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Teen years for a boy can be a time of many conflicting feelings. It is, after all, a time to embrace youth and a sense of fun. Yet, at the same time, many teenage boys want to appear mature and grown-up.
It can also be a hectic period for young men balancing school, extracurricular activities, a social life, and work responsibilities.
All of this can potentially make finding the best cologne for teenage guys a daunting prospect.
Fortunately, whether you are looking for the ideal cologne for yourself or you want to buy cologne for your teenage son, there is an abundance of great options available. In this article, we explore the 10 best colognes for teenage guys.
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How to Find the Best Cologne for Teenage Guys
Before presenting our list, it is worth taking the time to explore precisely how you can go about finding the best cologne for teen boys. With so many different products aimed at the teen demographic, there are a number of key factors that you should consider, such as the price of each product, and the value for money on offer.
Beyond this, different colognes are suited to different needs and situations. For instance, some colognes are great for use at school, or in the workplace, while others are perfect for nights out, social situations, and wearing around the house. The quality of the scent itself is also a major factor, of course.
Going further, there are performance issues to weigh up too. How long does a cologne last after it has been applied? How much does the smell project outwards? Is the fragrance supposed to be an intimate cologne, or will it make a teenager’s presence known? Ultimately, all of these factors need to be weighed up before making a purchase.
How We Test and Evaluate Cologne for Teens
In order to create our list of the best cologne for boys in their teens, we tested a range of products, using a standard process.
This process includes evaluating the product based on the quality of the scent itself, the value for money provided, the level of projection given off by the cologne, the longevity of the product, and the amount of versatility on offer.
Beyond this we also break down the top, middle and base notes contained within the cologne, giving you a better idea of the smell itself. Finally, we provide a list of three-plus points associated with each product.
Read Our In Depth Reviews
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle Review
La Mâle by Jean Paul Gaultier was created by Francis Kurkdjian and was originally released in 1995. It is a sweet, oriental fragrance, and an excellent choice of cologne for teens who are wanting to highlight maturity and sophistication. At the same time, it is fair to say the fragrance has a playful quality too.
The scent itself has pleasant, and masculine, with the mint and lavender notes being especially apparent. These then gradually make way for the vanilla base notes to shine through. La Mâle is ideally suited for use in the evenings and on nights out, but it can be used in any leisure situation and will not be inappropriate for work or school.
In addition to earning its status as a classic men’s fragrance, suitable for all ages, the cologne is recognized for its excellent longevity after application, as well as for the great value for money provided.
Top Notes: Lavender, Mint, Bergamot, Cardamom
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Orange Blossom, Caraway
Base Notes: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Amber, Sandalwood, Cedarwood
What we liked
- Classic men’s fragrance
- Ideal for nights out and social situations
- Excellent longevity and value
Paco Rabanne Invictus
Paco Rabanne Invictus Review
Invictus is an eau de toilette spray from Paco Rabanne, which launched in 2013. It is a woody, aquatic and sweet scent, which was created through a collaboration between Anne Flipo, Olivier Polge, Dominique Ropion, and Veronique Nyberg.
The cologne works best as an everyday or leisure fragrance, and there is a clear freshness to the product. Moreover, Invictus is a perfect cologne for teen boys who are active, and it can function well as a sports aftershave. With that being said, it could also be used for wearing to work, college, school, or almost any other setting.
Invictus provides lasting longevity and should get you through a typical day at school or work. Projection is also above average, meaning the cologne will be easily noticed by others. The product provides good value and some of its most detectable notes include jasmine, grapefruit, mandarin orange, and sea notes.
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Sea Notes, Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes: Jasmine, Bay Leaf
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Patchouli, Ambergris, Guaiac Wood
What we liked
- Great for sports and leisure
- Good longevity and value
- A good gift cologne for teenage son
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Review
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme is a spicy eau de parfum that has earned its place on any credible guide to the best fragrance for teenage guys. The cologne was released in 2015 and serves as a follow-up to the popular 2012 Spicebomb fragrance. However, as the name suggests, this is a more intense product.
