Summer smells different for everyone. For me, it’s citrusy and fresh; for others, it’s sweet and woody; for many, fruity florals rule. As temperatures rise, the heat heightens fragrance in warmer weather, so to find the perfect summer scent, editor Trudi Brewer shares the trends that are literally on fire.
Summer and sunshine go hand in hand. This season's fragrance trends are an ode to the qualities we love most about this season. From scents reminiscent of vanilla ice cream, cooling cucumber and heady, tropical florals (that never date), here are the perfumes to wear in the warm weather ahead.
ocean + Gourmand
Candied pear, white caramel, and potent vanilla are the sweet scents of gourmand fragrances, which are becoming increasingly popular to wear in summer. That’s because clever perfumers have spiked these scents with ocean-inspired ingredients and exotic blooms to make them even more comforting and nostalgic.
GUCCI Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum, from $149.
This is described as a luminous sensuality ozonic gourmand, Gucci’s foray into a vibrant, warm, marine-inspired fragrance. If you like vanilla in all its creamy glory, this scent is the perfect balance of warm, floral goodness with a hint of a summer breeze.
Green + Zesty
These scents offer a refreshing vibe and will remind you of a summer holiday. But the latest scents have surprising ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, and cucumber to add a cooling, fun edge you want to layer on after a day at the beach.
MECCA MAX OPTIMIST Energising Fragrance Mist Top Down, $36.
The latest and most gorgeous body spray is precisely what you need in your summer beach bag. It's clean and crisp thanks to apple, ripe melon, cucumber, water lily, jasmine, violet, and lingering white musk. If you want a summer scent to spray on hot skin that won’t break the bank - here it is.
Creamy + woody
This fragrance category is so addictive. Vanilla has always been a solid base for woody fragrances, but once infused with florals, clary sage, or timeless lavender, they become utterly mouthwatering. With the addition of spices like ginger or pink pepper, they are the perfect seasonal transitioning scents. That potent vanilla makes them modern and unforgettable.
Burberry Goddess Intense Eau de Parfum from $151.
This new designer vegan fragrance opens with a powerful blend of vanillas. Vanilla is known as a gourmand, aromatic, woody scent. Created using three signature vanillas (as a nod to Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum), the fourth in this scent is vanilla wood, which adds a smokey quality. Once infused with woody lavender, cacao, and ginger, that creaminess gives way to a spicy edge.
Musky + Floral
Rabanne Million Gold For Her EDP Refillable, from $230.
A bold floral and alluring musky scent that takes white flowers to new heights. Lavender softens the blend of hypnotic, pure jasmine and summery rose. But its addictive quality is the creamy mineral musk that helps this fragrance last on the skin for hours.
Sweet + Fruity
Succulent or tart, there’s no denying the allure of a fruity fragrance. Peach, melon, nectarine, lemon and raspberry are just a few juicy ingredients that leave us wanting more. Today, fruit-based scents are multidimensional, brushing off their reputation of being fluffy and sweet.
Ellis Brooklyn Miami Nectar Eau De Parfum, $206
This lush tropical, gourmand fragrance was made to transport you to the beach at sunset. Laced with pineapple and coconut water, the tropical fruit is heightened by palm leaves, frangipani, and jasmine. But a salty sweetness lingers thanks to vanilla, sweet amber wood, and tree moss.
Citrus + Floral
Citrus-based fragrance is a summer staple (well, it is me), but adding heady white flowers makes them even more tempting. You can still expect a dash of lemon, orange, bergamot, grapefruit and vetiver, but when those aromas collide with heady white tropical blooms, you get a fragrance that smells like a summer resort.
Charlotte Tilbury Joyphoria EDP, $280
It’s been described as a ray of golden sunshine, thanks to the blend of summery white flowers, such as ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose, uplifting neroli oil, coconut water accord, and petitgrain oil. The final layer of vanilla and velvety musk seals the deal—expect a sunny, happy scent.
Here's the latest scent made for summer.