The best spring fragrances for men are versatile enough to wear as the season evolves. Moving from the cold winter where spicy, woody colognes stand out, to the warmer spring months means choosing a signature scent that works in several environments. Using our list as your guide, you’re sure to find your next favourite with a range of options to choose from. We’ve included scents that focus on aromatics, sweetness, and freshness, selecting those that strike a perfect balance between these with a little spice included. Without further ado, let’s take a look at our picks!
Best Spring Fragrances at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following:
- Best overall: Vetiver Musc by Narcisco Rodriquez
- For value for money: Montblanc Explorer Platinum
- For luxury: Perseus by Parfums de Marly
Now that you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
RELATED: These are the best colognes for men overall.
1. Vetiver Musc by Narcisco Rodriquez
Price: from $109 AUD
- Pros: The perfect Springtime balance of musk, lavender, vetiver, and cypress. You’ll love this unique scent that goes well beyond the generic green colognes dominating the industry right now. We’d happily recommend this one as a blind buy, especially at this affordable price point.
- Cons: It pains us to say this is typical of the brand, but longevity is sub-par and you shouldn’t expect more than 4 hours of projection. Still, it’s not the worst and pretty good for the price.
Dry, fresh, and perfect for warmer days in Spring with soft musk, Vetiver Musc by Narcisco Rodriquez was a compliment magnet during our week of wear. It’s still a niche name to many, but with a string of delicious releases, Narcisco Rodriquez is building a reputation for affordable colognes in the industry and it’s about time you added one to your cabinet.
So how does it smell? We were surprised to find that some reviewers online found this scent to be nothing more than a generic fresh green cologne for men, but we sincerely disagree. It’s not the greatest performer with a maximum of 3-4 hours of projection on the skin, but the mix of soft musk and wood spice is perfectly masculine and suitable for ages 20-60 years. The over-arching citrus notes give you all the pool-side gin and tonic vibes you could ask for and there’s a strong aquatic and marine feel which we loved.
It’s unique enough to stand out amongst the sea of ambroxan that seems to have taken over the designer perfume industry, but I would’ve been extra special to see some of the nutmeg, cedar, and frankincense notes come through strong on the dry down. As it sits on our skin right now, it’s majority musk, lavender, vetiver, and cypress. Still, perfect for Spring!
Top notes: Cypress, Cardamon and Nutmeg
Middle notes: Musk, Bourbon Geranium, Lavender, Red Algae and Frankincense
Base notes: Vetiver, Cedar and Patchouli
2. Explorer Platinum by Montblanc
Price: from $88 AUD
- Pros: We’d recommend wearing this one on the cooler Spring days. It’s a well-rounded fragrance that compares to Santal 33 and Moncler Pour Homme both in performance and smell, albeit with a lack of high-end complexity. You’ll love the way the scent changes from a coconut vanilla to a woody freshness on the skin.
- Cons: Not particularly unique meaning we wouldn’t recommend it to fragrance collectors. It smells great, but you might already own something that smells like it.
Explorer Platinum by Montblanc is the perfect choice for the cooler days in Spring with plenty of violet, sage, and cedarwood to round out the base notes. Some reviewers online noted the similarity to Le Labo Santal 33 (without the ‘pickle’ note) and on the first spray, we wanted to agree considering the significant price difference. However, after testing the two back-to-back for a few days we’d still give the edge to Santal 33 for its exceptional dry down and complexity. We thought this was closer to Moncler Pour Homme.
Performance-wise, it’s very similar to Santal and Moncler Pour Homme at around 4 hours before fading to a skin scent. Projection remains strong during the first few hours at 1-2 metres.
The most interesting aspect of this fragrance is how quickly it changes after drying down. It shifts from coconut and vanilla to a woody freshness with a handful of cultured butter. Fragrance enthusiasts might say it lacks complexity with only three notes (we tend to agree) but when something smells good and we think it’ll work for you, we have no trouble recommending it as a blind buy.
Top notes: Violet Leaves
Middle notes: Clary Sage
Base notes: Cedarwood
3. Perseus by Parfums de Marly
Price: from $498 AUD
- Pros: Very unique and niche with good projection and a smell that takes one of our favourite colognes of all time and elevates it to new levels with a delicious black current note.
- Cons: Also very expensive. Not everyone has deep pockets for a luxury scent like this and we’d steer them towards similar scents e.g. Hermes Terre D’Hermes Eau Givree that perform just as well for less. Still, we love keeping a bottle of this for special occasions.
If it’s citrus and wood that you’re looking for, check out Perseus by Parfums de Marly. This is a unique and niche Spring fragrance that we’ve fallen in love with for its perfect blend of grapefruit, bergamot, ambroxan, vetiver, and wood base notes. However, it’s the black current note that stands out to rule them all.
