A few milestones stand out in my 18-year-old son’s life, such as the day he woke up knowing everything about sports at the age of 12, or the day he first asked a girl out at the age of 13 (oh, adolescence), which is arguably the most evocative. Or the day he was 14 and suddenly started wearing cologne.
The first two were expected, but the third—let’s call it the teen fragrance guy trend—surprised me. He requested to borrow a couple of my unisex designer scents, put them on his dresser, and then, let’s be generous, experiment with wearing the appropriate amount.
He is not alone, according to the personnel at my local Sephora in Los Angeles. Indeed, teen guys are wearing fragrance as a kind of self-expression, a method to obtain instant satisfaction (it’s one of the things happening in a teenager’s brain), and as part of their embryonic grooming routines (as NYU professor Scott Galloway advises teens: “shower—young men aren’t showering”). And, in my view, it’s a way for young guys who don’t feel completely committed to wearing makeup or following a regulated skincare regimen to participate in the Sephora Kids trend and its promise of personal empowerment through cosmetics.
But which perfumes are best for the high school man set? I considered rising hormones (boys prefer perfumes that cover their new body odor), socializing in stores (Sephora told me they have to keep a watch on kids dousing themselves in-store with particularly popular products), and the overall advise of social media influencers who test and promote scents. I also used my own nose to choose what I would want to smell on my son. These are my picks.
1. Montblanc Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette
“Sexy, fresh, sweet, and I’m talking for men” is how fragrancetok influencer Jeremy Fragrance describes this perfume, which he considers his finest fragrance for teenagers. Citrus and lavender help balance the cardamom and wood notes here, so as a mother, I approve of this drydown because it won’t make you feel stuck in a sweltering New York City elevator when you drive your son to school in the morning.
2. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir
Sales personnel at my local Sephora corroborated what Reddit reported: this is the most popular fragrance to try on. The small action figure-like gunmetal bottle (inspired by the designer’s characteristic French sailor’s mariniere sweater) is intriguing, as is the warm woodsy aroma.
3. Yves Saint Laurent Myself Eau de Parfum
The cologne guy, a social media influencer, enthusiastically recommends this fragrance, and the black-on-black bottle design is eye-catching. This smell is woodsy and has elements of bergamot and patchouli. It comes in a refillable bottle.
4. Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Mini Perfume Set
This bundle of five little apothecary bottles is ideal for teens who are just getting into fragrance because it includes a variety of bestselling unisex designer fragrances. I like Jazz Club, a warm and woody perfume designed to smell like a groovy Brooklyn jazz club, complete with pink pepper, tobacco leaf, and vanilla. (It is one of the top five scents for young males recommended by Australian YouTuber FBFragrances.) What’s also great about this collection is that it allows teens to see how their individual chemistry reacts to, say, the amber in one fragrance versus the citrus in another—all in multiple sessions from the comfort of their own home, rather than stockpiling scents at Sephora’s local fragrance aisle.
5. Chanel Paris Deauville
This is a personal favorite of my son’s because it is the one he borrowed from me and occasionally steals. Its eau de toilette formulation is sheer, and it is an ideal light perfume for summer because it combines citrus with green elements (in this case, Sicilian orange and basil). What’s also appealing about this fragrance is its relatively low sillage—the fragrance phrase for how long the aroma lingers behind you as you travel around a space. Unlike musky and heavy smells, Chanel Deauville does not overrun the space, which is a perfect feature for a fragrance when young men are finding that six full spritzes are actually five too many.
6. Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette
According to Sephora personnel, Dior Sauvage—America’s number one men’s fragrance—continues to be a hit with tween and teen boys who come in after school. Bergamot and amberwood are mixed in a more sheer formulation than the stronger perfume version, which is suitable for teen guys. And it continues all day. Remember that teen guys are pack animals who don’t want to be singled out for being too odd. If you’re looking for a scent to give as a present, a tiny bottle of Dior Sauvage EDT is an excellent choice. (Remind your teen that Jeremy Fragrance is also all-in-one.)
7. Aqua di Gio Parfum
Noel Thomas, a TikTok teen grooming influencer, admires the gradient black bottle of this fragrance, which is part of the bestselling Aqua de Gio line that debuted in 1996 and was inspired by designer Giorgio Armani’s vacation home on the Italian island of Pantelleria’s citrus groves and salty sea breeze. This edition is fresh, with a drydown that contains more spice and herbal notes (rosemary, clary sage) than the previous scent’s floral and fruit notes.
8. Bleu De Chanel After Shave Lotion
This best-selling fragrance is enjoyed by people of all ages (think “nouveau bougie Old Spice”), and my son’s pals prefer the aftershave version for its sheer, mild perfume. Because aftershaves include the least concentrated oils of any scent category, they dissipate the fastest and smell the least intense. So this watery citrus-amber blend won’t overpower anyone, and it’s an excellent introduction to the realm of layering fragrances for teens who want to experiment as their scent collection expands.
9. Versace Eros Eau de Parfum
In a post titled “Teenager getting into cologne?,” scent tester Darnell praises the first designer fragrance he ever purchased, which he describes as both fresh and pleasant. There’s a lot of talk on fragrancetok about sweet smells being catnip to the ladies, so dudes enjoy these. (As a mother, I believe teenagers prefer to smell like sugary foods since they enjoy cookies, cakes, and candies.) This is classified as a woody Oriental perfume, thus it is a little more complex than other starting scents. And with top notes of mint oil and candied apple, what’s not to love?
10. Nautica Voyage
Nautica, a trusted athletic brand, has created this contemporary eau de toilette with notes of watery cucumber, green foliage, and apple. It was originally introduced in 2006, so it’s not the most popular pick for a club kid-type young male, but if your guy is sporty, classic, and doesn’t want to feel compelled to smell fancy, this is a perfect option for him. TikTok reviewer Fragrance Joe describes this smell as a superb “anytime, anywhere” cologne and one of the top three teenage scents.
