Nothing says spring like the smell of freshly cut grass. One whiff of the iconic odor brings me back to napping on mother’s sofa, windows open and country lace curtains shuffling in the breeze. The citrusy notes of summers past are giving way to those a bit greener by nature. Here’s a small group of my favorites – new and old.

Cannibus Santal by Fresh, $75 (3.4oz), fresh.com

Something of a more risqué green, Cannibus Santal is a very masculine (although unisex) fragrance that has a hint of something all too familiar. The concoction of cannibus, black plum, chocolate, rose and vanilla may sound a bit heavy for Spring, but creates a very light sun-appropriate scent.

Green by Byredo, $195 (3.4oz), byredo.com

The name says it all. Green is a mixture of honeysuckle, rose, jasmine and sage. There’s a hint of tonka almond to smooth things out. It’s a very discreet scent that perfumer Ben Gorham created as an homage to the fragrance his father wore during the late 70’s.

Space.NK.MEN Blue, $38 (1.7oz), spacenk.com

More of a woodsy approach to green – don’t let the name suggest otherwise – Space.NK created this fragrance to celebrate the opening of their first men’s store in London’s Soho district. Notes of oak moss, cedar leaf, basil and geranium produce a more typical spring fragrance. It’s very light and airy and easy to wear.

Green Valley by Creed, $250 (4oz), creedboutique.com

One of the oldest perfume houses in the world, Creed introduced Green Valley into the market back in 1999. A woodsy approach to something green – it reminds me of watering the moss of an orchid. It’s very masculine, yet soft. Very refined – something you’d expect from the house of Creed.

High Line by Bond No. 9, $145 (1.7oz), bondno9.com

The newest addition to Bond No. 9’s lineup, High Line, gets it name from the newly-opened, elevated park on Manhattan’s West Side. Known for calling their fragrances by names of New York City attractions, the perfume house has an uncanny ability to trap the essence of a neighborhood in a bottle. Just launched in March 2010, High Line accurately represents its namesake. Notes of purple love grass, red leaf roses, tulips and sea moss are a surprisingly manly mixture that lands in stores just in time to kick off spring. —Seth Howard

Acqua di Parma released its latest addition to the Blu Mediterraneo collection last month with the crisp Bergamotto di Calabria collection.

The scent is a splendid cocktail of  top notes of bergamot and citron, heart notes of bergamot cedar wood and red ginger, and base notes of vetiver, Benzoin and musk. The resulting fragrance is bright, fresh and clean while retaining its masculine richness. The fragrance doesn’t overpower like so many eaus that lay the wood notes on thick.

If you’re looking to kick the winter blues and need a whiff of Spring, Acqua di Parma’s latest scent is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria Eau de Toilette,   60ml $70,  120ml $106, at neimanmarcus.com
Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria Body Creme,  200ml, $67, at neimanmarcus.com

How much does your nose know when it comes to how you should smell? Here’s our scents-ible primer.

When it comes to cologne, chances are you fall into one of two categories: You either douse yourself daily with the same brand you’ve used since high school (“It worked for me then, so it has to work for me now, right?”) or you avoid the stuff and prefer to go au naturel (“Chicks really dig my pheromones”).

Whichever one sounds more like you, it’s time to rethink. If you’re the brand-loyal douser, now’s the time to update your scent and tone down your method of application. And if you’re scent-free, consider this before you swear off cologne for good: Scientists at the University of Liverpool have recently discovered that the mere act of applying fragrance boosts a man’s self-confidence to the degree of increasing his sex appeal.

If that isn’t enough to send you running to the nearest duty-free store, well, then, you probably need something a little stronger than cologne to help you out.

Here’s how to find your secret scent weapon of choice and wield it for the most effect. The ladies will never know what hit them.

Pick a Family

Unlike your complex relatives, there are only five different cologne “families” (that’s fragrance industry-speak): Citrus (light and fruity), Oriental (spicy and sweet), Fougere (pronounced foo-JER: mossy and oakey), Chypre (pronounced SHEE-pr; woodsy and floral) and Marine (think fresh, salty sea air).

Each category has its own allure, and even season — Orientals and Fougeres are more popular in cold winter months because they smell spicy and warm, while Marine and Citrus are more popular in summer because they offer a cool and refreshing contrast to the heat.

