These days I look at the weather forecast with a sense of dread as we are in the middle of another heatwave. I like the indolence of summer and the long sun-filled days, but I don’t enjoy the oppressive heat and humidity. My primary methods to make these days tolerable include copious amounts of mugicha, a traditional Japanese summer drink made of roasted barley, and a selection of light, effervescent perfumes.
The natural choice for summer is citrus, but your selection need not be limited to simple colognes. Modern floral and green notes offer a refreshing effect, without the sharpness of citrus. Look for compositions that are accented with woods, rather than vanilla or musk, as the sheer blond wood finish contrasts beautifully with the brightness of fresh notes.
How to amplify the freshness of a fragrance? Follow the good old advice of leaving your scent in the fridge but beware that drastic temperature changes can affect perfume negatively, and for this reason I recommend making a decant of your favorite summer fragrance. A spritz of cool liquid is the ultimate refreshment. If you would like an even more intense cooling experience, select a mint fragrance like Aqua Allegoria Menta Fresca or Herba Fresca. Menthol triggers cold-sensitive receptors and plays tricks on our brain. When the mercury levels are soaring, such an effect is welcome.
Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose
A juicy, bright composition exploring the nuances of grapefruit. The bitterness is kept mild, but the effervescence is amplified through the use of aromatic herbal notes. This delicate fragrance is an etude in pastel tones, but it retains its freshness over its lifespan of a few hours.
Atelier Cologne Clémentine California
A bright pairing of sweet citrus, juniper, and vetiver, Clémentine California is a sophisticated citrus with a twist. The fragrance oscillates from the honeyed tinge of clementine to the salty burst of vetiver. Whenever I smell it, I think of gin and tonic served in a frosted glass. Does it evoke California? I can’t tell, but it certainly suggests expansive vistas of pine trees and a sea breeze.
4711
A classical cologne. I prefer my citrus sweeter, but this dry-martini-like fragrance is perfect on hot summer days. This fragrance is a good candidate to store in the fridge and then used as a light refreshing spritz. Also take a look at the range of soaps and body products that now accompany this cologne and that match it well.
Prada Infusion d’Iris Cèdre
Polished and refined, this unisex composition is a variation on the now classical Prada Infusion d’Iris. The accent of woods adds depth to the composition, offsetting the cool silk effect of iris. A fragrance that evokes misty mornings and a fresh breeze, it’s an ideal summer companion.
Jo Malone Basil and Neroli
A simple pairing of spicy basil and green neroli is a delight. Another great option to keep in the fridge and spray liberally as needed. Jo Malone fragrances have medium lasting power, but Basil and Neroli is one of the better options for those who like fresh colognes and yet would like their perfume to linger.
Annick Goutal Duel
One of my favorite fragrances from the house of Annick Goutal. Duel is a green-woody composition that smells more than the sum of its parts–and even the individual elements smell wonderful. It has a refined character and a soft finish. An option for those who prefer their perfumes less astringent than a classical cologne.
The Different Company Tokyo Bloom
The smell of crushed dandelion stems captures the aroma of green leaves, earth-caked roots and milky sap. Unsurprisingly, this suggests nothing of Tokyo to me, the city I associate with concrete and futuristic skyscrapers. This is the lightest fragrance on my list, but it’s so refreshing and uplifting that it’s worth reapplying as needed.
What are your favorite summer fragrances? What have you been enjoying recently?
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
93 Comments
Karen A: Another wonderful article! Although I can’t wear fragrances right now, summer always has me craving incense scents. Last year I bought Copal Azur when it was rereleased and enjoyed it a lot. I think my first comment on BdJ was on your Sahara Noir review, when I wondered why it would be released in the summer. Now I understand the allure of incense fragrances in the summer! (So glad BdJ is back in full swing Victoria, thank you!) July 18, 2022 at 7:50am
Victoria: Incense is a cool note to me, especially when it’s paired with woods and something non-sweet. Sahara Noir would be a good choice, despite its richness. July 18, 2022 at 1:31pm
Cornelia Blimber: I dislike the summer heat, but I love the smell of the summer. Lots of blooming jasmine in my neighbourhood, and I like to wear a jasmine perfume in harmony with the season. Of course A la Nuit. J’Adore Absolu has a wonderful jasmine note which I enjoy very much. And I like Gabrielle when I want a softer perfume.