We’d ignore every person who compares this to Hermes Terre D’Hermes Eau Givree because without trying to take anything away from one of our favourite colognes of all time, this is on another level of luxury. We could pick more than four unique notes that Eau Givree simply doesn’t offer, black current included, and when you’re talking about luxury fragrances like this, that makes all the difference.
The performance is just OK at 3-4 hours on the skin, but we’d like to see more. It’s a freshie so you don’t expect much, but it’s also very expensive.
Would we recommend you buy a bottle if you haven’t sampled a bottle of Hermes Eau Givree? Probably not. However, with these added fruit notes on top of the spicy citrus, Perseus by Parfums de Marly is infinitely more suitable for Spring when the weather is warmer.
Top notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot and Black Currant
Middle notes: Green Mandarin, Vetiver and Geranium
Base notes: Dry Wood, Cashmere Wood and Ambergris
4. Coach Green by Coach
Price: from $124.95 AUD
- Pros: The definitive ‘blind buy’ on our list, it’s that good. This will work for everyone, especially if you’re a fan of fruity fragrances that find balance in cedar woods and bergamot. Performance for the price is good at 4 hours on the skin and projection follows at 2 metres.
- Cons: It’s hard to ask for more when you consider the price point, but if this lasted a few more hours on the skin it would be sitting at the top of our list.
Kiwi! One of the great warm-weather fruits has been packed into a fragrance bottle and it’s become one of our favourites for spring and summer. Coach Green by Coach is often compared to Dior Sauvage EDP for its fruity opening, but the distinct and unique Kiwi note separates it from the rest. Of course, this is expertly balanced by bergamot as the scent dries down and a lovely wood emerges from the cedar and moss base notes.
Some reviewers online noted slight soapiness on the first spray due to the geranium and rosemary heart, but we found it dissipates over time. It’s perfect for the office, and weekend, and we wouldn’t hesitate to wear this one every day.
Overall, performance is outstanding, especially at the price point. Expect projection at more than 2 metres on the first application and longevity in the 3-4 hour range depending on your planned activities.
Top notes: Kiwi and Bergamot
Middle notes: Rosemary and Geranium
Base notes: Cedar and Moss
5. L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Solar Lavender by Issey Miyake
Price: from $118 AUD
- Pros: You’ll pick up on the fun Sichuan pepper note that’s been added to Solar Lavender which adds a liveliness to the scent, perfect for Spring.
- Cons: Not the greatest if you’re looking for longevity as we barely managed 3 hours of projection wearing this one. Still, not bad for a freshie.
Intended as a heavy-hitting cold-weather champion, L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Solar Lavender by Issey Miyake opened to mixed reviews online so we had to get our hands on a bottle to give it a proper test. We’ve always loved the brand’s yearly releases but found this not as fresh or spicy as we’d like for winter, opting to recommend it as a springtime favourite.
You’ll love the Sichuan pepper addition to the top notes that adds a layer of complexity, most noticeable before the scent dries down with cedar. It’s not going to be enough to stun collectors or enthusiasts, but if you want something to wear to the dog park on the weekend, impress someone on a first date, or wear to the office as the weather transitions from Winter to Spring, this is a great companion.
Performance isn’t anything to write home about at 2-4 hours on the skin, but with a fair price point, it’s not going to blow the bank if you re-apply throughout the day.
Top notes: Sichuan Pepper
Middle notes: Lavender
Base notes: Cedar
6. Phantom Parfum by Paco Rabanne
Price: from $220 AUD
- Pros: If you’re looking for a fruity and sweet Spring scent then this is where we’d start. We typically avoid these smells because they lack any sophistication, but the addition of Haitian vetiver through the base notes balances the sweet top notes. Performance is also good for the money.
- Cons: Can be sickly sweet for some buyers. It’s not a great option for collectors or enthusiasts who hunt out unique fragrance notes.
If you liked the sound of the buttery notes from Explorer Platinum by Montblanc but wanted something with fruity and sweet complexity, Phantom Parfum by Paco Rabanne adds powerful rhubarb. Don’t judge a fragrance by the first spray as this one improves as it dries down from a sweet pie-like scent with bubblegum to a balanced masculine scent with a touch of cardamom spice.
We won’t shy away from the fact this scent has divided reviewers online, with many pointing out its obnoxious Lynx Africa-like smell. However, we tend to disagree here, and as far as springtime fragrances go, it’s one of our favourites to wear while running errands on the weekend and certainly fits the mood as the weather warms up. Still, it’s not a great choice for enthusiasts who prefer unique scents that stand out.
Performance is still the defining factor of any great fragrance and being a parfum, this one lasts a long time. We typically found 4-6 hours of projection, which makes it one of the top performers on our list.
