Spring and Summer fragrances are light, airy, aquatic and citrus filled which are characteristics of all of the fragrances on this list.
So, recently one of my YouTube subscribers requested a fragrance video. Though it’s outside the scope of my typical menswear content, the fragrances you choose, like your skin care routine, ultimately become a part of your overall personal style.
And with that in mind, this article showcases the summer fragrances that I’ve been wearing of late. If you prefer video, you can watch down below.
Now, let’s get to it.
SPRING & SUMMER FRAGRANCES FOR MEN
Now, I’m not a fragrance guy by any means, but there are a handful of colognes that are a part of my warm weather rotation. Here they are.
1. YVES SAINT LAURENT: Y by YSL
Made in France, and launched in 2017, Y by YSL is a new fragrance that’s edgy and addictive. The nose behind Yves Saint Laurent Y is Dominique Ropion.
It’s called Y for Generation Y (those born in the 80s and 90s), capturing the spirit of youth and offering the millennial generation something different.
In my opinion, Y is the perfect summer fragrance with its fresh and aromatic accords. It’s fresh and isn’t too strong. I get plenty of compliments when I’m wearing Y all the time. The projection isn’t super strong and longevity is about average, lasting throughout the day depending on how many sprays you put on.
Though it may have a bad rap in the fragrance community, I personally love the scent. It’s light, but still masculine and a perfect fragrance for younger guys.
Accords:
Fresh, aromatic, citrus, woods.
Notes:
- Top Notes: White Aldehydes, Bergamont, Ginger
- Middle Notes: Sage, Geranium Absolute, Violet Leaf
- Base Notes: Ambergris, Incense, Fir Balsam, Cedar, Musk
2. HUGO BOSS: Element
The Hugo Element fragrance was introduced by the house of Hugo Boss in 2009, targeting the urban man who lives in harmony with time.
Element is a fresh and spicy scent that doesn’t last all that long. The scent completely changes during the dry-down, more so than the other fragrances on this list. It becomes much sweeter, though still a pleasant smell.
The aquatic, citrus notes make Hugo Element an excellent summer scent. It’s been a personal favorite of mine for many years now. I’ve been wearing it since 2011 and the bottle is pretty much empty. Think it’s time for a refill.
Accords:
Aquatic, fresh, citrus, woods.
Notes:
- Top Notes: Citrus, Water
- Middle Notes: Ginger, Coriander
- Base Notes: Woody Cedar, Warm Musk
3. RALPH LAUREN: Polo Blue
Polo Blue Eau de Parfum by Ralph Lauren launched in 2016. The nose behind this updated classic is Carlos Benaim. It’s a sophisticated scent that’s still youthful.
Polo Blue is one of the classic spring & summer fragrances. It has an alright projection as an Eau de Parfum (EDP). It’s a light scent and has a good longevity. Sillage isn’t bad for an EDP either.
All in all, Polo Blue EDP makes for a great warm weather, daytime or nighttime fragrance. Clean, simple and uncomplicated, Polo Blue is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Accords:
Aromatic, aquatic, citrus, woods.
Notes:
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Cardamom, Sea Notes
- Middle Notes: Orris, Basil, Verbena, Clary Sage
- Base Notes: Vetiver, Suede, Patchouli, Woodsy Notes
4-5. HAWTHORNE: Work & Play
Hawthorne is a new personal care brand that launched in 2016. Work & Play was the feature of the launch and continues to be a mainstay in their collection. The nose behind my custom Work & Play scents is Olivier Gillotin.
These custom fragrances vary based on your body chemistry and skin type. I’m not entirely sure how they determine what concentrations are the right fit for different people, but they did a good job with my custom scents.
They both are light and aromatic making them great warm weather scents. Sometimes just for fun I’ll wear Work when I’m ready to buckle down and get things done and put on Play when I’m going out for a night on the town.
Accords:
Work – Woody, Aromatic
Play – Fresh, Aquatic
I’m not sure about the specific notes as these are not listed anywhere on their website or online.
6. VICTORIA’S SECRET: Very Sexy For Him
Introduced in 2001, Very Sexy for Him by Victoria’s Secret is a citrus, aromatic fragrance. The nose behind the scent is Jean-Claude Delville.
Very Sexy for Him is one of my longest running fragrances in my collection. My ex-girlfriend bought it for me many Christmases ago. It was always been a favorite of mine and even though we broke up, I still think just as highly of it.
It’s a heavy scent that has a strong projection and sillage. And it has quite the longevity with just a few sprays. A tiny bottle lasted me quite a while as I only wore it on special occasions and pretty much stopped wearing it when we split. As its name suggests, it’s a very sexy scent and I intend to pick up a new bottle eventually.
Accords:
Citrus, Woods , Warm Spicy, Aromatic
Notes:
- Top Notes: Lime, Tangerine, Bergamot, Caraway
- Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Sage, Sichuan, Pepper, Bamboo
- Base Notes: Orange Blossom, Vetiver, Sequoia, Musk
7. GROOMING LOUNGE: Our Best Smeller
Grooming Lounge’s “Our Best Smeller” cologne is their first foray into the world of men’s fragrances. It’s an invigorating scent with a heart of Black Peppercorn paired with notes of Bergamot, Luxurious Leather and Creamy Vanilla.
Our Best Smeller is warm and sweet making it ideal for the warmer weather. I personally feel that it’s best worn in the evening hours.
It’s definitely a masculine scent that’s overpowered by vanilla. The pepper is there, albeit faintly. The projection isn’t dominating either. Overall it’s a light scent that has a pretty good longevity that will get you through a full afternoon or evening.
Accords:
Earthy, Warm Sweet, Woody, Aromatic
Notes:
- Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Meyer Lemon, French Pettigrain, Cracked Clove
- Middle Notes: Spiced Black Peppercorn, Luxurious Leather, Provence Lavender
- Base Notes: Earthy Vetiver, Warm Patchouli, Crystallized amber, Transparent Musk, Creamy Vanilla
IN THE END
Fragrances are personal and can help to tell a story. Whether spring, summer, fall or winter — when I smell a certain scent, it can take me back to the exact times that I used to wear it. Just as sight and sound can affect and transform our feelings and moods, the power of scent can spark up nostalgia of yesterday.
Do you agree?
And there you have it, 7 cool spring & summer fragrances that I highly recommend.
WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO WARM WEATHER FRAGRANCES?
Let’s continue the discussion over in the Gentlemen Within Private Facebook Community.
Looking forward to seeing you in there.
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