The Best Men’s Fragrances Women Love | Best Men’s Cologne 2019

Men’s fragrances come in all varieties these days and wearing the wrong one can be a huge mistake. We’re going to break down the different types/classes of scents women love and let you know when the best times are to wear them. Ultimately, what scents you wear are a highly personal choice so make sure you invest some time in finding the right ones and trying different scents out. Too much cologne is a huge mistake when it comes to interacting in any social or professional situation and especially when dating.

The fragrance world is wide but we’re here to guide you with a few simple tips, here are the best men’s fragrances women love!

General Tips

Try The Scent On Yourself First

Scents change and react differently for each person, so it’s very important to try a bunch of them and see what you like and what feedback is like.

Choose The Right Scent For The Season

Not only do you need to consider the scent but the seasonality of it. You want heavier, more masculine scents in the colder months, and lighter, cleaner fragrances in the warmer months. Think of it just like the seasonality of your wardrobe.

Go Light

Finally, and maybe most importantly, make sure you’re applying the right way and going very light. If you can smell it on yourself very strongly, you’re wearing too much.

Fragrances Women Love

For this article and video, our friends at Fulton & Roark sent us a range of different scents to explore and we’re going to give you a rundown on what we liked best when you should wear them. Each Fulton & Roark fragrance uses a blend of naturally sourced essential oils and premium fragrance ingredients and each cologne offers its own experience. These highly concentrated solid colognes offer a long-lasting and steady fragrance designed to keep you fresh. More subtle than liquid sprays, the solids aren’t as overwhelming (a huge pet peeve of ours!). The solid metal containers also travel easily in a gym bag, pocket or carry-on, allowing you to smell your best wherever and whenever.

In addition to a range of awesome scents, Fulton & Roark offers a handy and affordable tester kit so you can try all of their fragrances first. The tester kit is $16 but you also get a $16 credit back that’s good towards your first cologne purchase. Plus the kit ships for free. As a bonus for you guys, you can get 10% off your order with code ASHLEY.

Get your Fulton & Roark tester kit right here (plus 10% off)!

Here’s our rundown on all of the scents they offer plus when we think they’d be best for.

Hatteras

For us. the notes of lavender and hay just don’t go together in this one. It creates a bit of an overwhelming scent that wasn’t our favorite.

Shackleford

We loved this one and Ashley can’t stop smelling this scent. We liked the leather notes combined with some hints of dried fruit that creates a warm feeling. It’s captivating.

Best For: Fall/Winter

Tybee

Ashley loved the light, bright notes on this one which make it the perfect choice for the spring and summer months. You can smell the cedar notes which gives it a fresh, clean feeling while still being masculine.

Best For: Spring/Summer

Clearwater

This fragrance is light, but the green, mossy notes end up smelling a bit like chemicals. But, the citrus notes cut through those elements so you end up with a very nice scent that’s reminiscent of freshly-squeezed orange juice.

Best For: Spring/Summer

Captiva

This scent is a bit overpowering for us. It almost had a sunscreen/spf scent that didn’t work for Ashley. This is one that could be heavily dependent on the wearer so while we recommend trying it for yourself, this one was a pass for us.

Sterling

This fragrance was another one we really loved. It’s a bit sweet due to the vanilla but still smells masculine with the tobacco & leather notes. Women will love this scent as it will make them want to cozy up to the man wearing this scent, which is why it’s the perfect winter fragrance.

Best For: Fall/Winter

Palmetto

The magnolia notes remind us of the Spring and Summer months. It’s light and just smells really clean, especially with the cedar note you get at the end. We really liked this one.

Best For: Spring/Summer

Perpetua

For Ashley, there’s something about woodsy notes like cedar and mahogany that just smell really great on a man. This scent has those notes along with some citrus and floral notes that make this the perfect year-round scent.

Best For: Year-Round

10 Ways You’re Killing Your Style | Men’s Style Mistakes

Once you’ve got the basics of style down, it’s important to focus on those little things that can make or break your personal style and everyday look. Something as simple as a little mistake can totally throw off your look or ruin otherwise good style choices. Oftentimes its something as simple as how you present a particular choice. No matter what it is, focusing on the proper details and nailing those can save you from potential disaster. Some of these mistakes might be obvious but some you may not even know you are doing!

So, here are 10 ways you may be killing your style!

Being Overly Self-Conscious

Trying too hard can be as bad as not trying at all. Wearing trendy items that aren’t you or not wearing things that make you feel comfortable and confident are quick ways to ruin your overall style. People notice how you feel and if you’re feeling good about what you’re wearing and looking good, it will stand out.

Wearing Clothing That Doesn’t Work for your body type

Working with your body type is a huge part of getting well-fitting clothing. Choosing items that will flatter and fit well is crucial. Some easy items to avoid are henley shirts if you’re not fit or muscular, Chelsea boots if you’re a bigger guy, and classic straight-legged jeans if you’re a thinner guy. Check out all of our Fit Guides for tips about different body types and how things should fit.

