by Moe Zilla

Created on: August 02, 2009

The winners have been announced! The Top Men's Colognes of 2009 were chosen by the Fragrance Foundation at a red carpet ceremony in New York City on May 28. (And it was an exciting night. Paris Hilton showed up, along with Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, and even Dustin Hoffman!) It was the 36th edition of the "FiFi Awards," which the organization describes as that special night "where the gifted geniuses of the fragrance community compete to win a coveted crystal FiFi." But you may be surprised by their picks for the top men's colognes...

The men's "Fragrance of the Year" for 2009 was "I am King" by - Sean John Fragrances. ("I believe, therefore I am," they announce on the cologne's official web site.) According to one reviewer, the cologne offers a "unique masculine scent," intense and exotic, like a walk in the forest or the smell of fresh oranges. There's premium Champagne in the cologne - plus the smell of key lime pie and even lemon cream - creating a "clean and crisp" elegance. (In its ad campaign, a male model rides a jet ski in his tuxedo, and cavorts with two women in his private helicopter. And one of whom is carrying an enormous gun...)

"I believe therefore I am. I am king."

While that cologne won top honors in the fragrance of the year, the group also selected a second fragrance of the year in their "Men's Popular Appeal" category. The winner? McGraw by Tim McGraw (manufactured by Coty Inc.) The word "popular" may be code for "cheaper," since an ounce of the fragrance costs just $20. But it still comes in a short, wide bottle with a rich-looking gold color an ornate silver cap, which won a second award from the organization as the best packaging for a men's cologne (in the popular appeal category).

Tim McGraw, of course, is a country singer - married to Faith Hill - who became famous for the song "Live Like You Were Dying". (A man mistakenly diagnosed with a terminal illness remembers how he went sky diving, rocky mountain climbing, and "2.7 second on a bull named Fu Manchu.") It's a good image for a cologne, and to honor his country roots even more, Coty is also offering a special McGraw "Southern Blend" cologne, which has a more mellow, amber-yellow color - and a gold cap.

But wait - there's a third "Fragrance of the year," this time in the "Nouveau Niche" category. The winning cologne? Burberry the Beat for Men by P & G Prestige Products. (Not to be confused with "Burberry the Beat for Women," which is yellow instead of green!) It's a "fresh

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>