We know why you’re here — you already look good, so you want to smell good as well. Everyone wants to smell good, of course.
Not to worry; there are many colognes on the market that you could turn to when you need to smell your best on any occasion. But if you’ve got your sights set on a particular scent from Hugo Boss, this article is for you.
Here, we’ll round up the best Hugo Boss colognes you can buy in any store today, no matter what your aim is for buying a new scent. If you’ve chosen Hugo Boss for your brand of men’s cologne, you’ve made the right choice — the nearly century-old fashion house is not only an icon in the world of couture, but they’re also one of the top makers of designer cologne in the world today.
The truth is just about any Hugo Boss product on this list will do for you, but of course, getting cologne is a matter of personal preference and how well each scent agrees with you. Men’s colognes tend to smell woody, spicy, and musky, even when they’re blended to be more light, sweet, and fruity — so no matter what scent you choose you shouldn’t worry about not smelling masculine.
These fragrances have been blended so that they will smell manly. Read on for our list of the best Hugo Boss colognes in 2021.
The Best Hugo Boss Colognes for Men 2023
Here’s a quick look at how all the Hugo Boss colognes on our list stack up against each other. See the men’s cologne buyer’s guide further down this article to find out how each fragrance is blended.
Name | Day/Night | Top Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
Night | Ginger +2 | ||
Day | Lavender +4 | ||
Day | Apple +1 | ||
Both | Pink pepper +4 | ||
Night | Lavender +1 | ||
Day | Mint +8 | ||
Day | Orange +2 | ||
Night | Granny smith apple +1 | ||
Day | Mint +1 | ||
Day | Lemon +3 |
Hugo Boss Colognes for Men: The Reviews
So here’s the part you’ve been waiting for: our reviews of the best Hugo Boss colognes for men.
Here’s how it’s going to go — we’ll be describing each scent in detail, their history, and their concoction, highlighting their strengths and which ideal situations you should wear them in. Following that will be a quick summary of the pros and cons of each cologne.
1. Hugo Boss THE SCENT, THE SCENT Intense, and THE SCENT Private Accord Cologne – The Best in Seduction
One of Hugo Boss’s newest additions to their men’s fragrances (it was launched in 2015), THE SCENT will leave any man smelling sweet, but in a ridiculously sexy way. (It’s true: this fragrance is made specifically for some hot and sexy seducin’, as Hugo Boss themselves say so.)
Mixed with ultra-masculine notes of sage, cypress, bergamot, ginger, Maninka fruit, lavender, violet, and even frankincense, all on top of a base of leather, any man who puts THE SCENT on will be brimming with sexuality and sensuality, as a man should. There’s a reason THE SCENT is one of Hugo Boss’s best-selling colognes wherever you look.
If you want to make a first impression that’ll leave a woman wanting more, or you just want to spice up a romantic life that’s already going good, or you just want to attract someone by smelling really damn good, you can’t go wrong with Hugo Boss THE SCENT.
- If you’re going to wear it to attract, most women absolutely love it
- Goes along well with most body chemistry
- The bottle is also gorgeous and classy
- Not any real cons or complaints from those who’ve purchased it, but the smell may be too woody and musky to appeal to some men
2. Hugo Boss MAN Cologne – The Best Daytime and Office Scent
You know you need two scents, right? You need a powerful, sexy night-time scent, and you also need a light, handsome daytime scent. And if you’re still looking for that perfect everyday go-to fragrance, why not try Hugo Boss MAN?
Hugo MAN cologne, an all-time classic in Hugo Boss’ fragrance line, is mixed with notes of green apple, herbs, and woody forest scents, like pine. It’s meant to be the scent you spray on after you take a shower in the morning, and when you need a touch-up in the middle of a long day. Its clear blue bottle even comes with a strapped-on bottle cap, encouraging you to bring it wherever you go.
And because Hugo Boss MAN is a classic scent, you know you’ve got the backing of many other satisfied customers. (Many have gone on to always wear Hugo Boss MAN, making it a signature scent for them.)
