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The 10 Best Spring Colognes for Men, According to Experts
Warmer weather calls for changes to your scent wardrobe
It sounds obvious—and it is!—but the best spring fragrances for men are usually fresh, clean, and citrus-forward. "We usually tend to say fresh signatures are for spring, like citruses, fresh aromatic notes of lavender, mint, marine notes, green herbal notes, even some fruits or fresh woods," says Alexis Grugeon, a senior perfumer at Givaudan. "For the warmer months, we will typically go more with warm woods, ambery notes like vanilla, warm fougère with tonka, and gourmand notes start to appear in the men's market too."
The Best Men′s Colognes for Spring 2025
One of the big new scent trends for colognes? "Florals have definitely become more popular with all gender identities, including men," says Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. "Varieties of roses and orange flowers have become more popular with men." It's important to keep in mind, however, that there really are no rules when it comes to finding a new fragrance for spring or summer. "There are no norms or seasons, and you should choose a fragrance according to your daily feeling, the emotions you want your fragrance to provide, or your activity of the day," Grugeon adds.
With that in mind, we rounded up the 10 best spring and summer 2025 colognes for men, with picks from Grugeon, Levy, Robertet perfumer Arielle Le Beau, and Bazaar's beauty editors.
"I just got my nose on Issey Miyake Le Sel D’Issey and I was immediately hooked by the salty seaweed note on top and the rich, woody drydown," says Le Beau. "It’s such an interesting, fresh take on a woody aquatic fragrance!"
Key notes: marine seaweed, oak moss, sand vetiver, cedarwood, ginger
Customer review: "I got this for my husband and he really liked it! He would wear this fragrance in summer because it’s fresh. It makes him feel sexy and empowered. It’s perfect for a night out and to impress. I really liked it and would highly recommend." —Nadiainvegas
Levy counts Tom Ford's cult classic Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum as one of her favorite spring colognes. A nod to the Italian Riviera, this fresh citrus scent is balanced by floral and amber notes.
Key notes: Tunisian Neroli, Italian Bergamot, Sicilian Lemon
Customer review: "Wearing Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino makes me feel like I’m on a yacht somewhere off the Amalfi Coast—even if I’m just running errands. The burst of citrus and neroli is so clean and fresh, it instantly lifts my mood. It’s bright, elegant, and gives that 'just stepped out of a spa' vibe. The turquoise bottle is gorgeous and feels like a mini vacation on my shelf. It lasts nicely on my skin, and while it’s not loud, it always leaves me feeling effortlessly put-together." —Solacefeli
First launched in 2007, this beloved aromatic citrus scent smells bright and fresh, like sand-dusted skin and clear, blue waters. It's the first cologne I recommend for someone looking for a subtle but long-wearing summertime scent.
Key notes: Sicilian Lemon, rosemary, patchouli
Customer review: "Love this perfume! I used to wear this scent about 10 years ago and got the sample and fell back in love with it. The notes are woody at first ending with some fruity scents. It's perfect and lasts all day. Another perk is it doesn't give me a headache as I am very sensitive to smells. I would absolutely recommend this scent it's perfect for spring and summer!" —mich33i3
"In the floral area, YSL MYSLF is the perfect example of making a floral masculine," says Le Beau. "It has a heart of orange blossom that is unique in a men’s cologne, and it’s done really well."
Key notes: fresh accord, orange blossom absolute, woods accord
Customer Review: "This stuff smells so good!!!! Definitely recommend if you’re into more vanilla scents!!!" —Jay Marier
Levy says Frédéric Malle's Vetiver Extraordinaire Parfum Spray reminds her of "summer vacations by the sea." Fresh and crisp, this is a scent for anyone who loves the note of vetiver in particular.
Key notes: bergamot, pink pepper, Haitian vetiver, cedar sandalwood, oakmoss, myrrh, musk
Customer review: "Always get compliments when I wear this. I love the smell so much." —Jdaws
Another of Levy's picks, Dior Sauvage Eau Forte Parfum, created by Dior Parfum Creative Director Francis Kurkdjian, balances the scent intensity of a parfum with the freshness of an eau de toilette. The earthy, woody scent is also 100 percent alcohol-free.
Key notes: cold spices, white lavender, musky woods
Customer review: "This is honestly my favorite men's cologne that I have ever tried. The scent is so fresh and long-lasting, it sticks around for over 24 hours. The lavender in it adds the perfect amount of sweetness when paired with the musky undertone. My boyfriend gets a lot of compliments when he wears this." —kiwiiiiii6
"My friend who is fragrance-obsessed told me about this scent—and I am now, too, obsessed with it," says Bazaar's beauty market and commerce editor Katie Intner. "The addition of mango, tomato leaf, star anise, and watery notes makes it a totally unexpected, unique, and fun fragrance addition for summer."
Key notes: mango skin, pink pepper, tomato leaf, bergamot capua, lavender, mango flower, watery cyclamen, star anise, cuir velours DI, patchouli, ambrostar, oud
Customer review: "When you first spray this fragrance on your skin, you will smell mango and pink pepper. Once it settles, you will start to smell bergamot and tomato leaf. The dry down is clean, citrus, and woody. It has the freshness of Aventus Cologne with a more dynamic scent profile. A must-have for niche fragrance collectors that enjoy a clean summer scent." —MAtorres
Levy's last pick is Azzaro's Forever Wanted Elixir, which features an unexpected blend of fruity raspberry with a leather accord for a bold, sweet, and spicy scent.
Key notes: raspberry, green mandarin superessence, bergamot essence, clary sage heart, lavandin essence, heart of cardamom, leather accord, vetiver heart, wolfwood
Customer review: "The packaging is 10/10. I love the gold bottle and the unique shape. The scent smells amazing, and it's strong for those who love a stronger scent. it lasts a long time which is always an added bonus! The perfect gift for a man in your life, or just because!" —Jas
I have loved this scent for years. It's the perfect balance between fresh and clean (the citrus accord) and sensual (vanilla, amber, sandalwood). This woody scent can be worn year-round but is particularly great for spring and summer.
Key notes: fresh citrus accord, amber, tonka bean, vanilla, New Caledonian sandalwood
Customer review: "I absolutely love when my husband wears this cologne, I went to Ulta and I tested over 30 different types of cologne. I couldn't get this one off my mind. Irresistible!" —Teresa
"I also really love Louis Vuitton’s Afternoon Swim. It’s incredibly refreshing with a burst of mandarin and zesty ginger, which makes it perfect for spring and summer," says Le Beau.
Key notes: bergamot, mandarin, orange, ginger, ambregris
Meet the experts:
- Arielle Le Beau is a perfumer at Robertet
- Alexis Grugeon is a senior perfumer at Givaudan
- Linda G. Levy is the president of the Fragrance Foundation
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