Spring is a season of contradictions, of imperfect parallels and the unexpected. Flowers, blooming through the snow. Warm days, cool nights, and the smell of the trees and the rain. It’s how you know that spring really is in the air.
It can be difficult, when choosing a men’s fragrance for the spring, to account for all of the temperature swings, weather changes, and overall vibe that spring brings. In this article, we’ll help you decide which men’s cologne for the spring is best for you, your personality, and your wearing style.
How We Choose Our Scents
We recommend fragrances for different seasons, personalities, occasions, and more through personal testing, research, polls, and forums. We’ve put together the most comprehensive guide on the internet – because smelling good shouldn’t be a chore.
We understand that there are a lot of options out there; and whether you’re indecisive, uninspired, or don’t have a ton of fragrance experience, we’re here to guide you through the process.
A fragrance isn’t simply a smell, it’s a statement, an addition to your overall style that speaks on your character and your overall vibe. It impacts the way that you carry yourself. We understand this, which is why we don’t just tell you what smells good; we tell you what sort of feeling it brings to the table.
What Sort of Fragrance Notes Are Good for the Spring?
Spring is warmer than the winter, but cooler than the summer.
(I know you know this, I’m just saying…)
Therefore, you want to look for a fragrance that is heavier than something you’d wear in the summer, but lighter than something you’d wear in the winter. It’s a delicate balance.
Floral, aquatic, and fresher spice notes work really well, but things like vanilla and musk, if they aren’t too heavy, can be wonderful as well. It really just depends on the composition; with things heating up, it’s better to lean light than suffocate a room.
You can also wear fragrances in the spring that evoke feelings of other seasons, like fresh cut grass if you want to smell like you’re yearning for summer, or smoke to evoke feelings of a lingering winter.
Best Men’s Fragrances for the Spring
Here are the best men’s fragrances for the spring, their breakdown, and a guid describing who each scent is for. Let’s get into it.
1. Pour Monsieur Eau de Parfum
Pour Monsieur EDP by Chanel is one of the best men’s fragrances for the spring, as well as all the other seasons. It smells amazing, longevity is fantastic, and it’s supremely masculine and classy.
The scent opens with bright, with sweet lemon dominating the initial opening. The scent slowly morphs into this gorgeous cloud of vanilla, nutmeg, vetiver, and lavender that smells incredibly high-quality and timelessly elegant.
I would recommend Pour Monsieur for the man who likes and appreciates a good suit, or who wears button-ups on a Saturday morning, even when he doesn’t have to, because he likes the way they look on him.
If this scent was a color, it would be a black and white checkered palette.
Occasion: Anytime ever, but mostly when you’re looking sharp
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10
Scent: 10/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
2. Gray Vetiver by Tom Ford
Gray Vetiver by Tom Ford is one of the most versatile fragrances in existence. This includes spring time, where the fresh-cut grass smell of the vetiver really shines.
As you might have guessed, this fragrance has vetiver in it, as the defining note and character of the entire composition. Vetiver is a great versatile fragrance note, and generally smells earthy, woody, leathery, and sometimes even smoky.
Tom Ford’s Gray Vetiver opens with grapefruit, orange blossom, and sage. The opening is bright, and the floral elements help smooth it out. In the middle, we have nutmeg, orris (a kind of iris), and pimento. This adds a lot of character to the scent, helping prevent linearity. In the base, there’s vetiver, amber, oakmoss, and woods. It’s here that the cologne gets extremely earthy and green, and really opens up.
I would recommend this for the man that is extremely thoughtful in nature, and enjoys cloudy days not to be a contrarian, but because he likes the way it paints the world in grays.
If this scent was a color, it would be the many shades of gray.
Occasion: Breezy summer days and nights, dates by the water, a romantic seaside stroll
Compliments: 8/10
Longevity: 8/10
Scent: 9/10
Versatility: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
3. Versace Dylan Blue
You’ve probably heard of Dylan Blue somewhere before; it’s a pretty popular fragrance, and for good reason. It smells good, fetches complements aplenty, and lasts a good long while. If you’re in the market for a spring men’s cologne that will get you compliments, that you don’t have to think much about, Dylan Blue is the one for you.
