When most people think of “expensive” cologne, they’re likely thinking about the higher-end department store cologne. What most average Americans don’t know, however, is that there is a whole world of luxurious cologne out there. Whether it’s because of rarity, quality, or – quite often – the bottle in which it’s contained, the most expensive cologne is among the most popular extravagances enjoyed by the wealthy and cultured.
The most expensive cologne in the world is Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty. The maker of the most expensive cologne types in the world linked up with the French crystal makers at Baccarat to create this bottle of physical opulence. One sparkling little bottle of Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty will set you back a cool $205,000.
The 10 Most Expensive Cologne Products That Money Can Buy
From top to bottom, here are the current most expensive cologne products that money can buy. Make sure to check your tax returns before you consider any of these swanky fragrances!
- Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty – $205,000 Per 16.9oz Bottle
- Paco Rabanne 1 Million 18 Carats – $57,000 Per 3.4oz Bottle
- Clive Christian No.1 – $250,000 Per 1oz Bottle
- Lalique Blue Crystal Edition – $6,200 Per 1.3oz Bottle
- Roja Parfums Aoud Absolue Precieux – $1,050 Per 1oz Bottle
- Caron Poivre – $1,000 Per 1oz Bottle
- New Bond St. Bejeweled with Swarovski Crystals – $1,000 Per 3.4oz Bottle
- Creed Spice & Wood – $545 Per 2.5oz Bottle
- Clive Christian Original Collection 1872 Masculine – $350 Per 1.7oz Bottle
- Penhaligon’s The Tragedy of Lord George – $310 Per 2.5oz Bottle
10. Penhaligon’s The Tragedy of Lord George – $310 Per 2.5oz Bottle
Penhaligon’s The Tragedy of Lord George pulls out all of the glitz and glamour of its more expensive competitors. You won’t find any sparkly jewelry-covered bottles here, just a true gentlemanly fragrance that exudes a woodsy, confident scent.
Why Is It Expensive?
Honestly, it’s really not. Penhaligon’s sells The Tragedy of Lord George in 75 mL (2.5oz) bottles for $310. 2.5oz of this potent yet subtle fragrance will last while still being decadent enough for even the most particular woodsman.
Prominent Notes
The Tragedy of Lord George is a mystery, but the aim of this cologne is not. Sheer masculinity and simplicity.
- Brandy
- Cedarwood
- Shaving Soap
- Tobacco
Bottle Features
This is definitely a simplified version of the traditional expensive cologne bottle. That’s not a bad thing, however – it fits the scent of function over form.
- None of the glitz and glam
- No sparkly jewelry
- A simple deer head top
- Regular glass bottle
- Loads of manliness
9. Clive Christian Original Collection 1872 Masculine – $350 Per 1.7oz Bottle
While this offering from one of the world’s best cologne brands may seem outrageously expensive, this price pales in comparison to some Clive Christian colognes you’ll read about later in this article. This cologne is one of the more “accessible” fragrances when speaking in the context of market availability.
Why Is It Expensive?
Sir, it is Clive Christian cologne. It is one of, if not the, most expensive colognes on the market in terms of the brand name. Having a Clive Christian collection cologne is akin to having a Maserati in your garage (which is likely attached to your palatial mansion with eleven other luxury vehicles parked inside).
Prominent Notes
Clive Christian’s more affordable scents, this fragrance features notes of citrus and a heart of spice. For the price, it is relatively (to the rest of this list) reasonably priced.
- Mandarin
- Bergamot
- Lemon
- Rosemary
- Pepper
Bottle Features
While slightly more clunky and perhaps less elegant than the more expensive offerings from Christian, this bottle still evokes the style of the late 19th century – a time period that the cologne itself was designed to reflect (hence the name). The bottle is a deep green and features gold accents with a crown on top – a nod to the royalty and luxury of the customer.
8. Creed Spice & Wood – $545 Per 2.5oz Bottle
The name says it all in the masculine yet refined cologne. One of the most expensive cologne types are limited edition types – like Spice & Wood.
Why Is It Expensive?
The “limited edition” part is mentioned above. Only around 500 bottles were ever produced. It’s also considered a unisex scent, so the market doubled. According to creator Olivier Creed, the love story of Cleopatra and Marc Antony inspired Spice & Wood.
Prominent Notes
Fruity on the front and musky on the dry down, Spice & Wood is another manly classic. It smells amazing, but may not be expensive enough for the guy who want to buy things just because they’re expensive.
- Bergamot
- Lemon
- Apples
- Oak Moss
Bottle Features
Much like the Penhaligon’s offering, Creed Spice & Wood goes less on the bling and all-in on the scent. It is another classic example of function over form while still exhibiting an air of luxury.
7. New Bond St. Bejeweled with Swarovski Crystals – $1,000 Per 3.4oz Bottle
This Bond No. 9 New York offering is nothing to scoff at. The New Bond St. Bejeweled with Swarovski Crystals exudes energy and the hustle and bustle of New York City.
