Versace Eros for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

Why it's worth it

Versace Eros pairs mint and green apple up top with vanilla and tonka underneath, and it projects harder than its price suggests. It's the first bottle to buy if you've never worn cologne and don't want to gamble.

It punches well above its tier on projection. Multiple beauty publications have noted that this eau de toilette throws more scent than plenty of eau de parfums costing several times as much. Owners say the same. If you've been disappointed by fragrances that vanish an hour after you spray them, this one won't do that to you. Six to eight hours is typical.

The mint-vanilla combination is a proven crowd-pleaser. It's sweet, it's fresh, and it doesn't ask anything of the person smelling it. That makes it a good first fragrance for a teenager or anyone who doesn't yet know what they like. There's nothing weird in it, no smoke, no leather, no animal notes to explain to anybody.

From our review of 10 perfumes and colognes, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +It punches well above its tier on projection
• +The mint-vanilla combination is a proven crowd-pleaser
• +It costs little enough that you can be generous with it
• +Everyone recognizes it, which helps if you're gifting

What to know

• –The sweetness turns cloying in heat
• –It's as ubiquitous as the Sauvage, minus the prestige
• –There's not much to discover in it