This Is What Men Want From Fragrance

Men are so hard to buy for, especially when it comes to fragrance. Thankfully, recent data from The Benchmark Company can help us get inside their heads and discover what exactly they’re looking for.

The Study

The Benchmark Company surveyed over 4,000 men and women to understand their fragrance preferences, buying habits and feelings.

What do men want to smell like?

We know that fragrance can influence how we feel. And according to The Benchmark Company’s recent data, men are looking for those same experiences with their scent of choice. Men want to feel clean (62 percent), masculine (42 percent) and happy (39 percent) when they wear a fragrance.

We’ve seen no shortage of “clean girl” trends over the past few years, and it seems it’s time to make room for men. This desire to feel clean can translate into unisex, light and fresh-smelling fragrances for men. In fact, the vast majority of men, 62 percent, indicated a preference for woody notes, one of the main building blocks of clean-smelling fragrances.

These notes, including eucalyptus, bamboo, sandalwood, pine and balsam are all used to build light and fresh-smelling fragrances. Pine and eucalyptus, especially, are both stars for creating a fragrance that feels clean and bright.

The survey also indicates men prefer deep, grounded scents (38 percent) like musk, amber and leather, and aquatic scents (32 percent) like seaweed and marine.

Our Favorite Fragrances for Men

1 / 6

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Pour Homme ($159)

Combining the fresh and clean scents of lemon and granny smith apple, this scent gives way to an alluring woodsy musk, flooding with amber wood and juniper.

• BUY ON AMAZON – $135

KEY NOTES

Amber Wood, Sicilian Lemon, Aquatic Scents and Juniper

2 / 6

Lake & Skye 11 11 Eau de Parfum ($98)

This award-winning scent is an uplifting and sheer unisex fragrance that combines the clean woods of driftwood and amber with warm white musk.

• BUY NOW – $98

KEY NOTES

Ozonic Accord, Amberwood, Marine and White Musk

 

3 / 6

Burberry Touch For Men Eau de Toilette ($85)

This iconic fragrance for men steeps the senses in the fresh woods, combining oak moss with aromatic violet and warming cedar.

• BUY NOW – $85

KEY NOTES

Mandarin, Violet, Oak Moss, Cedar and Vetiver

 

4 / 6

TOM FORD Grey Vetiver EDP ($160)

Prized woods meet the iconic fresh vetiver in this elegant unisex fragrance. The classic woods are uplifted by bright citrus and rich spices for a refined scent.

• BUY NOW – $160

KEY NOTES

Vetiver, Orange Flower and Pimento

5 / 6

Jo Malone London Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne ($140)

Inspired by high tea, the combination of Earl Grey and fresh cucumber creates an instantly fresh and elegant scent warmed by a sweet vanilla musk.

• BUY NOW – $140

KEY NOTES

Earl Grey, Cucumber and Beeswax

6 / 6

Clean Reserve Acqua Neroli Eau de Parfum ($110)

Inspired by the Mediterranean, this clean scent is brightened by citrus notes and a white floral heart, resulting in a unisex fragrance that’s instantly uplifting.

• BUY NOW – $110

KEY NOTES

Citrus, Musk and Neroli Flower