If you already know which category you like best, that’s great, skip to the next section. If not, think about how you want to smell as opposed to how you think you should smell. And ask your girlfriend what smells she likes best. After all, that’s why you’re wearing it, right? Many guys assume that women are attracted to “manly” smells like musk and oak, when in fact, your lady may be more inclined to nuzzle up to a whiff of cucumber and licorice. (There was an actual study linking those aromas to increased sexual arousal in women.)

Take a Test Drive
Fragrances smell different on different people due to a number of chemical factors — skin type, pH levels, sweat glands, etc. — so just because a certain fragrance smells godly when it mingles with the DNA of David Beckham doesn’t mean it’ll smell good on a mere mortal like you (though we’re dying to know how you got to smell Beckham). This means you’re going to need to take trip to a department store (one with a well-stocked men’s scent counter) and try them out.

Find a few colognes with the general scent profile you think you’ll like, then spray them on those little pieces of paper at the counter. Take a sniff, wave it around, wait a few minutes, repeat (wouldn’t hurt to bring a woman with you, since you might not be able to objectively judge your own scent). Fragrances have what the industry calls top, middle and base notes, which basically means they’ll smell different the longer they’ve been in the air (or on your skin). The “top note” is the first (and strongest) smell your nose picks up, and it will dissipate over time.

Don’t Hit the Bottle Too Hard
When it comes to applying cologne, the biggest mistake guys make is to go overboard. If a little bit makes you smell good, then a lot will make you smell even better, right? Wrong. People should be able to detect your smell when they’re within a few inches of you, not when you’re across the room. A few spritzes right after you get out of the shower is plenty.

If you want to make a bottle last even longer, keep it in the fridge. Just don’t reach for it before you’ve had your coffee and accidentally spritz yourself with that bottle of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. (Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.)

Jessica Lothstein is a former editor at Best Life magazine. She was awarded a Fifi from the Fragrance Foundation for editorial excellence in fragrance coverage.

We’ve received a tip that Marc Ecko will release his first fragrance in September. Previous reports pointed to a Fall release, but it looks like September is the target drop date. His first scent isn’t for the ladies. Well, it could be for the ladies if their men are wearing it.

Last November, Ecko announced a licensing agreement with Parlux Fragrances (the same team that brought you fragrances from Guess, Andy Roddick and Paris Hilton) to develop and market men’s and women’s scents.

While the details of the fragrance are still unknown, the press release announcing the relationship in November quoted Ecko as saying, “I can’t tell you yet what it WILL be – but it won’t be conventional.” That leaves things pretty wide open.

Photos: Courtesy of Diesel

Diesel is preparing to launch a bold follow-up to it’s Fuel For Life fragrance this spring.

Meet Only the Brave, an oriental woody scent that doesn’t play by the rules. It walks the line between clean and dirty, hard and soft, familiar and exotic. This eau is a sexy modern fragrance that mixes the masculine notes of cedar, coriander and leather, with the softness and warmth of amber, labdanum, lavender, violet and styrax.  Stir in some the exotic notes of tolu wood, ebony wood and black rose. Then, add a splash of bright and tangy notes of mandarin orange and lemon on the top and you’ve got a punchy opening that mellows into a sensual scent that will draw people close. It doesn’t overpower like other colognes and isn’t so soft that people might think you borrowed a woman’s perfume. It’s undeniably masculine. And if anyone tries to call it girly, just punch them in the face with the amazing, pale blue, fist-shaped bottle with a brass-knuckle-style logo.

Diesel’s Only the Brave reminiscent of how a man should smell when he’s having happy hour drinks after work. A little dirty, a little musky, but by no means filthy. Perfumers Aliénor Massenet, Olivier Polge and Pierre Wargnye managed to create a fragrance that makes dirty sexy again. Luckily, bravery isn’t required.  All the liquid courage you’ll need is in the bottle.

Key Ingredients

Top Notes: Lemon blosson, Mandarin Orange, Corriander leaves

Middle Notes: Labdanum, Black rose and Lavender

Base Notes: Amber, Tolu wood and Ebony wood.

Look for it this May at Diesel stores and Diesel-Fragrances.com.

$52.50 for 1.7oz,  $65.00 for 2.5 oz.

Ralph Lauren is poised to launch his fifth Polo fragrance this September with Polo Explorer and it promises to be a must-have scent for the season. In my opinion, Explorer is a breath of fresh air for Ralph Lauren’s fragrances because it breaks away from the other scents that all kinda start to smell the same after a while. Explorer contains a diverse blend of notes that add an exotic edge to the portfolio.