Why Is It Expensive?
The 3.4oz limited-edition bottle of New Bond St. (Bond No. 9’s home base) has been rendered with 2,294 sparkling Swarovski crystals. This star-shaped and bedazzled bottle is a physical work of art. It includes Swarovski elements, after all!
Prominent Notes
This Bond No. 9 is a unique scent designed for the debonair gentleman. With unexpected pairings of freshness and musk, it is a must-try.
- Bergamot
- Patchouli
- Leatherwood
- Sandalwood
Bottle Features
This star-inspired bottle is also covered in Swarovski crystals. It calls upon the bright lights of the big city to attract buyers. It is an actual work of art.
6. Caron Poivre For Men – $1,000 Per 1oz Bottle
Launched in 1954, Caron Poivre was originally a women’s fragrance, but they decided to take a stab at the male market, as well. You may find the ingredients a bit odd, but the result is a fragrance worth its weight in cash. The fact that it weighs in at a thousand dollars for a shot glass’ worth of product makes it an easy addition to any list of the most expensive cologne.
Why Is It Expensive?
Caron Poivre is a vintage and trusted name in the perfume world. This evolution to a men’s fragrance has attracted male customers simply due to the title alone. Curiosity regarding the unique fragrance notes has also sparked sales.
Prominent Notes
We mentioned that the fragrances may seem odd when put together! This multi-layered masterpiece will have you getting in close to your partner regularly.
- Red Pepper
- Clove
- Black Pepper
- Carnation
- Myrrh
Bottle Features
This classic 1oz. bottle features white gold elements in the cap and mimics the original Caron Poivre bottle. Simple elegance at its finest!
5. Roja Parfums Musk Aoud Absolue Precieux – $1,050 Per 1oz Bottle
Rounding out the Top 5 most expensive cologne in the world is Roja Parfums’ Musk Aoud Absolue Precieux. Developed by famed perfumer Roja Dove, this cologne is a Bergdorf Goodman exclusive. To get any more luxurious than this, you’re about to take a pretty hefty jump in price.
Musk Aoud Absolue Precieux is perhaps the highest-end version of a unisex perfume/cologne. It has all of the classic masculine notes – woody, leather, spicy, and citrus paired with several traditionally feminine aspects. A quintessential winter fragrance for the uber-wealthy, Roja Dove knocked this one out of the park.
Why Is It Expensive?
First, it’s expensive because it’s a Roja Dove fragrance and one of the best cologne brands. The bottle exudes excess and wealth just as much as the scent does with its two prominent crystals, gold accents, and modern but regal label. This fragrance has been around for a while, so its popularity is starting to wane, which could lead to a drop in price, putting it squarely in the “commercially available but expensive” category.
Prominent Notes
Renowned for its woodsy scent and vaguely spicy heart notes, Roja crafted this signature fragrance. Straightforward and elegant, it’s almost like it was designed for a Fortune 500 CEO.
- Musk
- Leather
- Agarwood (Oud)
- Birch
- Oakmoss
Bottle Features
With such an elegant-looking bottle, you should know that you’re about to experience one of the premiere musk colognes,, and thus, it is one of the most expensive colognes on the market. It features large crystals on the cap with a very modern, business-like label. The sleek design of the glass bottle hints at the coziness of the cologne itself.
4. Lalique For Bentley Blue Crystal Edition – $6,200 Per 1.3oz Bottle
Any cologne associated with the Bentley name is sure to be one of the world’s priciest colognes. Mylene Alran, who also developed the original Lalique Crystal Edition fragrance, crafted this fragrance. According to the Lalique website, the result is a “woody, spicy fragrance.”
The Blue Crystal Edition adds hints of vetiver and features the stylized “B” for Bentley on the bottle.
Why Is It Expensive?
Both names – Lalique and Bentley – are regarded for opulence and ritz in each of their respective industries. This limited edition bottle gets its blue coloration from a unique pigmentation process by the French fragrance company.
Prominent Notes
What in the world is Pear Granitas? We don’t know – because most people can’t afford this opulent fragrance designed for Bentley.
- Juniper Berries
- Peppercorn
- Pear Granitas
- Vetiver
- Cedarwood
Bottle Features
This unique bottle crafted for the luxury car company Bentley features a deep, ocean-like blue crystal. Lalique developed the color with a special pigmentation process. The bottle also features a stylized “B” that the car manufacturer uses to market its product.
For fans of Bentley automobiles, this luxurious scent is a must-have. It’s perfect for summer outings and whatever other things that the extraordinarily rich do for fun. It’s safe to say that if you can afford to drive a Bentley, you can also afford the most expensive colognes on the market – like this one.
3. Clive Christian No.1 – $2,150 Per 1oz Bottle
The epitome of multi-layered fragrances, No.1 comes in at No. 3 on our list of the most expensive cologne. Clive Christian has become known for being lavish for lavish’s sake when speaking in context of fragrances. Sometimes despised for buying out the famous Crown Perfumery, the brand has propped its marketing campaign up by dubbing its cologne as the most expensive colognes on the market.
