While winter scents tend to be intense and heavy, summer colognes and perfumes are light, airy and uplifting, much like the general vibe of the season. As an experienced beauty and fashion reporter, I set out to find the best summer fragrances for men that are refreshing and not too overbearing or harsh. After sampling dozens of scents, tapping my beauty-obsessed colleagues (plus a male tester) and consulting with an industry expert, my top pick overall is Loewe’s Agua El, which is both fresh and masculine. If you’re looking for an everyday scent, I recommend Jo Malone’s Wood Sage And Sea Salt for its woody and mineral notes.
The best summer fragrances for men include picks from Jo Malone and Tom Ford.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
A great summer scent conjures the carefree (think beach days, breezes and evenings outdoors), and doesn’t dissipate quickly or change drastically in the heat. “In summer, the heat amplifies the evaporation of certain fragrances,” says perfumer and scent expert Sue Phillips. She notes that the scent should balance buoyancy with longevity, and adds that when it’s hot outside, “If you wear a heavy fragrance, it’s going to smell even heavier.” On the other hand, “sometimes the heat can make lighter notes evaporate more quickly.” With this in mind, and after considering dozens of contenders, I curated the best summer fragrances for men that are fresh and wearable, along with a helpful guide on how to pick the right one.
Our Top Recommendations
Best Summer Fragrance Overall For Men: Loewe Agua El
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.8
Fragrance family: Fresh | Type: Eau de toilette | Top notes: Yuzu, bergamot, pomelo, tangerine | Heart notes: Granny Smith apple, pineapple, black currant | Base notes: Musk, Virginia cedar, sandalwood, oakmoss |Size: 3.4 ounces
Best for:
Those who want a scent that’s both fresh and masculine
Sensitive noses, thanks to its lower concentration of fragrance
Skip if:
You prefer a more intense cologne
The Loewe Agua line was originally launched in 2009, and although it’s a refreshing and appealing scent, it’s often overlooked. Agua El is considered a balance of freshness and masculinity—the warmth of cedar and sandalwood complements the sweetness of citrus and the fruitiness of apple and pineapple. If I could pick a scent for my husband to wear every day, this would be it. Because it’s classified as an eau de toilette It’s clean without being overpowering, and I never get tired of it.
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Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.3
Fragrance family: Green | Type: Eau de parfum | Top notes: Rosewood, wild thyme, bergamot | Heart notes: Sagebrush, basil, rose otto | Base notes: Vetiver, grass, ambergris | Size: 3.3 ounces
Best for:
Rugged, outdoorsy types
Casual settings
Skip if:
You’re looking for something a bit more formal
A great scent has the power to transport you to a different place, and in the case of this fragrance, it’s the American Wild West. With notes of bergamot, sage and vetiver, D.S. & Durga’s Cowboy Grass is a little bit John Wayne and a little bit Pedro Pascal. It’s rugged, masculine and earthy, while also being sexy and sophisticated. I like this scent paired with denim and a classic white tee.
Best Citrus Summer Fragrance For Men
Fruity And Floral Perfection
Sephora
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.3
Fragrance family: Citrus | Type: Eau de parfum | Top notes: Bergamot, mandarin orange, lemon, bitter orange, lavender, rosemary and myrtle | Heart notes: African orange flower, neroli, jasmine | Base notes: Amber, angelica, ambrette | Size: 1.7 ounces
Best for:
Daytime
Tropical vacations
Skip if:
You’re looking for a nighttime scent
This happy, summery scent will make you feel like you’re on island time. In typical Tom Ford fashion, this is sensual and elegant, but it’s also not overly serious. Its sweet, citrusy layers give it a lighthearted feel, making it an excellent choice for daytime. And if you’re a Tom Ford devotee looking for something with woodsy and aquatic notes, the brand’s Oud Minerale is worth considering for the warmer months.
Best Fresh Summer Fragrance For Men
An Invigorating, Aquatic-Inspired Scent
Sephora
Maison Margiela Replica Sailing Day
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.5
Fragrance family: Woody aquatic | Type: Eau de toilette | Top notes: Aquatic accord, aldehydes accord, juniper essence | Heart notes: Coriander essence, iris absolute, rose superessence | Base notes: Red seaweed essence, ambergris accord, ambery wood accord | Size: 3.4 ounces
Best for:
Summer Fridays
Laid-back gatherings
Skip if:
You’re not a fan of aquatic scents
Maison Margiela’s Replica collection is intended to make you “relive personal memories through scents,” playing on nostalgia. Sailing Day evokes summer breezes and salt air by combining the perfumer’s aquatic accord, a synthetic molecule, alongside slightly spicy coriander, salty red seaweed and woody ambergris. And while you probably don’t spend your days on the water on your own mega-yacht, this fragrance makes you feel like you deserve one. Spritz this scent on during your next summer Friday or at a beach barbecue with friends.
