Home / Buying guides / Fragrance
Men's fragrance
Best men's aftershaves and fragrances in the UK
By the buychecked team · Updated 9 October 2026 · Prices refresh daily from the retailer feed
Most men only own one or two fragrances, so it pays to get the basics right: the strength (EDT, EDP or parfum), a bottle size you will actually get through, and a style that suits where you wear it. A fresh, light scent that works at a desk can feel thin on a night out, and a rich evening fragrance can be too much in a meeting room.
Our top pick is Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette in 100ml, a long-running all-rounder that is easy to wear day to day. If you want a strong-value everyday bottle, Davidoff Adventure gives you 100ml of EDT at the lowest price of our picks, and Emporio Armani He is our choice for the office.
Below are seven single bottles across budget, mid-range and premium prices, including an evening EDP and a parfum, followed by a plain-English guide to strengths and sizes. If you are buying a present with extras in the box, see our aftershave gift sets guide instead.
How we chose
We have not smelled or worn these fragrances for this guide, and we do not rate how they smell. Picks are shortlisted by comparing the published information for each bottle across the full range of men's fragrances we list: the concentration (EDT, EDP or parfum), the bottle sizes available, price per bottle and the retailer's product description. Any scent notes we mention come from the retailer's own description of that product. The aim is to help you choose the right strength, size and style for when you will wear it. Whether you like the scent is something to check on a tester first.
1. Best overall
Boss Bottled For Men EDT 100ml
£62.00 at Perfume UK · best for one bottle for most occasions
Boss Bottled is the original fragrance in the Boss Bottled line, and it remains one of the most widely worn men's fragrances in the UK. The retailer describes it as woody and oriental with a fresh, sharp and slightly sweet citrus top note. That balance of a fresh opening and a warmer base is why it is often recommended as an all-rounder: light enough for daytime as an EDT, with enough depth to wear in the evening. It sits in the mid-range on price, and the 100ml bottle is a sensible size for a scent you wear most days.
✓ Pros
- Versatile enough for work and evenings
- Well-known and easy to find a tester for
- Full 100ml bottle at a mid-range price
✕ Cons
- EDT strength, so expect to reapply later in the day
- Very widely worn, so not a distinctive choice
2. Best budget
Davidoff Adventure for Men EDT 100ml
£26.00 at Perfume UK · best for an everyday bottle that costs little
Davidoff Adventure is the lowest-priced pick here and still gives you a full 100ml of eau de toilette. The retailer describes it as a bright woody and spicy oriental with a key note of mandarin orange that runs through each layer. At this price it makes a good everyday or gym-bag bottle, or a second fragrance alongside something more expensive you save for weekends. It is less of a household name than the designer brands in this list, which is partly why it costs less.
✓ Pros
- Lowest price band of our picks
- Full 100ml bottle
- Fine as a second, everyday fragrance
✕ Cons
- EDT strength, so do not expect all-day wear
- Less recognised than the designer names
3. Best for the office
Emporio Armani He For Men EDT 100ml
£38.00 at Perfume UK · best for close, subtle daytime wear
Emporio Armani He is described by the retailer as a subtle, fresh citrus aromatic fragrance and as a skin scent, made to be experienced closely, with a key note of sandalwood. Skin scents are designed to stay near you rather than fill a room, which suits offices, meetings and commutes. It is also very good value: the 100ml is listed at only a little more than the 50ml, putting it in the budget price band for a designer EDT.
✓ Pros
- Designed to sit close to the skin
- Budget price for a 100ml designer EDT
- 100ml barely costs more than 50ml
✕ Cons
- Subtle by design, so not for making an impression on a night out
- Fades sooner than an EDP
4. Best fresh scent
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio For Men EDT 100ml
£67.00 at Perfume UK · best for summer, daytime and holidays
Acqua di Gio is one of Giorgio Armani's best-known men's fragrances, and the retailer describes the EDT as the first men's EDT to use marine notes, combining sea notes with citrus and aromatic notes. Fresh, marine-style fragrances are a popular choice for warm weather and daytime, as they tend to feel clean rather than heavy. If you like it and want something stronger, the range we list also includes an EDP in a refillable bottle and parfum versions, though these are described as reinterpretations rather than simply stronger copies.
✓ Pros
- Fresh, light style suits warm weather
- Well-established fragrance from Giorgio Armani
- Stronger EDP and parfum versions available if you want to move up
✕ Cons
- EDT strength, so reapplication is likely
- Mid-range price for 100ml of EDT
5. Best for evenings
Azzaro Wanted By Night For Men EDP 100ml
£54.00 at Perfume UK · best for nights out and colder months
Azzaro Wanted By Night is an eau de parfum the retailer describes as a rich woody oriental with key notes of cinnamon and tobacco. Warm, spicy fragrances like this are traditionally evening and winter scents, as they come across more strongly and can feel heavy in a hot office. As an EDP it should need fewer sprays than an EDT. The 100ml bottle sits in the mid-range on price. Note that the 50ml version of the same fragrance is currently listed at a higher price than the 100ml, so check both before you buy.