Over-accessorizing

Yikes, this can go wrong so easily, over-accessorizing can be a huge problem. Johnny Depp, you are not. Go easy on rings, bracelets, and other flashy items and go for more subtle, refined accessories to show some personality or flair. Stick with 1 or 2 items max, like a pocket square and a watch.

Wearing too much cologne

A little goes a long way, and there’s nothing worse than smelling someone from 5 feet away. Nobody (especially women) wants that. If you can smell yourself, it’s too much.

Not paying attention to the details

Again, the little things matter, so take care to focus on them. Things like not lint rolling your clothing (especially dark shirts, suits, and jackets), wearing wrinkled clothing (just get our recommended steamer), and not tucking in your shoelaces really matter with your overall look.

Speaking of tucking in shoelaces (something Ashley is always super focused on as a stylist), our friends at Straight Laces have an ingenious shoelace set up that creates a clean, tucked look and basically turns all your shoes into slip on’s. It’s such a smart, useful product and we’re using them on all our shoes personally and with Ashley’s clients. Seriously, they’re that good. Just for our readers and viewers, we’ve got a deal for 40% off 3 or more laces! Shop here and use code AshWeston40.

Not dressing your age

We’ve discussed how to dress well in your 40’s before and a big part of it is embracing your age and wearing items that are classy and age-appropriate.

Wearing dirty, old shoes

Hopefully, this goes without saying, but a bad pair of shoes can absolutely ruin your entire look. Keep them in good condition and shined up.

Not Grooming Regularly

Overgrown hair, beards, and fingernails are no bueno. Make sure you’re taking proper care of your grooming and putting your best foot forward. Especially important in professional environments. We’ve got a ton of tips in all of our grooming guides.

Not taking care of your skin

Just like your grooming, proper skin care is an important part of your overall routine. It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated but you should find a morning routine and an evening routine that works for you. Focus on moisturizing, good shaving techniques, and using the right products.

Wearing faded, ripped or pilled items

When items are faded (especially shirts, pants and sweaters), it’s time to send them off to the donation bin and get some replacements. If your sweaters are pilled, you just need to get a sweater shaver (we like this one best) to remove the little balls and get it back in good shape.

7 Grooming Hacks Women Will Notice

Proper grooming is one of the biggest things you can do to keep up a sharp overall look and put your best foot forward with women. You don’t have to have a complex routine or a million fancy products, just a few simple steps will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more tips, don’t forget to check out our grooming essentials series!

7 Grooming Hacks Women Will Notice

Mouth / Breath care – Obviously bad breath is going to be a huge turn-off, so make sure you not only have good brushing habits but also take care of your breath.
Handcare – Dry cracked hands and dirty or unclipped fingernails are just gross! Find a good non-greasy moisturizer to use regularly and keep your nails clean and in check.
Take care of overly dry or oily skin – You’ve got to keep that moneymaker in good shape and women notice the skin on your face (obviously!) much more than you might think. Find the right cleanser and moisturizer that works for your skin type. If your skin gets oily, invest in some facial wipes to tone it down.
Groomed hair – Your hairstyle is definitely a preference thing, but finding not only the right style/cut for your look and making it a regular part of your routine are things every man should put importance in. Regardless of how long or short your particular style is hair, that’s wild/unkempt or gross/dirty are never going to be attractive to a woman.
The right smell – Wearing deodorant/antiperspirant should absolutely go without saying, BO is definitely a no-go, but this also goes for body wash and soap. But there’s also a limit. My stance on cologne is well documented but if you choose to wear it, GO EASY, don’t be the guy who wears too much.
Lip care – Just like your hands, chapped, cracked lips are gross. Women will definitely notice your lips (especially if they’re thinking about kissing you) so do yourself a favor and invest in some proper lip balm and use regularly. Our favorites: R&D, Jack Black, Caudalie, Kiehl’s,
Beard maintenance – Many of you guys chose to have different levels of facial hair, and that’s totally cool, but it’s a privilege, not a right. No matter how much you have that you take good care of it. Keep it trimmed and in check and take care of the skin underneath as well. If your beard is patchy keep it very short or lose it completely and if your beard is more full, make sure it’s trimmed or shaped properly.

10 Skincare Tips For Clear Skin

You’re never too young to start thinking about your skin and having the right routine is a critical part of a solid overall grooming routine. But, that doesn’t have to mean complex or expensive. Whatever type of routine you develop, simple or complex, just stick to what’s comfortable for you, but make sure you’re addressing your skin’s basic major needs. To get you started or help you develop your existing routine, here are our favorite tips for healthier skin.

1. Address problems first

Acne? See a dermatologist. Dry and flakey? Start finding moisturizers that work best for you. If they’re serious or you’ve tried a bunch of stuff yourself to no avail – go see a professional first. Marketing and sales people likely won’t help and if you have major issues you’ve got to start there.

