The Best Men’s Scents to Wear This Summer
The Best Men’s Scents to Wear This Summer
Are you packing your bags and slipping off on a summer adventure this year? Whether you are escaping to the Lake District or sunny Mallorca, it is important to pack your favourite men’s fragrances and colognes.
It is easy to assume that bringing your favourites “smellies” with you is not something many men are concerned with when going on holiday. But, far from all men stop in Duty-Free or pick up a new scent when on holiday.
Things are changing. These days most men are just as keen to pack their favourite smellies as their partners.
How Fragrances React to Heat
Sunlight wreaks havoc with the essential oils in aftershaves and colognes.
Should you place your cologne in the hotel room fridge? The answer to that question is no. The cold can do just as much harm as direct sunlight. Always store aftershaves and colognes at an ambient temperature. That way, they last longer.
The same thing goes for stick deodorants. Branded stick deodorants are rich in essential oils. All essential oils suffer when the temperature is not right.
During summer, our skin is warmer. This means the essential oils in perfume evaporate faster. You may have noticed that your regular fragrances appear less intense.
This is one of the main reasons you should change your fragrances during summer. In summer, and especially when you are on holiday in a hot country, it is better to wear more intense fragrances.
Now that we have cleared that up, let’s take a look at what men’s scents to wear this summer.
But first, just so you know, it is safe to wear your branded deo or aftershave to the beach. It is more likely that duped and cheap men’s fragrances will damage your skin. Why? Generic personal care products or dupes as they are called in the industry are packed with alcohol and parabens. It is the alcohol and parabens that cause skin damage.
Why You Should Change Fragrances in Summer
Whether you are going on holiday or staying at home this summer, it is important to have the right summer fragrances in your bathroom cabinet.
Why should you wear different cologne in summer? There are many reasons for that.
When the weather is warmer our skin responds differently. It is likely to absorb more of a cologne or personal care product. Why? The pores in our skin increase in size. This is why you often experience that you “smell” differently in summer. That is because your skin produces more sebum during the hot months. You may notice your skin appears more oily when it is warm.
Our skin absorbs more of what we apply in summer as the pores are more open. But at the same time, your perfume evaporates faster. Wearing a heavier or more intense scent is a better option. This is particularly true at night in warmer climates.
Without a shadow of a doubt, more intense scents have more of an impact and last longer in summer.
Just like you probably have clothes for different seasons, you should have men’s scents for the seasons.
More bacteria is produced on the skin in summer. It is important to take slightly longer showers and use a more fragrant shower gel.
Backing up your favourite fragrance with a matching shower gel also makes a difference when you want to make the most out of your summer fragrance. Using the same perfumed shower gel adds to the longevity of your cologne.
This trick works in winter as well, but it works especially well in summer. Especially when you are planning out going out at night and staying out for a longer period of time.
The Best Men’s Scents to Wear This Summer
What are the best fragrances for summer?
I always say that coming up to summer, you need to buy at least two new men’s scents. You need one for daytime wear and one for wearing in the evening.
Can you wear a cologne to the beach? Wearing an aftershave to the beach is a great idea. It will help you to feel fresh during all of those hot sunshine hours.
Also, remember that a stick-style deodorant works better in hot summer weather.
More intense fragrances are better in summer. Remember that the pores on your skin are more open and perfumes evaporate faster. Stronger scents last longer and take longer to evaporate.
The reason for this is simple. More intense scents have longer molecule chains helping them to last longer.
The Best Day Time Men’s Fragrances
Paco Rabanne 1 Million Aftershave
This is without the shadow of a doubt one of the best men’s fragrances for daytime wear.
Thanks to its opening notes of grapefruit, it stays wonderfully fresh during the day. A touch of peppermint helps to boost the scent.
Yet, underneath that refreshing citrus layer, you have depth. Patchouli and amber ensure that 1 Million Aftershave is long-lasting.
If you are not splashing out on a vacation this summer, 1 Million also makes a great summer scent. The temperature in our cities rises during the summer. You need a scent that can “breakthrough” those summer tones.
Paco Rabanne has a range of men’s fragrances that can do that.
Great alternatives to 1 Million are Invictus and Phantom. Most importantly, both come with dedicated deodorant sticks. Before you finish your order, make sure you pick up the relevant deodorant stick.
Paco Rabanne 1 Million also comes with a deodorant. Better still, why not buy a set with everything you need? This Paco Rabanne Phantom gift box set is excellent value for money.
The Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Set also contains everything you need to smell great during the day all summer long.
