Best summer fragrances for men, from Jo Malone, Boss and more

I’ve spent months testing scents from Jo Malon, Chanel, Boss and more - (Samuel Mathewson/The Independent)

A good summer fragrance will carry the memories of hot days in the city or your European sojourn, evoking cocktails by the beach or wandering through ancient ruins. Normally created with fresh and uplifting notes like you’ve just returned from an orange grove or taken a dip in the azure sea of the Mediterranean, the right one will put a stamp on warmer months, even if you’re just visiting the beer garden.

With escapism in mind, I’ve been reviewing a range of fragrances that will stay with you long after the hot weather has finally disappeared for good. I’ve included fresh scents that hit right on the nose for the season plus some unique options from independent fragrance houses.

From Chanel’s take on summer in Scotland and Jo Malone’s bold and fresh lavender cologne, to a unique and intoxicating papyrus scent from Maison Crivelli, I’ve refined this list down to seven options.

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The best men’s summer 2026 fragrances are:

• Best overall – Chanel Édimbourg eau de toilette: £145, Boots.com
• Best budget option – Boss bottled striking lavender: £73, Boots.com
• Best green summer scent – Diptyque vetyverio eau de toilette: £102, Selfridges.com
• Best citrus scent – Acqua di Parma bergamotto la spugnatura: £236, Lookfantastic.com
• Best fresh scent – Jo Malone silver birch and lavender: £122, Lookfantastic.com

Read more: Best men’s fragrances, reviewed

Chanel Paris-Édimbourg eau de toilette

Rating: 5/5

Best: Summer fragrance for men overall

Why we love it

• Bright and bold
• Like a gin and tonic with juniper notes
• 'Cooling' scent for summer

Inspired by jaunts in the Highlands of Scotland, Chanel’s Paris-Édimbourg scent is like taking a brisk hike through the forest, with a flask of gin. The bottle’s even the size and shape of a hip flask. With a forceful splash of juniper berry and cypress, there are subtle floral notes of lavender and then a woodiness that brings it all together. It’s the best men’s summer fragrance I’ve tried and I’ve been endlessly spritzing it throughout late spring. It works very well for hot weather too, thanks to the cooling juniper.

There is decent longevity, but it’s so addictive that I’ve probably used one fifth of the bottle because of my unquenchable need for that fresh juniper rush.

Key specifications:

Buy now £145, Boots.com

Boss bottled striking lavender

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Budget summer fragrance for men

Why we love it

• Strong sillage
• Lasts all day

Take note

• Mineral note might be too strong for some

Upon first spritz, Boss’s bottled striking lavender is reminiscent of an unremarkable scent worn by teenage boys, but what evolves is much more interesting. This fragrance has a powerful mineral note that’s almost physical. This wanes slightly after an hour or so leaving a bold, heady, woody lavender with those mineral undertones still peeking through, like a lavender field that’s been beaten up by a heavy rainfall.

Despite its lavender overture, this is a masculine scent that stands apart from other aquatic designer men’s fragrances that are popular in summer. It projects well and lasts all day.

Key specifications:

Buy now £73, Boots.com

Maison Crivelli papyrus moléculaire

Rating: 5/5

Best: Unique summer fragrance for men

Why we love it

• Unique scent
• Garners compliments

This unique scent from niche fragrance house Maison Crivelli will have people stopping you for the name. The mix of intricate spices like coriander and black pepper, tobacco, and slightly creamy and powdery resin notes blend expertly together. This aromatic fragrance feels complex in its individual notes but it has been finely balanced. It has even drawn comparisons to Le Labo’s iconic santal 33.

With a moderate sillage, this is a smooth scent that while quite versatile, works perfectly for a summer date night or to freshen up after a day out before heading to drinks.

Key specifications:

Buy now £90, Selfridges.com

Diptyque vetyverio eau de toilette

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Green summer fragrance for men

Why we love it

• Fresh, green, citrussy fragrance
• Has wide appeal
• Unisex

Take note

• Slightly less longevity than others

A burst of citrus with a spark of effervescent spice is the opener for Diptyque’s vetyverio. This dries down with subtle, powdery sweetness and a woody musk. It feels like walking through a tropical greenhouse thanks to the woodiness and slight vegetal notes.

Despite being the eau de toilette version (I prefer this over the parfum), it lasts for several hours on the skin and longer on clothes, but might need a top up during the day.

Key specifications:

Buy now £102, Selfridges.com

Acqua di Parma bergamotto la spugnatura

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Citrus summer fragrance for men

Why we love it

• Fresh citrus cologne with true bergamot
• Interesting creaminess
• Elevated bottle design

Take note

• Pricey

No stranger to a summer scent, Acqua di Parma’s limited edition bergamotto la spugnatura is a fresh and zesty citrus forward fragrance. Opening with a splash of citrus, bitter orange, grapefruit and of course bergamot, there’s a creaminess that comes through from the rose that makes it feel like a limoncello spritz.

When it dries down, the citrus fizz is grounded with a fresh greenery and woody base notes. The limited edition bottle also has a ceramic cap that is quite special. This is definitely one to take this on holiday with you.

Key specifications:

Buy now £236, Lookfantastic.com

Jo Malone silver birch and lavender

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Fresh summer fragrance for men

Why we love it

• Cooling green of birch pairs perfectly with lavender
• Good sillage

Another lavender-centred fragrance, Jo Malone’s silver birch and lavender opens with a brief burst of citrus that quickly dissipates to a true floral core with woody undertones. There’s a cooling, aquatic aspect to this cologne, which makes it distinctly masculine-leaning in its profile. It’s fresh and clean like you’ve just stepped out of the shower, but with a bit more complexity thanks to the birch freshness and hint of spice.

This makes a statement with good sillage so use it sparingly. I found it also lasts well into the day after a morning spritz.

Key specifications:

Buy now £122, Lookfantastic.com

Kilian kologne shield of protection eau de parfum

Rating: 4/5

Best: Premium summer fragrance for men

Why we love it

• Citrus-forward cologne with a herbaceous twist
• Strong longevity

Take note

• Expensive

A wonderfully uplifting scent from the ‘Kologne by Kilian’ line, this one feels like cooling down with a refreshing cocktail in the blazing Italian sun after a day on the beach. Muddle lime and bitter orange with fresh mint and garnish with ginger and a rosemary sprig. The herbal elements give this a lasting complexity with distinct notes appearing throughout the day.

This one lasts well past 5pm cocktail hour: it’s still lingering when I get home, having only spritzed before work.

Key specifications:

Buy now £225, Johnlewis.com

What is the best men’s summer fragrance?

My top summer scent for men this year is Chanel’s Paris-Édimbourg eau de toilette, a fresh and vibrant take on the Scottish Highlands with gin-adjacent juniper notes and a unique green woody dry-down that I couldn’t get enough of. For something on the budget side, Boss’s bottled striking lavender has a surprising profile with strong mineral notes and pleasing lavender.

How I tested men’s summer fragrances

Beyond deep diving into the fragrance notes and whether or not I initially like the scents, I measured:

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

When it comes to perfume, Samuel Mathewson knows which ones are worth your money, having tested plenty of the best men’s fragrances from brands including Le Labo, Dior, Chanel and more. He is on top of men’s fragrance, fashion, fragrance and accessories having tested everything from the best gifts for men to best men’s shorts, making him well placed to evaluate the quality of summer scents.

Elsewhere on IndyBest, we’re experts in the latest fragrance trends whether that’s the best designer inspired perfumes or the best perfumes for women, so you can trust our verdict when it comes to finding a new signature spritz.

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