Beat the Heat with these Fresh Summer Scents

April Long

Fri, March 31, 2023 at 8:45 PM UTC

6 min read

perfume bottles — The Scents of Summer 2024 Brands

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Summertime always calls for fragrance vibe shift. Whether that means going for a fresher, lighter scent to make heat waves int the city more bearable—and bear in mind, humidity makes perfume bloom on skin, so it smells even better—or grabbing a seductive spritz for sultry evenings by the shore, summer is a perfect time to seek out new favorites. Now that the solstice has passed, we have rounded up 20 of the best fragrances to wear for the next few months of fun in the sun, from the crispest citrus to the freshest floral to the most unusual sea-water marine (yes, it is a perfume inspired by whales). Go forth and frolic!

MORE: Why Fragrances With Green Notes Will Be Everywhere This Year

Ilio Eau de toilette

Diptyque's new launch, Ilio, is like summer in a bottle: imagine the solar warmth of prickly pear, the radiance of bergamot and jasmine, and the afterglow of powdery iris. Whimsical illustrations by French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet make it especially charming—and collectible.

<p><a href= — Shop Now

Ilio Eau de toilette

diptyqueparis.com

$180.00

Let's Dive

D.S. & Durga has collaborated with Project CETI, a nonprofit that translates the communication of sperm whales using AI, to conceptualizing a deep sea scent to launch on World Ocean Day. The notes—salt water, seaweed, rock rose, choya nahk (made from toasted seashells), and synthesized ambergris (the beautifully scented substance has traditionally been derived from sperm whale vomit)—may sound beachy, but the effect is that of an everyday-wearable aquatic skin scent. When sprayed, it creates a shimmery, clean aura—like the clear blue water in which we all, human and whale alike, deserve to swim.

DIORIVIERA

Be transported to the South of France on a sunny day with this gorgeous, radiant fragrance, which sends the aroma of green fig leaves and softly blooming roses dancing through the air.

Vacation After Sun Eau de Toilette 1 oz.

Notes of mini bar gin and plush resort towel should give you a pretty good idea of what you'll smell here: It captures so precisely the post-beach moment when you emerge from the shower, mix a cocktail, and relax into the sunset hours of a day spent gloriously at leisure.

Soft Spot

Like an olfactive watercolor: think transparent florals, subtle citrus, and lean-in-a-little closer musk. The perfect low-key skin-scent for a heat wave.

Eau de Toilette Kyma

Haven't bought that flight to the Greek isles just yet? This may be the next best thing. A citrus-forward aquatic fragrance that will send you dreaming of orange groves by the blue sea.

Kimono Hikari Water-Based Fragrance

A lovely fresh green floral, inspired by the timeless elegance of the Japanese kimono. And because the composition is water-based, it's perfect for summer—and for sensitive skin.

1 oz. Humboldt Perfume

Named after the German naturalist who explored South America in the early 1800s, this is the zestiest, freshest, most arresting citrus, with notes of bergamot, passion fruit, and tangerine.

Fragrance Du Bois Sirene Extrait de Parfum, 3.4 oz.

Feminine and pretty, but also femme-fatale-level potent, this is a captivating blend of cherry and pepper top notes, bolstered by oud, incense and resins. Not for the faint of heart - but just watch them swoon.

Maison Louis Marie No. 14 Icila Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz / 50 ml eau de parfum spray

A warm floral ideal for sultry summer evenings, No. 14 Icila couches jasmine and mandarin leaf in a bed of dark plum, vanilla, and creamy woods.

Parfums de Marly Valaya Eau de Parfum at Nordstrom, Size 2.5 Oz

A pillowy, radiant aura of soft peach, orange flower, and white florals, grounded by musk and woods, Valaya is elegant and ladylike—perfect for a summer wedding (whether you're the bride or not).

BVLGARI Le Gemme Tygar Eau de Parfum

Grapefruit and ginger notes make for a bright olfactive surprise, like the flash of gold in a tiger's eye gemstone (which inspired both the fragrance and the bottle-top design). Citrusy, spicy, and woody, Tygar is a scent that will get you noticed for all the right reasons.

Neroli Oranger Eau de Parfum

Orange flower lovers, this one's for you. SparklingTunisian orange blossom is heightened by a dash of bright green Lebanese neroli and fresh Italian bergamot. As transportive and uplifting as walking through the midst of a blooming orange tree grove.

Ellis Brooklyn FLORIST Eau de Parfum

Go on, spritz a flower shop on your wrist. This bouquet of tuberose petals with Italian bergamot, golden gardenia, honeysuckle and jasmine is as sweet and joyful as its bold pink bottle.

Sisley Paris L'Eau Rêvée d'Hubert Eau de Toilette at Nordstrom, Size 1.7 Oz

A geranium leaf crushed in your fingers gives off a smell unlike any other—simultaneously zingy, herbaceous, green, floral, and earthy. Modeled specifically after the scent of pelargonium tomentosum (a minty variety), Sisley's L'Eau Revee d'Hubert captures this garden-fresh aroma perfectly, while also rendering it—with painterly accents of cedar and patchouli—effortlessly wearable.

Lucienne

So radiant you can practically see it shimmer. A transparent veil of citrus, magnolia and waterlily, with a dreamy marine accord drydown, this is a gorgeous, easy, go-anywhere spritz.

GENTLE SHOWER (잠비) Eau De Parfum

Inspired by the Korean word jambi, which means an unexpected cloudburst that allows harvesters to have a moment of rest, this lovely scent evokes the fleeting freshness of raindrops on flowers and green leaves.

Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver EDP

Take a trip to Calabria without flashing your passport. Vivid neroli is wrapped in a juicy fig accord and smoothed out with warm vetiver and Tonka bean. This is one you will definitely be stealing from your partner, and vice versa.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724 Eau de Parfum

Summering in the city? This will break the heat. The latest from Baccarat Rouge creator Francis Kurkdjian is like sunrise reflecting off of a metal-and-glass skyscraper—airy, modern, and bright.

NEST New York Balinese Coconut Perfume Oil

Close your eyes and dream of Bali, immersed in the scent of coconut, tropical tiare blossom, and salted musk. Bonus: this natural coconut extraction, mixed with baobab oil, melts into skin and leaves it feeling silky and hydrated (in addition to smelling amazing).

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