colognes lean on the subtle side, you will find a range of strengths, from eau de toilette to eau de parfum. Eau de toilettes are lighter and have less of a concentration of fragrance versus eau de -parfums, which are more concentrated. You’ll also find that Prada colognes are on the fresh side, and many have a soapy, clean quality, so if you’re searching for a deeper, darker cologne, stick to eau de parfums and those with deeper notes like woods and spices. However, the Prada signature is really about freshness, which makes these colognes ideal for daytime wear.

Why Trust Us

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We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our grooming and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to fragrances, one of the most important grooming items a man can have, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting scents that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved. Our grooming editor Garrett Munce and the rest of the style team have spent years spritzing, spraying, wearing, and test-driving hundreds (thousands!) of colognes and we are confident that these are the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists) comes from these years of testing. We know that no two tastes are the same, no two people are the same, and how you want to smell may vary from someone else. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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