Dating Awards 2024: Date-Night & Relationship Products

Look & Feel Your Best on Date Night With the Top Dating Products of 2024

June 11, 2024

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The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

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OK, we admit it: Buying certain products won’t make anyone fall for you — but they could help convince someone that you’re worth taking a chance on.

After all, first impressions can go a long way, and giving someone the first impression that you’re a slob who doesn't know anything about how to present himself is rarely a winning move.

A snazzy outfit, a fresh scent and a stylish hairstyle may not get everyone’s heart a-fluttering, but they could be the difference between a left and a right swipe one day, and they could also give you that extra tiny little boost you need to qualify for a second date.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our absolute favorite products to help you look good in a dating and relationship context. As they say, all’s fair in love and e-commerce. Or maybe we’re misremembering? Either way, we’re pretty sure the below options won’t hurt your dating chances.

Without further ado, here are our picks for the 2024 AskMen Dating Awards, Dating and Relationship Products edition:

Best Date-Night Clothing

Best Date-Night Long-Sleeve Shirt

Flint & Tinder The Architect Shirt

A nice shirt is the centerpiece of any good date look. If you’re at a bar, a restaurant or a coffee shop — aka three of the most popular date options there are — you’re likely going to spend the majority of the time looking at each other from the waist up. You’ll want something that communicates that you have good taste and a budget for buying shirts, that fits and is stain-forgiving. Flint & Tinder’s The Architect shirt lives up to its name — it gives you the air of a distinguished professional in a high-paying field who’s smart, creative and fashionable without being obnoxious.

Check out the Flint & Tinder The Architect Shirt

Best Date-Night Short-Sleeve Shirt

Southern Gents Knit Polo

Sometimes, of course, a short-sleeve shirt is necessary. Perhaps you’ve heard of global warming? It’s also nice to show off your arms if you have nice muscles, cool tattoos or manly arm hair. For our money, a collared shirt is the move, because T-shirts simply don’t communicate “I tried to impress you,” even when they’re expensive ones. Enter the comfortable Southern Gents Knit Polo, which uses a gorgeous color-block striped pattern to soothe and impress the person sitting across from you.

Check out the Southern Gents Knit Polo

Best Date-Night Pants

Arne Tailored Chino Trouser

Though they likely won’t get seen as much as your shirt, your pants are also important on a date. A good pair of date-night pants checks a few boxes: Clean-looking, with a little give in case you eat a lot, a little flexibility in case you need to dance, and not too complicated to take off (in case… you know). Also, as we’ve argued before, they shouldn’t be jeans, because, like T-shirts, those are an item of clothing with distinctly casual vibes. Instead, they should be Arne’s incredibly smart-looking Tailored Chinos.

Check out the Arne Tailored Chino Trouser

Best Date-Night Shoes

Henderson Byron Sneakers

In our opinion, the perfect shoe to wear on a date is a semi-nice sneaker. Unless you’re taking your date to a club that has rules about this kind of thing, a halfway-dressy, clean pair of sneakers communicates the perfect mix of suave cool and unpretentious realness. This pair, from Henderson, gives off adidas Stan Smith vibes, but in a casually elevated way that’s hard to turn down. Hell, your date may want to get your shoes’ phone number at the end of the night.

Check out the Henderson Byron Sneakers

Best Date-Night Boots

TAFT The Jude Boot

Sometimes, a date calls for a boot. Whether it’s because it’s a little chillier or you just want to rock something more substantial on your feet, a dressy boot can make you look like one seriously classy fella. The main thing to avoid? Laces. Boots, by virtue of being, well, taller, require more laces. And you don’t want to keep your date waiting in a potential hookup scenario by spending several minutes freeing yourself from footwear that basically doubles as A Contraption. Go for a stylish Chelsea boot — like these gorgeous and comfy suede ones from boot legends TAFT.

Check out the TAFT Jude Boot

Best Date-Night Blazer

A&F Collins Tailored Blazer

Every guy on the planet who owns one single suit (or just the jacket portion of a suit) owns a dark blazer. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Navy or black blazers are a great look. But there’s also nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd, and a beautiful cream-colored blazer like this one from Abercrombie & Fitch is just the ticket. Paired with a crisp white shirt and some dark blue (non-denim) pants, you’re going to look smooth as hell. Just don’t wear it to a dive bar — this is for the upscale joints.

