The seven best men’s perfumes for the rains

By Ashwin Rajagopalan

No two days are the same during monsoons. It’s why you need more than one type of scent for all your monsoon moods. From Monday morning blues to a night on the town, our list of new men’s fragrances has you covered.

Mont Blanc Explorer

The Maison’s writing instruments have been the preferred choice of global travellers for over a century now. Mont Blanc’s new scent celebrates these explorers with a unique blend of notes drawn from different corners of the world – Bergamot from Italy, Vetiver from Haiti and Patchouli from Indonesia. This woody, leather, aromatic scent is almost an invitation to travel the world, and includes a 30ml traveller edition encased with the same elegant leather sheath. Available on myntra

Dolce & Gabbana The One Grey

Most fans might have felt let down by GOT’s (Game of Thrones) concluding season but Kit Harrington a.k.a. John Snow redeemed himself. He’s back to front the latest flanker of The One by Dolce & Gabbana, a soothing scent in an icy blue flask. This citrusy, aromatic and woody scent opens with cardamom and the bitter citrus notes of grapefruit before a tobacco and mild grey woods wind down. Available on nykaa

Polo Red Rush

Remember Ansel Elgort, who played the title role in the Hollywood blockbuster Baby Driver? He’s the face of this sporty new scent that is almost a perfume equivalent of a frozen cocktail. Just what you need to kick start your week on a dreary monsoon morning. Red is a central theme with everything from red saffron to a crisp red mandarin note to a red coffee accord in the fragrance note mix. Available at Shoppers Stop

L’Homme Lacoste Intense

This one’s a versatile perfume with intense accords that work equally well for a day in the office or at the nightclub. Envisioned by master perfumer Michel Girard and encased in an opaque, midnight blue flacon, this scent lives up to its ‘Intense’ suffix. It opens with mandarin orange and rhubarb, features a spicy heart (that includes black pepper and ginger) and winds up on a woody note. Available on Amazon

Acqua di Gio Absolu – Giorgio Armani for Men

Alberto Morillas was the nose behind Acqua di Gio that debuted in the 1990s and went on to become one of the bestselling aquatic scents of all time. He revisits this classic for a whole new audience. The trademark bottle gets a mild makeover and is crowned with a wooden cap. Citrus notes like grapefruit, lemon and bergamot team up with sea notes; just what you need on a sultry monsoon afternoon. Available at Shoppers Stop

Jimmy Choo Man Blue

It’s been just five years, but Jimmy Choo’s men’s fragrance line has been quite busy. We’ve loved the packaging; Blue doesn’t disappoint – the signature hip flask flacon gets a fresh lease of life with a gradient pattern. The bottle cap is finished with Jimmy Choo’s iconic embossed crocodile leather in deep blue. This is a scent driven by contrasts almost like unpredictable monsoon weather and brings an assortment of notes like lavender, black pepper, bergamot and leather, together. Available on Amazon

Hugo Boss – The Scent Private Accord for him

This is the latest flanker in Hugo Boss’ Scent Line that was launched in 2015. Magnetic Cocoa is at the heart of this scent – the dark brown embellishments on the bottle are a clear giveaway.  This sensual scent might just be for the romantic in you. Ginger and the exotic manika fruit combine with mocha in this woody Oriental scent. Available on Amazon