2. Moisturize every morning and night

Healthy skin starts with regular moisturizing, period.

3. Eye cream at least every night

Fights the signs of aging and fatigue. Especially important for those of you who travel frequently.

4. Sunscreen

Every. Damn. Day. No questions asked. Yes, it’s that important and easy to manage as most good moisturizers have sunscreen in them already.

5. Gently exfoliate daily

Scrubbing away dead skin and dirt will help your skin look and feel better, plus your other products (moisturizers, etc) will work better.

6. Get enough sleep

Don’t underestimate how important a good nights sleep is healthy skin.

7. Hydrate

Believe it or not, drinking a lot of water is the most important tip for healthy skin.

8. A healthy diet

The foods you eat, both good and bad, can impact the health and look of your skin.

9. Exercise

In addition to contributing to your overall health and well-being, regular exercise and sweating clears your pores.

10. Lower stress

However you manage your stress, sleep, exercise, meditation, breaks, whatever, how you feel on the outside impacts your skin more than you think.

Product Picks

Night Time Moisturizers

Budget Friendly
Mid-Range
High End

Eye Creams

Budget Friendly
Mid-Range
High End

Daytime Moisturizer w/ SPF

Budget Friendly
High End

Sunscreen For Face & Body

Budget Friendly
High End

$10 Exfoliating Washcloth

Face Cleansers

Budget Friendly
Mid-Range
High End

Water Bottle

Worst Skincare Advice For Men

In this video/article, I had my partner, Dorian, join me to discuss all the worst skincare advice men will run across on the internet and what to do instead. I cringe every time I see someone talking about popping their pimples, not wearing a moisturizer with SPF, getting a base tan and using those horrible microdermabrasion tools and face scrubs they saw someone “recommend” online.

Eliminate Face Oil

This is such BS, and actually creates more problems than it fixes. Your skin is naturally oily. Now unless your dermatologist is telling you otherwise, the goal is not to “dry your face out”, in fact, you should be moisturizing that bad boy so you skin doesn’t go crazy and over-produce oils on your face, which in-turn causes more zits and imperfections.

Wash your face all time

Unless your dermatologist has advised otherwise, you should only be washing your face with soap once a day, at most. The other time, usually the morning, should just be a splash of water. Washing your face is supposed to get surface dirt and products off your face, that’s it.

Would you wash your hands if they weren’t dirty? Same applies to your face.

The only people telling you to wash with soap twice a day are companies trying to sell you more washing products, or doctors for a very specific reason.

Only Buy “Men’s” Products

Don’t delude yourself and think that womens products won’t be any less or better than men’s. The major difference between men’s and women’s products are scents and packaging – that’s it. Don’t fall for the marketing hype.

Microdermabrasion Tools are good for your skin

They can be HORRIBLE for your skin, actually. This has been proven time and time again, including harsh scrubbing face washes, etc. All the people you see recommending those tools or scrubbing face washes are getting paid to basically ruin your skin. Don’t believe it!

A friend of mine’s is the CEO of the company who invented the microdermabrasion tools you see on the market and he even says it’s horrible for your skin outside of very serious treatments that should be done very rarely.

If you want to see how to have amazing skin, use the gamechanger for men’s skin. This is what my recommended to me years ago that works amazing well and has worked for everyone I’ve ever recommended it to.

Popping pimples makes them go away faster

Popping a pimple is no different than getting a scratch or break in your skin. The second the top layer of your skin is broken, like popping a pimple, you’re exposing the under layers of your epidermis to bacteria, which causes inflammation and infection.

The pimple would actually go away much quicker if you used a topical salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide cream and left it alone.

While we’re on the topic of pimples…

Skip Moisturizers If You Have Acne

Unless your dermatologist is recommending it, skipping moisturizers and having dry skin won’t make your pimples go away, it’ll actually cause more redness and inflammation.

don’t wear a daily SPF if you have dark skin or work indoors

Just like I mentioned in my best men’s daily and sport sunscreens video, every man should be wearing a daily moisturizer with spf in it. Period.

Windows in cars and office buildings don’t block all the UVA and UVB rays that damage your skin, so you need protection regardless of your occupation.

Check the video for what unprotected vs protected skin looks like.

A tan will prevent sunburn & skin damage

Couldn’t be further from the truth. Skin exposed to sun for longer than a few minutes will start getting damaged – regardless of how dark you are. The only difference is you may not get burned as quickly if you have darker skin, but any prolonged exposure causes damage. A little sunshine for vitamin D is great, anything more than a little will damage your skin.

Acne is not influenced by your diet

While diet isn’t the only cause of acne and pimples, it definitely contributes. Everyone’s body reacts differently, but like mine, if I eat a lot of dairy or sugar, I’ll get more zits. I’ve actually tested this on multiple occasions to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.

That’s it! Check out my other Men’s Grooming Essentials videos/articles for more details.