Colonia wears it with an effortless confidence that, for lack of a better word, feels Italian, like an impeccably tailored suit or an afternoon spent wandering around Milan. The bright citrus gradually gives way to aromatic herbs and smooth woods, leading to something crisp and light.
Just keep in mind that this is an eau de cologne, so don’t expect it to last all day. This is simply the nature of concentration. If longevity is a priority, exemplary Colonia Il Profumo This is a rich, long-running explanation that is also worth considering.
Office Selection: Hermès Terre d’Hermès Eau Givry
Oh, do I love the Terre family? I’ve worn everything from woody, smoky originals to lush, vetiver-heavy Eau Intense VetiverBut the slightly sleepy Eau Givry has become one of my weekday defaults. Not only is this one of the best fragrances in Hermès’ lineup, but it is also one of the finest designer fragrances of this period.
Think of it as a brighter, more refreshing version of the original Terre. The citron bursts on the first spritz before crisp juniper berry gives way to an icy, gin-like freshness, all based on the mineral, flinty DNA that has made the original such a legend. Maybe it’s Juniper, but it leaks a little Mad Man Energy, which is another way of saying that it’s very office-friendly.
Mood-Boosting Pick: Dior Paradise
Francis Kurkdjian rarely misses a beat, and straight from Dior’s La Collection Privé comes one of the freshest launches of 2026: Paradise. GQ’s commercial director Michael Noledo has been testing the scent all summer, and as he said, “It opens like a citrus starburst with bright orange and mandarin”, “but before it turns sweet, the creamy almond settles in and gives it a rich velvety quality that smells great.”
