If a fragrance has been around since the 1970s, 1980s, or 90s, can it still be red hot for warm weather wear, or has it totally been burned away? Let’s find out by testing nine iconic, retro, warm, and hot-weather fragrances.
- Eau de Cologne by Hermes (1979)
- Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis (1984)
- Cool Water by Davidoff (1988)
- Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein (1990)
- JF by Floris (1992)
- Nautica by Nautica (1992)
- Blue Jeans by Versace (1994)
- Millesime Imperial by Creed (1995)
- Burberry Weekend for Men (1997)
- How Do These Retro Fragrances Stack Up?
- Outfit Rundown
If you prefer something less seasonal, we’ve previously discussed the best and worst 80s and ’90s fragrances.
The Best and Worst Men’s Colognes of the ’80s and ’90s
Retro fragrances tend to offer great value because they are literally time-tested but don’t have the markups of the latest, newest, and trendiest fragrances. A quick note: We’re testing modern iterations of these fragrances that have usually been reformulated—sometimes several times—from their initial launch, as these are the formulations currently available in stores. With all that out of the way, let’s get started on our retro hot weather fragrance hot or not list.
Eau de Cologne by Hermes (1979)
This is our oldest fragrance, and it’s the only one on the list from the 1970s. This was released in its iconic green bottle in 1979 as Eau de Cologne Hermes and originally developed by Françoise Caron.

It was rebranded in 1997 as Eau d’Orange Verte and reformulated in 2009 by Jean-Claude Ellena. Its current iteration is a raw, vibrant, and fresh citrine fragrance, combining initial notes of bold orange with mint that cleanly transitions into a mossy base—resulting in a dry, invigorating, and woody sensation. A 3.4-oz flacon currently retails for $144.
When smelling this, the citrus orange is probably the most prominent scent to me. The only real drastic development I noticed in this fragrance was the depth to the orange as I continued to smell, and some of the moss elements started to come through. I didn’t feel it harmonized completely with me and my personal smell, but it’s a very bold scent and it does harmonize on a certain level in a crisp and bright way during the day.


To me, this is definitely a warm-weather fragrance. The longevity appears quite bold at first when initially applied, and it begins to subtly fade throughout the day. Personally, I would wear this fragrance for a lunch out with friends. I enjoy the bold citrus elements of this fragrance but I don’t think I’d wear this fragrance very often.
Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis (1984)
Rather like the bold musketeer after whom its brand is named, Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis is a very traditionally masculine and warm weather fragrance inspired by the citrine and aromatic scents of the Italian region for which it’s named.

A great scent for
Warm Weather
Prominent top notes of citrines like lemon, bergamot, and lime are tempered by floral lavender before descending to more herbaceous middle notes of anise, caraway, and tarragon, tinged with orange blossom. The base notes are very typical of men’s fragrances consisting of a blend of oak moss, basic patchouli, sandalwood, cinnamon, and tonka bean with a distinct leather typical of Aramis products. A 3.4-oz flacon is $74 directly from Estée Lauder.
Lemon, lavender, and orange are the most prominent notes to me in this scent. As the fragrance matured, I started to notice a bit of spice coming through, perhaps from the cinnamon.
Personally, I felt that this fragrance harmonized pretty well with my natural scent. I find this fragrance to be a warm weather and transitional fragrance. The longevity of this fragrance is low, but good for a few hours of wear while leaving a nice lasting scent. I would wear this fragrance out for coffee or even a business casual dinner. I personally like this scent and would probably recommend it to others.
Cool Water by Davidoff (1988)
Cool Water was designed by Pierre Bourdon, and it made quite a splash when it was released in 1988. Thanks to a massive advertising campaign, this fragrance was ubiquitous in the 90s and still remains quite popular today. A surprising variety of different scents are combined to create a fresh fragrance evocative of the ocean.