Best Woody Summer Fragrance For Men
Woody Classic With A Modern Update
Sephora
Acqua Di Gio Parfum
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Acqua Di Gio has been a mainstay on men’s vanities for 25 years, and for good reason. However, this more recently released parfum is slightly more intense, and reviewers say it lasts well on the skin, even when temperatures rise. Bergamot, rosemary and incense notes combine for an overall woody, fresh and aromatic scent.
Best Everyday Summer Fragrance For Men
An Energizing, Easy-To-Wear Standout
Sephora
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.5
Fragrance family: Fresh aquatic | Type: Eau de toilette | Top notes: Ambrette seeds | Heart notes: Sea salt | Base notes: Sage | Size: 3.4 ounces
Best for:
Daily wear
Sensitive noses
Skip if:
You don’t want to reapply your cologne throughout the day
Jo Malone’s fragrance collection is extensive—they make more than 200—but this one is a bestseller because of its sophisticated, fresh scent that is both mineral and woody. This unisex cologne has a hint of sweetness, which I find pleasant for summer. To note: This scent doesn’t last as long as many others, so you will likely need to reapply it more often.
Best Nighttime Summer Fragrance For Men
An Unforgettable Scent That’s Seductive And Addictive
Bloomingdale's
Le Labo Thé Noir 29
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.5
Fragrance family: Woody citrus | Type: Eau de parfum | Top notes: Bergamot, fig, bay leaves | Heart notes: Cedarwood, vetiver, musk | Base notes: Tobacco, hay | Size: 1.7 ounces
Best for:
Date nights
Outdoor weddings
Skip if:
You prefer a lighter, fresher scent
Thé Noir 29 is one of Le Labo’s top six core perfumes (yes, it’s up there with cult favorite Santal 33), but it skews more masculine than many of their fragrances. It’s subtly musky and sensual, without being overpowering or obvious. Add this one to the rotation for date nights and summer events.
Best Floral Summer Fragrance For Men
Fruity And Unexpected
Dries Van Noten
Dries Van Noten Fleur Du Mal
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.0
Fragrance family: Fruity floral | Type: Eau de parfum | Top notes: Peach | Heart notes: Osmanthus, jasmine | Base notes: Suede, amber | Size: 3.4 ounces
Best for:
Fans of unique fragrances
Outdoor events
Skip if:
You’re looking for a more classic fragrance
While many masculine florals tend to include lavender, rose and iris, this perfume includes middle notes of the osmanthus flower (which is also known as devilwood or American olive) and jasmine. And don’t be fooled by the floral classification—this scent is complex and sensual, and it settles into a vaguely animalic finish.
Best Fruity Summer Fragrance For Men
Statement-Making Bestseller
Creed
Creed Aventus
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.5
Fragrance family: Fruity chypre | Type: Eau de parfum | Top notes: Lemon, pink pepper, apple, bergamot, black currant | Heart notes: Pineapple, jasmine, patchouli | Base notes: Birch, ambroxan, cedarwood, oakmoss, musk | Size: 1.7 ounces
Best for:
Work meetings
Semi-formal events
Skip if:
You prefer a more subdued fragrance profile
This iconic, best-selling fragrance gives off an air of confidence, whether you’re in the office, on a European vacation or lounging by the pool. The exotic fruitiness is balanced by aromatic birch, cedar and oakmoss. Another popular summer option from Creed is the salty sweet Millesime Imperial.
Best Fougère Summer Fragrance For Men
An Ideal Balance Of Fresh And Spicy
Dyptique
Dyptique Eau De Minthé
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
4.3
Fragrance family: Floral | Type: Eau de parfum | Top notes: Mint, nutmeg | Heart notes: Geranium, rose | Base notes: Patchouli | Size: 2.5 ounces
Best for:
Fans of timeless scents
Evening events
Skip if:
You’re looking for a citrus-based scent
This is a modern interpretation of a classic fougère fragrance, also known as leafy green floral that’s more often found in scents geared towards men. Notes of geranium, mint and patchouli translate to a clean, fresh-from-the-barbershop scent.
Deputy editor Jane Sung assigned, edited and oversaw product curation for this story. She leads the beauty and grooming coverage at Forbes Vetted and has more than two decades of experience covering lifestyle topics.
Calhoun also sought the expertise of fragrance expert and perfumer Sue Phillips, who owns NYC-based fragrance boutique Scenterprises.
