Contents
- 1 Chanel Eau de Cologne
- 2 Louis Vuitton Au Hasard
- 3 Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
- 4 Dior Homme Sport
- 5 Hermès Terre d’Hermès Eau Givrée Eau de Parfum
- 6 Montblanc Legend Blue Eau de Parfum
- 7 Coach Green Eau de Toilette
- 8 Jimmy Choo Man Aqua Eau de Toilette
- 9 Montblanc Legend Spirt Eau de Toilette
- 10 Better World Fragrance House Carby Musk
From cult classic scents to the new summer launches.
“A summer scent is above all something very personal,” says Anne Duboscq, head of olfaction at Interparfums fragrance house in Paris. “However, there is a common thread and an aspiration behind a hit scent for the summer season, because to create a meaningful connection between that sense of summer and the scent itself is all about the right balance.”
Whether you’re combining unique hints of sea salt and frosty citrus or adding mineral notes and classic scents like sandalwood and amber, curating an iconic and alluring summer cologne is no small feat. We asked experts to share their intel on both the cult classics and new summer launches that constitute fragrance masterpieces.
Consider this the ultimate guide to finding a new summer cologne that you’ll love to wear now and forever.
Chanel Eau de Cologne
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“Chanel Eau de Cologne is a timeless and sophisticated fragrance that exudes freshness,” says Chris Salgardo, former president of Kiehl’s and founder and CEO of ATWATER skincare. It’s his personal summer go-to. “The prominent citrus notes of bergamot and lemon provide an invigorating and zesty opening, while the neroli adds a touch of floral sophistication and the green notes in the base is clean and crisp.”
Louis Vuitton Au Hasard
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“This unique and captivating fragrance blends spices with creamy sandalwood, making it both warm and inviting and an excellent choice for summer evenings,” shares Salgardo. “The opening note of cardamom is spicy and invigorating, while the sandalwood heart adds a smooth, woody richness, and the ambrette in the base provides a subtle muskiness that is both comforting and alluring.”
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
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“This cologne is a refreshing and evocative fragrance because of its fresh, airy, and slightly salty profile, perfect for evoking the feeling of a seaside escape,” Salgardo says. “The combination of sea salt and sage creates a mineral, airy scent, while the ambrette seeds and red algae add depth and texture and grapefruit provides a bright and zesty finish.”
Dior Homme Sport
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“Dior Homme Sport is a vibrant fragrance that combines citrus and woody notes, perfect for both active days and relaxed evenings,” explains Salgardo. “The opening of citron and grapefruit blossom is bright and zesty, while the heart of pear adds a juicy sweetness and the base of cedarwood, vetiver, and amberwood provides a warm and sophisticated effect.”
Hermès Terre d’Hermès Eau Givrée Eau de Parfum
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“The combination of frosty citrus and spicy pepper makes it an ideal choice for hot days, offering a cooling effect that is both refreshing and sophisticated,” Salgardo says. “The opening notes of citrus and juniper berries are a bright and crisp introduction, while the heart of pepper adds a spicy, peppery warmth and the base of mineral notes and cedarwood is both grounding and earthy.”
Montblanc Legend Blue Eau de Parfum
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“This woody aromatic fragrance opens with an invigorating burst of pineapple and spearmint, creating an immediate sense of freshness perfect for summer,” Duboscq says. “Next, the heart of the scent, featuring lavender and geranium, provides a soothing yet sophisticated feeling, and then the woody and amber notes of sandalwood, moss, ambroxan, and tonka bean ensure a lingering, elegant finish that balances freshness and strength.”
Coach Green Eau de Toilette
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“The top note of Coach Green is the true expression of a lively spirit, represented by bergamot, kiwi, and spicy pink pepper, exuding energy and exhilaration. But at the heart, the perfumer introduced an aromatic bouquet of geranium and rosemary, giving that fresh breath of air that lifts your spirit,” says Duboscq. “A mineral woody base with crystal moss brings richness and intensity to the fragrance, making the whole impression a perfect balance of minerality blended with powerful elegant character, and an almost salty sensation.”
Jimmy Choo Man Aqua Eau de Toilette
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“While its name evokes the water element, its woody marine tonalities associated with a fougère structure create a refreshing aquatic wave,” Duboscq explains. “The blend of citrus and cardamom in the top notes give the fragrance a stimulating start ideal for summer, then the salty moss combined with patchouli brings the fragrance the woodiness necessary to a masculine signature.”
Montblanc Legend Spirt Eau de Toilette
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“This fragrance captures an intense freshness that’s very effervescent, like a splash of ice-cold air, which is a great feeling to have when the temperature goes up,” shares Duboscq. “There’s a tonic freshness on top with the energy of pink pepper and the zest of bergamot and grapefruit, then the ozonic accord brings a breath of fresh air across the fragrance, enriched with cardamom and invigorating lavender softened by a cocktail of crystalline white musks.”
Better World Fragrance House Carby Musk
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“The serendipitous story behind this fragrance involves Drake on a long search for his signature scent, and the idea was sparked by an interaction from someone wearing a memorable aroma at his favorite restaurant in Toronto,” explains Michael R. Carby, a senior perfumer at Givaudan. “Carby Musk is a story of 13 musks, but there are only 12 in the formulation because the last musk, which is the key ingredient in the fragrance composition, is the wearer—that’s why Carby Musk offers a unique experience for each individual.”