Strong, head-turning scents leave a lasting impression. Fact. And *bonus* fact – they linger for hours and hours too (which is great if you’re a low maintenance scent lover!). But how do you find these bottles of boldness, we hear you cry? Well, lucky for you, we’ve scoured our shelves and put our fav fragrances to the test to curate an edit of the best strong perfumes for men. From remastered classics to brand new releases, these scents were made to steal focus and attention.
How to spot strong perfumes for men
The biggest giveaway that a scent is of the loud and bold variety, is down to one word. Intense. If you spot the word intense at the end of a fragrance name – perhaps a fragrance you already know and love – then you need to know that yes, the fragrance will follow a similar profile to the OG it was based on, but (and it’s a big but!) the formula has been dialed up to the max. That means it’s stronger, with punchier notes and often more concentrated to make it last longer. And another fun fact about these ‘intense’ varieties, is that less is more when it comes to how much you need to spray, making the bottle last longer on your shelf too. Love a long-lasting scent? We’ve got a round-up for that over here.
Invictus Victory Elixir by Paco Rabanne
You know you’re stepping into strong perfume territory when you see the phrase “amber woody & extreme” in the description. Paco Rabanne’s Invictus Victory Elixir, (part of the bestselling Invictus family) is a powerful elixir with all of the woodiness of the original with added richness and intensity. We’re talking, spices mingling with incense and patchouli, over Madagascan vanilla and tonka bean. Highly concentrated, for high performance, it’s a scent that won’t let you down.
Detonate confidence from day to night, with Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme. An ‘explosion of heat’ this combines the three markers of success when it comes to the strong perfumes for men category – it’s spicy, woody, and amber-y. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s signature Spicebomb formula, it keeps the grapefruit and pimento berries at the start before the potent notes of black pepper, saffron, cumin, and tobacco power through. It’s dangerously addictive.
Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana
If you thought strong perfumes for men were all spice and musk, then Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue Intense is like a breath of fresh air. In keeping with the aquatic and uplifting feel of the iconic original, this scent maintains its lightweight, freshness (grapefruit, mandarin, salty aquatic accord) but has the added benefit of extra staying power thanks to the more concentrated Eau de Parfum formulation.
If you, like millions of others, love the long-lasting charm of Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million, then we’ve got news. There’s a stronger, bolder, gold bar of seductiveness in town. Introducing, 1 Million Elixir. With its rich and smooth blend of apple, cedarwood, and vanilla absolute, it’s so seductive it’s like a wing man in a bottle. While the throughline of Turkish Damascena rose at the heart, cleverly connects it to the signature scent for that dash of warmth and familiarity.
If your preferred style mode is ‘suited and booted’, look to Givenchy Gentleman Intenseto add a dapper finishing touch whatever the occasion. Tailored to encapsulate freshness and strength, it opens with a bang of bergamot, basil and cardamom, before a floral and woody heart sets the scene for sophistication. From important meetings to date night, this fragrance is one that will have you remembered for all the right reasons.
If we could bottle up charisma, it’ll smell exactly like Valentino’s Uomo Intense. This oriental scent is charming from the get-go, opening with a burst of zesty mandarin and refined black pepper essence. Next, it mingles effortlessly (like any charismatic type would!) with aromatic clary sage, floral iris accord, and lavender accord, before moving on to a lingering base of vanilla, tonka bean, and leather. It’s a scent that can work the room as well as you do.
Looking for a scent to impress come date night? The Most Wanted Intense by Azzarois sure to seduce the senses. Ranked as one of our favourite strong perfumes for men, thanks to its ‘what are you wearing?’ appeal, it combines irresistible notes to head-turning effect. The sharpness of cardamom at the top, gives way to a sweet caramel accord, while the amber-wood finish provides a base for maximum longevity.
Confident. Masculine. Daring.Jimmy Choo’s Man Intense, is the scent you can rely on in your after-hours arsenal. Taking the signature amber-wood tones from the bestselling original (Jimmy Choo Man), it adds a sprinkling of black pepper, uplifting honeydew melon, and heady tonka bean into the mix, for a refined and fearless scent.
