Is your bathroom counter a graveyard of half-used cologne bottles? You know allllll of those fragrances you wanted to try but ended up ghosting after only a couple of uses. If you have trouble committing to a scent but are eager to explore the options out there, a cologne subscription box is an answer to your woes.
Rather than dropping $100 every time you want to try a new scent, the best cologne subscription will send you a thirty-day fragrance supply for a fraction of the price. Gone are the days of shelling out cash only to decide you don’t like the chosen smell. The best cologne subscription boxes have changed the playing field and made finding a signature scent (or multiple) a game that any man can win.
If, at this point, you’re wondering: “well, what is the best cologne subscription?” you’re in luck. As fragrance fanatics, we’ve taken the time to try and review the eight best cologne subscription boxes for men. Whether you’re looking for designer fragrances or niche scent houses, the best cologne subscription box will ensure you have it all.
Keep reading to discover the top options.
Key Takeaways
The quick answer to “what is the best cologne subscription” is it depends on what you’re looking for. When it comes to the OG of men’s cologne subscriptions, you can’t go wrong with Scentbird.
Though if you’re hunting for a dose of luxury, try ScentBox, or save your cash with a budget-friendly option like Perfume.com. No matter which cologne subscription you settle on, you’ll wind up with a brand-new scent every single month.
Our Top Picks
Scentbird
ScentBox
Olfactif
Scentbird is pretty much the godfather of cologne subscription boxes. Founded in 2013, the brand has been around for more than a decade, helping the cologne-curious discover all that the fragrance world has to offer.
Scentbird is the best cologne subscription for guys looking for a little bit of everything. Start by taking the Scentbird quiz to lay out your preferences, and add the fragrances you want to try to your queue. The brand simplifies the process by recommending colognes with similar olfactory notes and provides detailed descriptions to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Once a month, Scentbird ships a thirty-day supply of the next cologne you have lined up. Want to leave the choices to the professionals? If you don’t add colognes to your queue, Scentbird will automatically send you the Fragrance of the Month. Whenever you fall in love with a scent, you can purchase a full bottle for a discounted price.
What’s Included: 8ml bottle, atomizer case with first bottle | Subscription Options: 1
ScentBox is another standout option for the best men’s cologne subscription, especially if you want to try more than one fragrance each month. What sets ScentBox apart is the multiple subscription tiers. Subscribe to one, two, or three fragrances each month, and then decide whether you want standard, premium, or platinum scent access.
The standard plan includes access to 600+ fragrances, while premium has 850+ to choose from. If you’re really looking to treat yourself each month, the platinum plan has access to the most exclusive fragrances, with 150+ high-end scents reserved only for this tier.
ScentBox is the best cologne subscription for men who want to keep up with the ever-changing fragrance world. The extensive collection of designer scents is one of the largest in the industry, allowing eager men to dabble in the world of luxury colognes without breaking the bank. Either start with the brand’s quiz or filter fragrances based on your scent preferences. And if you end up with something you hate, ScentBox will exchange it for you.
What’s Included: 8ml bottle, signature keepsake box | Subscription Options: Standard, premium, platinum with choice of 1, 2, or 3 fragrances each month
Perfume.com has one of the best cologne subscription boxes for men on a budget. It’s more affordable than subscriptions like Scentbird or ScentBox without sacrificing in the choice department, making it a top option to score the best colognes for young men. If you’ve been curious about subscription boxes, this is your chance to see what the hype is all about.
With more than 500 brands to choose from, try best-selling colognes by Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Cartier without spending hundreds of dollars on a full-sized bottle. In fact, Perfume.com’s offerings include many of the best colognes under $50. If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, opt to receive Perfume.com’s fragrance of the month instead of sorting through the hundreds of scents yourself.
What’s Included: 8ml bottle, atomizer | Subscription Options: 1
Looking to get a little more out of the best cologne subscription? LuxSB (short for Luxury Scent Box) is slightly more expensive than other options but distributes nine milliliters of fragrance, as opposed to the industry standard of eight.
Ideal for testing out new products and taking cologne on the go, each month, LuxSB will send you a new fragrance to try. The only downside is unlike most of the best men’s cologne subscriptions, LuxSB does not allow you to choose your scents ahead of time. You’re pretty much stuck with what they send you, but as the brand is owned by expert noses, it’s safe to say that you’re in good hands (nostrils?).
What’s Included: 9ml bottle, protective case | Subscription Options: 1
I mean, in theory, you could spend hours scrolling through The Fragrance Shop to find a suitable scent. But where’s the fun in that? For all the cologne curious short on time, The Fragrance Shop created ScentAddict, their take on a monthly cologne subscription.
This cologne subscription box allows you to build out a calendar with all of the scents you’re dying to try. Each month, they’ll send you an 8-milliliter sample of the next cologne on your list. And let me tell you, they have it all. From the best musk colognes to captivating woody scents and seductive sandalwood fragrances, the offerings are mind-boggling.
Fall in love with what you smell? One of the top perks of ScentAddict is $12 off any full-size purchase, so you can stock up on your signature scents. The brand also offers one-off samples if you’re not ready to commit to a full-blown subscription and multiple monthly options in case you want to give the gift of a cologne subscription box.
