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The past year brought no shortage of stellar fragrance launches, and after 12 months of testing, wearing, and tracking the best colognes of 2025, a few clear themes emerged. In case you didn’t know, the olfactory world has trends just like the fashion world, and this year’s scents skewed textural and atmospheric, with niche woods as primary players and pairings like amber with citrus or spice for depth. Some leaned near-extrait in weight for longevity, yet skin-scent minimalism spoke volumes, working with your chemistry and favoring subtlety over room-stifling, beast-mode projection. This year, fragrance pyramids feel more layered and expressive than ever, reflecting that folks want to smell as unique as they look.
The only rule for this list is simple: Every fragrance below launched in 2025—no classics, nothing from 2023, just the past year’s standout scents. While by no means exhaustive (you can peep GQ‘s full list of the best colognes regardless of launch year for that) the lineup spans many fragrance families, from recognizable designers and luxury niche houses to indie gems, with a vibe to suit every sensibility. Without further ado, here are 17 of the best colognes of 2025.
The Best Colognes of 2025, According to GQ
Dior Homme Parfum
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Chanel Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif
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Hermes Terre d’Hermès Eau de parfum intense
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D.S. & Durga Cognac Reign
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Arquiste Nocturnality
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Everyone knows Dior Sauvage, now overseen by one of the GOATs of modern perfumery, Francis Kurkdjian, as one of the most popular and marketable colognes of all time. This past year, the Maison shifted attention back to another Dior classic: Homme Parfum. Fragrance fans debate whether this or the original reigns supreme, but to my nose, this reinvention is an incredibly chic, floral-resinous flanker that smells far more luxurious than its price point suggests. Iris leads from the first spritz (plush and dense here), before settling into a base of amber, patchouli, and vetiver for a velvety depth. Smooth, sultry, and polished, it’s on its way to modern-classic status.
There’s a good chance you’ve seen Timothée Chalamet’s 10-second ad on your social feed repping Chanel’s latest, and I’ll admit, it’s a perfect fit. Set to The Moody Blues’ 1967 hit Nights in White Satin, it perfectly captures the mysterious, amber-hued mood that L’Exclusif exudes. It’s an aromatic (read: fresher) fume with waves of leather, warm woods, and labdanum, creating a rich, resinous vibe that’s sensual yet versatile enough for daily wear. Where the OG Bleu skewed brighter and citrusy, L’Exclusif goes darker and denser with a slightly more premium price tag to match. In short: Bleu, all grown up.
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