Maybe it’s absurd, but we like to think of your favorite men’s summer fragrances as seasoning. If you put on too much, or the wrong garnish altogether, you’ve compromised the integrity of the dish. And in this case, you’re the dish, and the fragrance you wear is your salt, pepper, and Sriracha sauce.
Whatever it is you’re serving, your olfactory seasoning must change with the weather. In warmer months, you might find a crack of spice or wood in the best scents. The prevailing ingredients, however, will be grapefruits, bergamots, and cardamoms—all to encourage optimism, adventure, and even mischief. It’s the perfect seasoning for the season.
These are the men’s summer scents we love best. Some are brand-new; some are a few years young. All evoke sunny days sprawled in the grass, or warm nights dancing on the beaches (be it Acapulco, the Mediterranean, or Ipanema). Pick the one that best complements whatever it is you’re serving—and then serve it well.