Davidoff Cool Water EDT
Davidoff Cool Water is another great summer fragrance for men. It comes in at an excellent price point. In other words, you don’t have to worry too much when you take it to the beach
It is a fragrance that works well during the day as well as the night. But, it has to be said that Davidoff Victory with the addition of oak moss and cedar is a sexier evening perfume.
Cool water is slightly more refreshing when compared to Victory. It is important to have a choice - sticking to one fragrance will soon have you going nose blind. In other words, you won’t be able to smell your fragrance.
Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue Pour Homme
As far as DG Light Blue goes, there are two different choices. While you can opt for “regular” Light Blue, I think that Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme is a much better choice.
The summer air is full of different fragrances. Sometimes, even the best men’s summer scent can get lost. It is better to go for a fragrance that is more vivid. That is exactly what you get with Light Blue Intense.
Its citrus notes stay alive and vivid throughout the day. In the background, you can also pick up on Juniper. Perhaps surprisingly, juniper works well in summer.
Light Blue Intense is a premier summer daytime fragrance.
Montblanc Ultra Explorer
This is another great scent for daytime wear during the summer. If you are travelling long distances to get to your destination, it is a great fragrance to have with you.
Yes, you can buy the fragrance as a stand-alone product. But, if you know that you are going to travel, it is a good idea to buy a complete Montblanc Ultra Explorer set.
In this Montblanc gift box set, you get everything you need to smell great during your holiday. Included in the gift set is a shower gel that helps you freshen up in the morning.
For evening wear, you should consider adding Montblanc Legend to your summer scent collection. It is a modern contemporary scent that you simply can’t go wrong with when going out.
Best Night Time Summer Men’s Scents
When you go out in the evening, you may want to step things up a bit. Consider your summer vacation as one long date night. This is when you should make the most out of your time together.
Hermes Eau D'Orange Verte Eau de Cologne
This is a fragrance that seems to belong in both worlds - daytime and night. However, it is a men’s scent that wears very well in the early part of the evening.
It is refreshing and uplifting. Yet, you still get a certain depth when you splash on Hermes Eau D'Orange Verte Eau de Cologne. The addition of bergamot and jasmine turns this into a great evening fragrance for men.
But, when it comes to Hermes, there is one men’s scent that reigns supreme as a nighttime fragrance. That is Hermes Eau de Basilic Pourpre Eau de Cologne. This fragrance cuts through the heaviness of the summer night air and continues to deliver its scent into the small hours.
Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce Cologne Eau de Cologne
This is another one of those fragrances that wear well during summer nights. It is packed with rich aromas that stand out and seem to intensify as the night goes on.
At the same time, it is also refreshing. If you are looking for a fragrance with a little bit of everything Fierce Cologne is an excellent choice. This is a larger bottle, so you would need to pack it in your hold luggage.
An alternative to Fierce Cologne is First Instinct.
Nautica Voyage
Nautica Voyage is a slightly woody fragrance for men. It is a rather masculine fragrance that would not work too well during the day. But, as with so many other woody or more intense fragrances, it does come into its own during the night.
It was first launched in 2006 and is on its way to becoming a classic.
There are many variations on the classic version of this fragrance. For daytime wear, you may want to try Blue or Sport. All three are great scents and they are not going to break the bank.
Perhaps a good range of “backup” colognes to have on standby during the summer.
What Other Men’s Fragrances Work Well in Summer?
Many companies bring out new fragrances just in time for summer. Check out what your favourite brand is up to and you may just find they have launched a new fragrance for summer.
Other top choices include Armani Acque Di Gio and Calvin Klein Men Aqua.
Don’t ignore classic fragrances such as Polo Green and Polo Blue. Both work well during the summer. Ralph Lauren Ralph's Club is also a well-balanced fragrance for summer.
This year, it is available in a gift box set which is great for when travelling. It is a sophisticated fragrance with a lot to offer. At the same time, it is very modern and contemporary. If you have not tried it yet, it is a good idea to do so.
Another option to consider for a summertime fragrance for men is Versace Eros. It works best as a nighttime fragrance or early evening.
If you are a fan of Versace, you should consider Versace Man Eau Fraiche as a daytime choice. It is refreshing and has a few extra notes that you will love. What makes Eau Fraiche special is the addition of lemon. Very few men’s fragrances have the true qualities of lemon, but that is exactly what you get with Eau Fraiche.
Man Eau Fraiche is available in a 50ml format which is perfect for when travelling. It is a great fragrance which many men have yet to discover.
Let’s Wrap It Up
There are so many great summer scents for men. As mentioned, it is good to have at least a couple. Two different fragrance choices are the lowest number you should have in your collection.
Just in case, it is a good idea to perhaps go for a cost-effective third option as well.
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