Top notes include a very prominent burst of seawater with mint, lavender, coriander, rosemary, and assorted green notes. This opening is somewhat reminiscent of Creed’s Green Irish Tweed, but these fragrances develop in very different ways. Middle notes include sharp neroli, jasmine, and geranium with mellow sandalwood and base notes of traditionally masculine cedar wood, musk, amber, and tobacco. Sold by a number of retailers, Cool Water is available for about $40 for 3.4-oz.
We’ve reviewed Cool Water before and found it to be a very versatile and unique summer fragrance.
BLIND Testing Cheap vs Expensive Fragrances
Here’s what I think now: I found that mint, rosemary, and sandalwood happen to be the most prominent scents to me when smelling this fragrance. I really didn’t notice much of a shift in the maturity of the scent the more I continued to smell it. I felt it harmonized a little bit with me and my natural scent, but nothing as well as some of the other scents on this list. I found this to be more of a hybrid scent, something you could wear in hot or warm weather climates. I found the longevity on the scent to be low, but something that did give a nice effect for a few hours of wear. I would feel comfortable wearing this fragrance pretty much any time, especially for casual or even business casual settings. I definitely like this fragrance, and I can understand why it’s quite popular.
Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein (1990)
We’ve previously reviewed this fragrance as well, and, while not quite as famous as Obsession, also by Calvin Klein, Eternity for Men, developed by Carlos Benaim, took the 90s by storm thanks to its unique aromatic fougere components.

It opens very similarly to Tuscany by Aramis, with top notes including lavender, mandarin, orange, bergamot, and lemon, but its middle notes take a sharper turn with coriander, juniper berries, basil, and sage, with potent florals like lily, orange blossom, jasmine, lily of the valley, and geranium.
At the base, we have the usual suspects: sandalwood, musk, amber, and vetiver, but with the unexpected introduction of Brazilian rosewood. This fragrance is available directly from Calvin Klein for $109 for a 100-ml flacon.



I previously found this fragrance clean and unobjectionable, like a neighborhood barbershop. Here’s what I think now: I found the orange, lavender, and lemon to initially be the most prominent scents in this fragrance. As the fragrance matures, the sandalwood and musk start to become more noticeable. I feel this fragrance does start to harmonize with my natural scent in a soft and subtle way over time. I believe this is a great warm-weather fragrance. I believe the longevity is decent for an average day’s wear. I would wear this fragrance for an evening out, perhaps even a casual walk around town. I definitely enjoy and would recommend this scent.
JF by Floris (1992)
Floris is one of the hottest fragrance houses right now, and it was no different in 1992, when this woody aromatic scent was launched. Exotic citrines dominate the top notes, including bergamont, Amalfi lemon, mandarin orange, and lime with a coarse introduction of clary sage, coriander, and even wormwood. Middle notes are warm and fresh including cypress, peregrine, jasmine, and juniper berries; and earthy bass notes of musk, oak moss, virginia cedar, and amber.

A Summer Scent that’s
Effortlessly British
According to Floris, this fragrance is elegant, fresh, and effortlessly British. Lemon, lime, and orange tended to be the more prominent notes that I noticed in this fragrance initially. As this fragrance matures, the warmth of jasmine and oak moss starts to come through.
I feel this fragrance harmonized well with my natural scent with its bright citrus notes and woody base. I feel this fragrance is a great warm to transitional scent. I feel this fragrance lasts for a few hours—maybe great for a particular event, maybe not something I would expect to last all day long. I could see myself wearing this fragrance out for a brunch or even a casual meeting. I definitely like this scent.
Nautica by Nautica (1992)
Immensely popular thanks to its attainable price point in 1992, the original Nautica spawned two successors: Nautica Voyage and Nautica Blue. Nautica Classic is a woody chypre fragrance that leans heavily into botanicals.

Top notes include a veritable orchard of aldehydes, lime, lemon, bergamot, neroli, cypress, tarragon, clary sage, coriander, and cinnamon, followed by a flower garden of jasmine, rose, cyclamen, geranium, and caraway; and a final stand of sandalwood, cedar, oak moss, patchouli, amber, and musk for base notes. It is available from several retailers for about $20 for a 3.4-oz flacon.
I initially noticed the cypress, bergamot, and lemon the most. As I continued to smell, the fragrance did start to mature; it softened from something very nautical to a very clean, crisp, and almost relaxing scent. I felt it harmonized with my scent very well with a spice of cinnamon, floral notes, and woody base notes.



