The best men's fragrances for a date

A date fragrance has one job that's easy to get wrong: one person should notice it, not the whole restaurant. That means the best choice isn't the strongest fragrance in your cupboard but the one that works at close range. Warm, vanilla-woody and moderately oriental profiles work best for exactly that reason — sweetness sounds intimate on the skin but pushy at three metres. Below is the best selection for a romantic evening.

Practical rules for a date: (1) Apply 30 to 60 minutes beforehand. The first ten minutes are the most alcoholic and least attractive for most fragrances — let that part happen at home. (2) Two sprays, no more. On the wrists and neck, not on clothes. (3) Avoid a new fragrance on an important evening. You only know how it develops on your skin after four hours once you've worn it at least three times. (4) Consider the setting. In a restaurant, where there's food, a strong gourmand fragrance gets in the way. (5) Don't mix it with scented shower gel and deodorant — three scents at once make something nobody planned.

Xerjoff Naxos: Honey, tobacco, lavender — one of the most frequently mentioned date-night fragrances. Intense and unforgettable.
Parfums de Marly Layton: A warm, sweet-woody scent that feels like a hug. Sophisticated, yet approachable for a date.
Nishane Fan Your Flames: Coconut, rum and pistachio over tobacco — unique and boldly expressive. For a date where originality counts.
Electimuss Imperium: British luxury — dark, musky and animalic. For anyone who wants to be remembered.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum: An icon of seduction — cardamom, lavender and iris over vanilla and woody notes. It's been a favourite for decades.

Which fragrance is the most seductive for men?

Xerjoff Naxos and Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male are among the most frequently mentioned in this category. Both are warm, sweet and sensual.

When should I apply fragrance before a date?

30–60 minutes before going out — a fragrance needs time to "open" on the skin. Right after showering is ideal.

Should I choose a different fragrance for a date than for the office?

It's worth it — a date fragrance is more intense and sensual than an office one. Keep the office one neutral; with a date-night fragrance, treat yourself to more.