Ever wonder how cologne works? The oils and essences (referred to as "notes") are warmed and react to your specific body chemistry.

Top Note: Noticed immediately, but dries out in 15 minutes.

Middle Note: As the top note fades, this scent lasts about an hour.

Base Note: The heaviest layer, which clings to the skin for the rest of the day.

Test Lab

As you've heard us say before, summer scents are usually pretty light. You don't want anything too heavy when it's this hot out. That said, Dolce & Gabbana took a chance releasing a men's counterpart to their Gisele-fueled juice. While it's not as heavy-handed as Tom Ford's signature scent—The One boasts crisp notes of grapefruit, and orange blossom—it is a spicy oriental scent that's rooted in cedar and tobacco. In short, it's masculine without being stuffy. Like an Italian heir riding his Vespa on a warm afternoon through Milan. Perhaps you could call it a pre-fall cologne. $55 to $70, at Nordstrom.

• Dolce & Gabbana's fall runway show featured remixes to the Rolling Stones' songs "She's a Rainbow" and "I'm Free."