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As I get older, I’m getting the sense that most guys gravitate towards the same four or five fragrances. Nothing wrong with using the greats, but why not shake things up a little bit? For example, you could try out the best Ed Hardy colognes – if you haven’t already.
The way Ed Hardy hooks you in is pretty interesting. Love them or hate them, once you see those colorful, morbid bottle designs, it’s hard to look away. Then you take a whiff, and you start to understand how this dark horse of a brand became an all-time classic.
I can totally see why teenagers love this cologne, but there’s something adult and sultry about it, too. Imagine grandma’s fruit garden mixed with grandpa’s tool shed – the end result is a shockingly manly smelling cologne that keeps you coming back for more.
Interested yet? Let’s have a look at the best Ed Hardy colognes out there.
Key Takeaways
After searching the internet high and low and reading more reviews than I can count, I’ve made my decision. Overall, Ed Hardy Hearts & Daggers Cologne is our favorite pick among the best Ed Hardy colognes. The smell is extremely unique without being outlandish, it’s pleasant without being too much, and it’s a favorite among the ladies, too. All that at a super-fair price.
If you’re after something softer, then Ed Hardy Villain is another of the best Ed Hardy colognes. What makes it so incredible is the seamless transition from watermelon to sage to lavender – not to mention it lasts a fairly long time.
Why it’s great: To understand why I love this Ed Hardy men’s cologne so much, I refer you to the notes section. It’s not every day that you see a blend of martini, rosemary, suede, and sandalwood, but it works incredibly well.
Plus, 3.4 ounces is pretty generous for how little you’re paying for this. This is one of the best Ed Hardy colognes. Overall, the scent is light and doesn’t overstay its welcome, making this the ultimate casual perfume.
Who is this for? This is one of those colognes that I could recommend to young and middle-aged guys alike. It also makes for a cool gift, since it’s almost guaranteed that the recipient hasn’t tried anything similar to this. It might get a few ladies to turn their heads, too.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Don’t let the packaging fool you; this is not an in-your-face, “smell-it-from-a-mile-away” kind of perfume. For my taste, I’d hardly call that a flaw – just a warning to guys who prefer stronger scents.
Top Notes: Martini, pear, basil | Middle Notes: Pepper, papaya, rosemary | Base Notes: Suede, patchouli, sandalwood | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: Tiger Ink is one of the ultimate budget fragrances, but man, is it good. It puts a twist in the citrusy Ed Hardy formula by throwing mint into the mix. This stuff lasts quite a while, and it gets absorbed by your clothes pretty quickly. Great if you’re after that slightly tangy, spicy scent.
Who is this for? I’d say this is the most unisex of all the picks on this list. If you catch yourself liking traditionally feminine fragrances, chances are you’ll get a real kick out of Tiger Ink. Liking mint and musk is also a huge plus.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This is one of the best Ed Hardy colognes. Although it’s not overpowering or anything, it does take a little while for the smell to go away. It can be a problem if you don’t like lounging around in your PJs smelling like perfume… or it would be a problem, if it didn’t smell so great.
Top Notes: Mandarin orange, bergamot, sage | Middle Notes: Mint | Base Notes: Amber, musk | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: If you’re wondering what justifies the price tag on this one, it’s all the female attention you’ll be getting. The combo of apple and citrus is divine, but once the neroli and sandalwood kick in, you start to get the sense you might have even underpaid. For what it’s worth, it’s also my personal favorite Ed Hardy bottle design.
Who is this for? I think any guy who likes fruity perfumes would dig this product. The gentler notes don’t overstay their welcome, so this might be a perfect gateway into the world of Ed Hardy cologne.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: When you consider the price, I do wish it lasted a bit longer. Even still, the smell is so interesting that I think it’s more than worth it.
Top Notes: Cardamom, apple, orange, ambrette | Middle Notes: Pink pepper, jasmine, neroli | Base Notes: Sandalwood | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: In case you haven’t caught on yet, the best Ed Hardy colognes are all a bit experimental with the scents. This beautiful specimen is the softest on this list, combining floral and aquatic notes with hints of watermelon. Still, there’s enough sage and basil to man-ify things up, and the duration is quite impressive, too.
Who is this for? I like to surprise people with rich-smelling perfumes, and if that’s your thing, too, then look no further. Feeling the notes shifting over the first hour or two of wearing the Villain is a delight for the sensitive nose.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Even by Ed Hardy standards, this perfume smells quite citrusy and flowery. It’s still well into man territory if you ask me, but it’s something to consider if you’re thinking of buying it.
Top Notes: Watermelon, citrus, litchi | Middle Notes: Egyptian basil, wild sage | Base Notes: Lavender, bergamot | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: This cologne’s almost like a mirror image to Villain. In an unusual twist for Ed Hardy, the musk and agarwood base notes are a bit more dominant than usual. The end result is a slightly more rugged smell, although it’s not abrasive in the slightest.
