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After the flowers finish blooming and the warmer temperatures debut, it’s time to pack away your floral spring perfumes and bring out your lighter, citrusy summer alternatives. Just as the seasons change, so can your fragrance preferences—and summer is a great time to embrace scents that help you reminisce on your favorite memories.
In addition to smelling great, most perfumes intend to invoke a memory, place or time, and changing up your scent every season will help you refocus and start anew. With application, your summer fragrance should transport you to fond memories of walks by the ocean or sipping on lemonade by the pool on sunny summer days. To help you celebrate the days ahead, we’ve rounded up nine fragrance options from brands like Le Labo, Sol De Janeiro, Acqua Di Parma and Maison Margiela.
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1. This Maison Margiela scent that smells like the beach
Maison Margiela’s Beach Walk from its Replica line is an eau de toilette spray intended to replicate memories of summer days, which the brand likens to the scent of salty air, the feeling of footprints in the sand and the warm rays of the sun. The fragrance uses notes of bergamot, pink pepper fuse, heliotrope and coconut milk to create a fresh scent reminiscent of—you guessed it—walks on the beach. It comes in three sizes: a mini version at 0.34 ounces, 1 ounce and 3.4 ounces.
“This is my most favorite scent/perfume,” says one of its 1,200 5-star Sephora reviewers. “It smells like the beach but not in a ‘tropical’ or coconut-y way like most beach scents do. It kind of smells like sunscreen on the skin and salty ocean water in the best way. Lasts all day without being offensive. I love it.”
Get Maison Margiela’s Replica Beach Walk from Sephora starting at $32
2. This clean-smelling Bath and Body Works fragrance mist
Bath and Body Works’ Saltwater fragrance mist brings you delicious aromas of fresh linen, violet leaves, water blossom and white musk. The brand claims the mist is light as air and easily “layerable” so you can wear it alone or under another complementary scent. It’s available in just one size, 8 ounces. Though a body spray, reviewers claim the scent sticks around for four to five hours if worn alone.
“Saltwater Breeze is literally my go-to scent,” says one Bath and Body Works reviewer. “It’s my absolute favorite. I have about 15 different bottles of sprays and this one will always be my favorite. I had to buy three one time because I needed to make sure to have them!”
Get Saltwater Breeze Fine Fragrance Mist from Bath and Body Works for $16.50
3. This sandalwood and cedar Le Labo scent
Le Labo’s Santal 33 eau de parfum will sweep you up in a warm blend of cardamom, cedarwood, leather and sandalwood. The fragrance is meant to capture the “spirit of personal freedom” with its woodsy accords. The scent itself is the brand’s most popular fragrance—and it comes in two sizes, 1.7 and 3.4 ounces.
Many of its 300+ Nordstrom fans say they get compliments on it with each use: “This is the most beautiful scent I’ve ever owned. It is exactly what I have always dreamed about smelling like; also the first fragrance that I have had a total stranger ask me about! This perfume has just the right amount of spice and tobacco, but not so that you feel you’re wearing a men’s cologne. I would definitely wear this in both summer and winter. Additionally, the lasting power of this is honestly incredible, which justifies the splurge!”
Get Le Labo Santal 33 from Nordstrom starting at $198
4. This citrus and musky Aerin perfume
If you’re a fan of bright, aromatic summer scents, Aerin’s Waterlily Sun is for you. The brand describes the fragrance as “sunlight reflecting on water brightly with lush dewy greens surrounding it.” With top notes of Sicilian bergamot, jasmine sambac and musk, it creates a delicate yet enticing aroma. The eau de parfum spray comes in 1.7- and 3.4-ounce bottles.
One of its many 5-star Sephora reviewers writes: “ It’s a beautiful, watery floral and reminds you of a hot summer by the lake. There’s also something about the heat that makes this perfume really open up—it’s perfect for summertime. Not so sharp or strong that it is too much in the hot weather, but just a beautiful light, clean floral scent.”
