The Best Long-Lasting Colognes Will Keep You Smelling Great All Day

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We’ve all been there: you spritz on your cologne and leave the house with a spring in your step, only to get where you’re going and notice that your cologne has all but disappeared. It’s frustrating, right? You went through all that effort to pick out your scent, spray it on just right, and now it’s all for nothing. The problem, of course, isn’t you—it’s your cologne. It doesn’t have enough staying power.

That staying power, in fragrance terms, is called longevity—and it is an important factor in fragrance creation. Some fragrances aren’t designed to last very long (these are usually lighter, fresher scents) and actually won’t stay on your skin more than an hour or two. Others are designed to last way, way longer. So, how do you know which is which? The easiest way is by the name. Fragrances are named based on how much concentration of scent they have. Eau de parfums, parfums, and elixirs have the highest concentration of scent (sometimes as much as 40-50 percent), so they are going to last the longest. If you’ve been using an Eau de Toilette, which have some of the smallest concentrations, and hoping to keep smelling them all day, you’re in for a rude awakening.

Knowing this little tidbit is really the most important thing to understanding how long a fragrance will last. As for everything else, like all things fragrance, it’s a matter of personal taste and wear testing. Luckily, there are plenty of long lasting fragrances out there no matter what kind of vibes you typically go for—and this list is the best place to start.

Noir Extreme

If the word “extreme” didn’t tip you off, this version of Tom Ford’s Noir dials it up with loads of spices like cardamom and nutmeg on the top note, which reveal a floral-heavy middle note before finally drying down to a cornucopia of woods. There is a lot going on in this mature, elegant cologne and between the juice and the intense lasting power, it’s a bold choice.

Deep Dark Vanilla

Vanilla isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve never thought you’re a vanilla guy, you probably haven’t tried this bold scent. Sure, there is a lot of vanilla here (thanks to both vanilla leaves and vanilla absolu) but it’s laced with green, herbal notes like cypress and vine and grounded with earthy patchouli. It’s a surprising take on vanilla that evolves the longer it stays on your skin.

Dior Sauvage Elixir

The DNA of your classic Sauvage is in here, of course, but this newer, bolder version is spicy with a capital S thanks to hits of nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon, as well as an unexpected flash of licorice. The base of this juice is really what give it its lasting power—a heady mix of sandalwood, amber, patchouli, and Haitian vetiver that are bold and masculine on your skin even after several hours of wear.

Pasha Noir Absolu Eau de Parfum

You might hear that this fragrance has notes like caramel and praline and think you know what it smells like, but you’d be wrong. Yes, it’s a little sweet, but that sweetness is cut with a healthy dose of smoke, woods, and spice to create an effect that is both surprising and masculine. It’s a bold fragrance for a confident dude.

Akaster Eau de Parfum

Undeniably, this is a rose scent, but if you think you can’t wear a rose fragrance, we invite you to try just one spray. The heavy amount of oud in this juice is second only to the rose, and the two intermingle to create a bold, deeply elegant fragrance that stops people in their tracks. It smells like the kind of thing royalty would wear—and they probably do.

Ralph's Club Elixir

You might think this scent is one thing from the fresh, citrusy top note, but as it dries down it reveals a sophisticated fragrance laden with lavender, leather, patchouli, and balsam. It’s certainly the most mature version of the Ralph’s Club family, and the longest lasting, but still equally wearable for day and night.

Drakkar Intense Eau De Parfum

Okay, it may technically belong to the same family as the '80s classic Drakkar Noir, but this modern take is way fresher thanks to notes of bergamot, rosemary, clary sage, and a double hit of lavender. The lasting power is still there, but this juice is firmly planted in the modern era and actually smells, dare we say, fresh and new.

Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum

Bleu is an icon any way you slice it, thanks to its intoxicating combination of fresh citrus notes, spices, and elegant woods. This Eau de Parfum version is bolder than the original with the addition of incense and amber, which create more depth and longevity as well as lending it a more sophisticated and hot vibe.

Le Gemme Onekh Eau de Parfum

This deep, sultry fragrance really boils down to one thing: leather. Sure, there are other notes in there, like spices and labdanum and a dash of oud, but it’s really the leather that sticks to your skin and gives it an incredibly hot, badass vibe that’s best reserved for nighttime pursuits, if you know what we mean.

Stetson Original

Some scents just stand the test of time and this is one of them. Think of a classic men’s cologne and this one probably comes to mind with notes of sage, citrus, musk, vetiver, and patchouli. There’s a traditionally masculine vibe to it—the cowboy reference is very, very clear in the scent—but it’s still incredibly wearable for every day. Plus the longevity, and price, are hard to beat.

Xanaboud Extrait de Parfum

We’re always big fans of deep, elegant oud, but frankly sometimes it can be a little too much. This oud-forward juice strikes just the right balance between hot and sweaty and light and wearable. Notes of rose, jasmine, vanilla, and suede lighten up what could be a heavy vibe and turn this into the ultimate wearable party cologne.

Hero Eau de Parfum

Grounded in three—yes, three—types of cedar at the base, this bold cologne screams wood (there are even pine needles in the top note to drive that point home). Thanks to a healthy dash of incense and resinous benzoin, though, it somehow doesn’t smell too literal and instead gives off more of a spicy, earthy aroma that’s masculine yet modern.

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