Some of the notes that are most easily detectable within the cologne include lavender, tobacco, vanilla, and black pepper. It is an overtly masculine fragrance and an ideal cologne for teens seeking a sense of sophistication.
When it comes to the quality of the scent itself, Spicebomb Extreme ranks near the very top of the pack. Meanwhile, in terms of performance, the cologne offers superb longevity and projection, ensuring the wearer will make their presence known. The product is best utilized as a cologne for evenings, nights out, and leisure time.
Top Notes: Black Pepper, Grapefruit, Pimento
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Saffron, Cumin
Base Notes: Vanilla, Tobacco, Amber
What we liked
- Excellent scent quality
- Superb longevity and value
- Perfect for nights out
L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent
L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent Review
L’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent launched in 2006 and is the product of a collaboration between Dominique Ropion, Juliette Karagueuzoglou, Anne Flipo and Pierre Wargnye. It can be described as a woody, spicy-fresh fragrance.
The scent itself is up there with the very best cologne for teenage guys and it offers above-average longevity, although reapplication could be necessary over the course of work or school day. L’Homme is especially well-suited to use as an everyday fragrance, and it is perfect for the spring and summer months.
Crucially, it is a youthful, masculine scent, and this ensures it is a good choice of boys’ perfume for all teen age groups. Some of the most obvious notes within the cologne include lemon, bergamot, ginger, white pepper, and tonka bean.
Top Notes: Ginger, Lemon, Bergamot
Middle Notes: White Pepper, Basil, Violet, Spices
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Cedarwood, Vetiver
What we liked
- High-quality, spicy-fresh cologne
- Great for everyday use
- Good value and versatility
Davidoff Cool Water
Davidoff Cool Water Review
If you are searching for a classic cologne for teens, which has stood the test of time, look no further than Cool Water from Davidoff. The eau de toilette spray is a fresh-aquatic fragrance and was originally released in 1988. Pierre Bourdon was the main perfumer responsible for the creation of the product.
The scent itself is aromatic, fresh, clean, and relatively simple, with clear masculine quality. It is absolutely ideal for teenagers and can be worn well into your 20s, meaning it is a great option for long-term use. It is also a versatile product, as it can be used as an everyday fragrance, or for business, school, leisure, or sporting use.
Lavender, mint, jasmine, tobacco, sandalwood, cedarwood, and neroli are among the easiest to detect notes within the cologne. The quality of the scent is also up there with the best products on the market. In terms of performance, meanwhile, Cool Water delivers decent longevity and projection, while providing excellent value for money.
Top Notes: Mint, Rosemary, Lavender, Coriander, Sea Notes
Middle Notes: Jasmine, Geranium, Neroli, Sandalwood
Base Notes: Tobacco, Cedarwood, Musk, Amber, Oakmoss
What we liked
- Classic and iconic scent
- Great value for money
- Excellent versatility
Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky
Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky Review
Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky is one of the newest colognes on this list, as the product launched in 2018. It is a fruity, sweet fragrance, and serves as a follow-up to the 2008 cologne Paco Rabanne 1 Million.
It is a pleasant, masculine scent, with a sensual quality that makes it perfect for date nights, or nights out. Despite this, it is actually also very well-suited to use as an everyday cologne, and one of its best qualities is its versatility, as it can be used across all four seasons without ever seeming out of place.
Top notes include grapefruit and plum, the middle notes introduce honey, hazelnut, jasmine, and cashmere wood, while oakmoss, patchouli, and vetiver make up the base notes. Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky offers very good longevity and will comfortably last wearers throughout the school or work day, or through a date night.
