The Ultimate Guide to the Best Summer Fragrances for Men
It’s everyone’s favorite season…summer. Why not have a fragrance to go with it? There are a lot of important considerations that go into choosing which will be the best for you.
Do you want it to be citrus-focused? Fresh and sweet? Clean and woody?
All of the above are options, and then some. In this review, I will describe the 15 best summer fragrances for men. In detail, you’ll discover how they smell and perform and if they are a good choice for you.
If you’re ready, let’s get you prepared for summer.
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Table of Contents
#15 – Le Labo Bergamote 22
Authentic bergamot leads the opening. Dry spices and orange blossom are a close second behind. Bergamot has a sparkling quality; it’s like citrus seltzer water.
Orange blossom amplifies this citric nature but smoothes out the “rough edges.” The dry spices are noticeable but sit on the edge, never amounting to much.
This trio of notes leads into the mid. When this happens, white floral notes further temper bergamot. They have the same idea as orange blossom.
Yet, it is clean, like a soap, but never becoming soapy. This is the only change before the dry down.
At this point, you’re one to two hours into the wear. The citruses remain but sit atop a woody and musky base.
The woodiness of vetiver has a tinge of earthiness. It is interesting, as this was such a fresh and clean scent to this point. Yet, the earthiness is never dirty, just dark and unique.
The rest of the wear is fresh bergamot atop woody musk.
The performance is not its strong point. In the wrong situation, it will struggle to last four hours. The projection is okay for the first half an hour but becomes near a skin scent for the rest of the wear.
#14 – Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim
Upon the first spray is a prominent orange dusted in ginger spices.
Within moments comes bergamot. The first few minutes are not too citric. There is a great balance between bergamot’s citrus and orange’s semi-sweetness.
The ginger never “slaps me in the face.” It is a refreshing touch to grab attention.
As the scent develops, bergamot will gain strength. At the same time, orange will stay consistent. After an hour, the citruses will be in equal parts with weakened ginger spice. The main idea is a fresher and brighter aroma.
These citruses will mix and mingle for a while and then transcend into the dry down.
Ambergris will be the first and only addition in the dry down. It is authentic. There is a prominent ambery depth and a decent dose of salty musk.
This is a poor way to describe it, but it is like a sexy sweat or the musk after an afternoon swim… The rest of the wear is fresh and musky with an ambery depth.
The performance is not the best. Yet, what else can you expect from a citrus-dominant scent. This is the only reason it ranks low. Yet, has one of the better aromas. This is solely a summer scent.
#13 – Orange Sanguine Atelier Cologne
Upon the first spray is an explosion of orange. It is as if the perfumer juiced a freshly picked orange in a bottle. There are fresh, tart, sweet, etc… accents. Yet, none of these become too much.
This photorealistic nature only dominates for the first few minutes.
Soon, aromatic greens will take the scent in a fresher direction while retaining the same freshness. Woody nuances are wafting up from the base but are yet to become prominent.
Imagine taking an orange with the stem and leaf attached and blending it in a blender. That’s the idea here.
As the scent progresses, citric grapefruit and light spices come through. They never amount to much but have a refreshing nature. The rest of the wear is citric with tinges of green aromatics and wood.
The odd thing about orange sanguine is that it isn’t decisive but for acquired tastes. The longevity is above average. Yet, the projection is intimate from the beginning to the end.
#12 – Creed Virgin Island Water
Upon the first spray is a blast of lime and bergamot. Lime is the most noticeable and the one that will grab your attention.
Why? It is bright and sour. Think of fresh lime juice. That’s the same idea here.
Within a few minutes, coconut washes over the scent. It is a rich sweetness that calms the intensity of the citruses. The main idea is fresh sweetness, and yes, it stands out.
After 15 minutes, coconut jumps to the forefront, bringing rum nuances. The boozy nuances are fleeting but stay long enough to remind me of a pina colada. The notes mix and mingle for the first hour.
