Want to smell good this summer? Of course you do. Who, bar bona fide sociopaths and hardcore body odour fetishists, wouldn’t? Sadly, basic hygiene – while a good start – only goes so far in the battle against heat-induced funk. To ensure you always smell fresh, you’ll need an eau de something at your disposal.

That’s why we’ve rounded up the best summer fragrances to sniff out this season. From citrus spritzes to floral orientals, our list means you can spend less time wandering around department stores waggling scent strips, and more time soaking up the sun.

Bottega Veneta Illusione

Since 1966, Venetian fashion house Bottega Veneta has been synonymous premium Italian craftsmanship, and that’s as true of its fragrances as its stylish accessories. Illusione For Him brings the two together, with a minimal glass flaçon topped by a simple black bona fidecap. Details like this are highly considered, with similar attention paid to the juice inside. The inclusion of balsam fir in the heart is a consistent thread within its other men’s scents. This resinous ingredient is blended with lemon, bitter orange, white cedarwood, vetiver and tonka bean. It’s chic and discreet – just like one of the label’s tote bags.

Buy Now: £75.00

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• DOLCE & GABBANA POUR HOMME
• Burberry Mr. Burberry Eau de Toilette
• ISSEY MIYAKE L’EAU SUPER MAJEURE D’ISSEY INTENSE

Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo Urban Feel

In contrast to all those summer scents that try to seduce us with Riviera dreams, Italian luxury goods label Salvatore Ferragamo wants to take us on a tour of the city. Created by Marie Salamagne and Alberto Morillas — who between them have created fragrances for Armani, Saint Laurent and Acqua di Parma — Urban Feel is a woody, ozonic scent that blends clary sage, bergamot, cumin, driftwood and cedar with labdanum, incense and patchouli. It’s clean and fresh, and the mix of citrus, cedar and incense also has an edge that’s slightly reminiscent of, citronella – or insect repellant. That’s okay though, city folk need something to keep the mozzies at bay when away from the big smoke.

Buy Now: £53.50

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• Acqua di Parma Colonia Ambra Eau de Cologne Concentrée
• DIOR Sauvage Eau de Toilette 100ml
• Coach For Men Eau de Toilette

Creed Aventus Cologne

A follow-up, a 2.0, a sequel – whatever you call them, flankers (essentially updates of an existing scent) are common in the fragrance world. Storied French perfume house Creed has long avoided this trend; however, it has finally broken with tradition. It’s hardly surprising, given the commercial success of 2010’s Aventus, that they’ve chosen to expand the line. The cologne edition boasts top notes of ginger, mandarin and pink peppercorn, underlined by patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, styrax and tonka bean. It’s a classy number, with a nose-tingling opener and a leathery, musky base that helps it last on the skin.

Buy Now: £155.00

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• HUGO BOSS Hugo Man Eau De Toilette
• Diesel Only the Brave Tattoo Eau de Toilette

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Sun Pour Homme

This summer, David Gandy‘s adventures in tiny budgie smugglers continue with an update of Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue line. While there isn’t a new campaign visual or a fresh pair of tighty-whities to go with this one, Light Blue Sun does treat us to a strong aquatic note, buoyed with ginger, vetiver and a barely-there hint of coconut. It’s dry and salty, without any of the cloying sweetness or fruitiness that often occurs in summer editions. Disappointingly, it doesn’t come with a supermodel six-pack either.

Buy Now: £52.00

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• Hermes Terre D’Hermes Eau De Toilette Spray for Men
• Jo Malone London Oud & Bergamot
• Bvlgari Aqua Amara

Byredo Sundazed

Inspired by the blissed-out feeling one gets after spending all day sunbathing in the heat, Byredo’s Sundazed has a rush of citrusy mandarin, neroli, Californian lemon and Arabian jasmine at the top mixed with a sweet undercurrent of white musk. So, how does it smell in real life? Like hot sand, sun lotion and candy floss all rolled into one. The Scandinavian brand says it was inspired by the beach culture of America’s Golden State but, due to that candied note, it’s also evocative of a very warm day on Brighton Pier; thankfully without the marauding stag parties, dive-bombing seagulls and overexposed day-trippers.

Buy Now: £165.00

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• Armani Acqua di Gio
• Creed Virgin Island Water
• Diptyque Oyedo

Azzaro Chrome Aqua

Created close to a quarter of a century ago, 1996’s Azzaro Chrome can claim to be long-lasting in more ways than one. The latest update comes from the brain, err, nose of French perfumer Jean-Christophe Herault (the man also responsible for scents by Comme des Garçons and David Beckham). Grapefruit, mint and green apple are the headliners in this fresh, green fragrance. If it’s a summer fling you’re after (and one that won’t bleed you dry at that) this is the one to say eau yes to.

Buy Now: £33.00

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• Versace Eros Eau de Toilette
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Cartier Les Heures Voyageuses Oud & Menthe

Oud-based scents aren’t your typical summer fare – not in a watery world of colognes dominated by citrus notes and flowery blossoms. But one of its key qualities is that it endures on the skin during intense heat while other, wimpier, notes wither and die. Hence, it’s ubiquity in places like Dubai. One of the most expensive, exclusive scents on our summer wish list is Cartier Les Heures Voyageuses Oud & Menthe. The genius move here is to temper the occasionally overpowering eau with the refreshing addition of mint. It cuts through the heaviness that agarwood can bring and creating a warm, fresh scent that’s ideal for a summer wedding abroad.

Buy Now: £317.00

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• Comme des Garcons Wonderoud Eau de Parfum Spray
• Ermenegildo Zegna Essenze Collection Indonesian Oud Eau de Toilette
• BYREDO Oud Immortel Eau de Parfum

Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend

One of a handful of scents scientifically proven to help you pull — okay, it’s not guaranteed, but it does contain a chemical compound called hedione which stimulates an area of the brain responsible for the release of sex hormones — Invictus has been an olfactory wingman since 2013. The new Legend flanker is firmly in the woody-aromatic category, and you can expect a strong marine aquatic top, with a spicy amber, guaiac wood base. Is it legendary? Well, we guess that depends on what you get up to while wearing it.

Buy Now: £44.00

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• JEAN PAUL GAULTIER ULTRA MALE
• Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum
• Kenzo Homme Eau de Toilette Spray 100ml

Tom Ford Private Blend Lavender Extrême

Mad for lavender? Tom Ford has got something just for you: a new Private Blend, Lavender Extrême. Using two distinct French lavenders as the opening note, it follows with a spike of Italian bergamot, then opens up with earthy carrot seed oil and a third lavender note from a prized source, Lavender Absolue France, with a creamy woody base of benzoin from Laos. For an extra touch, the bottle is entirely silver with a plaque on the front – presumably to justify the rather punchy price tag – so you can look as flash as you smell fresh.

Buy Now: £220.00

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• BOSS Bottled Infinite
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Floris London Neroli Voyage

It’s easy to suspect that the popularity of a certain turquoise-bottled, neroli-heavy scent has given other brands the courage to go bold with the same ingredient: step forward, Floris London. Edward Bodenham, perfumery director and descendant of the family-owned British heritage firm, was inspired by the groves of orange blossom trees that bloom along the coast from Antibes on the French Riviera, all the way down to Amalfi, Italy. As you’d expect, neroli is the dominant note, but it’s mixed with lemon, aromatic fennel seed, oak wood and elements that evoke the heathlands of Corsica. It’s an elegant affair, mixing warm florals with marine notes.

Buy Now: £120.00

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• Molton Brown Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel