You’ve seen the fancy-pants Bvlgari shopping bags all over town. You’ve had your eye on the Bvlgari watch, the engagement ring, the leather bifold wallet, and the oceanside hotel in Bali. There’s no doubt about it—the luxury Italian fashion house does many things and does them well.
But if you haven’t yet discovered the best Bvlgari cologne offerings, you’re missing out on some of the finest contributions to nosekind the world has ever known. Bvlgari’s impressive suite of cologne’s range from citrusy and floral to woody and masculine, with plenty of olfactory nuances peppered throughout.
Regardless of your fragrance preferences and whether you need it to last all day or just a few hours, there’s likely a bottle out there that’s perfect for you. And with that, let’s get into it. These are my best Bvlgari cologne picks for your spritzing pleasure.
Key Takeaways
Bvlgari wears a lot of hats in the luxury world. From jewelry to hotels to, yes, colognes, the Italian brand does it all.
The best Bvlgari cologne overall—Pour Homme—is one of its originals and a supremely versatile all-year scent. Another excellent Bvlgari men’s cologne is its Man Wood Neroli that’ll make a strong case for becoming your fall and winter go-to.
Pour Homme is one of Bvlgari’s original scents, and it carries with it a timeless elegance that’s as balanced as it is nuanced. Airy top notes of bergamot, lavender, and citrus are subtly offset by masculine scents like musk, wood and amber.
This combination of light and moody scents makes Pour Homme an excellent choice if you’re looking for an all-season cologne with a noticeable but not overpowering projection. It’s also got some pretty serious staying power. At least enough to get you from your morning meeting with the marketing team to your happy hour meeting with a date and an Old Fashioned.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Lavender, Citrus | Middle Notes: Pepper, Wood, Cardamom | Base notes: Musk, Vetiver, Amber | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: All
At risk of stating the obvious, Bvlgari is anything but a budget brand. That said, there are still a few nice options that are easier on the wallet than some of the fashion house’s other scents. A standout bottle in that camp is Bvlgari Man Wood Neroli.
As the name suggests, you’re working with a rich, decadent fragrance that’s ideal for the fall and winter months. Neroli and bergamot kick things off, giving way to orange blossom and cedar before base notes of wood and amber further stoke this liquid bonfire. Man Wood Neroli is the perfect accomplice for nights spent in front of a roaring (real) fire in the company of someone lovely who appreciates your discerning spritzing choices.
Top Notes: Neroli, Bergamot | Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, Cedar | Base notes: Wood, Amber | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: Fall, Winter
Easily one of the best and most popular colognes in the Bvlgari lineup, Man in Black is another standout fragrance ripe for winter wear. Rum. Tobacco. Leather. Tonka bean. If it’s bold, sexy, and masculine, it’s going to be wafting through the air enchanting strangers wherever you go.
And with nearly 5,000 5-star reviews, it’s safe to say Amazon has spoken. Due to its relatively assertive projection, Man in Black will serve you best when you’re on a dinner date, catching some live jazz at a cocktail bar, or doing whatever it is you do when you do things at night.
Was there a better way to say that last part? Yes. Do I have any regrets about my delivery method? No. Maybe a little. Yes.
Top Notes: Rum, Tobacco | Middle Notes: Leather, Iris | Base notes: Tonka Bean, Guaiac Wood | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: Fall, Winter
Swooping in to lighten the mood a bit is Aqva Pour Homme. Though it can certainly be worn year-round, this citrus-forward offering is best suited for summer. It’s a gentle scent with notes of orange, lavender, and patchouli. In other words, it’s not going to ruffle any feathers whether you choose to wear it to the office or to patio drinks with friends.
All Bvlgari fragrances are sophisticated enough to be taken seriously by even the most seasoned spritzer, but this one in particular is a great option for young men or for those who are just trying cologne out for the first time. Your nose has to crawl before it can walk. Which is only weird if you make it weird.
Top Notes: Orange | Middle Notes: Lavender | Base notes: Cedar, Patchouli | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Summer, All
Though the name might be a bit over the top, Bvlgari Man Extreme delivers with a captivating scent and a strong projection that’ll last most of the day. But what really sets it apart and makes it the best Bvlgari cologne in terms of overall smell is the incorporation of cactus into the profile.
Cactus plants emit a sweet, citrusy scent when they bloom, and Bvlgari has successfully managed to bottle this essence as a throughline note. The niche fragrance of cactus is subtly complimented by cardamom, amber, and vetiver. The end result is a bold, elegant addition to the Bvlgari lineup that’s suitable for year-round wear.
Top Notes: Cactus, Bergamot | Middle Notes: Cardamom, Amber | Base notes: Vetiver, Wood | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: All
A heady and unique mix of earthy, citrus, and aquatic notes, Aqva Amara is more than deserving of a permanent spot in your summer fragrance arsenal. Projection-wise, it’s not necessarily subtle but it’s also not obtrusive.
Light and refreshing mandarin scents yield to masculine-leaning hits of patchouli and neroli. It all comes together to create the type of cologne people want to be around. The type that draws a crowd. The type that I’m totally exaggerating about right now.
Either way, it is a delightful summer scent. Walk through a spritz or two in the morning and let it slowly work its magic throughout the day, finally reaching a crescendo around happy hour. Yes, it’s a long-lasting cologne with enough staying power to serve you all day and serve you well.
Top Notes: Mandarin | Middle Notes: Neroli | Base notes: Patchouli | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, Summer
What To Look For In The Best Bvlgari Colognes
Scent
It’s true. Obvious, but true nonetheless. Scent is an important consideration when it comes to sussing out the best Bvlgari cologne options. But you’re in luck, because the brand’s lineup has something for everyone.
Rustic notes of vanilla, cedar, musk, and amber for the colder months. Light and airy floral and citrus scents for spring and summer. A year-round combination of the two. All present and accounted for across Bvlgari’s suite of fragrances.
Seasonality
Bvlgari colognes with heady, woody, masculine top notes are going to be most suitable for crisp fall and winter nights. Man Wood Nerolin and Man in Black are both excellent choices when the temps drop. And for those long and winding summer days and nights, reach for floral scents, citrus, lavender, and other light, cheery options.
Occasion
In lockstep with seasonality but still very much its own consideration is where you’ll be wearing your fragrance. For work, pick up a bottle with decent lasting power—or even a solid cologne—that features subtle floral or citrus notes. If you’re out for the night, quick hits of masculine fragrances like leather and tobacco are likely to be well received.
Final Verdict
What you consider to be the best Bvlgari cologne for men ultimately comes down to personal preference. That said, one of the brand’s OG fragrances, Pour Homme, is a tough one to beat thanks to its super versatile notes that you can spritz on 365 days a year.
FAQ
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Bvlgari perfumes are well-respected in fragrance circles and among regular guys alike. The iconic brand pulls in renowned perfumers to round out its collections and its suite of products is as wide-ranging as it is elegant.
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There are many iconic fragrances among Bvlgari’s Man and Aqva lines. With that said, the crown should arguably go to Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert—the very first fragrance the Italian luxury brand produced.
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Bvlgari’s most expensive cologne to date is a one-off called Opera Prima. It sold for $250,000 thanks in no small part to its elaborate bottle adorned with citrine, amethyst, and 25 carats of diamonds.
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