After this, the scent settles into the dry down. Soft white florals and musky nuances are the last addition. The rest of the wear is sweet coconut and a fresh, musky background.
With such a heavy emphasis on airy accords, it is only a summer scent.
#11 – Hermes Concentrate d’Orange Verte EDT
Upon the first spray, my nose puckers. The lime note is intense and in my face.
There is no “Hey, it’s time to get up” it wakes you up a five-gallon bucket of water. Authentic orange and cut grass accords attempt to round off its intensity. Do they? It takes a few minutes.
The orange lacks a strong citric or bitter nature. It is all about freshness. At the same time, the cut grass is fresh and green. It is the best at balancing out the lime note.
The citruses were in a sprint, not a run. They weaken within a few minutes. Mossy woods and more greens will fill its void. At this point, the scent has shifted to a fresh green scent rather than citric.
Oakmoss is the last addition. The rest of the wear settles on a decent dose of orange freshness and green woods.
The performance is poor. Yet, what else can you expect from a citrus-based fragrance? This is best for casual wear and only in the summer.
#10 – Nishane Ambra Calabria
Upon the first spray is a generic bergamot note. It is fresh and bright, but nothing you’ll never have smelt. Yet, the galbanum note is something different.
It has an intense green and tart nature. There aren’t any spice notes in the fragrance. Yet, the top notes smell spiced with their bitterness.
After this initial blast, the base is present. Once the greenness settles, the scent rolls into an amber and vanilla base. The vanilla is sweet but never sticky or syrupy.
The rest of the wear is amber and vanilla with green tinges. This is a simple scent, though always well-balanced.
Neither the longevity nor projection are anything to drool over. They are average and get the job done.
#9 – Guerlain Homme EDP
Upon the first spray, I’m reminded of a mojito. An herbal minty blast leads paired with bright lemon juice. In the background rests the clear crispness of rum. I can’t help but feel refreshed by the first few minutes.
After this period, vetiver additions throw the scent out of balance. The aromatic and woody accents of vetiver push the booziness into the backseat.
The further this scent moves along, the more it strays from the mojito-like aroma. 15 – 20 minutes, two things are happening. Sweet florals add to the fresh greens from before.
At the same time, vetiver gains a more intense woodiness with an earthy accent.
Soon after, the scent rolls into the dry down. The rest of the wear is fresh greens atop earthy wood.
The performance is below average. Yet, it can be worn for all occasions. As for seasons, it is perfect for summer but works in warmer spring, too.
#8 – Acqua di Parma Essenza di Colonia
Lemon and grapefruit lead the first five minutes. Their main idea is citric freshness.
In the background is a tinge of orange blossom. It gives the scent a semi-sweet and clean aroma. If it weren’t for this addition, the citruses would be too intense.
After this period, things start to lighten up. A light and green accent makes its way in without undermining the citruses.
As the scent progresses, it is all about neroli. It has a heavy emphasis on a fresh and clean floral nature. The citruses from before linger. Yet, they only amplify the freshness.
In the dry down, neroli dominates while a green and musk tinge lingers in the background. This is what you’ll smell for the rest of the wear.
The performance is slightly above average. The projection on my skin is decent for a few hours, then recedes. The best part about Essenza di Colonia is that it’s also a great spring scent.
#7 – Missoni Wave
For the price, you can’t beat Missoni Wave. It almost made it into the “$” range (under $40). On this list, it is the most aquatic-themed but also has one of the better woody dry down’s
The opening is all about citruses atop an aquatic base. The scent spares no time in showing you what it’ll be about.
If you expect anything unique in the opening, you won’t get it. There is no sweetness. Thankfully, its lack makes the scent that much better for the summer.
The scent picks up a green and sea salt tinge as the scent develops. This takes it in a more oceanic direction than aquatic. The remaining citruses are great at not letting it get too mineral or metallic.
After one to two hours, a woody depth makes its way in.
