Written by Rakelle Maurici in Fragrance on the 28th August 2015

Sure, your signature bottle of cologne has served you well over the years but sometimes a scent refresh will make you feel good. You don’t want to be wearing those thick heavy scents during the warm months. During summer we naturally want to feel fresher and cleaner due to the warmer climate, so choosing something coastal inspired or with citrus and fruit blends will make you begin to feel cooler. So, as a woman sampling as many men’s fragrances as possible whilst coming away slightly light headed - I picked out the top 10 men's fragrances of summer 2015. 

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino 

Probably one of the most popular fragrances right now. With scents of the Italian coastline, the bottle says enough for this to make you feel like you're sailing the Mediterranean. With a fresh and contemporary scent the fragrance is cooling and aromatic. Lemon, lavender, rosemary, bitter orange, jasmine and neroli are blended to compliment the base scent of musky ambrette and amber. This is a great scent for both day and night.

Acqua di Parma Colonia 

A real fruity summer fragrance with an amber and woody undertone. Strong citrus scents of lemon, sweet and bitter oranges blended with bergamot, Bulgarian rose, sage, rosemary and lavender for a masculine and slightly musky finish. Aside from the usual scents from Acqua di Parma this scent has a new exotic identity, ready for your summer vacation.

Bvlgari AQVA 

Supposedly a very complimented fragrance with a marine like feel. Not only by the shape of the bottle but also the scent (it’s refreshing). The main ingredients of Posidonia Oceanica seaweed along with orange and manadarin gives a fresh aroma. They have blended this with undertones of mineral amber and wood to keep it masculine. This is something that can be worn both at the office and for evening dinner.

Paco Rabanne Invictus 

A more sensual fragrance of our top picks. With thicker undertones this is more of an evening wear cologne. So, with a hint in the name ‘Invictus’ and the shape of the bottle (to win), it’s a stand out scent. Bayleaf, jasmine and a base of guaiac wood and oak moss - the scent is sporty and oozes masculinity.

Issey Miyake D’issey Pour Homme 

A classic summer scent, it’s masculine but also light at the same time - perfect for those summer evenings outside. With fresh citrus scents of manadarin, orange and coriander, a final ingredient which may surprise you is tobacco to give it that manly air. However this isn’t an encouragement to start smoking!

Thierry Mugler Ultra Zest 

Ultra Zest is a fuller scent with base notes of vanilla, so it’s great for day time wear. With a bright orange bottle the fragrance is full of citrus fruits such as manadarin, orange, ginger and mint for the ‘zest’ followed by coffee, and cinnamon for a spicy tone and a kick. This is a limited edition fragrance so it may not be around for long.

Ermenegildo Zegna Italian Bergamot 

Designed with Zegna’s high end Couture collection in mind this cologne is rich in Calabrian Bergamot along with citrusy scents and rosemary and vetiver – sounds so exotic just in words so wait until you smell it. It’s aromatic with a fresh spicy kick, something to consider wearing to a summer evening event in a smart three piece suit.

Davidoff Cool Water 

Again, another classic summer scent. If the name doesn’t say enough for a fresh summer scent or if you at least remember the TV ads then the cologne has clearly had a lastly effect. With a citrus feel and tones of the Cote d’Azur, this one contains peppermint, rosemary, orange blossom and honeysuckle. A refreshing and light mix perfect for both day and night.

Armani Acqua di Gio 

Armani’s scents are always a favorite among men but Acqua di Gio is one of the most popular. Just like Tom Ford Neroli Portofino this has reminiscences of the Italian coastline with a mixture of cedar and rockrose for that instant sea air feel - along with a soft scent of jasmine, basil and sage for a masculine kick.

Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua 

Just like their clothing range, the latest Ferragamo cologne is sophisticated and fresh. Ingredients include sage and bergamot for the thicker notes and orange blossom and lavender which leaves the overall scent masculine and contemporary. 

As a last general tip, during summer fragrances don’t last as long due to the warmer temperatures so you may need to spray on a little more than usual. Also be careful when wearing some scents during the day - while exposed to a lot of sun, you may smell good but your skin may react.

A guide to our Top 10 Men’s Fragrances of Summer 2015 featuring Salvatore Ferragamo, Tom Ford and Ermenegildo Zegna.