This month the weather is sultry, and I wear Jicky edt every day. Whatever I do, I always return to Guerlain. July 18, 2022 at 8:41am
Potimarron: I love the smell of the summer too. I frequently find myself trying to trace the smell I can detect on the breeze (it’s a linden-like scent, but too late in the year for linden blossom). July 18, 2022 at 12:02pm
Victoria: Jicky is ideal, I agree. July 18, 2022 at 1:31pm
Nikos: It is a windy summer here in Cyclades and that somehow keeps the heat at check. This allows me to wear fragrances I would normally avoid for the season.
I love a spritz -but just one!- of Kouros right after a morning swim at the sea. I find it very complimentary on salty skin. Zagorsk is another one I am currently enjoying as well as Immortelle Corse that has finally allowed me to detect its subtle apricot hues under my beloved helicrisum.
But when the wind stops and the heat takes full reign Gin Fizz is the epitome of an effervescent summer fragrance to me.
Good to see you back Victoria. July 18, 2022 at 9:06am
Cathy Wong: Hello, Lovely that you found a scent that complements salty skin….Living near the ocean and swimming in it regularly in the summer months, that evokes the essence of summer to me. July 18, 2022 at 11:19am
Nikos: Thank you. I’m lucky enough to enjoy the sea almost daily this summer! July 19, 2022 at 12:05am
OnWingsofSaffron: Oh lucky you! Love the Cyclades! July 21, 2022 at 3:33pm
Silvermoon: Hi Nikos,
I envy you the morning dips in the sea. And I imagine the Kouros drying alongside sea salty skin as very beautiful. Some other great ones for hot days! July 18, 2022 at 11:31am
Cornelia Blimber: Kouros in Greece! it could’t be better. July 18, 2022 at 12:07pm
Cornelia Blimber: It could not be better I mean. July 18, 2022 at 1:11pm
Nikos: Don’t worry I got it! 😉 July 19, 2022 at 12:07am
Nikos: Thank you. I know I’m lucky. Hope you can enjoy the sea too. July 19, 2022 at 12:06am
Victoria: It’s such a pleasure to read it and imagine the scents against the backdrop of your windy Cycladian summer. July 18, 2022 at 1:32pm
Tara C: Atélier Cologne Blanche Immortelle and Le Labo Ylang 49 are my favorite hot summer scents. They really bloom in the heat. July 18, 2022 at 9:37am
Victoria: Such beautiful choices. July 18, 2022 at 1:33pm
carole: This is a beautiful list, Victoria, and thank you for it. Duel is fantastic in the summer, and it lasts all day on me. I’m wearing Eau de Guerlain, which i first wore in 1995. Every time I wear it, it takes me right back to 1995-it makes me remember who I was then. I remember my apartment, the clothes I had, all of it:) July 18, 2022 at 9:41am
Victoria: Duel is one of my favorite from Goutal. Always a joy to wear. July 18, 2022 at 1:33pm
Debby: Lovely to see you back, Victoria, hope you are feeling better.
My summer heat favourites are 4711, I love that stick they do of it, it’s very cooling, Fragonard’s Fleur d’Oranger, and Etro Vicolo Fiori which is just so pretty. And CK One never gets old, it’s so cheap now as well and whatever reformulation that has been done on it has been pretty faithful, it’s just a lot weaker.
My garden smells of divine oriental lilies, I wish there was a perfume that truly captures that smell but none I’ve tried measure up. July 18, 2022 at 9:44am
Allison C.: I love Vicolo Fiori! I once had a candle many years ago and it really emphasized the floral notes. July 18, 2022 at 9:49am
Debby: Oh, a candle sounds wonderful! July 18, 2022 at 11:56am
Victoria: Your garden should be captured in a perfume. July 18, 2022 at 1:34pm
Sara: So glad to have you back writing regularly Victoria! Sending you all the best wishes.
