Summer in a bottle

The perfect summer fragrance differs greatly from man to man; some like the smell of fresh-cut grass; others prefer to gorge on ripe Mediterranean fruits. It all depends on what summer means to you.

Fragrances that feature vetiver as a key ingredient (a dry-scented grass root) really capture the mood for me; think bales of hay in a sun-soaked meadow. Guerlain’s classic Vetiver eau de toilette, created in 1961, brings smoky elegance to the pastoral setting. For something more citrus-based and energising, Jo Malone London’s new Yuja Cologne is light, fresh and bursting with Chinese yuzu fruit. (Top tip: colognes are ideal for summer as they have a lighter concentration of oils than an eau de toilette or eau de parfum, so they’re less overpowering.)

Orange blossom is becoming a very popular ingredient in men’s fragrances, sitting somewhere between the fruity and floral; L’Eau de Néroli by French brand Diptyque is a fine example.

Acqua di Parma’s Blu Mediterraneo collection is worth a gander. Each blue bottle pays tribute to an Italian region and one indigenous hero ingredient. Cipresso di Toscana, an aromatic blend of woody Tuscan cypress, is my favourite. For sun-worshippers, Swedish brand Byredo’s Sundazed captures that unique sun-on-skin smell, brought to life with jasmine; Gucci’s Mémoire d’une Odeur does a similar job, but with camomile flower.

For something lush, green and fernlike, give Vert Fougère by Floris a spin, or if woody and contemporary is your thing, Aēsop’s Rōzu takes some beating.