Besuited Aroma

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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#15 – Le Labo Bergamote 22

It’s all about citrus from the beginning. Bergamot leads the way with dry spices and orange blossom, not following too far behind. The bergamot is your typical citrus smell but also has a sparkling nature. This quality is fleeting but enjoyable while it lasts.

The orange blossom and spices only support – orange blossom being the most prominent. It amplifies the citrus accord and creates balance with its white floral accent.

As the dry-down develops, light citrus is retained. While a semi-woody and musky base is gained. The woodiness has an earthy accent from the vetiver but nothing that comes off as off-putting. At this point, the Scent is more dry than sweet. The rest of the wear is woody musk and lingering top notes.

The performance is not its strong point. In the wrong situation, it will struggle to last 4 hours. The projection is okay for the first 30 minutes but becomes a skin scent for the rest of the wear.

I need to give a disclaimer with Bergamote 22. It’s not a scent for everyone. Considering its cost for value based on performance, it is way overpriced. However, it’s a much better offer when the smell is factored in.

If you’re new to fragrances or have a small collection. I recommend skipping over this one for now.

#14 – Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim

Afternoon swim is a citrus heavy fragrance. Yet, it still retains complexity. The entire wear, I was always wondering what could come next.

The opening starts with a blast of prominent orange with ginger undertones. Followed by a welcoming dose of bergamot. Together both Citruses are very bright, but in particular, the ginger grabs attention. It’s the right amount of “spice” to give the opening depth and taste.

Over time, bergamot comes to be in equal parts to orange. At this point, ginger is less prevalent. Losing strength proportionality to the orange note. The final addition to the rest of the wear comes quickly in the mid.

A light touch of ambergris is added and has a salty nuance. If I had to guess, this is where the name came from. Into the base, citruses linger but far from the strength of the opening. The scent is left with light ambergris that smells like you just got out of the water from a swim.

The performance here is not spectacular, and neither is the projection. Hence, why it’s ranked lower on the list. Outside of summer, I don’t see this being worn. Hot days in the spring, but that’s it. Another downfall refrains to the projection. If you spray too heavily, it gets too intense.

Usually, fragrances will project further, but in this case, it gets denser. Thus, you will be wasting money with more sprays. And making yourself and others uncomfortable with the intensity.

#13 – Orange Sanguine Atelier Cologne

Orange Sanguine’s photorealistic nature is the first thing that stands out. It’s almost as if the creators squeezed citruses into a bottle and made it act like a cologne.

The opening will catch you by surprise. It’s an explosion of orange. Every accent you can think of: fresh, tart, sour, sweet… Realistic and concentrated is the easiest way to describe it.

After this initial blast, you’ll be introduced to a more aromatic and dynamic aroma. The greens and subtle woods contribute most to this aspect. If you think about grinding up a whole orange with the stem and leaf still attached. That’s the idea here.

A prevalent grapefruit note balances out the dominant orange five minutes into the wear. It wasn’t present before and just came crashing in.

The mid has a more significant emphasis on green accords. At this point, the citruses and greens are equal, while spices linger in the background. The rest of the wear turns into a creamier and denser version.

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 ultimately intimate from the beginning to the end.

#12 – Creed Virgin Island Water

As the name might suggest, Creed Virgin Island water is inspired by a trip to the Caribbean. With this scent, Creed has packed the smells of a Caribbean vacation into a bottle.

Equal parts lime and bergamot lead the opening. They are not the only citruses but definitely the ones at the forefront. Traditionally, this combination would be sharp. Yet, a smooth coconut background calms the intensity. 

After 15 minutes, the coconut jumps to the front, bringing rum nuances. To my nose, the booziness is fleeting, resulting in occasional wafts for the rest of the wear.

After this, the notes mix and mingle until the scent adds hints of white florals. They are subtle and will lead Virgin Island Water to the dry down. Here it is predominantly coconut rum and a musky background. 

For the entire wear, it has a tropical twist and sweet touch. But to my nose, neither ever gets too overpowering. 

With such a heavy emphasis on airy accords, it is exclusively a summer scent.

#11 – Hermes Concentrate d’Orange Verte

Cheers to a simple citrus aromatic fragrance, only defined by a handful of notes. I was looking forward to writing about this cologne. Through my research, I found that this masterpiece doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves.

With this review, we’re going to change that. Or not; maybe you want it to be your signature summer fragrance?

The opening is an authentic orange, cut grass, and a bright lime note. The lime is tart and intense, but it is energizing. If you’ve ever picked fresh citruses, this is the same aroma that consumes you.

As the citruses lose strength, mosses, woods, and greens appear front and center. They mainly amplify the greenness from the grass accord but add a woody depth. The dry down is simple but adds a nice dynamic to the lovely citrus.

The performance could be better. Yet, creating a long-lasting fragrance with a heavy emphasis on natural citrus isn’t easy. This is best for casual situations and exclusively summertime wear.

