Ask for Versace aftershave in a British shop and you will be shown men's fragrance. That is how the word is used here, and our guide to what aftershave means explains the split between the shaving product and the scent. Americans call the same bottles cologne. Whichever word you search with, this is a list of the Versace men's fragrances worth buying and a few worth sniffing first.
Eros is the best-known name in the range, and it is not one fragrance, so a good part of this guide sorts out which Eros you are buying. Everything below is drawn from the verdicts on our own perfume pages, compiled from wearer reports, and where the community splits we say so.
The best Versace aftershave for most men
Dylan Blue - Eau de Toilette
Grapefruit, bergamot and fig leaf over ambroxan, pepper, patchouli and violet leaf, on incense, musk, tonka and saffron. Alberto Morillas composed it in 2016.
Our verdict calls it a blue fragrance done right: sparkling citrus on top, a musky and lightly spicy middle, and just enough depth to keep it interesting. It is the safe everyday bet.
Clean and easy for work and warm days
Versace Pour Homme - Eau de Toilette
Neroli, lemon, bergamot and rose over hyacinth, cedar and clary sage, on musk, tonka and amber. Another from Alberto Morillas, launched in 2008.
This is the quiet one. It is a benchmark in crisp Mediterranean freshness and a daily driver for men who want to smell sharp and clean without being loud. Our profile rates both its staying power and its projection as moderate, so it is a fragrance for the people sitting near you, not the ones across the room.
Man Eau Fraîche - Eau de Toilette
Lemon and bergamot over cedar, tarragon, sage and pepper, on musk, amber and saffron. Olivier Cresp made it in 2006.
Crisp lemon, an unusual starfruit and breezy woods. This is a hot-day fragrance. It is unbeatable for easy confidence in warm weather and not for anyone chasing depth. Few wearers vote it long lasting, so expect to reapply.
The Eros family, and which Eros to buy
There are five Eros fragrances worth knowing, and they are different compositions rather than strengths of one scent. Most share a fresh citrus opening and a vanilla base. What changes is the sweetness, the spice and how long it stays.
By wearer votes, the Eau de Parfum, Flame and Parfum last longer than the Eau de Toilette, and Energy lasts the least of the five. If you are not sure which to buy, the original Eau de Toilette is the reference point the others are measured against.
Eros - Eau de Toilette
Mint, apple and lemon over tonka, ambroxan and geranium, on vanilla, cedar, vetiver and oakmoss. Aurélien Guichard, 2012.
This is the original and the one most people mean when they say Eros. Our verdict calls it bold and seductive, a clubbing fragrance that is not for the timid and does not let go. The mint and apple are loud, the vanilla is sweet, and the whole thing is built to be noticed. If you want the original, this is it.
Eros - Eau de Parfum
Candy apple, lemon, mint and mandarin over ambroxan, geranium and clary sage, on vanilla, leather, cedar, sandalwood, bitter orange and patchouli. Olivier Pescheux, 2020.
The same idea with more going on underneath: leather, sandalwood and bitter orange sit below the vanilla. It is a confident, playful powerhouse that never fades into the background. It also lasts better: six in ten wearers who voted call it long lasting or eternal, against half for the Eau de Toilette.
Eros Flame - Eau de Parfum
Mandarin, pepper, lemon, chinotto and rosemary over geranium and rose, on vanilla, tonka, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli and oakmoss. Olivier Pescheux, 2018, two years before the Eau de Parfum.
The spicy one. Our verdict describes citrus and pepper fused with a gourmand twist, with bold projection and a crowd-pleasing streak. It carries the highest community rating of the main Eros versions.
Eros - Parfum
Lemon, mint and pepper over apple, geranium, lavender, sage and pomarose, on tonka, amber, vanilla, patchouli and benzoin. Olivier Pescheux, 2021.
This is the most mature and polished Eros, creamy with tonka and vanilla where the others are sharp. Wearers vote it among the longest lasting of the family.
Eros Energy - Eau de Parfum
Lemon, lime, grapefruit, blood orange, bergamot and mandarin over pink pepper, amber and blackcurrant, on musk, oakmoss and patchouli. Launched in 2024.
A citrus rush with very little vanilla. Our verdict suits it to warm weather and people who want good vibes rather than seduction, and warns that it may lack depth for anyone who likes richer scents. It also has the weakest longevity votes of the five.
For evenings and colder weather
Oud Noir - Eau de Parfum
Pepper, bitter orange and neroli over cardamom, saffron and frankincense. Listed in some places as Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir, launched in 2013.
A smooth, westernised oud that is often compared to Tom Ford Oud Wood, with a lighter and fresher Versace twist. Our verdict says it is loved for wearability and versatility, and that a few find the oud too synthetic or woody. It is the one to try if you want oud without a heavy, resinous bottle.
The ones we would not buy unsniffed
Our verdicts flag these as divisive. None is a bad bottle for the right person, but all of them split wearers badly enough that guessing from a photo is a mistake.
The Dreamer - Eau de Toilette
A soft floral masculine from 1996 with tobacco blossom and iris. The verdict calls it unashamedly floral and fleeting, and notes that it often ends up as a bedtime scent. The Dreamer The Original Edition is a richer tobacco and rose take, and wearers are split between calling it a masterpiece and a harsh, powdery mess.
Eros Najim - Eau de Parfum
Caramel, cardamom, oud and incense. It is a real Marmite: an unusual Middle Eastern take on Eros for some, an oversweet synthetic for others.
Versace Man Eau Fraîche Extreme - Eau de Parfum
A 2025 follow-up to Man Eau Fraîche, also from Olivier Cresp. Some wearers call it a clean, musky compliment magnet. Others find it generic and short of the original's sparkle. If you like the first one, try this before you assume it is the same.
L'Homme - Eau de Toilette
A 1984 leather and oakmoss powerhouse, strong and unmistakably of its time. It is iconic and divisive, and some wearers find that vintage style too close to a cleaning product.
Questions people ask
Which Versace aftershave lasts longest? By wearer votes, Eros Parfum, Eros Flame and Eros Eau de Parfum come out ahead, and Man Eau Fraîche and Versace Pour Homme are the lightest.
Which is best for summer? Man Eau Fraîche or Eros Energy. Our verdicts point both at warm weather.
Which is best for the office? Versace Pour Homme or Dylan Blue. Our verdicts call one a daily driver that is never loud and the other a safe everyday bet.
Which should I buy as a gift? Dylan Blue if you do not know his taste, because it is the safe bet. Eros Eau de Toilette if you know he likes something loud and sweet.
Is aftershave the same as cologne? In everyday use, yes: both mean a men's fragrance. In perfumery, Eau de Cologne is a separate, lighter concentration that Versace does not use for any of the bottles above.
Looking for something for her? Our guide to the best Versace perfumes for women covers the other half of the range.