Check out the A&F Collins Tailored Blazer

Best Date-Night Jacket

Velvet by Graham & Spencer Alton Poplin Zip-Up Jacket

Going on a date during a slightly colder month of the year? It’s time to bust out a nice jacket. It’s a well-known fact that guys look great wearing a good-looking jacket, and, of course, you can drape it over your date’s shoulders as needed for a little added romantic oomph. The Alton from Velvet by Graham & Spencer is a shining example of a great date-night jacket: it’s eye-catching without being flashy, warm without being too bulky, and has enough pockets to accommodate things like condoms, breath mints, and so forth.

Check out the Velvet by Graham & Spencer Alton Poplin Zip-Up Jacket

Best Date-Night Socks

Southern Scholar Floral Mid-Calf Socks

Look, don’t tell the guys who founded AskMen — who famously got the idea for a men’s advice site when they saw one wearing white socks with a suit — but the real truth is it doesn’t really matter which socks you wear on a date. But, presuming you are going to wear socks (not everyone wants to see someone’s toes that early on), you should wear these ones — gorgeous, comfy, and surprisingly durable. They’re a nice little pop of color at your ankles. And as the Victorians knew, that can be a real turn-on.

Check out the Southern Scholar Floral Mid-Calf Socks

Best Date-Night Watch

Geltier Strider

A good date-night watch is little more than a piece of jewelry that communicates: I own a watch. You’re going for understated, classic and a little chic. Too tricked-out and you seem kind of nerdy; too expensive and you seem like a show-off; too big and you seem like you’re compensating. The Geltier Strider is a great example of a watch that’s none of those things. It’ll make you look sophisticated and stylish without calling attention to itself. And it’ll help you arrive on time, which is never a bad thing on a date.

Check out the Geltier Strider

Best Date-Night Hat

Southern Gents Alexander Fedora

Look, the hat can be a somewhat controversial accessory. There aren’t a lot of ones that look good, and the fedora as a concept had its reputation absolutely ruined by dorks on Reddit about a decade and a half ago. Still, sometimes you want some headwear on you — whether to cover up your baldness or simply to flaunt a little extra style. Southern Gents has you covered (literally) with their Alexander Fedora. No need to engage in PUA-style peacocking — simply wear a literal peacock feather. It’s beautiful and serious all at the same time.

Check out the Southern Gents Alexander Fedora

Best Date-Night Underwear

Subset Men’s Boxer Brief

Unlike your shirt, there’s absolutely zero guarantee that your date will ever see your underwear. But if they do, wearing a ratty, stained, hole-eaten pair is not a good look. Instead, impress the pants off them (maybe literally?) with a pair of Subset’s ultra comfortable, luxurious-feeling, chic-looking boxer briefs. The one drawback? They don’t make them in enough colorways to keep impressing your new boo past the fourth date — yet.

Check out the Subset Men’s Boxer Brief

Best Date-Night Grooming Products

Best Date-Night Breath Freshener

Therabreath Mild Mint Mouthwash

You don’t want to be the guy who ruins the first kiss by having absolutely brutal breath, but if the two of you have been hanging out for a few hours, you might have similar smelling breaths by first-kiss time. However, you also don’t want to be the guy who shows up to the date with absolutely brutal breath in the first place, either. Head that worry off at the pass with a quality mouthwash, like Therabreath’s tasty and powerful Mild Mint, which, you guessed it, is mild enough on the tongue that it won’t leave your mouth stinging.

Check out Therabreath Mild Mint Mouthwash

Best Date-Night Deodorant

Old Spice Vanilla + Shea Total Body Deodorant

A great date-night deodorant is a must when you’re heading out to meet your potential future spouse/hookup/situationship. Although the Total Body Deodorant concept may sound strange at first, it’s not for rubbing all over every inch of your skin. It’s simply formulated so you can rub it on other areas that often get sweaty — feet, privates, folds and so forth — as well as your ‘pits, giving you all-over peace of mind as you step out. Plus, the soothing vanilla and shea scent is a great one.

Check out Old Spice Vanilla + Shea Total Body Deodorant

Best Date-Night Natural Deodorant

evolvetogether Havana Deodorant

If you’re looking for an underarm scent that’s more sophisticated to the nasal palate, perhaps you’d want to try a natural deodorant, which often features complex and unexpected scents that the major deodorant brands shy away from. The new heat-activated evolvetogether deodorant offers a Havana scent that mixes cardamom and wood. It’s simply divine, and applies very smooth, unlike some other natural deodorants.

