When the weather warms up, it’s time to put away the heavy scents and break out the lighter colognes. In general aquatics and citrus tends to run summer and warm weather.
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These light fragrances tend not to age as well as the heavier ambers and orientals but fortunately there’s always a crop of summer flankers and new releases to explore. I love finding a new signature summer fragrance – the kind where even a whiff years later brings you straight back to the memory of a specific summer.
If you need some help in discovering the perfect warm-weather cologne our shortlist of the best spring or summer scents should give you a few solid ideas.
The Shortlist
Calvin Klein Eternity Air Eau De Toilette for Men
Eternity Air smells like a great daily-wear cologne for the summer. Even if you’ve started to feel like the summer flankers all smell the same, give this one a chance. It doesn’t have the generic aquatic / blue scent that seems to be ubiquitous among summer fragrances currently. Instead it smells more similar to Dylan Blue or Sauvage. Great cologne for a guy who wants a warm weather cologne that smells unique.
HUGO Urban Journey Limited Edition
A new flanker from HUGO with a fresh scent that falls squarely in what you’ve come to expect from HUGO fragrances. HUGO Urban Journey starts with strong tea and green notes that evolve into black tea and later a sandalwood and Guaiac wood base. Longevity and sillage are both surprisingly good. Unlike Eternity Air, it’s very much got the HUGO DNA so if you like HUGO or previous flankers, you’ll probably enjoy this as well. Perfect for guys who want a solid cologne for casual wear or the gym.
Twig by Rain Africa
If you’re looking for a handcrafted cologne, try Twig from Rain Africa. They specialize in natural ingredients from African origins. This perfume opens with a breeze from a Fynbos mountain in South Africa fringed with citrus and lavender. The basenotes include Namibian omumbiri resin used by the Himba people as well as smoky muhuhu from East Africa. Great for guys who want to get off the beaten path and try an artisanal fragrance made with love.
Kenneth Cole for Him + The Personalization Fragrances (4-Piece Set)
In the spirit of personalization, Kenneth Cole for Him (their first new fragrance in 15 years) has added a trio of layering fragrances for you to create your own unique scent. Kenneth Cole for Him is by itself a safe fragrance which is pleasant enough if not particularly memorable. On top of this you can layer the personalized fragrances of Serenity (calming vanilla and tonka bean), Energy (sporty floral and citrus) and Intensity (sensual ginger and woods) which loosely translate to casual, sports and dress clothing. Perfect for the guy who likes having a signature scent but wants to mix it up from time to time.
Reaction EDT by Kenneth Cole
We love a fruity, fresh scent, and this Kenneth Cole line does not disappoint. The scent boasts hints of apple, cantaloupe, watermelon, lime, and lemon on the fresh fruit side, as well as sandalwood for a manlier edge.
This ripe melon and summer scent is quite youthful and one of the best men’s cologne for spring and summer. The smell itself is not overpowering, allowing anyone to wear it without complaints. It’s excellent for a hotter summer day where someone may need some help freshening up.
It’s also perfect for younger men mainly due to it’s airy and youthful vibe.
Guilty Black EDT by Gucci
For those looking for a cologne that is musky yet still wearable in the summer, we’ve got you covered. The Gucci Black cologne shies away from the fruitier scents and gravitates towards florals. Lavender and orange flower mix with coriander and patchouli to give a manly yet sweet summer scent.
The unique scents blend, leaving users with a memorable cologne that can be worn for any occasion. The uniqueness of the Gucci Guilty Black cologne is sure to leave people remembering your name.
Baldessarini Del Mar EDT by Hugo Boss
Another rougher, muskier scent that still wears well in the summer is the Baldessarini scent from Hugo Boss. The cologne features hints of sweet wood and light citrus. Bergamot and mandarine blend well with black pepper to add a hint of zest in the mix.
The cinnamon and cedar hints bring the sweet and warm yet light and fresh scents together. This cologne is ideal for summer nights that may require a fresh yet light scent.
The scent is intended for older men, though anyone can wear it well.
Only The Brave EDT by Diesel
To start, the bottle that the Only The Brave cologne comes in makes it stand out amongst the rest. The bottle itself is a fist, making it unique and memorable. The Diesel cologne is another fragrance that blends woody scents with fruits to help create the perfect spring or summer scent.
Orange and lemon mix with the violet and cedar undertones, making a classically fresh and fruity scent. It can be dressed both up or down, the perfect scent for a night out or a night in.
The scent is great for younger men.
What makes a spring or summer scent?
A spring or summer scent is much lighter compared to the winter scents and could incorporate fresh fruit or floral scents like honeysuckle as well as light woods. Summer and spring scents are meant to remain airy and inviting – not too intense.
A “good” one is hard to determine as fragrances can be such personal things. What one man may think of as a wonderful, appealing scent may be unbearable to another.
In general, a “good” spring or summer scent can add to a guy’s overall look, instead of taking anything away, while remaining light yet refreshing.
Those that are new to the fragrance scene may not realize that different scents wear well at different times. A winter scent, for example, might feature warmer tones like cinnamon and deep wood to give off warm and cozy feelings. Contrast these with lighter notes such as lavender, orange, and sandalwood that are more for the warmer months.
What is the best summer fragrance?
For summer, in the fruitier realm, scents such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, and lime are ideal. The citrusy scents blend well to extract the other fragrances. Along the same lines, these fruity scents are often mixed with the light woods, sandalwood and cedar, to give the aromas an edgy tone yet still remaining light enough for warmer months.
The best summer fragrance is personal and may change depending on who you ask. You can, however, never go wrong with a lavender scent.
Lavender is timeless, and its light and fresh scent are sure to work wonders during the spring and summer months. Colognes like Guity Black by Gucci incorporate lavender and coriander for a light summer scent.
Which cologne should you get?
The options can be daunting when it comes to choosing the best men’s cologne for spring and summer. Before you even begin testing colognes, make a list of the features you’re most interested in having in your fragrance:
- Floral versus fruity scents
- What kind of woody scent do you enjoy?
- Musky versus lighter scents
These are a few of the things to keep in mind before beginning your journey. Once you have a base for the kind of scent you may enjoy, you can begin searching and testing out a few different options, starting with those on our list.
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Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.