There are plenty of summer fragrances claiming to have captured sunshine in a bottle; think refreshing bursts of citrus, breezy white florals, coconutty sunscreen and hints of ocean air. A single spritz of the right perfume can recover happy memories of summers past: Olfactory recognition is a very powerful part of our brains and research has shown that sense of smell is closely linked to memory. Even if you’re staying close to home this summer, the right scent can make you feel like you’re holidaying in the Mediterranean (gelato dripping down your hands is optional).
Ahead, we’ve sniffed our way through the latest trending perfumes and beloved classics to bring you a selection of summer scents that are as carefree and joyful as a ray of sunshine.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
Diptyque Ilio Eau de Toilette
“Diptyque’s Do Son is a classic perfume I’ve been using for the last seven or eight summers. The heady blend of tuberose and orange blossom reminds me of previous holidays in Southeast Asia so I’m very happy to find a lighter, fresher younger sister in Ilio, the brand’s newest release. ‘Ilio’ is Greek for ‘sun’ and fittingly, the eau de toilette evokes Mediterranean sunshine, with an effervescent mix of prickly pear, bergamot and jasmine.
“The freshness of the pear and bergamot really jumps out after you let the powdery scent sink into your skin for a few minutes. A whiff of this scent transports me back to my mini-moon in the Algarve last year, when the only thing on the agenda was to do laps around the pool, dry off with the latest edition of Vanity Fair and finish my mango daiquiri. I also adore the cheeky bottle design, covered in vibrant illustrations by French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet. Simply put, this is what European summer smells like.” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer
Shop Diptyque
Diptyque Ilio Eau de Toilette, $, available at Diptyque
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 59 Fragrance Mist
“Picture the scene: It’s 6pm and you’ve been at the beach all day. Now you’re sitting on your hotel balcony, catching whiffs of the orange blossom tree below, a packet of Lays crisps and a Fanta Limón in hand. You can smell sea salt, hints of tropical aftersun and the rich lather of shower gel as everyone is getting ready for dinner. This is that incredible feeling in a bottle.
“The amber note lends a warm, musky, skin-like quality, while vanilla orchid and sugared violet give it a syrupy floral hit that is moreish rather than sickly. The addition of creamy sandalwood and fresh green vetiver grass balance the sweet notes perfectly. Usually, body mists disappear after a few hours but not this one. The staying power is excellent.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
Shop Sephora UK
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 59 Fragrance Mist, $, available at Sephora UK
Charlotte Tilbury Joyphoria
“I always scan fragrance review sites to see what fragrance collectors think of new launches and I’m not surprised that of all the new Charlotte Tilbury perfumes, this is the scent people seem to be loving the most. It’s designed for this time of year, as we head into high summer: It’s fresh, floral, has a dash of coconut (nothing too overpowering though) and a base of vanilla. Upon spritzing it, I felt warm and drenched in sunshine, which was quite a feat, considering it was a drab and rainy day and my mood was a little down. There’s a subtle beachiness to this scent, without smelling like sunscreen and piña coladas. The finish is noticeable but not dramatic.
