7 Best Colognes for Older Men in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

With much of the fashionable apparel, products, and accessories targeted at women and the younger crowd, it’s tough for an old gentleman to stand out.

So, what are his options then?

Well, to craft a style befitting his age, confidence, class, poise, and standard, he must replace his T-shirts, sneakers, and jeans with vests, suits, and leather shoes.

Then, for the final piece of the puzzle, he should select a cologne that meshes well with his personality.

Today, we’ll focus specifically on colognes and look at key aspects to consider before splashing the cash on a fragrance for old men.

There isn’t a fixed criterion in selecting colognes for older men.

After all, everyone has a different taste.

However, more often than not, classic fragrances usually suit the older crowd better.

Ideally speaking, you should go for a cologne that has proper character and depth.

Rather than the “in-your-face” cologne that stands out from the get-go, opt for slow-burner fragrances that manage to evoke cherished olfactory memories.

In terms of fragrance notes, lean towards fragrances that are warm and spicy.

At the same time, don’t overlook citrus notes as well.  

If you don’t have the time to conduct your own research, have a look at my list of best fragrances for older men.

These colognes have been carefully picked after hours of trials and recommendations from industry experts.

At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Colognes for Older Men

If you’re in a hurry, you can jump straight into our top picks (these are the colognes for older men that most people buy).

• Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
• Calvin Klein Obsession
• Christian Dior Eau Sauvage

Top 7 Best Colognes For Older Men – Our Reviews:

1. Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio

You can’t go wrong with the Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio.

Ever since its introduction in 1996, this cologne for 50-year-old men and up has managed to garner hordes of admirers for its warm, citrusy, and distinct fragrance notes.

A couple of spritzes and you’re introduced to a world of orange, jasmine, lime, and bergamot.

You could say the fragrance has an extremely citrusy opening.

Then, the heart fragrance notes begin to appear, with the scents of rose, coriander, rosemary, violet, mignonette, sea notes, and hyacinth, ensuring the fragrance stays fresh and relaxed at the same time.

Finally, the base notes of cedar, oakmoss, amber, patchouli, and white musk join the party, giving the fragrance one rather woodsy marine vibe.

Ideal for use in the summers and springs because of its fresh, floral, and aquatic fragrance notes, this cologne for older men is better suited for day activities than night fun.

I must also add that the Armani Acqua di Gio cologne has an outstanding sillage range and long-lasting effect.

You can smell the scent up to 36 hours from the initial application!

In fact, in terms of longevity, this cologne is one of the best fragrances for the older man.

Top Notes: Jasmine, Neroli, Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Mandarin, Orange

Heart Notes: Mignonette, Coriander, Rose, Peach, Rosemary, Violet, Sea Notes, Hyacinth, Peach

Base Notes: Oak Moss, Amber, Patchouli, White Musk

Read Also: Best Armani Colognes For Men

2. Calvin Klein Obsession

Calvin Klein is a brand that is synonymous with the younger crowd.

However, with the Calvin Klein Obsession, the brand has shown a lot of love to the 60-year-old man.

As its name suggests, wear the Obsession at your own risk.

Upon application, you’ll have crowds of admirers obsessing over you.

Now, what does the Calvin Klein Obsession fragrance for men smell like?

As soon as you put it on, your nose will detect a strong burst of citrus notes blended in well with aromatic lavender.

Then, the heart fragrance notes take center stage, emanating scents of sage, nutmeg, myrrh, and some jasmine.

For the finale, expect to be mesmerized by the warm fragrance notes of sandalwood, amber, musk, and vanilla.

Overall, the Obsession men’s fragrance has a charismatic, warm, and cozy vibe to it, which makes it excellent for use on a warm autumn date night with your missus.

This fragrance/aroma works well for the winters as well.

Moreover, as far as projection and longevity go, the Obsession is one that can give any cologne a run for its money.

