The best 1970s men’s cologne includes Eau Sauvage, Givenchy Gentleman, and Caron Yatagan. Popular colognes from the 70’s also include Opium, Brut, and Old Spice.
If you’re interested in the best 1970s men’s cologne you came to the right place. I was spraying Eau Sauvage when I was thinking about its release date.
After a bit of research, I confirmed this fantastic cologne is older than I initially thought.
It also turns out I’ve already used a few men’s cologne from the 70s and I had no idea about their age.
Some of these colognes aren’t wearable today. Others can be purchased and sprayed today by most mature men.
Back in the 70s, things were a bit different. Men liked shirts, suits, the clean-shaven look, and masculine scents.
If today the lines are a bit blurred in how these scents are classified, cologne from the 70s is immediately recognized.
12 best men’s colognes from the 1970s
The great part about cologne from the 70s is that it’s mostly available at a very low price. If you’re into the type of old-school vintage colognes, you might want to take a closer look at the following perfumes.
- Eau Sauvage
I have to admit the cologne was made in the late 60s but its popularity has risen considerably in the 70s. Since then, it went on stronger and stronger up to this day.
Edmond Roudnitska is the man behind this legendary vintage cologne.
It has the makings of a classic with attractive notes.
In the opening, there’s rosemary, bergamot, basil, caraway, fruits, and lemon.
Heart notes include coriander, carnation, orris root, patchouli, sandalwood, rose, and jasmine.
Base notes include vetiver, oakmoss, musk, and amber.
The fresh cologne is fresh with green accords with sophisticated composition.
It may be old, but it’s not for old men. It’s hypnotic.
However, longevity on Eau Sauvage is nothing to brag about.
Key points
- Up to 4 hours longevity
- Mostly a skin scent given its mild projection
- A cologne for sunny days
- Givenchy Gentleman
Released in 1974, the original Givenchy Gentleman is refined even by today’s standards.
Honey, lime, rose, bergamot, sandalwood, and tarragon are its opening notes.
It features cedar, jasmine, orris, and patchouli heart notes.
Leather, amber, oakmoss, vanilla, musk, chivet, and vetiver are its base notes.
Patchouli is dominant in the fragrance and you need to expect linearity from the first spray to drydown.
The chivet-patchouli drydown is unique and this is why many don’t recommend it as a blind buy.
Key points
- 4 hours of longevity
- Not made for compliments
- It has a classic barbershop vibe
- Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel
Launched in 1975, the cologne is now available at a pizza price.
Floral notes are dominant here, just like back in the golden cologne period.
Given its low price and high availability, it can be a safe blind buy.
Galbanum and oakmoss are strong here and you need to expect them to remain liner.
The cologne opens with bergamot, lemon, petitgrain, neroli, and galbanum.
It’s midnotes include mimosa, iris, violet, rose, sage, narcissus, and geranium.
Base notes include cedar, tonka, almond, vetiver, and oakmoss.
Key facts
- 12-hours longevity
- It lasts with 1 spray only
- Powdery and floral
- Caron Yatagan
Launched back in 1978, Caron Yatagn still gets mentioned by men today. I’ve been to 3-4 countries where I’ve met gentleman interested in it or asking my opinion about it. In a way, it was the Dior Sauvage of its time.
Described as warm, sensual, and bold, it has plenty going for it with its interesting scent.
Lavender, watercress, galbanum, pine, basil, and mint are its top notes.
Artemisia, patchouli, oak moss, and oak are its mid notes.
Incense, woods, castoreum, and musk are its base accords.
I’d describe it shortly as a bitter green cologne with leather incense supporting notes.
Key facts
- 8-hours longevity
- Silage up to 5 feet
- Versatile outside office wear
- Ralph Lauren Polo
Launched in 1978, Polo from Ralph Lauren is a cologne with daring notes such as juniper berries.
You might not believe it, but the 1970’s men’s cologne isn’t as cheap as many would expect from vintage cologne.
However, it does have a special place in the heart of many men.
Let’s see its notes.
Bergamot, coriander, artemisia, caraway, basil, and juniper berries are then in the opening.
Geranium, carnation, rose, pine tree needles, jasmine, pepper, chamomile, and leather are its heart notes.
Vetiver, oakmoss, musk, patchouli, amber, cedar, and tobacco are its base accords.
I’d simplify these notes as herbal with tobacco and leather support.
Very masculine, I’d see it as a contended for long-lasting cologne for men over 40.
Key facts
- It lasts up to 8 hours
- Very pine dominating
- Masculine composition
- Azzaro Pour Homme Azzaro
Made in 1978, this classic cologne is often used as an aftershave as well.