- A classic scent you can never go wrong with
- Light but not too light, still masculine
- The bottle looks great
- You may run into many other people wearing it
3. Hugo Boss BOTTLED and BOTTLED Tonic Cologne – The Best Power Scent
So picture this — you’ve probably already got Hugo Boss MAN as your everyday scent, but something big is about to go down in the office. Maybe you’ve got a huge pitch. Maybe you need to close a monumental deal with a client, or a potential client. Or maybe you just got a promotion and there’s something you need to celebrate, and you want to give off the right aura.
This is where Hugo Boss BOTTLED comes in. It’s built like your everyday scent, but more powerful. This fragrance launched all the way back in 1998 and now an iconic part of their repertoire is, after all, a “suit in a bottle” as Hugo Boss puts it.
If you need something that gives you even more confidence than your usual bottle would but still smelling pretty clean, catch lightning in a bottle with BOTTLED. It’s the perfect daytime scent for those who need to seize the day.
- Really clean and fresh scent, perfect for any occasion
- BOTTLED Tonic is even lighter
- Sleek bottle design
- It May also be a common scent among men
4. Hugo Boss Cologne Red – The Best Outstanding Scent for Men
Here we have a classic Hugo Boss scent: HUGO Red, a spicy and savory fragrance that’s perfect for everyday wear or nighttime “going-out” scents, or if you plain want a smell that people will remember you by. It is, after all, marketed as an “Oriental-spicy” fragrance, making sure that anyone who takes a whiff of this one won’t forget it any time soon.
HUGO Red is an interesting blend, sporting grapefruit and pink pepper on top and coming out with middle and base notes of pineapple, of all things, rhubarb and deep tonka bean, and all of these aromas mixing together makes for a lasting and impressive fragrance.
- HUGO Red is a fragrance that’s in a class of its own
- “Oriental spicy” scent is an Impressive and distinct smell
- It may not be everyone’s cup of tea
- Could come on too strong
5. Hugo Boss Bottled Night Cologne – The Best Night Out Scent
You thought Hugo Boss BOTTLED was done? Not by a long shot. Hugo Boss capitalizes on the success of their BOTTLED fragrance by putting out a night-time variant of the scent, aptly and simply called Hugo Boss BOTTLED Night. You put on traditional Hugo Boss BOTTLED in the day, and when the sun goes down this is what you switch to.
Brought to you in a sleek dark bottle and brewed with the notes that take after Louro Amarelo, an exotic and fragrant precious wood, Hugo Boss BOTTLED Night is the Hugo Boss BOTTLED’s edgy and more sensual younger brother. You know you’re bound to smell pretty and sexy when Chris Hemsworth, Thor himself, is the face endorsing the product.
- Luxurious, elegant smell that will definitely attract the opposite sex
- The subtle smell, but strong and memorable
- A sexy and stylish dark blue bottle gives it a premium look
- May come on too strong for some people
6. Hugo Boss Energise Cologne – The Best Sporty Scent for Men
For active men, smelling good is always important during and after moving so much. This is why Hugo Boss didn’t forget about the guy on the go — when he’s on the field or court playing hard and sweating it out, he’s got to smell really good after the fact. For that reason (as well as creating a really good cologne) Hugo Boss created Energise, a men’s fragrance launched in 2005 with the help of award-winning European perfume maker Claude Dir.
Hugo Boss Energise opens with highly refreshing and wonderfully light top notes of mint, lemon, pink pepper, Mandarin orange, kumquat, pineapple, and Cardamom, which quickly gives way to a manly and spicy aroma of coriander, juniper, freesia, nutmeg, clary sage, and jasmine. After that’s done, the base notes of vanilla, suede, jacaranda wood, teak wood, and leather remain, continuing the work that the heart notes began for the rest of the day. That’s a lot of ingredients, and that variety is the reason why the Hugo Boss Energise is a surprising scent for men.