It also helps that this cologne is suitable for all age groups.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Vanilla, Mandarin, Orange, Green Notes, Lemon, Basil, Peach

Heart Notes: Coriander, Oakmoss, Spices, Cedar, Orange Blossom, Rose, Jasmine

Base Notes: Incense, Vanilla, Civet, Musk, Vetiver, Sandalwood

Read Also: Best Calvin Klein (CK) Colognes For Men

3. Christian Dior Eau Sauvage

Christian Dior entered the men’s fragrance market for the first time in 1966 with the debut of the Dior Eau Sauvage and lo and behold, they hit the mark from the get-go with that one cologne.

Fast forward to the present, the Eau Sauvage cologne continues to dominate the market largely on account of its fantastic blend of citrus notes with some lavender and spicy basil, on a masculine woodsy base.

As soon as you spray it on, you’ll catch a whiff of bergamot, cumin, rosemary, and lemon.

After a while, the middle notes enter the scene, offering fragrances of jasmine, carnation, coriander, basil, patchouli, petitgrain, and orris.

These notes offer a glimpse of what the “manly man” is supposed to smell like.

Then, finally, the warm woody base of amber, oakmoss, musk, and sandalwood bring the night to an end.

I also like the fact that the old school Eau Sauvage cologne has excellent projection and longevity.

This cologne is ideal for romantic dinner dates with loved ones.

In short, for men with a few miles under their wheels, the Eau Sauvage checks all the boxes.  

This cologne is arguably the best cologne for the older man in its price range.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Basil, Caraway, Lemon, Cumin, Rosemary

Heart Notes: Patchouli, Rose, Coriander, Orris Root, Carnation, Petitgrain

Base Notes: Musk, Amber, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood

Read Also: Best Dior Colognes For Men

4. Acqua Di Parma Colonia

The Acqua Di Parma Colonia, similar to the Acqua Di Gio in many aspects, is also worth its weight in gold.

This old school fragrance has been around since 1916.

Do the math—that’s over a century and yet, like fine wine, the cologne has aged extremely well!

A couple of spritzes in, you’ll detect zesty notes of Sicilian citruses.

Then, as you inspect the fragrance furthermore, you’ll smell a hint of lemon verbena, lavender, Bulgarian rose, and rosemary.

Before the fragrance disappears into thin air, expect to be blown away by the fragrances of sandalwood, patchouli, amber, and white musk.

Never boring, this citrusy scent is ideal for the 50-year-old man looking for an office-friendly fragrance.

I would also like to add the fact that the cologne is one that’s versatile enough to be worn all year round.

As far as projection goes, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to state that the Acqua Di Parma Colonia is the best cologne for older men in the business.

However, it isn’t as long-lasting (decent longevity) as the other colognes listed here.

Men of other age groups can also wear this cologne.

Top Notes: Sweet Orange, Lemon, Calabrian Bergamot

Heart Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Rosemary, Verbena, Lavender

Base Notes: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, Amber, White Musk

5. Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme 

The Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Eau De Toilette is suitable for men of all age groups as it exudes power, strength, and masculinity like no other. 

Whether you’re 30 or 50-year-old, this one is for you.

A couple of spritzes and you’ll be blown away by the rare note of yuzu.

Add citrus fragrance and tarragon to the mix, and you are taken to a serene world.

As time passes, you’re then introduced to the heart fragrance notes of oriental spices, lotus, nutmeg, lily of the valley, mignonette, saffron, and bourbon geranium, giving the fragrance a rather woody and spicy tone.

The end notes, too, possess an intense woody scent with a blend of musk, cedar, sandalwood, amber, tobacco, and Tahitian vetiver.

Not only does this cologne give a unique scent, but it also has excellent longevity.

As for its projection, the scent is average at best.

Office-friendly and suitable for the outdoors at the same time, this fragrance is best worn in the summers or spring.

If you’re looking for a signature scent that is fresh, airy, and light, go for the Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme without any hesitation.