I find this is a great transitional into hot weather fragrance. The longevity on this scent was decent, but maybe not ideal for heavy strength if you’re expecting to wear this all day long. I feel comfortable wearing this scent pretty much anytime during the summer when out casually. I do like this scent.
Blue Jeans by Versace (1994)
Blue Jeans was developed by Jean-Pierre Bethouart, and it was launched in 1994. It has a range of natural top notes, including bergamot, juniper, anise, Brazilian rosewood, and basil, which quickly dried down to floral middle notes of lavender, rose, carnation, heliotrope, jasmine, geranium, and lily of the valley, as well as sage and fir.

Before a sweet and conventional finish with base notes of vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, amber, cedar, patchouli, and vetiver with an unexpected kick of iris. Versace markets this fragrance as a classic that—like a good pair of jeans—won’t let you down. It is available from several retailers for about $30 for 3.4-oz and comes in one of the more interesting cases and flacons that we’re discussing today.

Blue Jeans is more of
A sweet scent
I found vanilla to be one of the more prominent notes in this fragrance. I noticed an increase in sweetness and overall floral notes as the fragrance started to mature. I do not feel like this fragrance harmonized very well with my scent. This fragrance is best worn in hot weather.
Longevity is decent but not long-lasting. I don’t feel like I’d wear this fragrance in any setting, and I really don’t like this fragrance.
Millesime Imperial by Creed (1995)
Fragrances by Creed are some of the most sought-after in the menswear sphere today, and it was no different in 1995 when Oliver Creed and Pierre Bourdon debuted Millesime Imperial, which was launched to mark the house’s 150th anniversary and highlights Creed’s historic place in the imperial courts of Europe. This complicated fragrance blends marine accords with floral, citrine, and woody notes for a sparkling fresh sensation that is difficult to find in other fragrances.

Top notes include bergamot, black currant, and violet leaves, with middle notes including oros and marine accords before finishing with a base of cedarwood, musk, and sandalwood. Described as warm and romantic, Millesime Imperial is intended to conjure up the seaside of sunny Sicily.
A 100ml flacon will set you back $470, and this fragrance is by far the most expensive on today’s list. We previously ranked over $4,000 of Creed fragrances, and this fragrance snagged third place. How does it stack up today?
We found the notes in this fragrance to be herby, floral, citrus-based, and light, but almost borderline too light now. As this is a blended scent, there isn’t one strong note that dominates as the fragrance matures. This ties into our biggest criticism: despite being an eau de parfum, it doesn’t last very long, even though our team feels it could be a great daytime scent for warmer seasons for those who want something fresh and light—no matter the occasion, season, or time of day—making this a very approachable, elegant, and potentially unisex fragrance. All that to say, I like it for the relatively brief amount of time that I can smell it.
Burberry Weekend for Men (1997)
Three years before Y2K, Michel Almairac developed Weekend for Men by Burberry. Known for its light, clean, and citrine opening, it descends into warmer elements as the fragrance develops.

A Transitional scent For
Warm to hot weather
Top notes consist of prominent fruity aromas like lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, pineapple, mandarin orange, and melon with woody middle notes of ivy, oak moss, and sandalwood, and warming base notes of honey, musk, and amber. On paper, this fragrance features a definite radical transformation as it progresses. It is available from several retailers for about $40 for a 100ml flacon.
Lemon, grapefruit, orange, and amber were the notes that stood out the most to me in this fragrance. Personally, I didn’t notice a big transition as the fragrance matured. I do think that this fragrance harmonized well with my natural scent. I found this fragrance to be a great transitional scent that could be worn in both hot and warm weather. I found this fragrance to be subtle; something that lasts maybe for a few hours but not necessarily the strongest scent, and it’s probably not going to last you all day long. I could find myself wearing this pretty often in a daytime and casual setting, and I definitely like this scent and can see myself recommending this to others as well.
How Do These Retro Fragrances Stack Up?