Why Is It Expensive?
The Clive Christian No.1 captures 248 most precious and rarest ingredients in the world in a bottle to showcase the perfumer’s signature finesse. The No.1 colognes perfectly embody the founding pillars of creativity, craftsmanship and provenance, which are at the heart of the Clive Christian brand.
The rare ingredients make these colognes fully worthy of their price at around $2,150 an ounce.
Prominent Notes
The Clive Christian No.1 is available in two opulent scents. The No.1 Masculine Edition for men has a rich, warm fragrance and the feminine version is a radiant floral oriental with fruity top notes.
No.1 Masculine Edition
- Indian sandalwood
- Powdery musk
- Vetiver
- Nutmeg
No.1 Feminine Edition
- Mirabelle plum
- White peach
- Bergamot
Bottle Features
Queen Victoria granted the use of her crown as part of the design of the bottles of the No.1 colognes to recognise the contribution of the original company to British excellence. These gorgeous bottles feature a gold replica of Queen Victoria’s crown. Without a doubt a nod toward Clive Christian’s royal vision.
2. Paco Rabanne 1 Million 18 Carats – $57,000 Per 3.4oz Bottle
Buckle up, buttercup, because we’ve entered the Top 2 on the list of most expensive cologne that money can buy.
Suppose you want to get your hands on this ultra-rare (rumored to be unavailable right now except through private perfume connoisseurs) cologne.
In that case, you’re going to shell out the same amount of dough as you would if you were to send a kid to a private university for a year.
Famous for being a fragrance for men who don’t care how much it costs to smell nice, it is one of the essential fragrances ever created.
Why Is It Expensive?
Because it can be. A shot (1oz.) of Pappy Van Winkle – the world’s most exclusive bourbon – costs $185, just to give you some perspective. 1oz. of Paco Rabanne 1 Million 18 Carats is almost $16,800 per fluid ounce (around $57,000 per 3.4oz bottle). A limited-edition fragrance created by highly respected perfumers Olivier Peschaux, Michel Girard, and Christophe Raynaud,
In the fragrance world, a name and a bottle mean everything. Much like celebrities who are famous just for being famous, this cologne survives on vanity – and rightfully so, because it is a revered and sought-after product!
Prominent Notes
Citrusy on the front and regal on the back, Paco Rabanne knows how to develop a fragrance for the wealthy. Regularly pungent notes of grapefruit and blood orange mingle together perfectly to form a clean, crisp cologne.
- Blood Orange
- Grapefruit
- Cinnamon
- Leather
- Patchouli
Bottle Features
In a break from tradition, the 100ml (3.4oz) bottle can be refilled. Enclosed in a beautiful Noe Dachaufour-Lawrence case, these limited edition and individually numbered cases also come equipped with a gold lever.
1. Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty – $205,000 Per 16.9oz Bottle
If you’re surprised to see this perfumery’s name at the top of the list when it comes to the priciest colognes, you clearly haven’t looked at the rest of this article. This cologne is the pinnacle of expensive for expensive’s sake. And yes, you read that price correctly. It is not a typo.
The most expensive cologne in the world is the Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty, priced at £115,000 ($205,000) per 500 ml (16.9oz), which has broken the world record for the most expensive perfume (commercially available) according to Guinness World Records.
For nearly a half a million dollars, you can be the proud owner of a bottle of cologne that holds less than a soda bottle’s worth of fluid. A fragrance for the truly blind rich, Imperial Majesty is worth more per fluid ounce than pure melted gold.
Why Is It Expensive?
The Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty is the limited edition of the Clive Christian No 1 Collection and just ten of them were made. Three of them were reserved for touring the world as part of Clive Christian’s special collection. The remaining seven were snapped up by private collectors, the price included delivery in a Bentley.
The very limited supply, the most exquisite bottle and high popularity among Clive Christian’s fans are the main factors contributing to the whopping price tag for this ultra-rare Clive Christian cologne.
Prominent Notes
Long-sought-after scents such as ylang-ylang and vetiver bolster this – the world’s most expensive cologne. Just don’t drop the bottle.
- Sandalwood
- Vanilla
- Vetiver
- Ylang-ylang
- Bergamot
- Many American Dollars
Bottle Features
Christian worked with the most respected name in the crystal game – Baccarat – to craft this beautiful vessel. The bottle includes five carats worth of diamonds and an 18-carat gold collar, this fragrance is housed in an equally lavish bottle.
The Most Expensive Cologne
Even if you’re not in the .000001% of people who can afford most of these products, our articles can serve as some inspiration. We also serve as a great way to settle a debate when it comes to the most expensive products in the world.
There are many other extremely expensive fragrances on the market today, but we hope you learned something or at least enjoyed this list of the Most Expensive Cologne.