This article is regularly updated for accuracy and clarity. It was last refreshed by beauty updates writer Claire Epting in July 2025.
How We Chose The Best Summer Fragrances For Men
We began researching the best summer fragrances for men based on the recommendations of our seasoned beauty team and expert insight.
To round up the top scents for men, we evaluated options from popular brands such as Tom Ford, Creed, Jo Malone and others. We also sought the expertise of an industry expert.
Calhoun tested and evaluated dozens of fragrances—also consulting male panel testers—to narrow down the top picks for summer.
We know that fragrance choice is extremely personal, so we evaluated scent profiles and longevity to help readers determine the best possible choice for them.
Our list includes timeless and classic summer scents as well as newer options. It also encompasses various fragrance notes, from citrus to floral to woody.
We read and assessed customer reviews as well, only including options that had mostly favorable reviews.
What To Consider In A Men’s Summer Fragrance
As opposed to shopping in-store, browsing men’s fragrances online offers tons of variety (plus, you can find expert-written guides like this one). But there’s one big, obvious downside: You can’t sniff before you buy. Below, we’ve outlined how to identify the best men’s summer fragrance to suit your style, even if you can’t smell it in-person.
Fragrance Families
There are eight main fragrance families, according to scent expert Sue Phillips. They are citrus, floral, fruity, woodsy, fougères/herbaceous, chypres, spicy/vanilla and animalic. However, these are typically condensed into four main olfactory families: fresh, floral, woodsy and spicy.
“In different seasons we typically eat different foods and dress in different fabrics, and it’s the same with fragrance,” says Phillips. “In summer, citrus and fresh scents tend to be more popular. On a hot humid day, you don’t want to wear something overly strong, woodsy or spicy that’s overpowering.” Because many men want some structure of masculinity in a scent, which is reflected in woodsy and herbal fragrances, woodsy notes are often lightened by being paired with citrus, says Phillips.
Longevity
Perfume is the most concentrated and strongest form of fragrance. Then in order of decreasing strength is eau de parfum, eau de toilette and eau de cologne as the lightest. “Because there is so much more regulation today, fragrances don’t last on the body as long as they used to,” says Phillips. “What used to last 10 to 12 hours now only lasts four.” For a longer-lasting scent, we recommend the perfume (parfum) Acqua Di Gio; our other picks are either eau de parfums or eau de toilettes.
Size
Men’s fragrances can be expensive, and they often come in a variety of size options. In general, it’s best to buy the smallest version possible when purchasing a fragrance as you may tire of it or realize over time that it doesn’t work with your body chemistry as well as you’d like. Discovery sets are also a great way to sample multiple scents from a collection before committing to a full-sized version of your favorite.
Tips For Using Men’s Fragrances
Phillips provided us with some additional information to help you get the most out of your summer fragrance, from application to storage.
Apply fragrance to clean, moisturized and unscented skin. You don’t want your fragrance to have to compete with your body lotion or soap. To avoid wasting any product, “apply it to all the pulse points where heat will be emanating from you—your wrists, chest, nape of neck,” says Phillips. “As you perspire, your body heat will diffuse the fragrance.”
Keep your fragrance stored in a cool, dark place. To keep your expensive investment safe, you should never have fragrance exposed to direct sunlight, heat or cold. Phillips warns never to put it in the refrigerator, either. “Keep it in a cool, dark place, not directly exposed to sunshine, heat or air conditioning,” she says.
Consider trying a fragrance sample before investing in a bottle. Fragrance is subjective, and it can be perceived slightly differently depending on your body chemistry.Discovery sets are also a great way to sample multiple scents from a collection before committing to a full-sized version of your favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Citrus and fresh scents tend to be the most popular for warmer months. Loewe Agua El, our pick for the best men’s summer fragrance overall, is a citrusy, masculine scent. For a great nighttime fragrance, Le Labo’s Thé Noir 29 features musky and woody notes that are balanced by citrus. For something fruity, try Creed Aventus, an ever-popular, commanding summer fragrance for men.
The main difference between eau de toilette and eau de parfum is the concentration of fragrance oils in each formula. Eau de parfums are made with a higher percentage of fragrance, resulting in a more intense, longer-lasting formula. Eau de toilettes, with their lower fragrance concentrations, are lighter and typically dissipate in a few hours.
Summer colognes for men often feature lighter, fresher notes—think citrus, aquatic and floral. Woody fragrances can be paired with citrus to balance them but also add a masculine touch. Meanwhile, winter colognes are usually heavier and are characterized by warmer scent profiles like amber, spice and woods.
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We reviewed all of our fragrance picks and provided extra context on who each pick is best for. We also added a section of tips on how to wear and store your fragrance.
