7 Colognes That'll Keep the Summer Vibes Going Indefinitely

There’s no shame in going through life with the same cologne; they’re called signature scents for a reason. But if you’re thinking of switching it up or just aren’t the commitment type, the best way to make a change is to look to the seasons. Colognes utilize smells from nature - so tweaking your scent when inspired by what’s happening outside your windows just makes scents—er, sense.

Think about summer. There’s sunshine! There’s greenery! There’s heat! You’re sitting by the water—whether it be the ocean, a lake, or hell, even a kiddie pool. You’re sweating, you’re tanning, you’re doing whatever you can to cool down. There is a lot of citrus fruit everywhere you look. Summer vibes boil down to a few things: water, salt, plants. Those are also things, at least the olfactory equivalents, that you’ll find in summer colognes. Most of the fragrances you want to wear in the summer are lighter, they’re floral and green, they’re sharp and fresh, they usually have a watery vibe that fragrance-heads call “aquatic.” Basically, they’re all the things you think about in the summer distilled down into a tiny bottle that sits on your dresser.

Summer colognes are all about one thing: keeping the summer vibes going as long as possible. So whether you spray one on to enhance a beach day or pool party, spritz it to relive a vacation while you’re stuck behind a computer, or wear it because you just want to feel a bit more carefree, choosing a summery fragrance can make you feel and smell like you’re still soaking up the sun even when you’re not. These are the best summer colognes to try right now. Pick one up and we’ll meet you at the beach.

Calvin Klein Eternity Summer Daze

$76 AT MACY'S
$32 AT WALMART

Calvin Klein Eternity is a classic—one of the best men’s colognes of all time. This new version, or flanker as they call it in fragrance world, updates the scent specifically for summer. It’s a little crisper (thanks to a minty wood base) and a little more floral (thanks to the lavender note), like walking through a seaside garden. If you’re looking for a cologne that absolutely screams summer, this is the one.

Heretic Bergamusk

$165 AT SEPHORA

There’s no more appropriate season to wear a citrus-forward cologne, but you definitely don’t want to walk around smelling like you just got off your shift at Orange Julius. As the name suggests, this unexpected fragrance mixes crisp bergamot with subtle white musk (with a dose of floral jasmine and woody cedar) to create something fresh and summery but not literal.

Dior Homme Sport Eau de Toilette

$115 AT ULTA BEAUTY
$118 AT WALMART
$119 AT NORDSTROM

You may already know Dior Homme, one of our all-around favorite colognes. This new version is fresher, slightly spicier and yes, sportier. You get a crisp hit of the bergamot top note right away, then it dries down to something a little woodier and sexier—an ideal summer combination.

Escentric Molecules Molecule 01

P6,779 AT ZALORA

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?

Hugo Boss Boss Bottled Marine

$91 AT MACY'S

Sometimes aquatic colognes can have a little bit of a cloying, overly fake vibe - like the difference between a wave pool and the actual ocean. This one, despite the “marine” in the name, doesn’t knock you over the head with the aquatic element. It’s light, slightly sweet, slightly mineral-y and an overall perfect summer scent even if you’re stuck inside.

Prada Luna Rossa Ocean

P6,650 AT FRESH

Note-wise, there is a lot going on in this wearable cologne, but what you need to know is that it smells fresh. There’s a slight soapy vibe to it (in a good way) that’s crisped up with bergamot and then grounded with musk and vetiver. Wear it for summer and then keep wearing it year round just because it’s that good.

Cartier Déclaration Haute Fraîcheur

$65 AT MACY'S
$108 AT NORDSTROM
$108 AT BLOOMINGDALE'S

It’s billed as a woody fragrance because, yes, there is cedarwood in there. But what you get when you smell it is green, herbaceous—like someone crumpled up green leaves and distilled them directly into the bottle. There’s a little bit of citrus in there for freshness, too, and wearing this is the perfect way to signal that you’d rather be outside.

From: Esquire US