- Kyle’s Personal Favorite and Top Contender – Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis
- Runner-Up – Burberry Weekend
- Best Value – Nautica by Nautica
- Best Scent for Warm Weather – Eau de Cologne by Hermes
- Best Scent for Hot Weather – Cool Water by Davidoff
- Best Transitional Scent – Eternity by Calvin Klein
- Best Daytime Scent – Eternity by Calvin Klein
- Best Evening Scent – JF by Floris
- Best For Work – Burberry Weekend
- Best For Social Outings – Eternity by Calvin Klein.
- Best to Avoid – Blue Jeans by Versace
From Best to Worst

So, how does my list compare to yours? Let us know in the comments! We’d also love to hear from viewers who wore these fragrances back in the day; please share some insight on how these fragrances might have changed.
Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a striped blue blazer that has elements of light blue and gold in the stripes with a tan shirt, a burgundy and blue pocket square with off-white kind of cream color jeans, brown dress shoes, and of course, Fort Belvedere socks with blue and burgundy stripes. And for the fragrance, I can’t forget Roberto Ugolini High Heel White. For accessories like these amazing socks that I’m wearing and some other incredible things that you can find to build your outfits out in a really amazing way, check out the Fort Belvedere shop.
FAQ
What are hot weather fragrances?
Hot weather fragrances are perfumes specifically designed to be worn in warm climates. They are typically light, fresh, and citrusy or floral in scent, to complement the heat without being overpowering.
Why should I use a fragrance for hot weather?
Hot weather can intensify the strength of a perfume. A lighter fragrance won’t become overwhelming when the temperature rises, and the scent will work with your body’s natural perspiration rather than against it.
What types of scents are best for high temperatures?
Citrus, aquatic, and green notes tend to feel refreshing in higher temperatures. Ingredients like lemon, bergamot, mint, cucumber, and water lily are common in summer-friendly perfumes.
Can I reapply my fragrance if it fades due to sweat?
Certainly. However, be careful not to overdo it, as the heat can cause the scent to linger longer than you might realize. Carry a travel-sized version of your fragrance for touch-ups if needed.
Should the concentration of my fragrance change with the weather?
Yes, typically lighter concentrations such as eau de toilette or eau de cologne are more appropriate for hot weather as they’re less intense than eau de parfum or parfum.
What are retro colognes?
Retro colognes are fragrances that were popular in past decades and have characteristic scents reminiscent of those times. They often come back into popularity due to their classic, timeless appeal.
Can both men and women wear retro colognes?
Yes, retro colognes are not gender-specific. Like all fragrances, it’s a matter of personal preference and how the scent interacts with one’s body chemistry.
Are retro colognes more expensive than contemporary ones?
Not necessarily. The price can vary widely depending on the brand, rarity, demand, and where you purchase the cologne.
Will wearing a retro cologne make me smell outdated?
Not at all! A well-chosen retro cologne can give off a sophisticated and classic vibe. It’s all about finding a scent that resonates with you and suits your style.
In my opinion, the best men’s fragrance ever was Quorum, and I can’t remember the maker, but it was from Spain, and is no longer available.
What about 4711, the iconic fragrance from Germany? A friend of mine, a German immigrant, kept a bottle in the glove compartment of his Volkswagen, for last-minute freshening-up.
My favorite retro cologne for men is Lagerfeld Classic with notes of Aldehydes, Tarragon, Sage, Bergamont, Sandlewood, Musk and Vanilla.
I am not sure if reformulations over the years from the original have changed the scent.
The Burberry Weekend strikes me as an almost note for note clone of the discontinued Jean Patou Menโs Citrus. Although long gone for most of us it was a virtual olfactory symphony with incredible balance. Iโm pretty sure Iโm not the only one who mourned its departure and am delighted to find a very good facsimile in BW.