It also features the timeless lavender appeal, but there’s a bit more going for it than simple bergamot.
Top notes include basil, caraway, clary sage, lavender, bergamot, anise, and lemon.
Cedar, vetiver, patchouli, juniper berries, sandalwood, and cardamom are its heart notes.
Oakmoss, musk, amber, tonka bean, and leather are the base accords of this men’s cologne of the 70’s.
Anise and lavender as strong but leather, oakmoss, and lemon are also coming close here with only a hint of a barbershop scent.
Key facts
- 2-hours longevity
- A hint of an aftershave scent
- Popular cologne in the 70s and the 80s
- Lagerfeld Classic
Released in the late 70s, Lagerfield Classic is still available today.
Similar to Polo Green, the Classic men’s cologne is purely masculine.
Without sweetness, it features bergamot, lemon, clary sage, tarragon, green notes, and aldehydes.
Cedar, jasmine, orris root, sandalwood, patchouli, rose, and tobacco are its heart notes.
Oakmoss, vanilla, musk, tonka, and amber are its base accords.
Amber and tobacco are the key players here.
With good longevity, it’s a scent that has a good return on investment balance.
However, given it lacks freshness and sweetness, it’s only suitable for mature men.
If you haven’t tried vintage fragrances before, it’s going to be very different from what you expect.
Key facts
- 5-hours longevity
- Made for men over 40
- It doesn’t attract compliments
- Old Spice Aftershave
Old Spice Aftershave was popular in the 70s, even if the composition dates back to the 30s. There are even a few ads remaining from the era.
The scent defined 3 generations of men around the world and it might be a bit outdated to wear today, but it can bring a few smiles to nostalgic men’s cologne fans.
It features uniqueness in its ingredients.
Aldehydes, star anise, orange, lemon, nutmeg, heliotrope, cinnamon, geranium, jasmine, pimento, and carnation are it opening accords.
In the drydown, ambergris, cedar, vanilla, tonka, and benzoin make their presence felt.
It’s not a bad cologne, but it simply comes from an era when we weren’t around.
This is not recommended for guys under 40-50.
Key facts
- It lasts up to 4 hours
- Clean and spicy composition
- Somewhat similar to Jagermeister
- Brut Prestige
Lavander, basil, orange blossom, lemon, and bergamot are in the opening of this men’s cologne of the 70s.
Jasmine, ylang-ylang, and geranium are its mid notes.
Patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, tonka bean, vanilla, and coumarin are its base accords.
This version of Brut is made with the same fresh composition but with added sweetness from the vanilla and as a result, a bit easier to live with today.
Key facts
- 2-hours longevity
- One of the top barbershop fougeres
- Very masculine
- 4711 Original Eau de Cologne
The cologne goes a few hundred years back but it certainly represents something men’s cologne of the 70s and 80s was fond of.
Bergamot, lemon, basil, peach, and orange oil are among its opening notes.
Bulgarian rose, jasmine, melon, lily, and cyclamen are its heart notes.
Patchouli, musk, sandalwood, vetiver, oakmoss, and cedar are its base notes.
Today, a bottle of the classic cologne can come in 60ml, 90ml, 300ml, 400ml, and 800ml versions as cologne.
To make the package complete, you can also find 4711 wet wipes to have your hands smelling fresh like the cologne throughout the day.
Key facts
- It evaporates within an hour
- Its strong neroli with citruses is fascinating
- The most historic cologne
- Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme
Launched in 1971, the cologne is a classic together with an excellent perfume for women from 1970s, YSL Opium.
The Original Pour Homme is one of the first Yves Saint Laurent creations and it may still be around today if you want to try it out yourself.
Lemon, lemon verbena, petitgrain, and lavender are among its top notes.
Geranium, Brazilian rosewood, clary sage, rosemary, and marjoram are its heart notes.
Sandalwood, musk, patchouli, amber, tonka, vetiver, and cedar are its base notes.
Lemon is dominating here and herbals are only supporting notes.
Key facts
- 10-hours longevity
- Similar DNA to Chanel Pour Monsieur
- Suitable for men 40+
Final considerations
You can see that the colognes of the 70s aren’t all bad today. You can have fun and enjoy a throwback weekend wearing these colognes and feeling more like a man than ever before. Impactful with no room for sweetness or even too many flowers, these colognes are a piece of history.
Some of them can be purchased in stores while others are only available from collectors. It’s worth digging deep for them just to see where colognes for men are coming from and how they’ve changed over the past decades.