Hugo Dark Blue

Hugo Dark Blue, inspired by Hugo Boss HUGO Dark Blue (1999)

Ginger and a squeeze of mixed citrus (grapefruit, orange, lime, lemon) make the opening fizzy and lightly spiced. Cardamom and mahogany, a dry reddish wood note, shape the heart, with cypress, geranium and sage keeping it aromatic. As it dries, vanilla and benzoin, a balsamic resin with a vanilla-like sweetness, meet vetiver, cedar and patchouli. That mix of ginger, citrus and resinous sweetness is why so many wearers compare it to rum and cola.

About the original

HUGO Dark Blue came out in 1999 as part of the HUGO line, though a few retailers date it to 2002. The perfumers are usually given as Alain Astori and Béatrice Piquet. A 2025 retrospective treated it as an early cocktail-style men's scent. Dark Blue no longer appears on Hugo Boss's websites, and bottles still on sale tend to carry older barcodes.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Hugo Boss stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Somewhere between fresh and sweet, it fits men who like citrus with more substance than a typical sports scent. The cola-like accord gives it a playful side. Vanilla and benzoin are noticeable in the base, which may bother buyers who avoid sweetness in men's fragrance.

Related scents

• Hugo Boss Hugo Man
• Hugo Boss Energise

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Ginger, Grapefruit, Orange, Lime, Lemon

Heart notes: Cypress, Cardamom, Mahogany, Geranium, Sage

Base notes: Vanilla, Cedar, Benzoin, Vetiver, Patchouli

Ginger leads with grapefruit, orange, lime and lemon, a fizzy, spiced opening.

Cardamom and mahogany form the heart, with cypress, geranium and sage adding a green, aromatic line.

Vanilla and benzoin sweeten the base, held in check by vetiver, cedar and patchouli.

Is Hugo Dark Blue discontinued?

It is no longer listed by Hugo Boss, and several retailers show it as unavailable. Hugo Boss has issued no statement about it.

Why does it smell like cola?

Ginger, citrus, cardamom and vanilla together create a spiced, fizzy-sweet effect that many people associate with rum and cola. There is no cola note as such.

Is Hugo Dark Blue coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Hugo Boss that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Hugo Boss and Hugo Dark Blue are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Hugo Boss in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.