The heat I live with in Western Australian summer is usually a dry heat. I love sharp figs and bitter citruses as a defense against the heat, like Ninfeo Mio by Annick Goutal, Limone by Laboratorio Olfattivo but also Passage d’Enfer is cooling.
I recently read about big middle Eastern ouds, roses and ambers blooming in the heat so I look forward to trying those too next summer. July 18, 2022 at 9:54am
Victoria: Ouds work best in dry heat, so it’s good to experiment with them. July 18, 2022 at 1:35pm
MJ: Love L’ombre dans L’eau edp. Cuts through the heat and humidity. July 18, 2022 at 8:35pm
Iolanda: I’ve choosen L’ombre dans l’eau this morning, love it! July 20, 2022 at 10:44am
Iolanda: Have you tried fig tea by Perfume De Nicolai? I didn’t yet but I’m courius. July 20, 2022 at 10:49am
cristina: Basilico&Fellini from Vilhelm Parfumerie July 18, 2022 at 9:57am
Victoria: Lovely. July 18, 2022 at 1:35pm
Allison C.: Parfums 06130 Yuzu Rouge has been my reliable summer refresher. And I’ve discovered an all natural perfumer callef Ffern and their Summer 2022 smells like a sophisticated cocktail with a hint of rose, it’s really lovely. July 18, 2022 at 9:58am
Victoria: It’s such a bright, uplifting scent. July 18, 2022 at 1:35pm
Dorothy Van Daele: Very glad you’re writing!
I’m most drawn to Jour d’Hermès and Cristalle in the 31C, feels like 40, southwestern Ontario weather. And I love smelling Cardinal’s dry, crisp incense on my partner in this weather. July 18, 2022 at 10:20am
Victoria: Cristalle is another favorite. July 18, 2022 at 1:36pm
Hamamelis: What a timely and lovely post! It is heating up in the Netherlands and tomorrow temps of around 40° are expected. Neroli scents are one of the ways for me to feel cool and clean. Today I am wearing Hiram Green’s Dilettante, sadly discontinued.
When it is really hot I wear cologne like scents like Eau Dynamisante, out of the fridge. Goutal’s Eau du Sud, or Cristalle, or its softer version Eau Verte. When I want to wear something a bit more ‘dressed’ I wear Mito or no 19. July 18, 2022 at 10:40am
Victoria: Eau du Sud used to be my summer staple. I need to revisit it. July 18, 2022 at 1:36pm
Karina_NL: I would definitely back Eau du Sud as a great summer fragance, it is indeed one of my favourite. I would also recommend Carthusia’s Capri Forget me Not, one of my best discoveries of last year.
Many thanks for your list, Victoria. It prompted me to immediately order a small bottle of JM’s Basil and Neroli. Yes, I love basil, so I cannot wait to smell this combo. July 20, 2022 at 5:29pm
Gale: I enjoyed all the letters and hints of which scents to try for summer. South Louisiana and its humidity are challenging factors in choosing scents which make one feel better and cooler. Thanks for sharing. July 18, 2022 at 10:44am
Victoria: I hope that you will find something to enjoy. July 18, 2022 at 1:37pm
Sandra: I will add TF Neroli Portofino and AGoutal’s Ninfeo Mio for my picks.
The Jo Malone, Basil and Neroli is one of my favorites. I went through a bottle of that.. July 18, 2022 at 10:49am
Victoria: Basil and Neroli is a recent discovery for me. I’ve tried it before, but it’s the first summer that I wore it. July 18, 2022 at 1:37pm
Cathy Wong: Hello Victoria,
I’m so enjoying your posts this past week or so.