“I tend to wear perfumes with a decent throw but in the summer months I tone it down to something softer, as my go-tos can feel cloying in the heat. This gets the balance just right and it has everything I need for an ideal summer scent. The rose gold packaging with a sun motif adds a cheery touch, too.” — Tanyel Mustafa, Senior Writer
Shop Cult Beauty
Charlotte Tilbury Joyphoria, $, available at Cult Beauty
Nivea Sun Eau de Toilette
“If you have fond memories of being slathered in coconutty sunscreen on a baking hot beach abroad, this is that scent — bottled. It’s so nostalgic and comforting, and there’s something really luxurious about it. I think it’s all down to the creamy wood notes and dashes of spice that complement the heady white florals and splashes of citrus perfectly. A handful of beauty editors have told me that this is their go-to affordable fragrance, and while it’s a modest £36, it smells so much more expensive. I’d compare it to Floral Street’s Arizona Bloom, £74, and Jo Loves Golden Gardenia, £115. It’s addictive.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
Shop Amazon
Nivea Sun Eau de Toilette, $, available at Amazon
Acqua Di Parma Mandarino di Sicilia Eau de Toilette
“I normally like my perfumes sickly sweet. In the summer, I want to smell like a combination of Malibu rum and Hawaiian Tropic, which made me nervous to try a more mature (and expensive) scent like this one from Acqua Di Parma. I was happy to discover the fragrance’s immediate zesty notes on first whiff, one spritz evoking images of lying by a pool in the Italian countryside with a citrus orchard nearby. While the Mediterranean blue bottle might fool you into expecting an ocean-inspired, salty scent, the truth is much brighter, with Sicilian green mandarin, lemon and red orange mixing with bergamot and star anise to create a punchy, citrusy hit. The scent then softens thanks to ylang ylang (a personal favourite due to its fruity sweetness) and creamy green almond.
“Overall, this fragrance sits somewhere between an aftershave and a parfum thanks to the inclusion of cedarwood and musk, mixing masculine and feminine notes to create a truly androgynous scent. Plus the bottle feels like it would belong to someone who uses extraordinarily expensive olive oil, so that’s a big plus.” — Alicia Lansom, Associate Editor
Shop John Lewis
Acqua Di Parma Mandarino di Sicilia Eau de Toilette, $, available at John Lewis
Marks & Spencer Discover Sunset Eau de Toilette
“I find tuberose-centric perfumes hard to resist but they are definitely on the pricier side (my favourite — Tuberose Angelica from Jo Malone — retails for £112, for example). I was delighted when I found out that M&S sells a £10 version, named Discover Sunset, that is rich in this intoxicating white floral. This eau de toilette recently went viral on TikTok, with fragrance lovers calling it a dupe for Juliette Has A Gun’s Lust For Sun, which is ten times the price. Discover Sunset smells expensive for the price, with an inviting blend of pistachio and tonka bean layered with amber and tuberose. The tuberose is very much there but I found it to be initially overpowered by the sweetness of tonka. However, it is a fairly long-lasting fragrance and an absolute steal for a tenner. The scent is unfortunately sold out online but given its popularity, I imagine a restock will be coming soon.” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer
Shop Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer Discover Sunset Eau de Toilette, $, available at Marks & Spencer
Bibbi Swimming Pool Eau de Parfum
“This perfume is like nothing I’ve ever owned, or even smelled before. Most summer fragrances are warm and coconutty, much like sunscreen, but this turns the category on its head with an unusual blend of ginger, basil and spearmint. It’s positively fresh and invigorating but the addition of ambroxan — a note with a salty, musky, skinlike quality — means that it dries down to something cosy.
“Imagine getting out of a cool, crisp swimming pool and wrapping yourself in a freshly washed towel that’s been baking in the sun for hours. At a launch event for the brand recently, it was the perfume that united beauty editors, fragrance influencers and collectors alike — I watched it get snapped up. I’m calling it: This is the scent of the summer.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
Shop Liberty London
BIBBI Swimming Pool Eau de Parfum, $, available at Liberty London
NOYZ Sh**ty Day Eau De Parfum
“I know, I know: a perfume with a name like this probably sounds like the opposite of a good time. But NOYZ, a buzzy new brand from Shaun Neff, promises an instant mood-lifter in this shattered-effect glass bottle. I don’t know how else to describe this scent but it literally smells like ditching your phone and going outside to touch grass. Just a whiff of the eucalyptus top note opens up my lungs to take deeper breaths and the combination of clary sage and figs reminds me of an overgrown summer meadow. There’s also a hint of saltiness, which brings to mind fun seaside walks. This is by far the airiest woodsy perfume I’ve ever smelled, and definitely does what it says on the tin: takes your mind off the negatives and encourages you to enjoy the outdoors.” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer
Shop Harrods
Noyz Sh**ty Day Eau De Parfum, $, available at Harrods
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