Our 9 Favorite Summer Colognes Are Unbeatable

Yes, this collaboration between Esquire favorites is amazing all year round because of its masculine, ’90s vibes but what makes it especially good for summer is right there in the name. Inspired by sand dunes and the beaches of the Northeast, notes of wooly beachheather, sea lavender and dunegrass are literal interpretations of coastal vibes. It’s earthy, salty, and musky without being too heavy for warm weather.

Oud is one of those fragrance notes that is instantly recognizable and always deeply elegant, but frankly it’s not always something you want to spray on when it’s hot and muggy outside. This ingenious cologne is a take on the traditional “blue” scents we all gravitate toward in the summer with fresh mandarin, zingy pink pepper, and sharp blackcurrant, but with a healthy injection of oud and amber that reveals itself the longer you wear it. The best of both worlds? We think so.

No list of summer colognes would be complete without Neroli Portofino, one of Tom Ford’s most iconic colognes. It’s a best smeller for a reason—one spray instantly transports you to the Amalfi Coast (mentally, at least) thanks to the bright notes of Italian bergamot, lemon, and mandarin mixed with floral neroli, lavender and jasmine. It’s all anchored with warm amber to create the ultimate bright, watery, crisp scent to wear all summer long, whether you’re hanging out on a yacht or not.

If the country’s oldest apothecary brand knows anything, it’s how to use traditional botanicals to create completely modern fragrances. This fresh, clean-smelling cologne has dashes of green florals, bergamot, cardamom, sandalwood, and amber, but what stands out is the ozone note, which lends the juice an airy vibe that’s light on your skin and your nose.

Woods will always be a staple in fragrance, especially the men’s side of things, but too much wood, or too many wood notes, can take a scent into territory that’s too heavy and cozy for summer. This cocktail of woods that includes cedar and peru balsam is brightened up with green notes of palm tree, immortelle, and petitgrain. It’s inspired by an “imaginary stroll through a garden in paradise”—and what could be more summer-appropriate than that?

Some of the very best summer colognes are the most literal. This unisex scent, inspired by the beaches of Ibiza, just smells like summer in an obvious, but very good way. Coconut, mandarin, driftwood, and frangipani give it a tropical air that keeps smelling green and floral for hours before drying down a bit to reveal deeper notes of ambergris and patchouli. Think of this as the olfactory version of dancing all night at a beach club.

In the annals of cologne history, we challenge you to find a more iconic aquatic fragrance than Acqua di Gio. One spray makes you feel like you’ve plunged into a cool, secluded bay or maybe a very chic salt water pool. This new version, Parfum, is deeper and stronger, with even more lasting power than the original, but still has the fresh (bergamot), herbal (rosemary), and woody vibes that make the original the perfect summer scent.

Yes, this is billed as a simple sandalwood scent and yes, you definitely smell the wood in a subtle way. But the real draw of this now-iconic fragrance is that this futuristic cologne interacts with your own body chemistry to smell completely unique on your own skin. And what’s more summery than revealing some skin?

Calvin Klein Eternity is a classic: one of the best men’s colognes of all time, and arguably the most perfect summer scent thanks to its crisp, citrusy, woody, herbal vibe. It’s youthful yet nostalgic (it was released in 1990, after all) and appropriate for all ages. A few sprays provides a clean feeling that instantly puts a spring in your step and, frankly, isn’t that what a good summer cologne is supposed to do?