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Plum, Bergamot, Ozonic Notes
Middle Notes: Honey, Cedarwood, Hazelnut, Cashmere Wood, Jasmine, Orange Blossom
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vetiver, Amber
What we liked
- Good longevity and value
- A good choice for date nights
- Impressive versatility
Calvin Klein CK One
Calvin Klein CK One Review
CK One by Calvin Klein made a big splash when it was introduced in 1994, especially among the teen demographic, and it remains a popular choice thanks to its youthful qualities and the relatively good value it provides.
It is a clean, modern fragrance, with strong citrus notes. Some of the other notes that can be detected easily within the cologne include papaya, rose, jasmine, violet, nutmeg, green tea, amber, and musk.
The eau de toilette spray is at its best during the warmer spring and summer months, and the scent really comes into its own as a sports aftershave. However, it is most commonly used as an everyday cologne, and it is pleasant without ever overpowering. Longevity is slightly above average, but reapplication may be needed over a full work or school day.
Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Bergamot, Papaya, Lemon
Middle Notes: Jasmine, Nutmeg, Lily of the Valley, Green Tea, Rose, Freesia
Base Notes: Musk, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Amber
What we liked
- Classic 1990s cologne
- Very good value for money
- A good choice for sporty teens
Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc
Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Review
Lacoste L.12.12. Blanc, also known as Lacoste L.12.12. White is a fresh, fruity eau de toilette spray, which was released in 2010. Created by Olivier Pescheux, it serves as a companion fragrance to the ‘Blue’ and ‘Green’ editions of the L.12.12 range, with Lacoste White serving as the most simple and versatile option.
It perhaps functions best as an everyday, leisure, or sports cologne, and is less suitable for nights out, although it can be worn in the evenings. It is also at its best in the summer months, although it is suitable for spring and fall too.
Some of the main notes detectable within the scent are grapefruit, cardamom, rosemary, tuberose, frankincense, ylang-ylang, vetiver and cedarwood. Longevity is above average and should last at least six hours on the skin after application.
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Rosemary, Cardamom, Cedar Leaf
Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Tuberose, Frankincense
Base Notes: Vetiver, Cedarwood, Leather, Suede
What we liked
- Good choice for the summer
- Clean, fresh and simple
- Good value for money
Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger Review
Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger is another excellent choice if you are seeking a classic cologne for teen boys that is tried and tested over many years. Released in 1995, it is the product of a collaboration between Alberto Morillas and Annie Buzantian. The fragrance itself can be described as a citrus-fresh cologne.
The product is ideal for everyday use, or for use in leisure, business, and sports settings, but it may not be the best choice if you are searching for something to wear on nights out.
In terms of performance, Tommy has above-average longevity and moderate projection, meaning it will never feel overpowering. It is a very good choice for spring, summer, and the early fall months. Some of the main notes within the scent itself include lavender, green apple, amber, bergamot, cranberry, cinnamon, and grapefruit.
Top Notes: Mint, Bergamot, Lavender, Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Green Apple, Rose, Cranberry
Base Notes: Amber, Cotton Flower, Cactus
What we liked
- Good for spring, summer and fall
- Excellent value for money
- A tried and tested classic
Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue
Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue Review
Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue Is a fresh-aquatic eau de toilette spray, which was released in 2016. It has a pleasant scent, but one of its biggest drawing points is the way it combines value for money with scent quality, longevity, and versatility, making it one of the very best all-rounders for teenagers.
The main notes that make up the fragrance include bergamot, grapefruit, aquatic notes, black pepper, musk, tonka bean, patchouli, saffron, and frankincense. The citrus and aquatic qualities shine through, but the combination serves to create a scent that can be worn at any time of the year, for almost any occasion.
Aside from this versatility, Dylan Blue is a solid performer, offering good longevity. In fact, after application on the skin, it can last upwards of eight hours, which means it should get you through a full school or work day.
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Aquatic Notes, Fig Leaf
Middle Notes: Black Pepper, Violet, Patchouli, Ambrox, Papyrus
Base Notes: Frankincense, Tonka Bean, Musk, Saffron
What we liked
- Incredibly versatile
- Very good longevity and value
- A nice, fresh-aquatic scent
