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9 Best Colognes for Spring That Smell Fresh, Clean, and Expensive

Swap your heavy winter scents for these bright, fresh spring fragrances.

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Springtime is a season of reinvention. The longer days and blooming flowers are signs to set your clock forward, deep clean your house, and switch up your wardrobe—fragrance included. Stow away your cozy sweaters, pull out your polos, and swap those spicy amber-y scents for a fresh, springtime pick.

Our top picks:

Not sure where to get started? Having smelled hundreds of colognes, I'm here to help. From juicy citrus scents to masculine aromatics and suave aquatics, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite men's fragrances for the season. Whether you're doing a spring refresh on a budget or splurging on a new signature scent, these picks capture exactly what spring should smell like.

If any fragrance captures the smell of spring, it’s Aesop’s Tacit. Its green, herbaceous notes feel fresh and polished without being overpowering. The scent sits close to the skin, making it perfect for daytime wear while still feeling refined enough for evening. I’ve currently got three coworkers vying for the bottle sitting on my desk, which should tell you everything you need to know.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryAromatic
NotesYuzu, basil, clove, rosemary, mint, fennel, cedarwood, vetiver, amber
Sizes1.6, 3.3 fl. oz.

Since I first got my hands on Hawthorne's colognes I haven't been able to stop raving about them. You'll be hard-pressed to find scents as well-crafted and long lasting as these in their price range, which is why two of them appeared in my list of the best affordable colognes. Night Swim is a standout from their newest drop, an aquatic fragrance with a twist thanks to the watermelon accord and juniper. Aquatic colognes are my go-to for evening events because of the way they make you smell clean, and this one adds a perfect bit of edge to that formula.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryAquatic
NotesBlue spruce, watermelon accord, italian bergamot, juniper
Sizes1.7 fl. oz.
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The unlikely pairing of bergamot and leather in this cologne from Korres helps root what might otherwise be an overly fruity scent in some earthy masculinity. This is the kind of cologne that evokes a put-togetherness that feels mature yet playful. While the drip dispenser isn't my preferred application method for a cologne, the one-of-a-kind citrus blend makes it worth it.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryCitrus
NotesMandarin, bergamot, hawthorn, nutmeg, vetiver, violet leaf, leather, suede, frankincense, patchouli
Sizes3.4 fl. oz.

On the deeper side of spring fragrances, Vyrao's Magnetic 70 balances out seductive notes of vetiver and angelica seed with refreshing black pepper and balsamic elemi. The result is a punchy, woody composition that lasts remarkably long on the skin. If you're looking for a scent that's a little smokier than your typical spring fragrances, this is your pick.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryWoody
NotesVetiver, cedar wood, frankincense, angelica seed, juniper wood, elemi, black pepper
Sizes1.0, 1.7 fl. oz.
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As the name suggests, Fine'ry's Why Not? is a take on the sage, geranium, and amber notes of YSL's Y, though it's not a dead-on dupe. This cologne is an aromatic sensation, delivering on a high fidelity, fresh-spicy scent profile that lingers well into wear. At $30 per bottle, Why Not? demonstrates Fine'ry's ability to craft luxury-style scents at a bargain.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryAromatic
NotesSage, geranium, amber
Sizes2.0 fl. oz.

Polo Blue's classic aquatic scent is a timeless choice for spring. It's a popular cologne for teens and older gents alike, and for good reason. It's the kind of fresh-out-of-the-shower fragrance that nets tons of compliments and makes you feel like you're putting your best self out there. What's more, the bottle is refillable so you can waste less while smelling your best.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryAquatic
NotesCucumber, melon, mandarin orange, basil, sage, geranium, suede, musk
Sizes0.34, 1.4, 2.5, 4.2, 6.8 fl. oz.
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Spring florals aren't just for women, and Escentric Molecule's unisex fragrance line proves that over and over. While I featured their Escentric 01 scent as the best floral scent in my roundup of the best colognes for men, Molecule 01 + Champaca deserves a shoutout for its unique and uncomplicated take on florals. The star note, champaca, has tea-like and citrus-like qualities that heighten the base of Iso E Super to make something both vibrant and alluring.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryFloral
NotesOrange blossom, champaca, Iso E Super
Sizes3.4 fl. oz.

Spring and strawberries are such a harmonious pair that it only makes sense to include a cologne that features the fruit prominently. Room for Dessert pairs it with creme brûlée and orcanox for a deliciously tempting gourmand that manages to be sweet yet masculine. If you're trying to get outside the realm of traditional men's colognes this spring, Room for Dessert is a must-try.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryGourmand
NotesStrawberry, crème brûlée accord, vanilla, ambrette seeds, Orcanox, cedar
Sizes0.34, 1.0 fl. oz.
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Though this body spray has the word "summer" in its name, I'd argue Boys of Summer is a superb springtime fragrance. Its light, aromatic, and aquatic composition features pink pepper, petitgrain, and lavender, making for a refreshing scent that doesn't overpower. It's worth noting that as a body spray it has a pretty short wear time, though at 6.7 fluid ounces for under $50, reapplication isn't as painful as with more expensive colognes.

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Features at a Glance

CategoryAromatic
NotesPetitgrain, pink pepper, lavender, magnolia, Haitian vetiver, orris, patchouli
Sizes6.7 fl. oz.
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