There are hundreds of great men’s fragrances, but truly iconic ones are a sniff out of the ordinary. Among all the amazing eaus, there are probably fewer than 50 (in fact, there are 20, according to this list) that have survived fads and fashions to earn their place in the olfactory hall of fame. These lucky lads are deemed some of the best men’s cologne of all time.

“Men often judge fragrances in the way they do cars,” says celebrated perfumer Azzi Glasser. “They want sophistication, but demand reliability and performance too.” In other words, while fancy flacons and big-budget marketing campaigns make an impact, ultimately, a men’s perfume survives because they keep coming back for another sniff.

So, whether you’re a fragrance fresher looking for your first signature scent, a cologne collector wanting to add to your stash or a significant other in search of the perfect gift, you could do a lot worse than to start with one of these — yes, we’re calling it — best men’s fragrances of all time.

The Best Men’s Fragrances & Colognes Of All Time

1. Tom Ford Oud Wood

Fragrance Type: Sensual & Smoky

Tom Ford’s first foray into the world of rich, smoky oud came while the designer was working on M7 for Yves Saint Laurent – a critically-acclaimed fragrance that helped kick-start the trend for oud in the UK. Less overpowering and sexier than others in the market, this one under Ford’s own label is warm, masculine and has depth — everything you want from a woody nighttime scent. It’s hailed by some as the best men’s cologne of all time, so it earned a spot on our list.

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2. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male

Fragrance Type: Warm & Woody

Taking a chance on young and relatively inexperienced perfumer Francis Kurkdjian — now one of the world’s most acclaimed noses — French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier came up with one of the most iconic men’s fragrances (and bottles) of all time. Heady and seductive, with notes of lavender, mint, sandalwood and vanilla, it’s the perfect evening fragrance. “The scent of a generation, Le Male is the defining smell of metrosexual man and still smells as good today as it did then,” says Dunkley.