9 Best Colognes Of The Season

Mint, moss, and myrrh: Surprising fragrances like these all say summer.

By: Jon Roth

1. Prada Luna Rossa Extreme
Don’t let the name fool you: This is unexpectedly subtle, with juniper berries and bergamot giving it a sporty appeal.
$86; nordstrom.com

2. Coolife Le Premier Parfum
Sandalwood, patchouli, ylang-ylang—wait till the initial wave of anise wears off and you’re left with a warm, masculine scent.
$175; bycoolife.com

3. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Discover Vulcano
Light Blue has been a staple for guys since its first release; Discover Vulcano tweaks the recipe for summer (think citrus, lavender, and grassy vetiver).
$85; macys.com

4. Armani/Privé Myrrhe Impériale
From Armani’s most exclusive collection of colognes, this is a seductive mixture of musky myrrh and subtly sweet vanilla.
$285; giorgioarmanibeauty.com

5. Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme Yuzu
Miyake’s fragrances helped usher in a new school of clean and cool water scents 20 years ago. This update continues the tradition.
$87; sephora.com

6. Hugo Boss Boss Bottled Unlimited
Mint’s been cropping up in a variety of men’s scents this season, and Boss’ take on the trend bolsters herbal freshness with violet leaves and grapefruit.
$75; hugoboss.com

7. Maison Martin Margiela Jazz Club
The first men’s fragrance from Margiela is meant to replicate the smoky exclusivity of a jazz club: Leather and tobacco provide the foundation here.
$125; barneys.com

8. HYLNDS Foxglove
The latest offering in D.S. & Durga’s HYLNDS collection brings to mind the sharp, peaty aromas of Ireland.
$180; hylnds.com

9. Jardins D’Écrivains Wilde
This homage to Oscar Wilde starts out floral and settles to a green, mossy baseline—like you stumbled into a garden (or a fragrant Pimm’s cup).
$110; twistedlily.com

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Scents Memory
We asked three perfumers: What’s the first fragrance you fell for?

ERWIN CREED, House of Creed
"Nina Ricci’s Phileas, which no longer exists. It takes me back to when I was 7 or 8 and we’d spend weekends with the Ricci family at their weekend place near Fountainbleau. It reminds me of great times spent with Romano Ricci, Nina’s great-grandson, who now has a perfume line of his own."

CARLOS HUBER, Arquiste
"Gucci Envy for Men. I was 17 and spending the summer in Italy. It was hard for me to meet people, but I made a friend, Marzio, and he wore Envy for Men—a lot of it. He was a cool guy, so I bought my first bottle and loved it. When you’re young and alone, it’s incredible how important it is to feel like you fit in."

KILIAN HENNESSY, By Kilian
"Dior’s Eau Sauvage. As president of Moët Hennessy, my grandfather bought Christian Dior Perfumes, and he always wore Eau Sauvage. He used to smoke a pipe, and when the smell blended with tobacco, I always found it the most elegant combination ever. He had this big flacon of cologne—he’d just put it in his hands and wet his hair with it.”

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Set design by Kate Landucci for Mary Howard Studio.