The rest of the wear is fresh aquatics atop a woody depth.
The longevity and projection are average. It lasts most of the day and projects a decent scent bubble around you. If you are looking for a Missoni Wave alternative.
Chanel Allure Homme Sport and Versace Pour Homme are both excellent choices.
#6 – Prada L’Homme L’Eau
You have a fragrance problem. You’re lounging around the house in a clean white T-shirt and grey sweatpants. What’s the perfect cologne for that situation?
Prada L’Homme L’Eau is a fresh, powdery scent that smells like clean laundry. It is not crazy complex, but it sure is delightful.
A blast of freshness leads the opening, mainly from a mixture of iris and neroli. Compared to the original, there is less iris but more powder.
Though the iris is fewer, it is still intense. The minutes after the first spray emphasize cleanliness and freshness more than anything. Think of it like a cold lemonade on a hot day.
Once L’Eau develops some, it gains subtle depth with woods, amber, and nuances of ginger. Ginger is the most interesting. Here, it has a slightly zingy nature to invigorate the senses.
At this point, it is very airy. This analogy doesn’t do it enough justice, but it is like a fabric refresher.
The dry down always stays warm. It is powdery and floral from the first few minutes until the end. In the background, ginger slightly amplifies.
The rest of the wear is floral and spicy atop ambery and woody depth.
The performance is average; it lasts most of the day.
As for the season, it is a lighter fragrance and is best worn in the summer, spring, and fall warmer months. In the dead of winter, its projection is nonexistent.
#5 – Rasasi Hawas for Him
Two things are going on in the opening. The initial spray is led by a bright apple note. It is a crisp sweetness like a chilled apple. T
he second thing is a duo of citruses. They are supportive but more prominent than background notes. They add a sparkling freshness to the opening.
All of the above is coated with cinnamon spice. It’s well-blended and smells as if it was dusted over the scent.
In the mid, there is almost a complete transition. The fruits and citruses fade. While non-salty aquatic notes wash over the heart. Instead of cinnamon in the mid, it is replaced with cardamom. This, too, will be subtle.
After one to two hours comes the dry down. It is led by an amber and musk duo. The musk is similar to that of Creeds.
The amber comes from underneath and pushes water to the “surface.” The amber coats your skin, and a musk/aquatic combination sits atop.
The rest of the wear is musky aquatics with an amber base.
A great performer. The projection is really good for the first three hours, then dries down but never becomes a skin scent. Hawas is another scent that is also good to wear in the spring.
#4 – Dior Homme Cologne
Suppose you wanted the perfect summer scent. You can spray yourself heavily and then walk outside and smell like the epitome of freshness. In that case, Dior Homme Cologne is your scent.
This is one of the simplest scents on the market. The beginning to end is straightforward. It only consists of 3 notes in the entire fragrance.
The opening is led by a big blast of citruses.
In the scent profile, only bergamot is listed. Yet, it smells like cool and refreshing lemonade. Light florals linger in the background and amplify the freshness.
The dry down comes quickly and gets slightly tart/bitter. I attribute this mainly to the loss of the fleeting florals. When the florals leave, musk nuances fill the void. They are very clean, and the scent is mostly still about citruses.
An outstanding-smelling scent but lacks performance. The projection is decent in the first 20 minutes because the citruses are strong. But after that, it sits closer to the skin.
In terms of seasons, exclusively summer. Even on a typical spring day, this may struggle.
#3 – Xerjoff Torino 21
Xerjoff Torino 21 is a simple scent. It opens with prominent minty citruses. This is not a special note. It’s just a lemon and mint blend. Neither gets too heavy, creating the perfect balance.
The blend stays dominant for a few minutes until the mint weakens. As it fades, basil fills its void. In this transition, Torino 21 has lost the spicy and invigorating touch. But gains a mild green note that is more “pleasant on the nose.”
Green and citrus accords dominate the heart of the fragrance.