Top Notes: Yuzu, Cypress, Mandarin Orange, Lemon Verbena, Coriander, Calone, Tarragon

Heart Notes: Oriental Spices, Blue Lotus, Nutmeg, Lily-of-the-valley, Mignonette, Saffron, And Bourbon Geranium

Base Notes: Musk, Cedar, Sandalwood, Amber, Tobacco, And Tahitian Vetiver

6. Guerlain Vetiver

The Guerlain Vetiver Eau De Toilette is one of the best choices for older men at its price point.

A perfect fit for the outgoing, adventurous, extroverted old man, the Guerlain fragrance can be best described as a combination of fresh, spicy, and citrusy scents.

This fragrance for old men consists of notes of pepper, leather, vetiver, and orris root, which may seem a bit too much for the reserved man.

However, with the addition of sweeter, subtler notes such as civet, Tonka bean, sandalwood, and amber, you can expect an attempt at making the scent more balanced.

Not everyone will fall flat for this fragrance as it’s categorized more as an acquired taste.

Still, for the gentleman who loves it, the Guerlain Eau De Toilette will be a staple cologne wear.

Perfect for wear in the cold, evening winters, I must also bring attention to the cologne’s outstanding sillage and longevity.

This cologne can last for about 28 hours!

If that doesn’t impress you much, I doubt anything will.

Top Notes: Lemon, Neroli, Bergamot, Tobacco, Coriander, Nutmeg, Mandarin

Heart Notes: Carnation, Orris Root, Pepper, Sandalwood

Base Notes: Leather, Civet, Amber, Myrrh, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean, Vetiver

7. Chanel Pour Monsieur

The Chanel Pour Monsieur is one of Chanel’s biggest sellers.

Ever since its debut in 1955, this fragrance has been able to attract millions globally with its classic chypre structure scent.

If you’re looking for a scent that exudes authority and security, the Pour Monsieur will work like a charm for you.

As for its scent, the Pour Monsieur first gives you head notes of Tunisian neroli and Sicilian lemons.

Trust me, these notes are extremely potent.

As the fragrance settles down, you get to enjoy the hearty blend of spicy notes such as cardamom, ginger, and basil.

Finally, when the fragrance is on its last legs, it gives off notes of oakmoss, cedar, and vetiver.

Although the Chanel Pour Monsieur will help you stand out everywhere you go, neither does it have the best projection, nor is it the most long-lasting.

Hence, you may need to top up and reapply the fragrance every few hours to get the most out of it.

The cologne is versatile enough to be worn all year round and is best for breakfast settings, family gatherings, or any other intimate occasions.

This cologne is arguably the best cologne for older men in its price range.

Top Notes: Sicilian Lemon, Tunisian Neroli, Petitgrain

Heart Notes: Cardamom, Ginger, Basil

Base Notes: Cedar, Oakmoss, Vetiver

The Bottom Line

There you have it, my picks of some of the best colognes/fragrances for older men.

While some may be suitable for wear all year, others are only appropriate for specific seasons.

Only choose a type after you go through the list thoroughly.

If you want a modern cologne for men that has fantastic overall performance, give the Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio a chance.

This fragrance for the older man has fresh, floral, and aquatic notes, making it perfect for summers and springs.

The Armani Acqua di Gio for men also has outstanding sillage range and long-lasting effect.

For a vintage cologne that checks all the boxes, the Christian Dior Eau Sauvage is a safe bet.

This cologne for the older man has been around since 1966 and still manages to wow the crowd with its fantastic blend of citrus notes with lavender and spicy basil, on a masculine woodsy base.

Personally, I’m a big fan of the Calvin Klein Obsession.

The Obsession fragrance for the older man has a charismatic and warm, cozy vibe to it, making it ideal for both warm summers and cold winters.  

Also, as far as projection and longevity go, the Obsession can give all fragrances a run for their money.

It also helps that this cologne is suitable for all age groups.