Personally, I am in favor of trading in my entire perfume collection for the best summer scents year after year. While the warm musks and sizzling spices that surround my closet during spring are lovely, they feel incredibly overbearing once roof season and summer Fridays arrive.
Our top picksChanel Chance Eau Fraîche Eau de ToiletteByredo Sundazed Eau de ParfumJo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt CologneNeat Pear Jam Eau de ParfumMaison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme Eau de ParfumParfums de Marly Perseus Eau de ParfumKilian sun kissed goddessEau de perfume Brown Girl Jane CarnivaleHoliday after sun Eau de ToiletteOrebella Blooming Fire perfumeTom Ford Costa Azzurra Eau de Parfum
Our top picks
And I’m not the only one; Nordstrom’s Beauty Director, Autumn West agrees. “When I think of summer, I’m immediately drawn to a carefree, good mood and I want my scent to enhance that even further,” she says. “I tend to prefer a scent that is light without feeling heavy.” West specifically goes on to say that summer scents are light and airy – from fresh floral scents with jasmine to vanilla and coconut blends reminiscent of a tropical destination.
Linda G. Levy, chairman of The Fragrance Foundation adds that tropical and fruit always seem synonymous with summer. “Many fruit scents have been introduced that are just right for summer, from bananas and mangoes to pears,” she notes. Coming soon are options like Nette’s Pear Jam, Brown Girl Jane’s Carnivale and Killian’s Sun Kissed Goddess as aromas. to take over. Or stick to classic beach scents like Chanel Chance and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme, which are proven to never go out of style. Whatever your speed, there’s a summer scent for you. Ahead, a look at the best 2024 has to offer, with picks from our experts and Fashion Editors.
Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche Eau de Toilette
- Why we love it: Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche is a dazzling eau de toilette that is vibrant yet light enough for summer sports without being overbearing. Inspired by the way Gabrielle Chanel energetically took advantage of an opportunity, this is meant to energize you in a single spritz.
- Comments: Lemon, jasmine, teak wood
Byredo Sundazed Eau de Parfum
- Why we love it: If your idea of summer requires as much time outdoors as possible, then Byredo’s Sundazed is for you. With notes of lemon, mandarin, neroli and jasmine, this fragrance gives the feeling of frolicking on a warm, sunny day. There’s no better feeling than that, right?
- Comments: Lemon, mandarin, neroli, jasmine sambac, musk
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
- Why we love it: Wood Sage & Sea Salt is easily one of the most sought after perfumes ever and is worth stocking up on year after year. Fans of the scent rave about its genderless appeal: neither too masculine nor too feminine, meaning this fresh marine, yet woody blend of ambrette seeds, sea salt, and sage can be wonderfully appealing to just about anyone.
- Comments: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
Neat Pear Jam Eau de Parfum
- Why we love it: One of the newest launches on our list, Nette’s Pear Jam, is a fruity, floral jam that will charm everyone in its presence. Actually, I don’t usually go for fruit-forward blends at all, but I found this one drew me back into using it after use. Maybe it’s because the sweet Koji pear is balanced by rose water and ambrette seed. Often out of stock, if you’re one of the lucky ones to get your hands on a bottle, make sure you cherish every spritz.
- Comments: Koji pear, rose essence, patchouli coeur, ambrette seed
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme Eau de Parfum
- Why we love it: Amyris Femme tops our list of the best perfumes for women and becomes especially wearable in the summer. Here, Francis Kurkdjian combines Jamaican amyris with Florentine iris for a fruity, feminine yet fresh scent that is irresistibly fun and undeniably attractive.
- Comments: Pear, sweet pea, amyris, lemon blossom, iris
Parfums de Marly Perseus Eau de Parfum
- Why we love it: Perseus, the latest from Parfums de Marly, is inspired by the morning sun in the royal residence of Marly, when the sun’s rays rushed into the castle and illuminated the space in gilded warmth. Another one of the best summer fragrances for men, the bright scent leads with a grapefruit-citrus accord opposite vetiver, dry wood and cashmere wood.
- Comments: Grapefruit, bergamot, blackcurrant bud, vetiver, green mandarin, geranium, dry wood, cashmere wood, amber accord
Kilian sun kissed goddess
- Why we love it: Despite its already impressive fragrance portfolio, Kilian’s latest eau de perfume has quickly become my favorite of the bunch. “It’s the smell of summer, the smell of happiness,” says founder Kilian Hennessy, introducing his take on Polynesian Monoi Oil. Here perfumer Calice Becker creates a warm, vibrant, long-lasting aroma that only gets better the more you wear it. Dare we say, like your skin, but better?
- Comments: Ylang-ylang essence, tiare flower, coconut, Guaic wood, cistus labdanum
Eau de perfume Brown Girl Jane Carnivale
- Why we love it: When Levy says mango scents will be all the rage this summer, that’s your cue to head straight to Sephora to pick up a bottle of Brown Girl Jane’s Carnivale. This smells like taking a bite of the ripest, juiciest tropical fruit, where mouthwatering mango comes to life alongside sweet vanilla, nectar, cream and sandalwood – inspired by Trinidad’s famous carnival.
- Comments: Caribbean mango, jasmine, nectar, amber, ginger, whipped musk, golden allspice, sandalwood, vanilla
Holiday after sun Eau de Toilette
- Why we love it: Holidays have something to do with creating hit products and their associated aromas. After the hit Holiday eau de toilette which bottled the brand’s signature sunscreen fragrance, introduced Vacation After Sun, the name of the critically acclaimed After Sun Gel. Formulated by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, this brings together notes of aloe vera essence, green tea verjuice, ice cucumber water and cardamom absolute for a fun take on the just-dipped perfume.
- Comments: Aloe vera essence, green tea verjuice, ice cucumber water, cardamom absolute
Orebella Blooming Fire perfume
- Why we love it: From Bella Hadid’s debut trio of fragrances, I can already predict that Blooming Fire will be my summer go-to. Described as a ‘transportive tropical oasis’, this is a great blend of warmth and sweetness, but in a light, skin-like way. And the fact that it’s 100% alcohol-free and rooted in an essential oil base means it has a rejuvenating quality, unlike any other perfume.
- Comments: Bergamot, cedarwood, clove leaf, cardamom, Tahitian monoi, jasmine, patchouli
Tom Ford Costa Azzurra Eau de Parfum
- Why we love it: Everyone online is talking about the appeal of the European summer, reminiscent of Tom Ford’s Costa Azzurra, an aromatic take on the waves crashing along the Mediterranean coast. Crisp and fresh, woody and a little citrusy, this smells of salty sea air, cypress and lemon in a way that can instantly transport you across the Atlantic, whether you’re actually traveling this summer or not.
- Comments: Cypress, lemon, oak