✓ Pros
- Eau de parfum strength
- Warm, spicy style suited to evenings
- 100ml EDP at a mid-range price
✕ Cons
- Probably too heavy for daytime office wear
- Spice and tobacco styles divide opinion
6. Best eau de parfum
Yves Saint Laurent Y Men Eau de Parfum 100ml
£82.00 at Perfume UK · best for longer wear without going to parfum prices
YSL Y is described by the retailer as a bold aromatic woody fragrance with a key note of sage. It is one of the most size-flexible fragrances in our range: the EDP is listed in 60ml, 100ml and 200ml bottles, plus a 150ml refill. As an eau de parfum it has a higher concentration than an EDT, so it should last longer and need fewer sprays. The 100ml is a good balance between price and quantity, and if you get through it, the 200ml bottle and the refill both bring down the cost per millilitre. It sits in the upper mid-range.
✓ Pros
- EDP strength for longer wear
- Wide choice of sizes, including a refill
- Works for both daytime and evening
✕ Cons
- Upper mid-range price for 100ml
- Not the cheapest way to get an EDP
7. Best parfum
Giorgio Armani Code For Men Parfum 75ml
£79.00 at Perfume UK · best for the strongest concentration in a mid-size bottle
Armani Code Parfum is the most concentrated pick in this list. The retailer describes it as a more refined version of the original Code EDT that dials down the sweet tonka bean base and brings forward a fresh, powdery iris. That makes it a different take on Code rather than just a stronger one, so if you already wear the EDT, try this before buying. Parfum usually needs only one or two sprays, so the 75ml bottle will last longer than the size suggests. It is mid-range to premium on price.
✓ Pros
- Parfum concentration, the strongest here
- One or two sprays is usually enough
- Refill available in 150ml
✕ Cons
- Smells different from the original Code EDT
- Higher price per millilitre than EDT or EDP
EDT, EDP, parfum and aftershave: what the labels mean
The labels describe how much perfume oil is in the bottle. Eau de cologne (EDC) is the lightest. Eau de toilette (EDT) is the most common strength for men's fragrance, usually around 5 to 15 percent. Eau de parfum (EDP) is usually around 15 to 20 percent. Parfum, often sold as 'Le Parfum', 'Elixir' or 'Parfum Intense', is the strongest, often 20 percent or more. Exact figures vary between brands.
Higher concentration generally means longer wear, fewer sprays and a higher price per millilitre. It does not always mean the same smell, only stronger. Brands often rework the formula for each version, which is why Armani Code EDT and Code Parfum are described quite differently. In the UK, 'aftershave' is often used for any men's fragrance, but strictly it means a lighter splash or balm used after shaving.
Office fragrance or evening fragrance?
For work, the aim is to smell good to people standing near you, not across the room. Fresh, citrus, marine and light aromatic styles, and skin scents like Emporio Armani He, are the safe choice. Stick to an EDT or go light on an EDP, and two sprays is usually plenty.
Evening fragrances can be richer and more noticeable. Warm, spicy, woody and oriental styles, such as Azzaro Wanted By Night, suit dinners, nights out and colder weather. If you only want one bottle, choose something in the middle, like Boss Bottled, which the retailer describes as pairing a fresh citrus top note with woody and oriental depth.
Picking the right bottle size
Bigger bottles are almost always cheaper per millilitre, and in our range the 100ml is often only slightly more than the 50ml. If you know you like a fragrance and wear it most days, 100ml or more is usually the better buy. Divide the price by the millilitres to compare properly.
Smaller bottles make sense for a new fragrance you are not sure about, something you only wear occasionally, or a parfum where one or two sprays is enough. Refill bottles, like those listed for YSL Y and Armani Code Parfum, can lower the cost further if you already own the original bottle.
How to test a fragrance properly
Spray a tester on your skin, ideally the wrist or back of the hand, and leave it for at least 20 to 30 minutes before deciding. The first blast is mostly the lighter top notes, and many fragrances smell noticeably different once they settle. Try no more than two or three in one go.
Fragrance also wears differently on different people, so a scent you liked on someone else may not come across the same on you. If you can, wear a tester for a full day before buying a large bottle.
FAQs
Is EDP better than EDT for men?
Not better, just stronger. EDP has more perfume oil, so it usually lasts longer and needs fewer sprays. EDT is lighter, often cheaper, and many men prefer it for daytime, the office and warmer weather. The two versions of the same fragrance can also smell different.
What is a good aftershave for the office?
Look for a fresh, light or subtle fragrance, ideally an EDT or a skin scent, and keep to two sprays. Citrus, marine and light aromatic styles are the usual choice. Avoid heavy, spicy or very sweet fragrances in shared spaces, as they can be overpowering.
How long does a 100ml bottle of aftershave last?
At two or three sprays a day, a 100ml bottle typically lasts many months. A parfum or EDP lasts longer still because you need fewer sprays. Stored away from heat and light, a bottle stays good for years.
Where should I spray aftershave?
On pulse points such as the neck, behind the ears and the inner wrists, on clean skin. Spraying on clothes can make the scent last longer but can mark some fabrics. Do not rub your wrists together after spraying.
Why does the same fragrance come in EDT, EDP and parfum?
Brands release different strengths so people can choose how intense and long-lasting they want it to be. The formula is often adjusted for each version, so they are best treated as related but separate fragrances. Try the specific version you plan to buy.
Want to see everything? Browse all fragrance or read our other buying guides.
Affiliate disclosure: buychecked may earn commission from qualifying purchases made via links on this page — at no extra cost to you. Prices checked against live merchant feeds.