Hey, that rhymes.
Anyways.
Dylan Blue’s opening is all aquatic citrus. Calabrian bergamot, grapefruit, water notes, and fig leaf.
The middle brings in some spice, with notes of black pepper, patchouli, and ambroxan (a sort of synthetic musk). You also get papyrus and violet, which adds some dryness and mystery to the scent, and keeps it interesting.
In the base, Dylan Blue becomes much darker and more rugged. Incense, musk, saffron, and tonka show up, adding warmth, and rounding out the scent with a subtle masculinity.
I would recommend this scent for the man that wants to smell effortless, like he just naturally smells this way.
If this scent was a color, it would be a navy blue.
Occasion: Anytime in the spring
Compliments: 8.5/10
Longevity: 8/10
Scent: 8/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 6/10
4. Christian Dior Dune Pour Homme
This is how you smell amazing in the spring without shouting it to everyone around you. Dune Pour Homme by Christian Dior is an amazing woody green spring cologne for men.
The opening of Dune is dominated by fig leaf, which smells very green and slightly herbal. It also lends the fragrance a sort of understated sweetness that plays really well in the spring air. The opening also contains basil, cassis, and sage, adding to the overall green vibe.
In the middle, we have fig bark, which helps the scent evolve into something more wood-centric, rose, and mignonette. The rose and mignonette balance the wood with more floral aspects.
In the dry down, you get sandalwood, cedar, tonka, and vanilla. These notes really smooth out the whole composition. You’re left with a slightly sweet, creamy wood scent that lingers and smells incredible while remaining understated.
I would recommend this scent for the man who prefers to have a few excellent friends, rather than a large group of friendly acquaintances.
If this scent was a color it would be an ethereal, shimmery blue.
Occasion: Spring days
Compliments: 8/10
Longevity: 7/10
Scent: 8/10
Versatility: 8.5/10
Originality: 8/10
5. Mugler Cologne
Mugler Cologne is a great men’s spring fragrance because of the innately green, lush scent trail it leaves behind. There is something to be said about simplicity, especially when done well. That’s the essence of what you get with Mugler Cologne, from the name itself to the masterfully blended composition.
It gets started with neroli, bergamot, and the smell of freshly crushed leaves. It smells very green and slightly floral. In the middle, you get African orange flower, aiding in that floral, citrus vibe. The base is all musk, and leaves an incredible scent trail lingering in your wake.
I would recommend this scent for the laid-back man who values simplicity, in his life and in the things that he does, and places more emphasis on quality rather than quantity.
If this scent was a color, it would be a light green.
Occasion: Anytime in the spring
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 7/10
Scent: 9/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
6. Reveal by Calvin Klein
If you’re looking to smell fruity this spring, Reveal by Calvin Klein is definitely your jam (see what I did there?).
Reveal opens with fruits: melon and pear, brandy, ginger, and mastic (a resinous sap from the mastic tree). The opening is very fruity, with a hint of booziness and spice. It’s excellent.
In the middle, you get sage, sea salt, suede, and agave. This helps open the perfume up.
The base notes “reveal” tonka, amber, and vetiver.
Reveal is one of the most complex and unique compositions on this list, and you should absolutely try before you buy. However, it really is gorgeous, and if you wear it well, you’ll get tons of compliments.
I would recommend this scent for the man who does his own thing, who doesn’t take his cues for what to smell like from other men.
If this scent were a color, it would be a syrupy red or bronze.
Occasion: Spring evenings, cooler spring days
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10
Scent: 9/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
7. The Orchid Man Frapin
The Orchid Man is a spring cologne for men by the house of Frapin. It’s a great fresh spicy scent, and one you’ll love rocking this spring.
The Orchid opens with citrus and spice, bergamot and black pepper. The bergamot adds brightness, and the black pepper counters this brightness, giving it a masculine edge.