After a few hours, a dynamic dose of black currant and white florals combine. The black currant is almost “juicy” but emphasizes a heavy aromatic accord. The florals in the background help lighten the rich greenness.
The dry-down doesn’t have a note with depth. The black currant gets slightly more prominent, carrying a sweet accent.
However, the rest of the wear is florals, black currant, and lingering citrus.
As far as performance, this is average across the board. For the price, it is a bit much when considering performance. Yet, that doesn’t take away from its phenomenal smell.
#2 – Bvlgari Extreme Pour Homme
Bvlgari Extreme Pour Homme’s opening is all about a bright duo of green tea and straightforward citrus. Initially, I smelled green tea the most, but that changed over time.
As for the citrus, let me explain in more detail.
It has no additional accents, tart, bitter, sweet, etc… It’s just citrus and simple.
After five minutes, the mid develops. Lending nuances of spices while the top notes are still present. The scent tree has three to four spice notes, but I can only pick out black pepper. The others are a variety in the background.
Spices carry over into the base and are met by soft woods – sandalwood and cedar. The specific notes from the opening are gone.
However, they left their fresh accord. Finishing off is a subtle musk note that smells like clean sheets.
The longevity is excellent. This is because it’s not exclusively a citrus scent like many others. The projection is decent for the first two to three hours, then calms down.
Yet, never becomes a skin scent. Just watch your sprays. This is another one that can get too intense.
#1 – Jean Paul Gaultier Le Beau Le Parfum
Upon the first spray, it is all about pineapple with coconut underneath. The pineapple is fruity, juicy, and sweet.
At the same time, coconut has a creamy nature that soothes the intensity of pineapple. It has a dose of sweetness, but the scent is so sweet it doesn’t matter much.
Ginger spices coat the edges. They are only present for a few minutes before fading. They grabbed my attention but didn’t add much to the scent. The main idea in the opening is an intense tropical aroma.
The coconut and pineapple share the same fate not long after the ginger fades. Yet, they leave their sweetness. Sandalwood and tonka bean fill the whole of the missing top notes.
Sandalwood contributes a heavy wood note.
It will be dominant for the rest of the wear. The tonka bean has a vanillic nature, projecting a similar idea as coconut. Amber nuances in the background glue everything together.
The rest of the wear is woody and vanillic with sweet and ambery nuances.
This definitely doesn’t deviate from the Jean Paul Gaultier style. This is a playful and youthful scent. Not that older men can’t wear it, but it’s more geared toward guys in their 20s and early 30s.
The performance is fantastic for a summer fragrance.
The entire nine-hour wear never became a skin scent. The first few hours actually had outstanding projection. It’s definitely a fragrance that will get you noticed.
FAQs
What Should Summer Cologne Smell Like?
Summer colognes tend to be light and airy. The most common notes used are citruses and aquatics. This is mainly because everyone’s favorite thing to do in the summer is to go to the beach.
Or young entrepreneurs have their lemonade stands up. Before of which are reminiscent of summer. Hence, why we choose colognes like those.
So, it’s less about what summer should smell like and more about what does summer like to you.
How do Pick a Summer Cologne?
Find your genre of fragrances. If you like light projection, go for a more citrus-focused fragrance. If you enjoy expressing your presence, then get a fragrance with some sweetness in it.
There are so many personal tastes and fragrance types out there it can be challenging to find the one perfect for you.
Conclusion
As you can tell, there’s a wide array of options for summer fragrances. It probably makes your head spin, but if you look at the bright side, you’ll never run out of choices.
This isn’t an all-inclusive list, as that would be hundreds of summer colognes.
However, I believe you can find a choice that works for you here.
What is your favorite summer fragrance for men?
I love summer fragrances. They are a variety of different aromas, primed for the warm weather. However, when you think of summer, don’t you think of the ocean? Me too.
Check out the best oceanic fragrances for men. All primed for the warm weather, you could find your signature scent.