When Ralph Lauren’s reinvented classic – Polo Cologne Intense – dropped in 2021 our first thought was, ‘woah, this scent has big shoes to fill’. Not only is it modelled on the fragrance that defined a whole era (Polo, also happens to be one of the most-loved strong perfumes for men!) it’s also described as the ‘new classic for a new generation’. But, after just one spray our apprehension disappeared. Expect the same depth and hold, but with a modern-day twist, thanks to notes of fresh spearmint, zesty grapefruit, and cooling sage, while keeping the heady patchouli base, a welcome nod to the iconic predecessor.
If Diesel’s Only the Brave is the rebellious, fearless teenager, thenSpirit of the Brave is the sophisticated, but no less cheeky, older brother. It still maintains freshness, thanks to juicy apple accord and citrusy bergamot, but has a powerful aromatic heart that gives it strength and a side of sensuality. Fronted by football sensation, Neymar Jr, it’s no surprise the new rendition features his iconic lion tattoo, a reminder to always be bold and courageous.
Elena is a creative copywriter who’s been around the beauty block for more than a decade, writing for brands and glossy magazines. A self-proclaimed fragrance addict (her ‘open’ collection is at 14 bottles, but who’s counting?), it’s no wonder she loves penning pieces on our newest releases and trending notes. Her signature scent? Elle by Yves Saint Laurent.
10 Strong Perfumes for Men
Strong, head-turning scents leave a lasting impression. Fact. And *bonus* fact – they linger for hours and hours too (which is great if you’re a low maintenance scent lover!). But how do you find these bottles of boldness, we hear you cry? Well, lucky for you, we’ve scoured our shelves and put our fav fragrances to the test to curate an edit of the best strong perfumes for men. From remastered classics to brand new releases, these scents were made to steal focus and attention.
How to spot strong perfumes for men
The biggest giveaway that a scent is of the loud and bold variety, is down to one word. Intense. If you spot the word intense at the end of a fragrance name – perhaps a fragrance you already know and love – then you need to know that yes, the fragrance will follow a similar profile to the OG it was based on, but (and it’s a big but!) the formula has been dialed up to the max. That means it’s stronger, with punchier notes and often more concentrated to make it last longer. And another fun fact about these ‘intense’ varieties, is that less is more when it comes to how much you need to spray, making the bottle last longer on your shelf too. Love a long-lasting scent? We’ve got a round-up for that over here.
Invictus Victory Elixir by Paco Rabanne
You know you’re stepping into strong perfume territory when you see the phrase “amber woody & extreme” in the description. Paco Rabanne’s Invictus Victory Elixir, (part of the bestselling Invictus family) is a powerful elixir with all of the woodiness of the original with added richness and intensity. We’re talking, spices mingling with incense and patchouli, over Madagascan vanilla and tonka bean. Highly concentrated, for high performance, it’s a scent that won’t let you down.
Paco Rabanne
Invictus Victory Elixir Parfum Intense
Eau de Parfum Spray
50ML – £71.00
Spicebomb Extreme by Viktor & Rolf
Detonate confidence from day to night, with Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme. An ‘explosion of heat’ this combines the three markers of success when it comes to the strong perfumes for men category – it’s spicy, woody, and amber-y. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s signature Spicebomb formula, it keeps the grapefruit and pimento berries at the start before the potent notes of black pepper, saffron, cumin, and tobacco power through. It’s dangerously addictive.
Viktor Rolf
Spicebomb Extreme
Eau de Parfum Spray
90ML – £96.00
Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana
If you thought strong perfumes for men were all spice and musk, then Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue Intense is like a breath of fresh air. In keeping with the aquatic and uplifting feel of the iconic original, this scent maintains its lightweight, freshness (grapefruit, mandarin, salty aquatic accord) but has the added benefit of extra staying power thanks to the more concentrated Eau de Parfum formulation.
Dolce&Gabbana
Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme
Eau de Parfum Spray
40ML – £59.00
1 Million Elixir by Paco Rabanne
If you, like millions of others, love the long-lasting charm of Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million, then we’ve got news. There’s a stronger, bolder, gold bar of seductiveness in town. Introducing, 1 Million Elixir. With its rich and smooth blend of apple, cedarwood, and vanilla absolute, it’s so seductive it’s like a wing man in a bottle. While the throughline of Turkish Damascena rose at the heart, cleverly connects it to the signature scent for that dash of warmth and familiarity.
