Founded in 1981 by the Marciano brothers, Guess has produced an impressive lineup of fragrances, offering something for every occasion. They’ve built a reputation for innovation with their clothing, and they’ve taken that same spirit into the design of their colognes.
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Our Top Guess Cologne Picks
Most Mature
Guess by Marciano is a spicy, woody, amber Guess cologne that embodies maturity and masculinity. The top notes include black pepper and orange, with lavender, leather, and sage appearing a few minutes after the application.
The base notes of amber and ginger are warm and sophisticated, making Guess by Marciano perfectly suited for fall or winter wear.
The performance was slightly above average, with a decent projection for up to three hours, and an overall longevity around 9 hours. It can be worn day or night, and would work well for a man looking to present an experienced image in the office or at dinner.
PROS | CONS |
Good performance | Not suited for younger man |
- For: Men
- Season: Fall / Winter
- Wear it: Daytime or evening
- Launched: 2009
Best for Spring
Guess for Men is a green, fresh, spicy EDT, like it’s color suggests. It opens with notes of wormwood, lavender, pepper, and ginger. After the drydown, fir, amber, and peru balsam create a woody accord that make this fragrance a no brainer for springtime.
The performance was passable, projecting for about two hours, and lingering as a skin scent for several hours after that. This Guess cologne is safe, enjoyable, and youthful due to its freshness, and would be great for men looking for a daily wear for the warmer months.
PROS | CONS |
Clean and easy to wear | Projection could be stronger |
- For: Men
- Season: Spring / Summer
- Wear it: Daytime
- Launched: 2006
Best for Winter
Guess Gold for Men brings a fruity twist to the original Guess for men EDT. Top notes of Apple and wormwood create a sweet and spicy combination once applied. The middle notes consist of lavender, ginger, pepper, and nutmeg, creating an overall floral accord.
After the dry down, the base note of amber is most prominent, finishing off with a strong sweetness. It’s a good choice for younger men looking for something to wear at night, though it could work as a unisex fragrance too.
The performance was average in longevity and projection, though we were a little disappointed this Guess cologne became somewhat one dimensional over time.
PROS | CONS |
Captivating opening | Lacking complexity after the dry down |
- For: Men / Unisex
- Season: Fall / Winter
- Wear it: Evening
- Launched: 2007
Best for The Office
Guess 1981 for Men is an amber, woody EDT that’s perfect for daytime wear in the fall, winter, or spring. The top notes of violet leaf and bergamot create fresh, citrusy accords, and shortly after that, the middle and base notes of cedar and leather take the forefront.
Also included in the composition is ambergris, oakmoss, and frankincense. The performance is average, and will remain on the skin for upwards of six hours, although it’s projection ceases much earlier.
1981 is perfect for office wear, presenting a gentlemanly aroma that won’t impose outside your personal space unless applied heavily.
PROS | CONS |
A great choice for daily office wear: fresh and gentlemanly | Slightly metallic opening, weak projection |
- For: Men
- Season: Fall, Winter, or Spring
- Wear it: Daytime
- Launched: 2017
Best for a Beach Day
Guess 1981 Indigo is a modern, sweet fragrance, similar to other beachy colognes like Tommy Bahama St. Barts. It opens strongly with notes of coconut, fig, and lavender.
Following the drydown, the coconut mellows out, and base notes of cedar and amber emerge. Indigo is distinct, but still reserved enough that it could be worn daily. It’s perfect for a night out at a beachside bar, or a casual summer day. The performance left a little to be desired, fading in intensity four hours after application.
PROS | CONS |
Distinct beachy fragrance with a wonderful drydown | Lacking in longevity, top notes will be too sweet for some |
- For: Men / Unisex
- Season: Spring / Summer
- Wear it: Daytime or evening
- Launched: 2018
Best for Fall
Guess 1981 Los Angeles is a spicy, smokey fragrance that’s suited for wear in the fall. It shares some similarity with Versace Eros due to its inclusion of mint, geranium, and sweet vanilla notes. Other top notes include plum, black pepper, and bergamot.
