original colognes were what we now consider “fresh.” In fact, the term cologne actually refers to a less concentrated (aka lighter) kind of perfume that generally relies on citrus notes like lemon and

original colognes were what we now consider “fresh.” In fact, the term cologne actually refers to a less concentrated (aka lighter) kind of perfume that generally relies on citrus notes like lemon and orange. These days, we tend to use that term colloquially for any fragrance that men wear, but it’s no surprise that so many men’s scents are still all about bringing the freshness.

Wearing a fresh cologne can instantly liven your mood by making you feel (and smell) cleaner and, well, fresher. You’ll still find a lot of citrus in these fragrances, but you’ll also often find florals, green notes from herbs, and aquatic elements like sea salt and ozone. Often inspired by nature, fresh scents are all about capturing the feeling of being outside and bringing it straight to your skin. This also makes them incredibly versatile and very appropriate for daytime and warm-weather wear (though many fresh colognes are equally suitable year-round).