Paco Rabanne
1 Million Elixir
Parfum
50ML – £64.00
Gentleman Intense by Givenchy
If your preferred style mode is ‘suited and booted’, look to Givenchy Gentleman Intense to add a dapper finishing touch whatever the occasion. Tailored to encapsulate freshness and strength, it opens with a bang of bergamot, basil and cardamom, before a floral and woody heart sets the scene for sophistication. From important meetings to date night, this fragrance is one that will have you remembered for all the right reasons.
Givenchy
Gentleman Givenchy Intense
Eau de Toilette Spray
60ML – £67.00
Uomo Intense by Valentino
If we could bottle up charisma, it’ll smell exactly like Valentino’s Uomo Intense. This oriental scent is charming from the get-go, opening with a burst of zesty mandarin and refined black pepper essence. Next, it mingles effortlessly (like any charismatic type would!) with aromatic clary sage, floral iris accord, and lavender accord, before moving on to a lingering base of vanilla, tonka bean, and leather. It’s a scent that can work the room as well as you do.
Valentino
Uomo Intense For Him
Eau de Parfum Spray
50ML – £70.00
The Most Wanted Intense by Azzaro
Looking for a scent to impress come date night? The Most Wanted Intense by Azzaro is sure to seduce the senses. Ranked as one of our favourite strong perfumes for men, thanks to its ‘what are you wearing?’ appeal, it combines irresistible notes to head-turning effect. The sharpness of cardamom at the top, gives way to a sweet caramel accord, while the amber-wood finish provides a base for maximum longevity.
Azzaro
The Most Wanted Intense
Eau de Parfum Spray
100ML – £75.00
Man Intense by Jimmy Choo
Confident. Masculine. Daring. Jimmy Choo’s Man Intense, is the scent you can rely on in your after-hours arsenal. Taking the signature amber-wood tones from the bestselling original (Jimmy Choo Man), it adds a sprinkling of black pepper, uplifting honeydew melon, and heady tonka bean into the mix, for a refined and fearless scent.
Jimmy Choo
Man Intense
Eau de Toilette Spray
100ML – £80.00
Polo Cologne Intense by Ralph Lauren
When Ralph Lauren’s reinvented classic – Polo Cologne Intense – dropped in 2021 our first thought was, ‘woah, this scent has big shoes to fill’. Not only is it modelled on the fragrance that defined a whole era (Polo, also happens to be one of the most-loved strong perfumes for men!) it’s also described as the ‘new classic for a new generation’. But, after just one spray our apprehension disappeared. Expect the same depth and hold, but with a modern-day twist, thanks to notes of fresh spearmint, zesty grapefruit, and cooling sage, while keeping the heady patchouli base, a welcome nod to the iconic predecessor.
Ralph Lauren
Polo Cologne Intense
Eau de Cologne Spray
59ML – £62.00
Spirt of the Brave Intense by Diesel
If Diesel’s Only the Brave is the rebellious, fearless teenager, then Spirit of the Brave is the sophisticated, but no less cheeky, older brother. It still maintains freshness, thanks to juicy apple accord and citrusy bergamot, but has a powerful aromatic heart that gives it strength and a side of sensuality. Fronted by football sensation, Neymar Jr, it’s no surprise the new rendition features his iconic lion tattoo, a reminder to always be bold and courageous.
Diesel
Spirit Of The Brave Intense
Eau de Parfum Spray
50ML – £54.00
Want to know how to make your perfume last longer?
Get the lowdown on how to store and wear it
About Elena Chow
Copywriter
Elena is a creative copywriter who’s been around the beauty block for more than a decade, writing for brands and glossy magazines. A self-proclaimed fragrance addict (her ‘open’ collection is at 14 bottles, but who’s counting?), it’s no wonder she loves penning pieces on our newest releases and trending notes. Her signature scent? Elle by Yves Saint Laurent.
Read next
Free gifts this Father’s Day
10 benefits of wearing perfume
Our favourite woody perfumes