#10 – Nishane Ambra Calabria

Ambra Calabria packs a punch. Its fresh bergamot top note is nothing special or anything to write home about, but… the accompanying galbanum is something to grab your attention. It is intensely green and tart.

So, this scent doesn’t have a heart. Quickly, after the intensity of the greenness dies down. It jumps right into an amber base. Vanilla is also present, bringing a degree of sweetness, yet, it never gets sticky.

This is somewhat of a simpler scent, though always well-balanced. Before I purchased this, I didn’t think a heavy base of amber and vanilla would be summer-like. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This contributes to its optimal use for formal occasions. Still very wearable for all but leans in the more formal direction.

Neither the longevity nor projection are anything to drool over. They are average and get the job done.

#9 – Guerlain Homme EDP

Maybe you like mojitos, perhaps you don’t, but have you ever thought about putting one in a fragrance?

Homme’s mojito smell comes from an interesting blend of notes. The opening is a minty blast with a lime twist and a dose of rum, creating a mojito-like aroma. The booziness is lightened by a vetiver and woody base. This duo adds depth and warmth but does not overpower the unique top accord.

Throughout the wear, the mojito accord dies down. This makes room for sweet florals and more dominant woods and vetiver in the base. Blended with lingering top notes, it emphasizes woody, green, and earthy accords.

The performance is slightly below average but is suitable for all occasions. It struggles in the fall and is not a wintertime cologne. Yet it will be a show-stopper in the summer.

#8 – Acqua di Parma Essenza di Colonia

The first 5 minutes are all about the lemon and grapefruit duo. Supported by an orange blossom backbone. The orange accent is not prominent. Instead, it amplifies the citric nature and provides balance with its white floral accents.

After this period, things start to lighten up. A light and green accent makes its way in without undermining the citruses. It helped the cologne transition from a citrus focus to a fresher one.

As the scent progresses, I can tell that this is classically inspired. The mid is all about white florals. At this point, I can only pick up neroli, while others support the floralness. None of these smell feminine but rather emphasize the freshness from before.

In the dry down, neroli dominates while a green and musk tinge lingers in the background. The rest of the wear is this trio.

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

From the beginning, Missoni Wave is all about the citruses that rest on an aquatic base. Fresh citruses and creamy mandarin are present in equal parts. This combination is still citric but does it in a unique way.

In the background are a slightly green tinge and a prominent aquatic sea salty note. The opening has a juicy, invigorating smell when combined with the citruses.

Drying down, Missoni Wave only gets more satisfying. It never turns sweet, allowing it to be an excellent summertime cologne. A woody tone is more prevalent in the base. It mixes with the aquatic background and creates a fresh aquatic woody aroma.

At this point, the citruses have faded, and it has become more of a fresh and woody cologne.

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 another 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 led from the first few minutes until the end. In the background, ginger slightly amplifies.

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

Two things are going on in the opening. First, the initial spray is led by a bright apple note, having a sweet crispness. The 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 undertoned by cinnamon spice. It’s well-blended and never overpowering.

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. Again never taking away from the scent.

Finally, the base 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.” Now, the amber coats your skin, and a musk/aquatic combination sit atop.

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.

The beginning to end is straightforward. Only consisting 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 to perform. 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 wanted something simple for this creation. Right off the bat, Torino 21 opens with minty citrus. Neither get too heavy and are the perfect balance you’d expect from a brand of this statue.

After a few minutes, the mint gets weaker and is proportionally replaced by basil. At this point, the emphasis is on greenness and citrus. Finishing the dry down is a dynamic dose of black currant and white florals.

Black currant does carry fruity and tart accents, but for the most part, it is just sweet. 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 3 – 4 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 mainly because it’s not exclusively a citrus scent like many others. The projection is decent for the first 2 – 3 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

The opening is all about its strong tropical vibe. Pineapple comes out strong, while coconut sits underneath. The accents are everything you’d envision from a tropical opening: juicy, creamy, and sweet. Lingering in the background is a light spicy ginger kick.

Ginger was fleeting; within a few minutes, it dissipated. Not long after, pineapple and coconut share the same fate. Pretty much everything from the top dissipates. The sweetness is retained but not to the same degree as at first.

Sandalwood and tonka bean fill the void of the top notes. Developing into the dry down, it consistently gets woodier. Dominated mainly by sandalwood. Light warm amber rounds off the woodiness. Adding excellent balance to the already smooth sandalwood.

In the background are glimpses of sweet coconut that survived til the end.

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 9-hour wear never became a skin scent. The first few hours actually had outstanding projection. 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.

Where Should I Buy The Best Summer Fragrances for Men?

I recommend Amazon and Fragrancenet.com. The second best alternative is the brand’s official website. However, that tends to be the most expensive option.

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?

Please leave a comment; I would love to hear your opinion!

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