Who is this for? Scent-wise, this is one of the safest Ed Hardy men’s colognes to get if you’ve never tried them before. It’s pretty safe to wear in both a casual and semi-formal environment, plus it won’t break the bank, either. For those reasons, it’s one of the best Ed Hardy colognes out there.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: From personal experience, this one’s a bit harder to recommend to middle-aged guys. There’s something about the combination of smells that just screams late teens to mid-twenties. But hey, sometimes it pays to experiment.
Top Notes: Mandarin orange, bergamot, orange, and cardamom | Middle Notes: Violet, cypress, sage | Base Notes: Musk, cedar, vetiver, agarwood | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: Skulls & Roses might be the most iconic perfume that Christian Audigier has put out. Part of it has to do with the badass skull design, but this box set kicks things up a notch. Besides one of the best Ed Hardy colognes, you also get a signature body wash and aftershave balm.
Who is this for? Anyone who’s after a full cosmetics set could try this out. The smell is incredibly pleasant without leaning too hard into Fruitsville, largely thanks to the musk and oakmoss base notes. It makes for a great gift, too.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some people have said that the smell doesn’t linger as long as they’d like. I’ve personally used this stuff a couple of times, and the duration was pretty standard for toilette standards.
Top Notes: Bergamot, cardamom | Middle Notes: Lavender | Base Notes: Musk, oakmoss | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: Referring back to Villain for a bit, Koi Wave takes its aquatic elements (sea moss, anyone?) and gives them an Oriental flair with the sweet hint of Nashi pear. Once again, the end result is on the gentler side, with just the right amount of sandy beach thrown into the mix. Nothing like a bit of restraint in the best Ed Hardy colognes.
Who is this for? As the notes and packaging suggest, this is a summer fragrance through and through. Not that you would go wrong wearing it at any other time of year – it’s just the perfect encapsulation of a sunny day by the sea. It also lasts quite a while, so pick it up if you don’t like having to constantly reapply cologne.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: As with Tiger Ink, this one will take a while for the smell to dissipate. Not that I’d complain about smelling like Koi Wave all day, but different strokes for different folks.
Top Notes: Nashi pear | Middle Notes: Sea moss | Base Notes: Amber, musk | Type: Eau de Parfum
Buying Considerations for the Best Ed Hardy Colognes
Smell
Whichever Ed Hardy men’s cologne you go for, you can expect a unique palette of smells, owing to notes like bergamot, orange, amber, and musk. Adding all of that together, this is a great perfume to get if you’re into woodsy smells.
Season
Again, the unique blend of smells makes this one of those year-round fragrances. The fruitier notes do skew it a little bit toward fall or winter, but the overall presentation works no matter the time of year.
Style
Most Ed Hardy fragrances are either Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette. The former has a higher concentration of oils, meaning a stronger smell that lasts roughly the entire day. Eau de Toilette generally lasts up to 4 or 5 hours, and the smell tends to be a bit less pronounced.
In short, use Toilette for subtlety and Parfum for added punch.
How We Chose
The perfume industry is a cutthroat enterprise, with lots of players aiming for that number one spot. Manufacturers will often promise the highest quality products, made in the most ethical ways and with the most innovative formulas. Once you look into it, though, you realize these promises are mostly smoke and mirrors.
To ensure that you’re getting the best Ed Hardy colognes, we considered the reputability of the brand and the public’s reception to their products.
Company reputation: Is the company known for other high-quality products? The more of them there are, the more likely I am to recommend them.
Customer reviews: Are users satisfied with the product in question? If enough people have voiced the same complaints, then it’s safe to say that it’s valid and that I shouldn’t recommend a product.
Price: Is the product fairly priced for what it offers? If not, it’s back to the drawing board to look for something with a reasonable price tag.
Transparency: Does the company communicate its manufacturing process openly? People want to know what they’re wearing or applying to their bodies, so I aim to recommend products I can get behind in terms of ethics.
Why Trust Us?
Andrej Paskalov has been experimenting with perfumes for ages. From Prada to Tom Ford, he’s scoured the world of fragrances and familiarized himself with the very best.
Andrej understands that there’s more to being a man than just ruggedness – colognes and perfumes need a hint of sensitivity too, and that’s exactly what he looks for in the products he recommends.
Andrej is one of those guys who says what he means and means what he says when it comes to male fashion and grooming.
To narrow it down to the six best Ed Hardy colognes, we consulted company websites, video reviews, and so much more. All in all, putting together these lists is a lot of work, but our readers make it all worthwhile.
Final Verdict
And that’s our list of the best Ed Hardy colognes. Ed Hardy Hearts & Daggers stands out as the best, thanks to its gentle yet masculine smell, cool-looking bottle, moderate intensity, and flat-out sex appeal.
FAQ
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It varies from product to product, but Ed Hardy is generally known for its elegant blend of woody and fruity smells. Because of their unique combination of notes, a lot of Ed Hardy perfumes are treated as unisex by brand loyalists.
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Andrej is a graduated psychologist-turned-marketer with a penchant for online content writing. Following his stints with Adventure in You, The Packable Life, and other lifestyle websites. When he’s not working on a new piece, he’s working on expanding into the world of fashion.