Top notes: Cardamom, Bergamot, Rhubarb and Lemon
Middle notes: Lavender, Patchouli, Cedarwood and Geranium
Base notes: Vanilla, Tolu Balsam and Haitian Vetiver
Alternatives to These Spring Colognes for Men
The Spring fragrances we’ve listed above are all options that we’ve had a chance to go hands-on with and test for at least a week. However, there are several great scents that we’d recommend based on first impressions that we’ve gathered from smaller testers we’ve obtained both in-store and from the brands themselves. When we’re able to test the following bottles for a longer period to gauge their performance in-depth, we will likely move them up the list. Let’s take a look at these great alternatives.
- Eidesis by Aesop (from AU$240): One of the newer fragrances to make the list, you can remain a step ahead with Eidesis, a unique unisex fragrance no different to the rest of Aesop’s luxurious catalogue. The latest addition encapsulates the essence of all of Aseop’s scents with a warm, woody base balanced with iridescent florals.
- L’Homme A la Rose by Maison Francis Kurkdjian (from AU$385): Maison Francis Kurkdjian is no stranger when it comes to the best spring colognes, known for its impressive collection of masculine, fresh scents. L’Homme À la rose blends intensely fresh green notes of grapefruit with the essence of Damascena rose, giving way to woody tones that create the perfect sensual undertone.
- Baie 19 by Le Labo (from AU$276): Le Labo is our go-to for timeless, unisex fragrances, and the same goes when we’re on the lookout for spring scents to add to our fragrance collection. Baie 19 has crisp notes reminiscent of nature, rainforests and a dip in the ocean. We put this down to the dry juniper berry, patchouli and green leaves that make Baie 19 a seriously special spring cologne for men.
- Beau De Jour by Tom Ford (from AU$360): Nothing screams spring quite like lavender, and this fragrance by Tom Ford is the quintessential lavender-infused scent for the modern man. The floral notes are contrasted with leather-like oakmoss, creating an intriguing masculine intensity. Tom Ford is all about the cool, daring modern man, and we love the way this fragrance epitomises that to a tee.
- Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri by Acqua di Parma (from AU$233): For the best spring cologne designed to transport you straight to a tropical island, we can’t go past Blu Mediterraneo Arancia by Acqua di Parma. The fruity fragrance boasts signature scents of orange, mandarin, and lemon essential oils of Capri, providing a fresh, aromatic scent perfect for any spring day, or, for the days you want it to feel like spring.
- Dior Homme by Dior (from AU$235): Indulge in this unique, powdery iris and woody scent during the spring months. Aimed at redefining masculine sensuality, the fragrance balances woody, warm and sensual notes with spicy aromas for a perfectly masculine fresh scent. A cult brand when it comes to men’s fragrances, this new addition from Dior is no exception.
- Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani (from AU$180): One of the longest-running spring scents to make the list, there’s a reason why Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani has been a popular choice among men since 1996. The scent features sweet and salty notes of seawater, balanced out by citrus notes and subtle spices, which are softened by a woody base with a warm, musky trail.
- Neroli Sauvage by Creed (from AU$439): For the best spring cologne for the more luxury-minded buyers among us, we can’t go past this delicious scent by Creed. The hero of the fragrance is the citrus, creating a sweet, sensual aroma that exudes all those feel-good spring vibes. The unisex scent offers an invigorating freshness with smooth depth.
- Sunday Cologne by Byredo (from AU$285): One of the best spring fragrances and colognes for men with a classic scent, Sunday Cologne is simple, aromatic and loved by men all over the world. It is both citrusy, crisp and relaxing, just like a Sunday morning. Notes include star anise, cardamom, lavender and geranium, creating a charismatic and alluring scent.
Why You Should Trust Our List
Trust is the backbone of our independent publication and unlike most of the lists you’ve read online, we’re only recommending products that we’ve had a chance to independently test ourselves. We’re not claiming to do so either, providing original photography to demonstrate that we’ve gone hands-on with these products before providing an opinion about each. This opinion is a conclusion decided upon by our editorial team that takes into account the smell, price, and availability of each inclusion.
Each Spring scent we’ve selected is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. We’re talking fresh, citrus, floral, and spicy options all balanced by earthy notes.
How You Should Choose from Our List
Say goodbye to your favourite winter colognes because it’s time to turn up the heat a little as the weather becomes balmier and the floral scents of nature ramp up. When it comes to choosing the best spring colognes you’ll want to steer in the direction of mother nature with floral scents backed by citrus undertones with the likes of grapefruit and tangerine.
Balancing these fresh citrus undertones will be the challenge but our selection below presents this as a strength with sandalwood, cedar, and sage being the predominant force across the selection.
If you need further help choosing, check out our guide on finding your own signature scent.
More Great Fragrance Stories
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Colognes & Fragrances For Other Seasons
Your FAQs Answered
The best affordable spring cologne for men is Montblanc Explorer Platinum.
Look for fresh, crisp flavours and fruity, citrus notes.
If you’re in Australia, the best time to start wearing spring fragrances is in September.
