What are fruity fragrances? If you think fruity scents are only about sweetness, this fragrance family is about to surprise you. While it's easy to conflate fruity fragrances with sweet ones, this is actually a pretty dynamic fragrance category.
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Top Picks at a Glance
Mitsouko
Deep, rich, and complex. Great for a special occasion or evening out.
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Pomegranate
A sexy, fruity unisex fragrance. Light, while still delivering an intense, rich scent.
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Sauvage
A fresh, year-round cologne perfect for daytime or evening, office or a date.
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Are fruit colognes only for summer?
The warmth of spicy fruity fragrances makes for the phenomenal cold weather scents, while fruity citrus scents work best in the summer and spring.
Deep, intense fruits like raspberry and pomegranate inspire mysterious and dark fragrances.
Who should wear fruit-based fragrances?
Fruit-based scents are commonly unisex fragrances, designed for both men and women to wear.
While melons and citrus fruits often deliver fresh and youthful fragrances, fruity colognes aren't exclusively for the young and many are complex and sophisticated perfumes that anyone could be proud to wear.
Use our list of favorites below to start getting more familiar with the fruity fragrances.
MOST VERSATILE
Diptyque Philosykos
The genius of Diptyque's Philosykos cologne comes down to one thing: harmony.
With top notes of fig leaf and fig, middle notes of coconut and green, and base notes of cedar, woody, and fig tree, Diptyque Philosykos manages to give us a little bit of everything.
It's sweet (but not overly so), green, creamy, and nutty all at the same time. Great for casual or work.
EVENING WEAR
Guerlain Mitsouko
Mitsouko is inspired by a passionate, patient love story, and it's evident in the fragrance itself. It's deep, rich, and complex, but doesn't reveal itself all at once.
While the fruitiness of the peach middle note plays a prominent role, the oakmoss and spices actually outshine it, making for a fragrance that hints at sweetness, rather than embracing it all together.
Great for a special occasion or evening out.
ROMANTIC WEAR
Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir
Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir is a sexy, fruity unisex fragrance. It somehow manages to be light, while still delivering an intense, rich scent.
The blend of dark fruitiness, from notes of pomegranate and raspberry, with spice and woodiness creates a fragrance tha's sure to capture some attention. Perfect for a sexy date night.
YOUNG GUYS (AND YOUNG AT HEART)
Diesel Fuel for Life
Raspberry steals the show in Diesel's Fuel for Life. Top notes of grapefruit and anise give way to middle notes of lavender and raspberry and a base of woodsy notes and heliotrope.
It's worth noting that this fragrance is very sweet, so if that's your style, you'll love it.
If you prefer more of a balance, it might not be the bottle for you. Another plus: its youthfulness makes a great gift for anyone who's starting their fragrance journey.
SWEET SUMMERTIME
Kenneth Cole Reaction
Top notes of melon, apple, and watermelon give this predominantly citrus perfume a fruity kick. Middle notes include patchouli and lily-of-the-valley.
Base notes of sandalwood and musk give Reaction a strong, woody base.
Overall, it's a fresh, green, fruity fragrance that's perfect for warm-weather wear.
SOPHISTICATED
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino EDP
Think of it as a modern, more seductive take on Acqua di Parma.
In this unisex scent, fresh bergamot and lemon bring out the crisp citrus while white musk and amberwood give it a subtly masculine tone.
Unlike most of Tom Ford's fragrances, this has a sweeter, crisp, slightly floral smell and is perfect for a sophisticated summer afternoon.
SUMMERTIME REFRESH
Christian Dior Sauvage EDT
Anyone who thinks fruit fragrances are strictly summer-time only should try Sauvage by Christian Dior. It's fresh, year-round cologne, perfect for daytime or evening, office or date.
Sauvage is one of those versatile fragrances which every man should own.
It's also long-lasting and will go 8+ hours. Strong Bergamot top notes followed by vanilla and ambroxan dry down.
SUMMERTIME REFRESH
Acqua Di Parma
Long-lasting and wildly acclaimed, Essenza di Colonia launched in 2010 and it's been in the upper stratosphere ever since.
This top men's fragrance mixes wood and citrus to a brilliant effect while tossing in warm herbal notes like rosemary and sage.
Final Thoughts
Still looking for the perfect cologne? You might also try checking out our post of best citrus colognes which are great for summer wear or our article on the best gourmand colognes which are scents that smell like foods.
If you want to try before you buy, see our article on finding cologne samples.
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Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.