- Variety of ingredients give you a distinct fragrance
- Minimalist bottle design looks good and makes it easy to carry around everywhere
- An eclectic mix of ingredients may be too much for some
7. Hugo Boss In Motion Cologne – The Best Fruity Scent For Men
Hugo Boss in Motion is an orange-smelling cologne that may not be the first thing that comes to mind when a man like you looks for his new favorite scent, but if you feel like every other men’s cologne smells too similar, why not try Hugo Boss Boss in Motion? We guarantee that you’ve never smelled anything like this, and it may just end up being a sleeper favorite.
Hugo Boss’s Boss in Motion opens its salvo with top notes of fizzy orange and citrus that take you by surprise and then give way to heart notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom to flesh out the fragrance’s masculine character. (It’s the hint of manliness you’re looking for after the light citrus opening.) When that’s all said and done, all that remains are base notes of musk and woody scents.
While it’s not your usual men’s fragrance, you ought to give it a shot. Reports say women really like it because it’s both light and manly in one package, and if your aim is to impress the ladies in your life, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of the Boss in Motion cologne.
- Light and citrusy top notes are balanced by spicier heart notes and woody base notes
- Women really love it
- One of the cheaper Hugo Boss colognes for men
- The minimalistic bottle design is a plus
- The citrus scent may be a turn off for some, or it may just not be their thing
8. Hugo Boss Just Different Cologne – The Best Scent For Men Who Are Just Bold Enough
For all intents and purposes, Hugo Boss’s HUGO Just Different cologne comes in dark packaging and bottling, so it must mean it’s a nighttime scent. But Hugo Boss is marketing this toward a man who isn’t afraid to do whatever he wants; if that’s you, then maybe you’re Just Different.
The Hugo Boss Just Different cologne is wearable anywhere, on any occasion. If you think this cologne smells good enough to be your everyday work scent, go right ahead and use it. If you feel that Just Different works best when you go out on the town and party, that’s totally fine too.
You are Just Different, so you can wear it however you want.
Hugo Just Different comes in with top notes of Granny Smith apple and mint that wakes your senses up, which then gives way to some really spicy heart notes of freesia, basil, and coriander. The notes that stick with you for the rest of the way are olibanum, labdanum, cashmeran, and patchouli, helping you stand out as much as possible.
- Marketed as a nighttime scent but fits any occasion
- Strap-on cologne bottle cap makes for easy transportation
- Sleek bottle design
- It May not be best for those who prefer more traditional men’s fragrances
9. Hugo Boss ICED Cologne – The Best Scent That Keeps Men Cool
Sometimes, men’s cologne isn’t just an accessory to help people smell good, but it could also be used as a source of inspiration and stimulation as well. There are a few scents that achieve this goal, but there’s nothing quite like Hugo Boss’s ICED cologne.
Hugo Boss is calling their ICED cologne a “wave of icy freshness and energy,” and to be honest, it’s hard to disagree. Everything about Hugo Boss ICED simply screams cool, from its shiny silver cologne bottle to the blast of iced mint that serves as the core of its top note, besides the scent of tea leaves.
Hugo Boss ICED also goes hard really fast. Its heart notes are made of juniper and bitter orange, while it only has one base note in vetiver. One thing’s for sure: Hugo Boss ICED wants to leave an impression right away.
- Strap-on cologne bottle cap makes for easier transportation
- The refreshing and cooling scent helps invigorate senses
- Sleek bottle design
- May be too light for some occasions
10. Hugo Boss Pure Cologne – The Best Fresh and No-Nonsense Scent
So let’s say you’re a simple kind of guy. You don’t want to wear any fancy-smelling, possibly heavy colognes that are designed for more ulterior motives; you just want to smell good and not have to think about how everything mixes with your body chemistry and which fragrance is best on which occasion. You want a cologne that just sprays and forget.
If you’re that kind of guy, Hugo Boss Pure is exactly the scent for you. Its inspiration is exactly what the label says: it’s pure, and it evokes the simplicity and clarity of the water. Even the packaging and bottle are no-nonsense, so you know exactly what you’re getting. This cologne from 2008 is a daytime scent, mixed with really light citrus, greens, hyacinth, lily, and Massoia wood from the forests of New Guinea that result in a blend that doesn’t need snobbish and discerning olfactory senses in order to be appreciated.
