The 20 Best Fresh, Bright, and Juicy Summer Scents
If I had to deem one fragrance as my signature scent, it would definitely be Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum. With notes of skin musk, bergamot nectar, sheer jasmine, and Australian sandalwood, it’s a beautiful, barely there perfume that envelops the skin. I love it. But that doesn’t mean I wear it every single day. It’s actually quite the opposite. As a beauty editor, and someone who collects perfumes, I love switching up my scent depending on the day, my mood, and the season. And come summer, I bring out the freshest, brightest, juiciest scents.
I’m talking about sparkling citrus notes, soft florals, warm bergamot, creamy sandalwood, and beyond. They’re so good that they’re pushing my beloved Phlur signature scent out of rotation (well, temporarily, at least). So without further ado, scroll to see the 20 best summer scents to spritz throughout the season!
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Portofino ’97 Eau De Parfum
Notes: Calabrian bergamot, cedrat, black pepper, amber, vetiver, and patchouli
To me, this perfume smells just like summer without screaming “beach,” “sunscreen,” or “tropical vacation.” It’s understated, elegant, refined, and features fresh, floral, and bright notes. Inspired by Victoria and David Beckham’s trip to Portofino in 1997, there’s the scent of fresh flowers mixed with candles and, most importantly, the fresh breeze coming off the Italian coast.
Victoria Beckham Beauty
San Ysidro Drive Eau de Parfum
Notes: Passion fruit, saffron, rose, jasmine, black amber, and agarwood
If the aforementioned Victoria Beckham Beauty perfume is reminiscent of the Italian coast, this one reminds me of driving down the Pacific Coast Highway toward a Malibu beach. That makes sense, considering it was inspired by the Beckhams’ move to Los Angeles. More specifically, it was inspired by canyon hikes, surfing in Malibu, crystals, and the fresh breeze coming through the car window on Pacific Coast Highway. Essentially, it’s SoCal in a bottle.
Phlur
Tangerine Boy Eau de Parfum
Notes: Tangerine, lemon, ginger, amber, jasmine, and green moss
Dare I say this is my all-time favorite summer perfume? I know, that’s a big statement, but it’s true. Unlike any other citrus-forward fragrance I’ve smelled before, this one is zesty and zingy with bright notes of tangerine (duh) but also lemon and ginger. Each time I wear it, it puts a pep in my step and makes me feel fresh and energized. It’s a feel-good fragrance.
PERFUMEHEAD
Somewhere Extrait De Parfum
Notes: Dewy palm leaves, bergamot, blood orange, lemon blossom, neroli, palo santo, and skin musk
If you’re like me and you’re a sucker for warm, sophisticated scents, you’ll appreciate this expertly crafted and extremely luxe bottle. When I smell it, I’m instantly transported to a beach vacation, but not just any beach vacation—think a luxury seaside resort with a killer spa surrounded by dewy palm trees. To put it simply, it’s an expensive-smelling summer perfume.
Vyrao
Sun Ræ Eau de Parfum
Notes: Bergamot oil, lemon oil, turmeric leaf, turmeric root, fresh ginger oil, cardamom oil, black pepper, basil oil, and sandalwood
This fragrance has been scientifically proven to boost joy and self-confidence. Yes, really—it was studied by International Flavors & Fragrances’ (IFF) proprietary Science of Wellness program, and the findings were that it had an uplifting effect. It was designed to be “like sunshine in a bottle,” and as such, it’s bright, warm, and earthy. Lemon and bergamot are balanced with warming ginger and black pepper. Sandalwood, turmeric, amber, and musk round it out, giving it a comforting, earthy base.
Lake & Skye
11 11 Azure Eau de Parfum
Notes: Water accord, hyacinth, bergamot, lotus blossom, orris, jasmine, blue amber, oakmoss, and musk
If fresh, marine-inspired scents are your thing, opt for this perfume from Lake & Skye. To me, it’s almost uncanny how much it smells like a sea breeze or a crystal-clear freshwater lake. It’s all thanks to aqueous notes of water accord, hyacinth, and lotus blossom. When I spritz it, it feels like I’m diving into cool, clear water.
Ellis Brooklyn
Miami Nectar Eau de Parfum
Notes: Pink pineapple, coconut water, plumeria, vanilla, sweet amber, and salted woods
This scent is described as a “tropical gourmand,” meaning it’s a sweet (but not syrupy!) perfume. Another feel-good fragrance, this one makes me feel like I’m spending a long weekend in (no surprise here) Miami. It’s the top notes of pink pineapple, coconut water, and plumeria that do it. They intermingle and create a scent that’s perfect for fun-filled summer weekends.
Vacation
“vacation” by Vacation Eau De Toilette
Notes: Coconut, banana, pineapple, orange blossom, pool water, pool toy, and swimsuit Lycra
I grew up by the water, slathered in Banana Boat and Coppertone sunscreen. As an adult, I find those classic sunscreen fragrances comforting, joyful, and nostalgic. Maybe that’s why I love this perfume so much. It mixes classic sunscreen notes (coconut, banana, pineapple, and orange blossom) with classic poolside notes (pool water, plastic pool toys, and swimsuit Lycra). I guarantee that you’ll be whisked away to a summertime pool setting at the first sniff.
Sol de Janeiro
Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68 Beija Flor Hair & Body Mist
Notes: Brazilian jasmine, pink dragonfruit, and sheer vanilla
Fans of classic floral and gourmand (sweet and sugary) fragrances will love this hair-and-body mist. It’s bright and vibrant without being overwhelming. One Sephora reviewer says it best: “This smells like a soft, sheer sugar scent.” I find that it lasts longer when I spray it in my hair than when I spray it on my body.