Get Aerin Waterlily Sun from Sephora starting at $135
5. This fruity Skylar option
Skylar is known for its “clean” fragrances, which claim to abstain from using potentially harmful chemicals like phthalates and plastic microbeads. The Capri Summer eau de parfum is known for its crisp notes of blood orange, grapefruit and bergamot, which are reminiscent of the warm sun, coastline and zesty citrus fruits. The brand describes its aroma as similar to a day spent soaking in vitamin D. It comes in a 1.7-ounce spray bottle and a 0.33-ounce rollerball.
“Absolutely love this,” writes one of its Sephora 5-star reviewers. “It’s a bit of a mix between citrus and floral and lasts all day without being overwhelming. Such a perfect summer scent.”
Get it Skylar Capri Summer from Sephora starting at $29
6. This citrusy Maison Francis Kurkdjian one
This Maison Francis Kurkdjian eau de parfum feels like a warm day thanks to Calabrian bergamot, flowers and musks. Plus, according to the brand, the bottle is supposed to be reminiscent of the sun with its gold-hued color. The perfume comes in a 2.4-ounce bottle and is purported to last for several hours.
A Nordstrom reviewer writes: “Perfume smells sunkissed. The first note is citrusy but not fresh—more like warm honey tea with a piece of lemon. On my skin, it smells very cozy, light and expensive. I definitely recommend it.”
Get Maison Francis Kurkdijan Aqua Vitae Cologne Forte from Nordstrom for $235
7. This warm and spicy Sol De Janerio mist
Sol De Janerio is known for its tantalizing scents, with the Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’62 Bum Bum Hair & Body Fragrance Mist utilizing its signature aroma. The mist is an ideal summer scent with its warm and spicy smell that contains notes of salted caramel, pistachio and vanilla. The brand says the spray will transport you to the sultry beaches of Rio de Janeiro—the inspiration behind the company. It comes in 3.04- and 8.1-ounce bottles.
Many of its 800 5-star Sephora fans appreciate how it’s subtle yet intoxicating: “It smells like vanilla and the beach! I get compliments every time I wear it. I’m very sensitive to smells and can’t even go into Bath and Body Works. This perfume isn’t irritating and the scent lasts all day.”
8. This midsummer’s daydream-inspired Byredo scent
Byredo’s Sundazed fragrance boasts a scent that’s both crisp and warm. With this eau de parfum, you’ll feel immersed in a midsummer’s daydream with its notes of mandarin, lemon, neroli, jasmine sambac, cotton candy and musk. According to reviewers, it lasts for quite a while on the skin, but may require an extra spritz midday for extended we
ar. You can find Sundazed in 1.7- and 3.4-ounce bottles.
One Nordstrom reviewer raves: “This is hands-down my favorite summer scent and I have a fairly large and ever-growing collection of fragrances. This is citrus, floral, musky and sweet. It captures summer in a way that no other scent has for me. Cannot recommend it enough especially since, for a citrus-forward fragrance, this has great performance!”
Get Byredo’s Sundazed from Nordstrom starting at $196
9. This light and captivating Acqua Di Parma option
Imagine yourself enjoying an Italian summer with this herbaceous scent from Acqua Di Parma. The eau de cologne spray fills the nose with notes of Sicilian citrus fruits, lavender, verbena and Bulgarian rose. It’s available in three sizes: 0.7, 1.7, and 3.4 ounces.
Many of its 50+ 5-star Sephora reviewers claim it’s an elegant fragrance addition: “I’ve been searching for years to find a woman’s scent that smells elegant and clean. […] Acqua di Parma is a sun-drenched Italian Riviera with a deep green dry-down—and very hard to find. (Fortunately, Sephora carries it.) Expensive? Yes. And it smells like it. Bravo!”
Get Acqua Di Parma Colonia from Sephora starting at $75
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