What’s Included: 8ml bottle, refillable atomizer | Subscription Options: One-off, month to month, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month fixed memberships
Purpl Lux may be less well known, but it’s an epic budget option if you’re strapped for cash. Created by Fragrance Net, the annual subscription is only $10 a month (compared to $15, billed monthly), which is significantly less expensive than most cologne subscription boxes out there.
For the price of two Starbucks coffees, Purpl Lux grants access to more than 600 brands, allowing you to explore the best of the fragrance world for a fraction of the traditional cost. They also have a selection of Premium fragrances for an upcharge if you’re looking to try more luxurious colognes but aren’t ready to commit to a $500 bottle.
What’s Included: 8ml bottle, travel atomizer | Subscription Options: Monthly, annual, optional add ons/upcharges
With designer colognes saturating the market, how is a man supposed to find unique niche scents? Enter Olfactif, the best cologne subscription for men seeking something different. You won’t find any big name brands here, but rather smaller producers embodying the true art of fragrance. If you’re a scent snob or are sick of smelling like every other guy, this is the best men’s cologne subscription. Especially if you’re looking for colognes women love.
Olfactif is generous in its offerings, which is just one of the many reasons why we love them here at FashionBeans. Choose between three or six long-lasting colognes each month, packaged in two-milliliter spray bottles. Not only do you get to try multiple scents in every box, but you’ll also get to discover special brands that you wouldn’t come across otherwise. Ready to get off the well worn cologne track? Olfactif is a premium answer with huge discounts if you feel like purchasing a full-sized bottle.
What’s Included: 2ml bottles | Subscription Options: Month to month, 3-month, 6-month, 12 month, with choice of 3 or 6 fragrances
At this point, you probably have a handle on how the best cologne subscription works. Fill out a quiz, select your scents, and receive travel-sized fragrances. But what sets Debonair apart is the brand actually curates a selection of the best colognes for men based on your answers. Each month, they send three different 3-milliliter scents that have been hand-picked according to your preferences.
There’s no guesswork here. Debonair Scent is the best cologne subscription for men who don’t want to take any chances. Put your faith in the pros and reap the benefits of multiple fragrances tailored specifically to you each month. When you inevitably fall in love with a cologne from your box, use the $15 monthly discount on a full-sized bottle from the store. It even ships for free—talk about a worthy investment.
What’s Included: Three 3ml bottles | Subscription Options: Month to month, 3 month prepay, 6 month prepay, 12 month prepay
What to Look for in the Best Cologne Subscription
Size
The first thing to consider when choosing the best cologne subscription is the size of the samples included. Most cologne subscription boxes come with samples that are between seven and ten milliliters, which gets you anywhere from 75 and 150 sprays.
Since cologne subscriptions send out samples rather than full-sized bottles, it’s important to invest in a box that ensures you get
Price
You’ll also want to consider the price when choosing the best cologne subscription. Some cologne subscription boxes start at only $10, while luxury offerings can reach up to $40 a month. Similar to most elements in the fashion and grooming world, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking for a selection of premium, high-end fragrances, the cologne subscription box will likely be more expensive than those that offer standard, department store colognes.
A major perk of the best cologne subscriptions is many offer the first month for half price, coming out to under $10 most of the time. Plenty of companies also give out a major discount for buying full-sized bottles, so this is also worth keeping in mind when considering the price. The low monthly subscription cost plus the massive savings on scents can be a worthy justification for the cost of the best cologne subscription box.
Subscription Options
Finally, consider your options when choosing the best cologne subscription because, seriously, who doesn’t like a choice? Many of the best cologne subscription boxes come with different options, whether it’s the type of fragrance you get access to, the number of colognes you receive each month, or even the possibility of add-ons.
When considering the different cologne subscription boxes out there, keep your eyes out for the options available. After all, no two cologne subscriptions are the same.
Final Verdict
The time has come for the ultimate answer to what is the best cologne subscription? After weighing the options, we’ll leave that one up to you.
One thing we do know is if you’re looking for a tried and true classic, Scentbird is a top pick, followed by ScentBox for a more luxurious experience or Perfume.com if you don’t want to break the bank with the best cologne subscription. Overall, it boils down to what you hope to get out of the box. If it’s simply discovering new scents, you’ll be in good hands with any of the picks on this list.
FAQ
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The best cologne subscription boxes send out fragrances once a month, with the option to purchase full-sized bottles (normally at a discounted price) whenever you please.
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When you sign up for a cologne subscription box, it normally begins with a quiz that matches fragrances to your preferences. From there, you’re able to add these scents, along with any other colognes you want to try, to your queue or calendar. Each month, the cologne subscription will send you the next fragrance on your list.
If you haven’t picked out scents ahead of time, most cologne subscriptions will send you their Fragrance of the Month, which is a great way to try colognes you wouldn’t normally reach for.
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Most cologne subscription boxes allow you to choose the scents you receive for a highly personalized experience. However, some cologne subscriptions like Debonair Scent and LuxSB pick the scents for you.
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