- Light, floral scent that’s really easy on the nose
- Goes well with anything you wear, or any occasion
- May not be a masculine enough scent for some men
Hugo Boss Cologne for Men Buyer’s Guide
Okay, so you’re ready for a new scent. Or you just want to buy a new cologne no matter what it is, because all colognes smell good. Before you start clicking “Buy Now” on these Hugo Boss colognes for men, it’s really, really important that you, dear man, are aware of how to properly purchase a bottle of cologne. There are real unwritten rules that will save you from wasting your money on the wrong smell (and by that we mean a scent that doesn’t agree with you).
If you’re rather new to buying cologne, please don’t skip this part. It’s really important, trust us. You don’t want to sink $20-$90 for a bottle of cologne that you ultimately end up disagreeing with. There are many important factors that come into play for that fragrance you’re about to buy, so keep reading.
First, figure out which eau you need to get
When you shop for colognes, you’ve probably noticed that they come in different “types” on the label. We’re talking about the eau de toilette, eau de cologne, eau de parfum, and pure perfume labels on the bottle, as well as colognes that are sometimes labeled as an aftershave.
These French words can get confusing, we’ll admit, but they’re actually really helpful. There are obviously differences to each type of cologne, mainly with the concentration of the fragrant perfume oils in the blend -- this is why you’ll find eau de toilette is cheaper than an eau de cologne, and you’ll notice that eau de parfum is more expensive than those two. Meanwhile, aftershave is exactly what it says it is: it’s a liquid alcohol product that not only makes you smell good post-shaving but also disinfects any cuts.
The concentration, of course, determines how powerful the blend is and how long the scent will last on your body; in turn, that determines how often you need to re-apply a fragrance.
Also, if you’re faced with the option of buying either splash or spray, it doesn’t really matter as the concentration doesn’t change between the two. A splash lasts longer, however, as an aerosol spray releases more of the cologne when you press down as opposed to the single drops you get from the splash.
The Olfactory Pyramid and Volatility
When you’re looking through colognes, you may have noticed the different ingredients used to make the scent as classified under three “notes.” It’s really important to remember that the smell of a cologne or perfume is not static, meaning how the fragrance smells change over time because of how fast each element evaporates. These three different notes are basically the classification of the ingredients and oils that you smell at each phase of the scent when the time has passed and the fragrance and the compounds that comprise it are “breathing” on your skin via evaporation.
The olfactory pyramid system is actually a metaphorical way of describing and smelling the scent of each cologne and perfume, and the ingredients listed are a way of assigning its identifiable scents. The real ingredients are indecipherable chemical compounds.
They are:
If you’re also curious, here are the ingredient groups ranked by volatility (or how fast the scent evaporates from your skin), from most volatile to least volatile:
- Citrus (i.e. oranges, lemons, grapefruits)
- Aromatic herbs (i.e. lavender, rosemary)
- Floral scents (i.e. rose, jasmine)
- Greens (i.e. pine, leaves)
- Non-citrus fruits (i.e. pineapple, banana)
- Aromatic or oriental spices (i.e. cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger)
- Wood notes (i.e. vetiver, cedar)
- Oriental balsamic notes (i.e. vanilla, tonka bean)
That’ll help guide you on which colognes have more long-lasting notes.
The olfactory pyramid is why, unless you’re buying a scent you already are familiar with, you need to buy colognes at the store in person. You’re going to need to test the cologne on your skin because before you purchase, you need to know what the base note smells like after it’s interacted with your skin and body chemistry. Here’s how you buy cologne at the store: ask for a tester bottle, apply it on your skin (preferably your wrist, as that’s where you’ll usually spray it), leave, and walk around for an hour before coming back to the store. After an hour, smell the spot you sprayed the cologne on -- if you like it, then that’s a clear sign that it’s a good scent for you.