Check out evolvetogether Havana Deodorant

Best Date-Night Body Wash

American Crew 3-in-1 Chamomile + Pine

Look, everyone else makes fun of men for using 3-in-1 body washes. But you know what? Sometimes it’s nice to keep things simple. And when you’re keeping things simple, you might as well opt for something that’s nice, that smells great, gets you good and clean and makes your pre-date shower a wholesome, positive experience. American Crew’s new Chamomile + Pine body wash is that product. It boasts a scent combination that’s unexpected yet deeply pleasing.

Check out the American Crew 3-in-1 Chamomile + Pine

Best Date-Night Hair Styling Product

Hanz de Fuko Gravity Paste

Too many guys make the mistake of just showing up to a date without doing anything to their hair. Take a page out of women’s playbook — they know that putting some effort into how your hair looks can make you way sexier. Our top product of the moment for this? Hanz De Fuko’s Gravity Paste, which uses “super-grip” technology the brand describes as a “scientific breakthrough.” We’re not scientists, but what we do know is, it works incredibly well to provide you with your dream hairstyle that’ll last all night.

Check out Hanz de Fuko Gravity Paste

Best Date-Night Shaving Tool

Braun Series 9 Pro+

Rocking a clean shaven face for a date is rarely a bad move, in no small part because first-date kisses are less complex when it’s just skin on skin. In which case, you’re going to want a high quality shaving tool. And with all due respect to razors, electric shavers are a better pick here. Braun’s Series 9 Pro+ will have you looking professional and presentable in no time; it’s equally good at handling wet and dry shaves and highly precise. Plus it self-cleans, making overall ownership of one a snap.

Check out the Braun Series 9 Pro+

Best Date-Night Beard-Styling Tool

Philips Norelco OneBlade 360

Of course, not everyone wants to shave it all off before the date. Some people are possessed of majestic beards and/or mustaches and simply want to tweak, prune and otherwise perfect their facial shag. For those people, we recommend the new OneBlade 360 from Philips Norelco. It’s highly flexible — not only can the head swivel in every direction, but it’s designed to be used with or without shaving cream, in dry or wet situations, and the included skin guard, stubble comb and body comb give you a wealth of options for getting just the look you want.

Check out the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360

Best Date-Night Manscaping Tool

Dr. Squatch Groin Guardian Trimmer

We don’t believe in pube-shaming. A little bush is a beautiful thing, and feeling like your natural body hair makes you gross is a crummy feeling for anyone. That being said, if you like to keep your front lawn trimmed, that’s fine too! Dr. Squatch’s new Groin Guardian is a lovely entry into the pubic lawnmower space: lightweight and easy-to-use, it’s an impressive technological debut for a brand that had largely been focusing on deodorants and scents until now. The screen that shows you how much battery is left? It’s a nice touch. And speaking of nice touches… *insert manscaping joke*.

Check out the Dr. Squatch Groin Guardian

Best Date-Night Fragrance

Romeo & Juliet by Bold Label

Lots of guys miss the memo that less is more and seriously overdo scents. So, with that in mind, exercise caution — but yes, it’s true, applying a little bit of fragrance before a date can make you even more desirable than usual. This year, we’re loving the winner of the 2024 AskMen Grooming Awards category for Best Date Scent: Romeo & Juliet by Bold Label. It boasts delicious notes of chocolate, peach, blueberries, and honey — and hopefully your night will end better than its namesake play did.

Check out Romeo & Juliet by Bold Label

Best Date-Night Beverages

Best Date-Night Beer

Elysian Brewing Hazy ‘96

Look, we’re not huge fans of IPAs here at AskMen. No shade, but they completely took over the market for a decade and change off the basic selling point: What if beer tasted, you know, worse? But not all IPAs are created equal. Case in point: Elysian’s Hazy ’96, which has a relatively low IBU of 40, a nice tidy 6.1% ABV, and delicious notes of citrus, mango and papaya. It’s more on the summery side, so bring a few cans on your next picnic date and you won’t regret it.

Check out the Elysian Brewing Hazy ‘96

Best Date-Night Wine

Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

if your date’s a little older, or a little more discerning, they might be more into wine than beer. Not to worry — we’ve got just the stuff. Like the winner two entries down, it has a bit of a silly name, but that’s just part of the fun. Like a good date-night watch, it’s not about showing off — it’s about being accessible and enjoyable. With oaky notes of blackberry, cinnamon and toasted hazelnut, it pairs well with chocolate desserts. Plus, the next morning you can text “Last night we let the Josh talk.”

