Men's perfumes for your 20s – fragrances for young men

Your first "real" perfume is often a turning point: from the deodorant your mum bought you to a fragrance you chose yourself and that people start to associate with you. The problem is that the choice is huge and opinions online are contradictory. This article puts things in order: which men's perfumes young men – and the people around them – like most, which are for every day and which for the evening, which are cheap but smell expensive, and how to cover almost everything with two bottles – from the lecture hall to the club.

Which men's perfume should I buy: three questions before buying

Before you look at the bottles, answer three questions honestly:

1. Where will you wear it most? If it is at university, the office or the gym – you need a fresh, clean fragrance. If it is mostly in the evening – you can allow yourself sweetness and density.
2. How strong do you want it to be? Some fragrances stay close to the skin, others fill the room. At twenty many people want to be noticed – but there is a line between "smells nice" and "can be smelled from the other end of the bus".
3. What is your budget? Designer hits are tried and tested and recognisable, while Arabic alternatives give a similar mood at a fraction of the price.

One more point: an Eau de Toilette (EDT) is usually lighter and fresher, an Eau de Parfum (EDP) denser and longer-lasting. The fragrance name is the same, but the concentration changes its character, so always check which version you are buying. All of the ones below are among the men's perfumes at Parfyum.bg – originals only.

The fresh ones: university, gym, every day

Paco Rabanne Invictus EDT

Marine notes, grapefruit and mandarin, bay leaf and jasmine, then guaiac wood, patchouli and oakmoss. Invictus is energetic, sporty and very "clean" – the scent of someone who has just stepped out of the shower after a workout. One of the most recognisable men's perfumes of the past decade. See the flankers in the collection too Rabanne Invictus.

YSL Y EDP

Created by Dominique Ropion and launched in 2018. Ginger, juniper and bergamot, sage and lavender, vetiver and patchouli. Fresh, but with more weight than a typical sporty fragrance – clean and mature at the same time. Suitable for lectures, internships and your first job. If you want a lighter version, there is also an Eau de Toilette.

Paco Rabanne Phantom EDT

Lemon, lavender and apple with a light smoky, earthy base and patchouli. Phantom is a modern aromatic fragrance with plenty of lavender – fresh during the day, but with enough warmth for the evening. And the robot-shaped bottle is undoubtedly one of the most fun on the market.

Sweet men's perfume for dates and clubs

Sweet men's fragrances are the undisputed favourite of twenty-somethings – and for good reason. Vanilla, tonka, chestnut or coconut make a fragrance warm, welcoming and easy for others to like.

Versace Eros EDT

Created by Aurélien Guichard and launched in 2012. Mint, green apple and lemon at the start, then tonka, ambroxan and geranium, with Madagascan vanilla and vetiver in the base. Fresh and sweet at once, with a strong trail. A classic for clubs and summer evenings. More versions in the collection Versace Eros.

Armani Stronger With You EDT

Chestnut, sugar, lavender, sage, vanilla and a light hint of smoke. Soft, cosy and very pleasant up close – the ideal date fragrance. It isn't aggressive but warm and "cuddly", which makes it especially well liked.

Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Intense EDP

A minimalist but very effective composition: vanilla, lavender and vetiver. The vanilla here is dark and velvety, and the vetiver keeps it in a masculine frame. Excellent for autumn and winter evenings.

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Beau EDT

Bergamot, coconut and tonka – simple, sunny and addictive. Le Beau is the scent of a summer evening on the beach and of anyone who wants to smell sweet without being heavy.

Cheap perfumes for men: the Arabic alternatives

A student budget and good taste can go together. Arabic perfumes are a real discovery for young men – dense, long-lasting and at prices that won't break the bank.

• Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man – lemon, pineapple, blackcurrant and apple, birch in the heart and rose with jasmine. A fruity-smoky fragrance often compared with far more expensive niche perfumes from the same family. Browse the whole series Armaf Club de Nuit.
• Lattafa Asad – black pepper, apricot, coffee, vanilla and woody notes. Spicy, dark and sweet, ideal for cold evenings.
• Lattafa Khamrah – cinnamon, dates, peach, coffee and vanilla. A spicy-sweet unisex fragrance with lots of warmth – for winter and evenings out.

Men's perfume top 10 for young men

A quick overview of the ten fragrances in this article – when they are for and what to expect:

Most of the designer titles are also in the collection of designer perfumes, where you will also find their flankers.

A starter wardrobe of two fragrances

You don't need to buy five bottles at once. Two well-chosen fragrances cover almost every situation – a fresh one for the day and a sweet one for the evening. Here are three sample combinations depending on your budget:

• Classic: YSL Y EDP for the day + Stronger With You for the evening. A clean, professional image and a cosy, pleasant evening version.
• Sporty-club: Invictus for the day + Versace Eros for the evening. Energy all day long and a strong trail at night.
• Budget: Club de Nuit Intense for special occasions + Lattafa Asad for cold evenings, and for the day a light, fresh fragrance.

Frequently asked questions