Whether you’re looking for your first-ever fragrance or a luxe-feeling gift, today’s colognes for teens have a little bit of everything. Nowadays, cologne for teenagers has come a long way from the era of overpowering Axe body sprays. (Although, hey, even Axe is angling for a rebrand these days.)

Over the past decade, the market for cologne for teens has expanded. Locker room sprays of yore were once limited to the same handful of intense scents, but today, colognes for teens are more sophisticated and varied.

Many teens aren’t just picking out one signature scent either. Lighter, more versatile cologne and perfume ingredients have made for smells that are easier to layer and personalize. Add to that the example set by smellmaxxers on TikTok, and scent is rightfully seen as something to play around and have fun with.

Whether you’re in the market for a subtle, approachable aroma that lets you (and not your cologne) make an entrance or something with an edgier flair, there are colognes for teens that fit every style and personality. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite buy-worthy bottles across budgets. And we’ve also included some notes for the studious scent-lover on how to pull off your new fragrance — because cologne isn’t just about what you wear, but how you wear it.

In this article, find:

How do I choose a new cologne?

Before buying the first well-reviewed bottle of cologne you see, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the types of scent you’re drawn to. That’s especially true if you’re a fragrance first-timer!

Get to know the fragrance families

Typically, colognes are divided into fragrance families: woody scents, which are earthy and often use notes like sandalwood, cedarwood, or patchouli; fresh or citrusy scents, which are light and clean, with notes like lemon, grapefruit, or bergamot; spicy scents, which are warm, complex, and often feature whiffs of clove, black pepper, amber, or vanilla; and floral scents, which are becoming more popular in cologne and use notes like lavender, jasmine, or orange blossom.

Outside of those core fragrance families, there’s also a whole bunch of scent subcategories out there, from gourmand (think coffee or dessert scents) and aquatic (fresh, with marine notes) to colognes described as musky, leathery, fruity, smoky, or green. Some colognes blend multiple categories, too, for a uniquely layered scent.

Go for an IRL spritz

If you’re not sure what scents you like best, head to a store like Sephora to sample them in person. While there, you’ll probably see colognes labeled either “eau de parfum” or “eau de toilette.” This refers to the concentration; eau de toilettes smell lighter and typically cost less, whereas eau de parfums use more oil and last longer. If you’re just getting your scent sea legs and worried about smelling too strong, eau de toilettes may be a good place to start.