Having a signature scent is a great way to express your personality, but no single cologne is ideal for every situation, or even every time of the year. Just as your clothing changes with the seasons, your fragrance “wardrobe” can too. In fact, fragrance experts suggest having three go-to colognes: one for spring/summer, one for fall/winter, and one versatile scent you can wear year-round. Different fragrances mix more or less well with the distinct atmosphere of each season — both its literal weather and its intangible mood — and choosing the right one ensures your scent acts as an ideal complement to the time of year.
Below, we break down what to look for in each seasonal category, plus a bonus pick for the holidays.
Spring & Summer
When the temperature rises, heavy colognes can turn sour fast. Heat both amplifies and breaks down fragrance, which is why richer scents often smell muddy in the heat. So in the warmer months, you want something light and clean.
Look for citrus, herbs, green leaves, or a hint of floral. Those give off a fresh-air brightness that fits the season.
Spring & Summer Fragrance Notes to Look For
- Citrus: bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, neroli
- Greens & herbs: basil, mint, green tea, violet leaf
- Light florals: lavender, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley
- Marine notes: sea breeze, salt, wet wood
Spring & Summer Fragrances to Try
- Bluegrass by EastWest Bottlers. This is my personal spring/summer signature scent. Smells like a fresh field after mowing, with a dash of mint julep.
- Acqua di Giò. Citrus and ocean air. A summer standby since the ’90s.
- Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. Smells like stepping off a sunlit terrace on the Italian Riviera. Starts with a bright burst of citrus and orange blossom, then mellows into a green wood note. It’s crisp, clean, and effortlessly elegant.
- Nautica Voyage. A long-time favorite for its crisp apple, green leaves, and marine notes.
Fall & Winter
Cool weather calls for richer, deeper scents that would be too strong in summer but now feel just right. Think of the cozy, robust smells of autumn and winter: warm spices, wood smoke, leather, and amber. They project better in cold air and last longer on heavy winter fabrics, enveloping you in a seasonally on-point aura.
Fall & Winter Fragrance Notes to Look For
- Spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper
- Woods: cedar, sandalwood, pine, vetiver, patchouli
- Leather & smoke: tobacco, birch tar, incense
- Amber & vanilla: tonka bean, amber resin
Fall & Winter Fragrances to Try
- Sportsman by EastWest Bottlers. My personal signature fall/winter scent. Has notes of leather, musk, flint stone, red clay, and pine. Outdoorsy but still polished.
- Tom Ford Oud Wood. Smoky, dry, refined.
- By the Fireplace by Maison Margiela. Sweet chestnut, smoke, and vanilla. Smells like sitting by the fire after coming in from the cold.
The Year-Rounder
Every man needs one scent that fits any season. One that’s balanced and dependable. An option B for when you don’t feel like wearing your seasonal scent and want to mix things up.
Your year-round fragrance should open clean and end warm. Nothing too bright, nothing too dark. Think citrus or aromatic herbs up top, and woods, musk, or amber underneath.
Fragrance Notes to Look For in a Year-Rounder
- Top notes: light citrus or aromatic herbs like bergamot, lemon, lavender, or sage; keep things bright and open
- Heart notes: green florals or soft spices to add texture without heaviness
- Base notes: woods, musk, or amber; gives your year-rounder a masculine backbone that works in any weather
Year-Round Fragrances to Try
- Bleu de Chanel. Grapefruit, cedar, and incense. A modern classic.
- Dior Sauvage. Crisp, peppery, and easy to wear anywhere.
- Old Spice Classic Aftershave. Clean, spicy, familiar. Easy to wear year-round and immediately recognizable.
- Rich ’90s Dad by Ranger Station. This has been my go-to year-rounder. I discovered it this year. Bergamot and lemon give it a fresh opening, while lavender, sage, and geranium add sophistication in the middle, all grounded by a rich base of musk, sandalwood, and amber. Plus, the name is great. I love how this cologne doesn’t take itself too seriously yet still delivers a quality fragrance.
Bonus: A Holiday Scent
Not required, but nice to have. Around Christmas, reach for something that smells like the season: pine, spice, and smoke, with a hint of sweetness.
Holiday Fragrances to Try
- Burberry London. Port wine, cinnamon, and leather. Smells like a Fezziwig party.
- Angel’s Share by Kilian. Cognac, vanilla, and oak.
- By the Fireplace. Already mentioned as a fall/winter scent, this one’s especially good around the holidays.
- Stetson. When I think of Christmas and cologne, I think Stetson. And it’s all because of its epic holiday commercial campaign from the ’90s. Easy for you.
Fresh scents when it’s hot. Warm scents when it’s cold. Something steady you can wear year-round. That’s an ideal set of fragrances for a man.
Whichever colognes you decide on for your signature scents, make sure to apply them correctly!
