The 8 Best Burberry Colognes for Men

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There’s always a lot of noise in the designer fragrance world and while some other brands might make more noise, Burberry is a proven hit generator. Most recently, it was the launch of Hero and its viral Adam-Driver-as-centaur campaign, but that’s just the newest in a decades-long line of hit after hit. What makes Burberry fragrances stand out is that they’re incredibly wearable. Even the most out-of-the-box of the bunch are still grounded enough that they beg to be worn (and worn and worn). In a world where fragrances can get a little, well, “out there,” Burberry sticks to its guns and knows what it does best, making colognes you can’t wait to spritz.

Burberry fragrances have a wide range of vibes—from dark, spicy juices to light, fresh ones—but there are a few olfactory signatures. The biggest one is a focus on woods. Nearly every cologne includes at least one wood note, often cedar, and many of them utilize multiple forms of wood. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Hero, which features three different types of cedar at the base. That’s a lot of wood and the effect, in Hero and the other scents in the collection, is a grounded masculinity that harkens back to traditional men’s scents but always with a modern twist.

The best thing about Burberry colognes is that they’re known crowd pleasers. No matter which you choose, you’re bound to rake in the compliments. We personally can’t pick just one, so we’ve brought you the best eight of the bunch. Which one(s) you choose is up to you.

Hero Eau de Toilette

A modern take on a classic masculine cologne, this fragrance is all about wood—cedar, to be specific. The base is three different types of cedar, that create a crisp, slightly spicy, woody finish that sticks to your skin for hours. After a burst of freshness at the top, the overall result is deep and woody, with a slight kick from the juniper, which is versatile and just plain attractive.

Hero Parfum

The woodiness of the original Hero EDP is in here, but it’s deeper, richer, and a little sexier. The opening is still fresh, but more warm than crisp and the dry down—when the cedarwood and cypriol oil have time to mix a bit—gives this a deep sensuality that is irresistible. Yes, you could wear this during the day, but it’s really best if reserved for night when you can really amp up the darker vibes.

London for Men

If you just look at the notes of this fragrance, it’s easy to assume it’s going to be all leather and tobacco, and sure, those are apparent in the final concoction, but this isn’t about aggressive, leather daddy vibes. The final result is way more warm and comforting and smells reminiscent of nostalgic holiday seasons. It’s a perfect wintertime scent that feels festive but also like something you could wear every day.

Touch for Men

There’s something about this cologne that’s intensely calming and relaxing. The blend of flowers, subtle spices, and musk create a clean, floral vibe that’s unique but not obtrusive. It’s a bit of a shy scent, not in a bad way, but in the way that invites people to lean in closer instead of announcing itself to the room. It’s versatile enough to wear every day, for every occasion.

Brit for Him Eau de Toilette

The rose in this cologne is the hero, in the sense that it stands out, but the overall result is a masculine take on the flower. It’s mixed with spices and patchouli, giving it a warmth and depth that other rose scents don’t always have. There’s also a clean, powdery element here that gives it a freshness ideal for sunny days and warm weather. It’s a unique scent that’s both sophisticated and youthful.

Mr. Burberry Eau de Parfum

There’s something traditionally masculine about this fragrance (maybe it’s the woods) but it also feels young and fresh thanks to a green energy that vibrates through the entire experience. It’s slightly spicy, with an herbal hint from the mint at the top and patchouli and vetiver at the base, giving it a unique quality that’s versatile and unobtrusive but still distinctive. It’s the kind of scent you wear to show your boss you’re ready for the corner office.

Signatures Extreme Botanicals Oud Storm Eau de Parfum

Unless you’ve been over to the UK recently, you may not know about the Burberry Signatures collection, a capsule of eau de parfums that reference nature and feature high-end ingredients. This one, inspired by the scent of storms, is undoubtedly an oud cologne, but tempered with warm cardamom, spicy black pepper, and strong oak. It’s light yet richly layered and gives you a modern, masculine vibe that’s mature and sophisticated.

for Men Eau de Toilette

Out of all the Burberry fragrances, this is the most classically masculine. It has a crisp, clean, barbershop quality at the opening and dries down to creamy, traditional woods. It feels like the kind of scent a real gentleman would wear - unobtrusive but crowd pleasing, pleasant and flattering. There’s a nostalgic quality to it, without feeling old fashioned or stuffy. Timeless? Perhaps. Very, very good? Absolutely.

What To Look For In A Burberry Cologne

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 Burberry cologne.

Burberry fragrances are all pretty well-priced and fall in line with other designer scents (apart from the more expensive Signatures collection, that is). Taking wild price differences out of the equation, you’ll want to focus on the concentration of the fragrances themselves. Remember that Eau de Toilettes tend to have less of a concentration, meaning they won’t last as long as others, while Eau de Parfums are more concentrated and will last longer on your skin.

One of the olfactory signatures of Burberry fragrances is woods, particularly cedar, but that doesn’t mean that all of them are woody-smelling. Take a look at the other notes to get a general vibe of the overall juice.

Why Trust Us

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 fragrance, 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, along with the rest of the style team, has 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 men 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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