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The best summer colognes evoke a feeling. Just as summer is punctuated by park sprawls, beach days, and a mojito or three, these scents also share some quintessential characteristics: They center on crisp citrus notes, aquatic essence, tropical fruit flavors, as well as refreshing green tones. They emit the optimism of a long, unplugged weekend, and the slow, languid perfection of a 9 p.m. sunset. Best of all, they’re the best candidate for year-round wear, given that we long for summer sun at the height of winter. A warm-weather fragrance can settle into the senses and arouse enough motivation for another blustery day.
Below are our latest and lasting favorites among the best summer colognes, radiating seasonal smells like fields of grass, Italian coastal cruises, and the Rockaways (literally). Pick a favorite or two to punctuate summer with all the right notes.
Best Summer Colognes Shopping Guide
- The Best for Summer Fridays: Byredo “Mister Marvelous,” $290
- The Best Designer Upgrade: Louis Vuitton “Imagination,” $300
- The Best for Smelling Minty Fresh: Diptyque “Eau de Minthé,” $220
- The Best Roll-On: Riddle Oil Santal roll-on, $50
- The Best for Happy Hour: Aesop “Tacit,” $140
- The Beest for Year-Round Wear: Hermès “Terre d'Hermès Eau Givrée,” $149
- The Best for Lounging Seaside: John Varvatos “XX Artisan Teal,” $95
- The Best for Weekends Upstate: Elorea “Water,” $125
- The Best for the Boardwalk: D.S. & Durga “Rockaway Beach,” $190
- The Best Skin-cent: Eauso Vert “Sintra,” $185
- The Best for Rooftop Toasts: Valmont “Fizzy Mint,” $180
- The Best for Overseas Rendezvous: Acqua di Parma “Colonia C.L.U.B.,” $133
- The Best for Special Occasions: Parfums de Marly “Haltane,” $410
For Summer Fridays: Byredo "Mister Marvelous"
After 11 years in retirement, Mister Marvelous is back, and he's still atop of the fragrance org chart: This is a summery scent for the alpha, when he's finally able to sport a button-down and let loose. It's equally appropriate for the office, but Mister Marvelous has a playfulness that suggests a softer side—so if you're a hard-nosed boss, either avoid it in the workplace, or sport it daily as a reminder lighten up. (It could be good for you.)
For the Designer Fiend: Louis Vuitton "Imagination"
Amongst all the best colognes for men, we called this Imagination the best summer scent, and so Louis Vuitton sits atop this list, too. The luxury label finds itself on many of our fragrance roundups of late, thanks to in-house perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud. An invigorating blend of Chinese black tea, Italian citrus, Tunisian neroli, Nigerian ginger, and top-shelf ambrox, Imagination smells like the endless, blissful summer, its potential realized but boundless at the same time.
For Happy Hour: Aesop "Tacit"
The scent is a blend of crisp, fresh ingredients—yuzu lemon, basil, and vetiver—strong enough to make an impression, but subtle enough to never make a polarizing one. It's the perfect summer scent for any office-goer, and also a favorite "stay at home" scent for the freelancer who still dresses for the Zoom.
For a Fast Touch-Up: Riddle Oil Santal Roll-On
If you like to refresh your scent en commute then a roll-on cologne is your best bet. Riddle's “Santal” oil is a musky blend of spicy cardamom, sandalwood, and cassis that'll make you smell heavenly—and lend your skin a soft sheen—wherever you apply it. Best of all, if you subscribe to the Summer 2023 GQ Box right now you can try it for yourself for a fraction of its usual cost.
For Smelling Minty Fresh: Diptyque "Eau de Minthé"
Eau de Minthé is a standout among Diptyque's already astounding scent assortment, with notes of mint, patchouli, geranium, and a dash of nutmeg. It has that barbershop-aftershave essence, and manages to smell both fresh and let's say “traditionally masculine.”
For Year-Round Wear: Hermès "Terre d'Hermès Eau Givrée"
The latest Terre d'Hermès remix is every bit as sensational as its predecessors. It's a sophisticated, spicy-citrus splash that would make for a terrific year-round/signature scent. Hermès is the most consistent luxury label making accessible scents for the mass market, and this one furthers their perfect record.
For Lounging Seaside: John Varvatos "XX Artisan Teal"
Varvatos' latest is an aquatic masterpiece, juxtaposing driftwood and sea salt against spicy pepper and crisp citrus accords. It teleports you to some private oasis, where the sailboat is parked and the picnic unpacked. Even if it's Wednesday, your mind is an island with XX Artisan Teal.
For Weekends Upstate: Elorea "Water"
Of Elorea's numerous elemental essences, Water is its most warm-weather wearable. It is equal parts citrusy, floral, and musky, just like summer ought be. This one puts you lakeside, with a gentle breeze giving you the season's most signature scents. Zen.
For the Boardwalk: D.S. & Durga "Rockaway Beach"
Brands usually sell romanticized versions of a “beach” smell–coconut, vanilla, something a little sweet and a little fresh– but what the beach actually smells like is totally different. It’s generous notes of sand, salt, and seaweed being buoyed by the coastal winds straight into your nasal passages; kind of musty (if we’re being honest) but totally refreshing. A paradox that only D.S. & Durga could manage to bottle up with precision that makes a certain writer curious if they didn’t just siphon off buckets of the Atlantic Ocean into really nice jars (they didn’t, the smell is just so spot on). "Rockaway Beach" is the type of scent you’d spritz on when feeling a desperate for beach hangs but find yourself stuck in a fifth floor walk-up until the weekend makes her way back 'round.
For a Skin-Like Scent: Eauso Vert "Sintra"
“Sintra” smells like your skin but better, more seductive. Notes of a bergamot, French mimosa and sandalwood play together to create a spicy scent that starts off with a bang before softening into a hazy, warmth that lasts all day long. It’s the vegan fragrance for people who don’t like colognes but want to smell extra sexy–naturally.
For Rooftop Toasts: Valmont "Fizzy Mint"
Imagine sipping on a tall glass of mint mojito while taking in views from the city’s hottest new rooftop. Now imagine you are that mojito–in that you smell intoxicatingly refreshing and sweet and people just can’t get enough. That’s what you get with “Fizz Mint,” a blend of sweet bergamot and crisp mint that’s light enough to layer on as the day winds down. Sounds nice, right?
For Overseas Rendezvous: Acqua di Parma "Colonia C.L.U.B."
Acqua Di Parma's citrus-y scent smells like the poshest summer camp you could dream up, filled with day trips to villas and sharing spooky stories over glasses of prosecco you’ve managed to sneak in. Such a camp might not actually exist, but if it did, it’d smell like Colonia C.L.U.B. which balances out bergamot, black pepper and rosemary with a lightness that takes you back to when summer days felt endless and ripe for top-shelf shenanigans.
For Special Occasions: Parfums de Marly "Haltane"
When every night suddenly becomes a good time to hit the rooftops for a round of overpriced cocktails, you’ll need a fragrance to distinguish a regular “summer evening” from a special occasion. Haltane’s heady blend of lavender, cedarwood and patchouli is distinct and sexy without being overpowering, an easy way to make a lasting impression when it counts the most.