After the drydown, amber and tobacco base notes create a sweet and smokey profile. We were satisfied with the performance, lasting over seven hours.
The ruggedness of the tobacco makes this a decisively masculine Guess cologne, but a versatile one as well. It could be worn in the office, or on a night out.
PROS | CONS |
Versatile and not overbearing | Weak projection after the drydown |
- For: Men
- Season: Fall
- Wear it: Daytime or evening
- Launched: 2019
Best for the Club
Guess Night draws inspiration from dance music, youthful clubs, and late nights in the city. It’s comparable to The One by Dolce & Gabbana for it’s citrusy start and development into sweeter base notes.
Guess Night’s opening is electric: top notes of grapefruit, elemi, and pepper create citrusy, spicy, and piney accords. During the drydown, this Guess cologne becomes gentler and more floral, featuring a middle note of geranium.
Later on, the vanilla base note presents a welcome sweetness. Guess night has moderate longevity and projection, making it well suited for a night out at a club or bar.
PROS | CONS |
Excellent drydown into vanilla and floral accords, Moderate performance | Opening is somewhat sour and harsh |
- For: Men
- Season: Spring
- Wear it: Evening
- Launched: 2013
Best for All Seasons
Guess Seductive Homme is, like the name suggests, an alluring masculine scent with amber, spicy, and woody accords. The top notes of mandarin and cardamom are present at the initial spray, and the middle note of orchid comes into focus at the drydown.
Over time, the amber base note emerges, alongside patchouli, sandalwood, and musk to provide a seductive end to this Guess cologne’s development.
It has moderate longevity, lasting more than six hours, and the projection was acceptable, though we wish it were a little stronger. The scent is playful, appropriate for younger men on a date night.
PROS | CONS |
Perfect for a Fall or Winter date night | Could be too sweet for some |
- For: Men
- Season: Spring, Fall, Winter
- Wear it: Evening
- Launched: 2011
Best for Daily Wear
Guess Seductive Homme Blue is an aromatic, spicy, and aquatic Guess cologne that has drawn comparisons to La Nuit De L’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent for their mutual inclusion of a cardamom top note.
Other top notes of Seductive Homme Blue include black pepper, citrus, and caviar, and they blend well with the middle note of geranium. Finally, the bass note of cashmir wood, moss, and sand offer a woody, marine finish.
The composition is excellent for this EDT, and it’s inclusion of various aquatic notes make it suited for spring and summer wear, especially during the day. Despite it’s “seductive” name, it belongs in the office, more so than on a date, but it’s versatile enough to work in any setting. It has a fairly weak projection and longevity, so it may need a heavier application to suit your needs.
PROS | CONS |
Excellent composition | Poor performance |
- For: Men
- Season: Spring / Summer
- Wear it: Daytime
- Launched: 2012
Best for Date Night
Guess Seductive Homme Noir is spicy and sweet, and has been called a more affordable alternative to 1 Million by Paco Rabanne. The top notes are grapefruit and black pepper, but it doesn’t take long for the middle notes of apple and lavender to emerge.
Like Noir for Women, Seductive Homme Noir gets better and better as it develops, and the base note of tonka bean is smooth and long lasting.
As the name and packaging suggest, this EDT is dark and sensual; a great choice for date night and other evening events. It has an impressive performance, remaining present for upwards of eight hours after application.
PROS | CONS |
Smooth base notes and strong performance | Somewhat synthetic opening |
- For: Men
- Season: Fall / Winter
- Wear it: Evening
- Launched: 2019
TOP PICKS AT A GLANCE | ||
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Best for the Office
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Best for All Seasons
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Best for Date Night
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Sean Hickey is a writer who graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in philosophy. He is a regular contributor to the Six Minute Mile newsletter, as well as a filmmaker, photographer, and musician. When he’s not doing any of those things, Sean is combing the web for the best deals on colognes, shoes, and whatever else he can find to craft an expressive style.