The 7 Virtues
Coconut Sun Eau de Parfum
Notes: Coconut, frangipani, sea salt, citrus, and vanilla
Not only would I love to keep this chic-looking perfume bottle on top of my vanity all season long, but the actual scent is summery and stunning. It combines coconut, sweet frangipani, sea salt, citrus, and vanilla to create something that smells both fresh and warm. It never fails to bring about compliments. Last time I wore this, I had two people stop me in a store to ask what I was wearing.
Snif
Citrus Circus Eau de Toilette
Notes: Creamsicle, grapefruit, lime zest, sparkling water, neroli, violet, cedar, and white amber
If you’re unfamiliar with Snif fragrances, I highly recommend checking them out. They’re fairly affordable at around $65 a bottle, whereas many other perfumes cost double if not triple that, and they house fresh, fun, and flirty scents. One of my summer favorites is called Citrus Circus, and it basically screams summer with notes of Creamiscle (I love that), grapefruit, and lime zest.
Notes: Coconut, pineapple, sunscreen, surf wax, sandalwood, and tonka bean
If citrus-forward scents aren’t your thing, I recommend reaching for Coco Shimmy. It’s fruity and ambery and allows me to cosplay being a cool surfer girl who spends her days in the sun and cools off with açaí bowls in the shade. I love how classic summer notes like coconut and pineapple are combined with unexpected notes like surf wax and tonka bean. It’s warm, inviting, and playful.
Henry Rose
Windows Down Eau de Parfum
Notes: Grapefruit, bergamot, honeyed neroli, Earl Grey tea, jasmine, and musk
Another fresh scent, this one mimics a cool summer breeze. It was created to convey a sense of freedom, happiness, and togetherness, and I think it hit the nail on the head. It makes me feel carefree yet comforted thanks to the addition of soft and grounding notes like Earl Grey tea and musk.
Ellis Brooklyn
Salt Eau de Parfum
Notes: Ylang-ylang, Tahitian tiare, and ambergris
Who What Wear beauty editors love this perfume. Actually, that’s kind of an understatement. They’re obsessed with this perfume. There’s something about the warm and spicy notes that keeps us coming back to it time and again. We get so many compliments when we wear this that we don’t relegate to summer; we wear it all year round.
Maison Margiela
Replica Under the Lemon Trees
Notes: Kalamansi lime, coriander, green tea, citrus, and soft musk
Some lemon scents are too in-your-face and end up smelling more like cleaning products than perfume. This one is not that. It’s subtle and fresh, like a cool breeze wafting through the leaves of a lemon tree. Formulated to invoke “la dolce vita” and the Southern Italian countryside, it’s a dream summer scent.
Phlur
Strawberry Letter Eau de Parfum
Notes: Cassis leaves, strawberry gariguette, plum nectar, wild lily, red poppy, apple blossom, earthy woods, tonka bean, and sugared amber
Another Phlur fragrance I love (can you tell I’m somewhat obsessed with the brand?), this one is fun and fruit-forward. Notes of strawberry, plum, and apple lend it a sugary quality, but don’t think that means it smells cheap or basic. No, not at all. Notes of cassis leaves, lily, poppy, and earthy woods lend it a mature quality, too.
Jo Malone London
Yellow Hibiscus Cologne
Notes: Yellow hibiscus, rose, lime, and white musk
If I could afford it, I’d own every last Jo Malone scent that exists. Sadly, I cannot due to budget constraints and an already-overfilled fragrance wardrobe. That means I have to choose my Jo Malone scents wisely. I’ll always keep a few of the brand’s classic perfumes in my collection, but this sunshiny floral scent is a must. Notes of yellow hibiscus, rose, lime, and white musk make it smell bright, sweet, and refined, just like you’d expect.
CLEAN RESERVE
H2Eau Golden Citrus Eau de Parfum
Notes: Mandarin, bergamot, orange blossom, water accord, neroli, and musk
This is one of the latest scents to join my ever-growing collection, and I must say I’m obsessed with it. It’s a subtle, watery take on a classic citrus scent thanks to notes of bergamot, water accord, neroli, and musk, which draw back the bright mandarin and orange blossom, so it softly envelops the skin.
Phlur
Dragon Fruit Hair & Body Mist
Notes: Pineapple, dragon fruit, watermelon, plum blossom, lotus flower, peony, sugared amber, vanilla bean, and sandalwood
Okay, I promise this is the last Phlur fragrance—sorry, I just can’t help myself. Unlike the brand’s concentrated eau de parfums, this hair-and-body mist has a fresher, lighter, and more airy quality to it. It can be used on both the skin and hair to create a soft, wafting scent, so I apply it to both. I love the fruity scents of pineapple, dragon fruit, and watermelon. It reminds me of a certain Y2K body mist I used obsessively as a kid, and I mean that in the best way. It definitely has a high nostalgia factor.
KILIAN Paris
Sunkissed Goddess
Notes: Bergamot, ylang-ylang, tiare flower, coconut, and vanilla
When it comes to this perfume, I think the name says it all. Warm, floral notes of bergamot, ylang-ylang, tiare flower, coconut, and vanilla give it an alluring, almost-spicy quality. I love wearing this sultry scent when I’m heading out to late-night dinner and drinks.
