Your signature scent is an excellent way to stand out in a crowd. Without saying a word, you define and distinguish your inner personality. From earthy wood fragrances to bright citrus notes, every cologne becomes a part of lasting memories.
Summer is an ideal time to change up your cologne and try something new both days and nights. With hundreds of colognes to choose, how to you know which one might be right for you? Never fear! Here is our list of best colognes for summer, that will keep you vibrant and energized all summer long.
Our Favorites for Summer
What makes a Great Summertime Fragrance for Men?
Summer is a happy time of year, bright warm days followed by the energy of warm nights. When looking for a summer fragrance you still will find green woody fragrances but for summer you want to trade the floral dominated fragrances for citrus or berry. Berganot, Orange, Grapefruit or Mandarin are great citrus choices while Raspberry, Blackberry, or Plums are a great choice for fruit. If you prefer a floral scent stick with something stronger like Geranium. For other greens look to mint or rosemary in the top note.
For Heart notes many summer fragrances also use pink pepper and black pepper to give an edge to the fragrance. You’ll also fine Musk other aromatics in the hear note of a summer cologne.
The base notes will typically ground your fragrance with Fir, balsam, Leaves, Amber, Cedarwood or Vetiver (fresh cut grass aroma).
What Characteristic should my Summer Cologne have?
Look for the best summer scents that remind you of sailing on a lake, smell like a walk on the beach, or a hike in the forest. You should feel energized when you smell your summer fragrance, for night wear you want your fragrance to have a little mystery to it.
Nautica Midnight Voyage
- THE ESSENCE OF ADVENTURE: Wear Nautica Midnight Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for a sense of...
- A REFRESHING TOUCH: Topped with natural perfume notes of mint.
- A KICK OF ENERGY: Blended with pink pepper for a balance of spice.
- A VIBRANT PRESENCE: Enhanced with unique amber and nutmeg base notes.
Who hasn’t fantasized about an exciting midnight voyage leading them to some exotic destination, this simple fragrance captures just that. Nautica has many “voyage” fragrances but this is by far my favorite.
As you move through the pallet of scents, Mint, Pink Pepper finishing with Amber, you can’t help but conjuring up images on a clear summer night following a trail of moonlight into adventure.
While this fragrance is readily available, it smells too good to pass up on. Everyone needs a midnight voyage at least once in life.
Kenneth Cole Mankind Legacy
- Men's eau de toilette spray
- A day-to-night scent with grounded character
- Iced aromatic notes contrast with a rich, woody structure
- Sleek and substantial glass bottle in 3.4 fl oz size
For some reason Mankind Legacy doesn’t also top other Best Men’s Cologne review lists, here at Formsly think its a travesty. The fragrance has all the aspects of summer, its overall profile is a marine aroma that is composed of a Mandarin top note, Pink Pepper middle note, followed up with Vetiver and Cedarwood which begs you land your boat and explore the vegetation in the midnight air.
This is a long lasting fragrance that doesn’t overpower a room, yet fills the air with anticipation.
What people say about Kenneth Cole Mankind Legacy:
Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Pour Lui
- Products by Lacoste
- Beauty products
- Women - Perfumes - Eau de Toilette
- It is recommended for casual wear
Lacoste has been around a while an makes one think of summer tennis matches, spending time down at the golf course or just hanging out in the club room. For many these are some of the best summer memories. In turn, we’ve chose this as one of the best summer fragrances for men.
This cologne is youthful and great for teenagers and young adults. Of course it is suitable for anyone looking for summer time fun, whether your at the racket club or playing croquette at a picnic in the part, or just having a barbeque in the back yard.
The Grapefruit top note, is one of the features we love about Blanc Pour Lui.
Summertime Scents for the Road Less Travelled
Now that you’ve read about our top 3 fragrances in our quest for the best summer fragrances for men, now its time to take a journey down the road less travelled. Some of these are classics that get overlooked, others are just something a little bit different as a summer fragrance.