Here’s the run down on the notes:

Top Notes: South African Mandarin & Sicilian Bergamot

Base Notes: Argentinian Mate & North Sea Amber.

There are other notes, but I’m not sure if they are also base notes or middle notes: Cuban Mahogany and Australian Sandalwood.

Check out the handsome spokesmodel after the jump!

And what great men’s fragrance would be without a handsome spokesmodel? Meet Rory, the adventurous and dashing, Scot (i think?) who is slated to appear in men’s fall fashion magazines this August and September on behalf of Polo Explorer. Here’s a photo from the fall ad campaign for your viewing pleasure:

Photos courtesy of Ralph Lauren Fragrances.

Your sense of smell is a powerful force. And in the sweltering heat of summer—amid the potpurri of sweat and sunscreen—it can be a blessing and a curse. So, do your part to make the world a sweeter smelling place and douse yourself with Gucci’s latest fragrance for men—Gucci Pour Homme II. Does it get any sexier than Gucci? It’s not exactly the “smell of sweat on a man’s balls,” but you won’t be disappointed.

Not only is Pour Homme II a sophisticated and sensual cologne that will make everyone want to stand a little closer to you, but its formulation walks the line between manly musk and shower fresh so it appeals to men of all ages. If you prefer a signature scent that you can wear year-round, Gucci II is light enough for summer and warm enough to last well into the colder months. Do you know someone who constantly marinates in their cologne? Luckily, it’s tough to overdo this one because it quickly dissipates into a subtle scent—but that also means you might want to reapply before heading to an afterwork happy hour.

Gucci Pour Homme II features a blend of citrusy bergamot and soothing lavender on top, spicy pimento, black tea and warm cinnamon at the heart and olive wood, manly musky notes, tobacco leaves and smokey myrrh rounding out the bottom. It might sound like an oddly odiferous cocktail, but it interacts beautifully with your body’s chemistry. So, don’t trust the scent strip at the fragrance counter. Spray it on your skin and inhale. Summer smells better already.

Eau de Toilette,  $50-$65, at Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Here are some great tips for finding your perfect fragrance from Franco Wright, co-founder of LuckyScent.com, purveyor of rare and exclusive fragrances:

Body Chemistry

Each of us has our own unique body chemistry—our skin type (dry vs. oily), hair type and even the environment we live in will determine how a particular scent will react on contact.  A fragrance will also wear differently on someone based on their general diet (spicy/oily foods vs. light/healthy foods). So it’s true that some scents may smell great on your best friend, but not so on yourself. The best thing to do is when trying a new fragrance, give it about 10 minutes to ‘settle’, let the notes open up and the alcohol/water to evaporate, then you can make a true judgment of the scent.

More tips after the jump!

Applying Fragrance

Everyone has their own method, whether they spray a cloud and walk into it, or dab it on their pulse points, or a direct spritz. A recent trend is applying fragrance to your hairbrush and using it to add fragrance to your hair, which actually holds the scent for quite a long time.  What’s most important is that you don’t over apply a fragrance. A scent should be enjoyed by oneself, and those who are in close proximity to you. Your fragrance should not be detected from more than a few feet away. As a simple rule… less is more!

And keep in mind, there are some places you should not apply fragrance! For example, keep scents (and oils) away from leather, suede and jewelry. Fragrances can stain and it will dull jewelry. And try to not to apply fragrance if you are in the sun for long periods of time, as it can cause skin irritations.
 

Top, Middle, and Base Notes

“Fragrance notes” is a way to describe the olfactory composition of a fragrance, and is separated into three categories: Top, Middle (sometimes called Heart) and Base.

• Top notes are generally what we sense first; they are the opening ingredients to the scent and often reveal the first impression of the fragrance. From this impression, one can determine if the fragrance is floral, citrus, oriental, aquatic, woody, etc. Generally, top notes will dissipate anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.
• Middle notes (or Heart notes) emerge once the top notes settle. They are the main body of the composition, and ultimately give the overall lasting impression of the fragrance. Middle notes are more rounded and usually nose-friendly, as they consist of popular extracts like gardenia, vanilla, lavender, etc. Top notes work in concert with the Middle notes in what creates most of the foundation for a fragrance, often referred to as the Head note.
• Base notes are the foundation of a fragrance and consist of more concentrated, heavier type of ingredients such as patchouli, amber, musk, etc. They often give the fragrance lasting power and depth, and are typically not noticed until the dry-down stages of the scent application, generally 30 minutes to an hour.