Check out the Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Date-Night Clear Liquor

Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret

In recent years, it seems like Hendrick’s has been dropping a mind-expandingly good extra gin flavor every year, if not more than one, and the Grand Cabaret bottle fits nicely within that tradition. Boasting delicious stone fruit notes that pair elegantly with a spark of citrus (meaning a martini with a twist, not with olives), it’s classy, tasty, refreshing and unlike anything your date has had before — unless they’re already a fan of it. Either way, they’ll be impressed.

Check out the Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret

Best Date-Night Dark Liquor

Chicken Cock Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

OK, let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, it has a ridiculous name. On to the more important point: It tastes absolutely delicious. Whether you’re using it in a home-made cocktail or sipping it straight, Chicken Cock’s new Small Batch expression is a damn delicious whisky that’s sure to please connoisseurs and beginners alike with its smoothness and notes of vanilla, butterscotch and toffee.

Check out Chicken Cock Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Best Date-Night Canned Drink

Dos Equis Mango Margarita

Of course, if you’re after a cocktail but don’t have the home bar (or the know-how) for pouring a few yourself, you’re in luck — the canned cocktail market has absolutely exploded in recent years. Our favorite at the moment is this one from Dos Equis, and yes, they do more than make ‘the Most Interesting Man in the World’ commercials — they also make a damn fine mango marg that comes in a can. Your next park date just got upgraded.

Check out Dos Equis Mango Margarita

Best Date-Night Non-Alcoholic Beer

Suntory All-Free

Another kind of beverage purchaser who’s in luck these days is the one seeking non-alcoholic alternatives, as booze-free drinks are popping up everywhere you look. (We love to see it.) Suntory’s All-Free might be the cream of the crop here; unlike many other drinks in the space, it’s completely, 100% alcohol-free, so you can pound back as many as you want while having a scintillating conversation with your date into the wee hours of the night.

Check out Suntory All-Free

Best Anniversary Gifts

Best Anniversary Gift Jewelry

Thorne Emerald Eye Clip

Sometimes, a great gift is one that pulls double duty, but Thorne’s Emerald Eye Clip actually pulls triple duty. At first glance, it’s a piece of cute bling. When given to a romantic partner, the key shape means you can evoke things like “the key to my heart“ and “home is where the heart is.” The real kicker is that it’s not just a necklace — it’s also a roach clip, making it the perfect gift for someone whose partner likes to partake of the toke.

Check out the Thorne Emerald Eye Clip

Best Anniversary Gift Flowers

The Million Roses Classic Bordeaux Suede Box

Giving your partner flowers is one of the most time-honored traditions of being in a relationship. But eventually, the flowers wilt and start to smell bad. Can watching life go through its natural cycles be romantic? Sometimes! But if your partner is more technologically minded (or would just appreciate flowers that last longer), The Million Roses has you covered. Their roses have been specially treated to maintain their full beauty for at least a year, meaning this is an anniversary gift that will last until the next one. (Just don’t try to argue that it counts as two anniversary gifts.)

Check out The Million Roses Classic Bordeaux Suede Box

Best Sensual Anniversary Gift

Eye of Love Matchmaker Pheromone Massage Candle

Is there anything nicer than a really good massage? One given to you by a significant other, maybe. Want to take it up a notch? Do it by candlelight. A few more notches? Use the warm massage oil that’s freshly melted off a massage candle. Now that’s hard to beat. Give your partner the gift of all of the above with Eye of Love’s Matchmaker candle, which also boasts an intoxicating scent that’s likely to have you both in the mood before long.

Check out the Eye of Love Matchmaker Pheromone Massage Candle

Best Sexy Anniversary Gift

We-Vibe 15-Year Anniversary Collection Box

Want to mark the occasion of your anniversary with something downright sexy? Why not gift your partner with a leading sex toy brand’s own birthday gift to the world — We-Vibe’s 15-Year Anniversary Collection Box. It brings together two of their top-reviewed sex toys: The Sync and the Tango. Each is designed to please, but in different ways — the Sync is an internal toy for partnered sex, stimulating the clit, G-spot and penis all at once, while the Tango is just a damn good external vibrator for clit play, whether solo or during coupled sex.

Check out the We-Vibe 15-Year Anniversary Collection Box

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