Finding the best men’s summer aroma with all the right top notes isn’t easy, but we hope you enjoy this quick tour of our summer scents that are just a little off the beaten path. If your looking not looking for something different you can never go wrong with Acqua di Gio its atop or near the top of almost any list out there.
Jimmy Choo Man Intense
- Release year: 2016.
- It has a oriental fragrance
- iris, patchouli moss, ceder, amber, vanilla, and jasmine notes
- Top notes: lavender, melon, mandarin orange. Middle notes: artemisia, black pepper, geranium. Base...
If you ever wanted to wear a cool cologne with a seductive fragrance that bears a wisp of mystery, this is the one for you! With top notes of lavender combined with the black pepper heart this fragrance is sexy.
This is one of our favorite summer scents to recommend for a hot summer night.
What People are saying about Jimmy Choo Man – Intense
“you only need just a little, it is well worth the the money….”
“…it’s super sexy but don’t let that stop you from wearing it daytime or night time..”
“the most incredible men’s summer scent I have ever smelled..”
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
- ml size perfect for travelling
- Aromatic fragrance
- Fragrance released in 2011
Mr. Ford (no not the one in Detroit) makes some terrific fragrances and the Neroli Portofino is no exception. This particular Eau de Parfum is a little pricy but we we think you will find it is worth it. As with most of his scents, this one does not overpower and lasts for a good part of the day.
The top citrus notes followed up by the base notes of amber round out the fragrance off this product.
What People are saying about Neroli Portofino
“refreshing light scent that smells like summer at the beach…”
“by far my favorite scent of all…”
“It smells terrific, very unique!”
Azzaro Chrome Eau de Toilette
- EDT SPRAY 3.4 OZ
- Fragrance Notes: a crisp, tangy citrus scent.
- Year Introduced: 1996
- Recommended Use: casual
An “old timer” of men’s colognes, Chrome Azzaro has been around since 1996 and makes everyone’s top list each year. This cologne is one that women just adore, enhancing a man’s natural scent and not overpowering it. It’s got cool, crisp and tangy notes of citrus blended with the earthy essence of sandalwood, oakwood and rosewood; perfect for a summer evening out on the town.
Perfect for daytime use during the summer.
Hugo Boss HUGO MAN Eau de Toilette
- Boss Bottled Night
- Fragrance note: aromatic, fresh
- Gender: Men
- Never Used
This fragrance is a little more woodsy than the others on the list. Hugo has been around for a while but not as common place these days on the store shelf like Acqua di grio, burberry, paco rabanne invictus or any of the other go to names.
We liked the cool scent of this men’s summer cologne and think you will like it too. We also liked the way it looks like a canteen with the cap connected to the bottle!
Summary of Colognes
Thats our take on the best summer scent for men. Whether you like to be out on the water, on the local 18 hole course, tennis, or racquetball, these fragrances will keep you cool, fresh and in fashion. The choices reviewed were light on floral notes and had leanings toward citrus and some of the lighter woody notes. If you are looking for fragrances that still have the “wet” scent of spring checkout our best men’s cologne for spring line-up.
Best men’s summer fragrances
- Nautica Midnight Voyage – Extremely popular a can’t miss selection
- Kenneth Cole Mankind Legacy – Sneaky Good
- La Coste L.12.12 Blanc Pour Lui – Best summer Fragrance for the younger crowd
Something different Choices
- Jimmy Choo Man – Intense – Great for daytime wear and dates.
- Ford’s Neroli Portofino – Smells like the beach.
- Azzaro Chrome – Old stand by.
- Hugo – Old scent that still speaks to the 30’s crowd.
Final Words of wisdom…..
What men’s cologne gets the most compliments?
- The fashion forward cologne your significant other gets you!
What is the best summer fragrance?
- Its not a trick question, of course its Nautica’s Midnight Voyage!
What cologne is good for summer?
- We recommend you start at the top of this article and re-read.