In the middle, you get leather and jasmine. These notes smooth out the opening, and add in a subtle sweetness.
In the base, oakmoss, patchouli, and amber emerge. This adds a green characteristic to the scent, while the amber adds a bit of warmth and sensual sweetness.
This scent is very versatile, and can be worn by all ages with all different kinds of dress.
I would recommend this scent to the man who works in a more corporate setting.
If this scent was a color, it would be a bright yellow, a shade lighter than lemon.
Occasion: Anytime in the spring
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 8/10
Scent: 8.5/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 7/10
8. Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vétiver Hermès
Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vétiver is a fragrance by Hermès that really surprised me. I’ve smelled, worn, and loved the original Terre D’Hermes, and was expecting something similar. But while the original is all woods and professional elegance, Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vétiver plays with you a little, and offers a sort of open woods journey.
Eau Intense Vétiver opens with pretty much straight citrus: bergamot, grapefruit, and lemon. It’s very bright and airy, yet maintains some of that bitterness from the original Terre D’Hermes. This is a professional sort of citrus.
In the middle, you get sichuan pepper and geranium. These warm up the fragrance, and add in some character. The pepper adds some spice, and the geranium adds a lush sort of vibrance.
In the base we have vetiver, patchouli, amberwood, and frankincense adding in a darker woodiness.
Overall, this scent offers a very wearable sort of dark charisma.
Performance is very good on skin, and even better on clothing.
I would recommend this fragrance for the man who has his life together, or at least, is able to appear that way.
If this scent was a color, it would be the gray-green of a forest lost in the fog.
Occasion: Anytime in the spring
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10
Scent: 9/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
9. Acqua di Giò Profondo
Don’t get Profundo confused with Profumo! These are two different fragrances!
Acqua di Giò Profondo, by Giorgio Armani, in essence takes the original Acqua di Giò and gives it more of a sea vibe, warms it up a little by adding in patchouli, and improves the longevity and projection.
The result is amazing.
Profondo opens with a burst of citrus in green mandarin and bergamot, coupled with sea notes that add an open airiness. In the middle, lavender, cypress, mastic, and rosemary bleed in, providing some woody spiciness and texture.
The dry down is all musk, amber, and patchouli, which warms up the fragrance and leaves you with a glorious, Mediterranean-island scent trail that lasts for hours.
I love this scent because of its almost universal appeal, while somehow managing to be interesting and surprisingly unique. It’s a weird dichotomy that somehow works.
I’d recommend this fragrance for the man who walks by the sea-side at night, on the sand, and stares at the moonlit horizons in wonder.
If this scent was a color, it would be a navy blue awash in starlight.
Occasion: Anytime in the spring, anytime at all
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10
Scent: 9/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 8.5/10
10. Acqua di Parma Colonia Club
When you think of spring, you undoubtedly conjure images of a world awash in greenery, with the smell of freshly turned earth and things that grow.
Acqua di Parma Colonia Club is the fragrance for the spring that best fits into this image – fresh, supremely green, and minty, Colonia Club is one of the best men’s fragrances for the spring that money can buy.
Colonia Club opens with mint, neroli, and citrus. It’s bright, green, and feels very uplifting. In the middle, notes of lavender, geranium, and galbanum begin to emerge, injecting the scent with a more floral essence while maintaining that green masculinity.
The drydown brings Haitian vetiver, ambergris, and musk, helping warm up and round out the scent.
I would recommend this fragrance for the man who walks through forests on his days off, or whenever he can spare a moment, simply for the peace, and quiet, and the smell.
If this scent was a color, it would be the deep green of a young leaf.
Occasion: Anytime in the spring, but particularly spring mornings
Compliments: 8/10
Longevity: 9/10
Scent: 8.5/10
Versatility: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Get Ready for Spring!
Folks, there you have it. The absolutely best men’s fragrances for the spring. Armed with this list, you’ve got everything you need to smell amazing when the rain starts falling and the trees start blooming.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Did we miss your favorite?
As always, thanks for reading, and smell on!