On the other hand, some people sometimes complain about the quality of the cologne they bought when it either actually comes down to the kind of eau they bought or the biological phenomenon of getting used to the smell after you’ve been exposed to it for a while. Make sure you buy original products, but also be mindful that the way you perceive the scent on your own body can be affected by this phenomenon.
The difference between day and night scents
You’ve also likely noticed that each Hugo Boss cologne mentioned on this list was classified as either day or night scents.
This distinction between day and night exists for a reason: lighter, more citrusy scents are more ideal for warmer temperatures in the day, while heavier woody and spicy scents are better suited for the evening. Perfume makers know this and market their products appropriately.
You can always tell whether a fragrance is meant to be a daytime scent or a night-time scent -- if you can’t distinguish by the smell and the ingredients it uses, just look at the box and bottle. A light, clear bottle indicates a daytime scent, and darker hues mean it’s a night-time scent.
Of course, you don’t have to follow these unwritten rules strictly; sometimes what you like is enough to get you throughout the day or the night, as the case may be. (More on that in a while.) Sometimes, what seems to be a nighttime scent can smell like a daytime scent to some noses, so you can mix and match accordingly.
Go with what you (and other people) like
Perfume and cologne manufacturers list down all the ingredients in the different notes to help people be more informed on what scent they want to buy -- sometimes, the particular ingredients and notes are a straight-up selling point. When you’re buying your first or one more out of a lot of bottles, you may end up getting obsessed with the little details.
You may be asking which Hugo Boss cologne smells the best? We’d just like to remind you that you should probably stop yourself from seeking out particular scents just for the ingredients and notes they have, especially if you’ve gotten yourself into analysis paralysis.
It also really helps to bring someone else with you when you go shopping for colognes, especially if your objective is to impress people by smelling good. What you think smells good may not be a scent that agrees with other people. If you’re trying to impress and/or attract women with cologne, bring a female friend to give you some feedback. You’d be surprised at what other people find fragrant, and what they find too strong.
It also goes without saying that you need to figure out what kind of scent you’re buying. Are you in the market for a daytime scent? Do you need a new nighttime scent? Or will any great-smelling cologne do? Knowing what you want will help you narrow down the search for your next bottle.
Comparing Hugo Boss Colognes With Other Brands (Hugo Boss vs Versace, Hugo Boss vs Armani)
One thing’s for sure: Hugo Boss isn’t the only cologne brand out there. There are fashion and fragrance powerhouses such as Armani and Versace that also create men’s colognes, and as you shop in person at the department store you will probably come across their products. You’re probably asking, what should I get when I see (and smell) those other brands?
The answer is, again, simple. Just go with your nose.
Each perfume and cologne affects and impresses people in many different ways. Within the Hugo Boss umbrella, you’re already bound to have your own personal favorite scents, and this can happen whether the label says, Armani or Versace.
There will be people who have their own preferences, and they can tell you that this brand or that brand smells better than the other. While that may be true for them, what you like is really up to you. Only you can decide on whatever fragrance you like, and what scent works best for you and your body.
If there’s one thing we’ve noticed in our research, however, it’s that the entire Hugo Boss line of men’s colognes seem to be more accessible than those of houses like Armani and Versace. Hugo Boss has fragrances made for casual wearers, and their entry-level men’s colognes are among the best choices you’ll ever have. If you’re still new to this or you don’t want anything too fancy, Hugo Boss colognes may be just right for you.
As always, get what your nose - and the people around you -- like to smell. You can never go wrong with that.
Conclusion
The truth is you really can’t go wrong with any of the Hugo Boss men’s colognes on this list. Hugo Boss has been making quality fragrances for both men and women since the early 20th century, and they would not be in business if they were making bad-smelling duds.
Whether you want to attract the opposite sex (with Hugo Boss THE SCENT), you want to exude the power and class that comes with your stature in life (with fragrances like Baldessarini or Hugo Boss MAN), or you simply want to not smell bad (or scentless, with Hugo Boss Pure), these Hugo Boss colognes will do the job. Good luck on your quest for your new favorite cologne!
