Source photo: maisonmargiela-fragrances.us
We know you’re already hot on your summer fashion, hair, and makeup, but what about your signature summer scent? Long nights and fun with friends should be a chance for you to explore wearing a new perfume. Something light that makes you feel like you’re truly living your best life. A scent that will transport you back to your happiest moments whenever you come across it again, either by bringing it out of retirement next year or just walking by a stranger who’s wearing it themselves. Let’s look at some of the most summery scents out there to suit almost every taste.
How should you pick your summer perfume?
Shopping for a scent is super personal, so there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules to finding the right aroma for your summer. Essentially, you’re going to think about your plans for summer and what kind of a vibe you want to channel: are you going for a floaty floral summer or more of a hard-partying summer? Or, of course, somewhere in between? Consider where you’re traveling, what your wardrobe looks like, and who you feel you want to be this summer. If you’re big into your scents, you can even consider switching them up depending on your plans: have something light for summer days spent exploring new places and something more complex for other occasions like candlelit dinners by the ocean.
Light scents
Notes: juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, tonka bean, vanilla bean, white moss, and patchouli.
We love this summery perfume from Snif. It’s light enough for everyday wear without being mundane or boring. This silky scent will make you feel like a million bucks and take any look to the next level. Pair it with your favorite smart-casual summer outfits to feel like you’re on vacation every day.
Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne by Jo Malone
Notes: nectarine, cassis, acacia honey, and peach.
This playful perfume will make you feel like you’re about to stumble across a street market in a little Italian village. Hailed as “the most beautiful cologne I’ve ever smelt” by one reviewer, the fragrance is light enough for everyday wear without being so weak you need to reapply it throughout the day.
REPLICA Beach Walk by Maison Margiela
Notes: bergamot, pink pepper, lemon, ylang-ylang, coconut milk, musk, cedar, and benzoin.
Your skin has a very particular smell after a long beach day: a mix of salty sea water, dusty sand, and fragrant sunscreen. Beach Walk has put that smell into a bottle so you can take the beach with you everywhere this summer.
Vibrant scents
Notes: rhubarb, bergamot, black pepper, violet, black tea, tobacco leaf, incense, orris, white birch, tanned leather, and smoked papyrus.
An innovative perfume that acknowledges the gender spectrum by combining scents that previously would never have been combined because they were either aimed at men or women. Boy Smells’ GENDERFUL™ Violet Ends is a punchy scent that’s perfect for any time when you want to express your true self.
Notes: lemon, jasmine, and teak wood.
The epitome of a summer scent, Chance Eau Fraîche is easy to wear but certainly isn’t wishy-washy! The perfect choice for a night out on the town, Fraîche is a vibrant balance of chilled summer and seasonal zest. Pair it with jeans and espadrilles or a glamorous shift dress. Either way, the scent will still match perfectly.
Paula’s Ibiza Eau de Toilette by Lowe
Notes: coconut water, galbanum, mandarin, driftwood, sand lily, frangipani, vanilla, patchouli, and ambergris.
This is the ultimate party perfume. Inspired by the Ibiza nights, the Eau de Toilette is summery, zesty, and really fun to wear. It’s the type of scent people will ask you about when you’re wearing it (in a good way!). Wear it for a night out or whenever you feel like you want to add some spice to your day.
Fruity & floral scents
L’eau à la Rose by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Notes: rose, peony, lychee, musk
An indulgent scent that oozes luxury and is perfect for those special moments only summer can bring. Wear it to dinner parties with friends, or use it to dress up your poolside look. The scent is versatile and elegant enough to elevate your style any day of the week. Described as an ode to femininity, the perfume’s odor is sweet, floral, and gentle, much like a warm summer’s day.
Ilio Eau de Toilette by Diptyque Paris
Notes: prickly pear, bergamot, jasmine, and iris.
This fun and fruity scent is the perfect travel companion over the summer months. It’s incredibly versatile, moving seamlessly from day to night. It’s a perfume that’s easy to build but can also be super discrete so that you can adjust the intensity depending on the occasion.
Flora Gorgeous Gardenia by Gucci
Notes: blossom, mandarin, red berries, white gardenia, jasmine, frangipani, patchouli, and brown sugar
It isn’t by chance that this perfume comes in a 60s-inspired floral bottle: the aroma is nostalgic in an almost-kitsch way. A perfect balance of floral and fruity, the scent brings up images of delicate frilly dresses paired with statement white sunglasses and summer evenings spent sipping Aperol with your best friends.
Woody & musky scents
Notes: wood, powder, leather, warm spices, and violet.
Sometimes summer is more about hiking in the woods or chilling with friends around a campfire, and this perfume encompasses precisely that. Think crackling fire and talking about nothing with the people you care about the most for hours on end… this scent brings up exactly that emotion. It isn’t a traditional summer perfume, but it’s definitely one to consider if lighter options aren’t your jam.
Notes: sage, osmanthus, carrot seed, tobacco leaves, rose, iris, oakwood, leather, labdanum
Another fragrance that has been designed explicitly as gender-neutral, blending scents that are both traditionally considered feminine and masculine. This unforgettable scent will quickly become a signature in your summer wardrobe, much like a favorite pair of jeans or your go-to nail color.
Notes: pink pepper, iris, ambrette seeds, ambrox
A cult favorite, Glossier You, is said to smell pretty different from one person to another, even more so than some other perfumes. It’s the type of easy-to-wear scent you will almost forget you’re wearing until someone compliments you on how fabulous you smell. And they will. It’s another non-traditional summer scent, with fewer florals and fruits and more earthy tones, but it still has that feminine touch of iris in there too.