A fresh crop of
under-the-radar bottles
that stand up to the heat
We spend a lot of time outdoors in the summertime. And while a little sweat goes with the territory, you still want to look good and, perhaps even more importantly, smell good. As temperatures rise, so does your need to find a fragrance that can stand up to the heat. Traditionally, the warmer months meant lighter, fresher scents, but these days those old rules just don't apply. Like with fashion, men have a lot more freedom. So spritz on something with body, something that will cling to your body and keep you smelling good from your morning commute to after hours drinks on a rooftop bar. What's more, try to find something that no one else is wearing—this is what helps you stand out in all the right ways. Scroll through this list to help you decide which one speaks to you.
“Nostalgia and escapism entwine to channel the warmth of an endless summer. A mythical undoing of body and mind in a mid-summer's daydream.”
If you like clean, fresh-from-the-shower scents, this one's for you. A mix of fresh citrus blends with the rich, deep floral scent of jasmine with something deeper. We'd say the aroma of warm sand if we didn't know better.
$260 by Byredo
“Leafy, vibrant and green, Chronic is an acknowledgement of the cannabis cultivation in Southern California during the '90s.”
This doesn't smell like weed, but it does smell like you'd hope it would. Meaning a touch of patchouli and the slight acidity of marijuana cut with bitter citrus and a warm, woody undertone.
$175 by 19-69
“A cool and crisp unisex fragrance with a hint of spice, inspired by the mountains, glaciers and ranch-lands of Montana.”
For those who want to smell good and have a clean conscious, this vegan cologne utilizes the highest quality natural ingredients and donates to environmental causes. And yes, it smells like a grassy hike in the cool mountain air—not bad on a hot summer day.
$75 by Abbott
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“Inspired by the Moroccan Atlas mountains, this is an aromatic fragrance that evokes smoldering pipe tobacco and a whisper of the exotic.”
You want to smell worldly? This is your ticket. It's a fragrance that evolves throughout the day, starting first as a sweet, spiced cinnamon and growing into a darker mix of smoke and cognac.
$95 by Laboratory Perfumes
“Unexpected, layered, musk. The key note is crisp and fresh juniper berries, contrasting with the dry and woody base layer of papyrus wood.”
Despite a metallic name, this is a soft, understated scent with a vanilla sweetness cut with an inky juniper. Delicate, yet masculine—the cologne equivalent of a floral resort shirt.
$79 by AllSaints
“A refreshing and striking note of lemon fades to reveal an aquatic green, algue note, while drift woods dry slowly in the sand and salty, sea air.”
The name means sea salt. But it should be named sea foam, since this is what you imagine a rush of tide smells like on the French Riviera—crisp and bubbly with a bite of briny citrus and the warm wood of a sunbaked pier.
$155 by Heeley
In all honesty, the second collaborative fragrance from Nick Jonas and designer John Varvatos wasn't a cologne we would've anticipated liking as much as we did. But the mix of dark, Cuban rum and spiced citrus garnered more than a few compliments.
JVxNJ Red 2.5, $74 by John Varvatos