Although we do not know each other, except through Bois de Jasmin, I’ve been thinking of you with sincere caring. I’m wearing (plenty of) Eau de Pamplemousse Rose lately, including today. 4711 is a classic favourite for me since my early 20’s (yikes that’s a good 30 years now). i appreciate the tip to “look for compositions that are accented with woods” and lately I’ve been trying to learn more about the wood bases and which ones I prefer. Thank you, for the wonderful posts, take good care, Cathy Wong, Nova Scotia, Canada July 18, 2022 at 11:08am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Cathy. Thank you for sharing your favorites, which I also share with you. July 18, 2022 at 1:38pm
carole: Just a point of interest-I’m in NS too, Cathy 🙂 July 21, 2022 at 7:07pm
Ugo: For summer I love:
– Fleur d’oranger by Fragonard, citrusy and soapy floral bright and light but not flat.
– Fleurs de citronnier by Serge Lutens, so fresh and SO REALISTIC!! It used to be more honeyed and long lasting but it’s quite good still today.
– Estée by Estée Lauder, aldehydic mossy green floral. It seams simple but it’s rich and sophisticated.
– White Linen by Estée Lauder, aldehydic and floral but deep and long lasting (one of my ever favourite).
– Iperborea by Lorenzo Villoresi, clean and frosty white floral so elegant and pure.
And much much more July 18, 2022 at 11:21am
Victoria: What an inspiring list, Ugo! July 18, 2022 at 1:39pm
Silvermoon: How lovely that you are writing your blog again, Victoria. I am so happy to see it again. Thanks. We missed you (and it).
Here in the U.K. we are on the brink of breaking all heat records by a good margin. It’s expected to hit 41C or even 43C tomorrow (previous record was 38.7C). So this is a timely post. I love 4711 when it’s really hot and sticky. I also enjoy Eau Dynamisante, White Linen, Cristalle, L’Ombre Dan’s l’Eau, and SMN’s Zagara or Melegrano. Just to name a few.
I have a small bottle of the Prada you mention and wouldn’t have thought of it for the heat. So I will try tomorrow. Sounds promising. July 18, 2022 at 11:27am
Victoria: We expect up to 40C, which is scary to me. I hope that it passes quickly.
Love your list! July 18, 2022 at 1:40pm
Victoria: You’ve reminded me of Santa Maria Novella’s fragrances, by the way. Its colognes are fresh, non-sweet and easy to wear. July 18, 2022 at 1:40pm
Aurora: It is so à-propos Victoria as the ‘canicule’ from the content has reached us today.
I have a few staples for the heat, Eau de Rochas, such a great citrus chypre with a special mineral accent, Après la Mousson, which is at its best in dry heat, ideally in Provence and for a floral, Fidji which I consider an elegant beachy fragrance, it blooms in the heat but today I am wearing Quartz de Molyneux, and find it fantastic. It’s often overlooked. July 18, 2022 at 11:35am
Victoria: Dry chypres work well, but I like a touch of floral as in Fidji. July 18, 2022 at 1:41pm
Phyllis: Victoria, what a wonderful post and I am very happy to see you back. I have a few of the perfumes mentioned above plus a new one simply called “Vacation”. Very simple but beachie. I also enjoy fig scents in the summer months. July 18, 2022 at 11:46am
Victoria: I also like fig fragrances for their summery feel. July 18, 2022 at 1:42pm
Potimarron: The heatwave has emphasised that most of my fragrance collection isn’t very summery. To refresh me, I like Eau Dynamisante and Atelier Cologne’s Lemon Island. I like the top notes of YSL Libre when it’s hot, but they depart all too soon for me. Summer is the only time the heady white flower compositions work on me (the olfactory equivalent of brightly printed fabric- some people look great in them all year round, but I’m only drawn to them in the summer).
Having said all that, I actually wonder whether something a bit animalic might not be a bad idea when it’s hot. I recently bought Bal à Versailles for the first time and hadn’t thought to try it in hot weather until last week. It works, I think because we’re all a bit animalic when it’s really hot and there’s room for it in the composition (instead of trying to cover up sweaty smells with their opposite, where they can jar and give the game away- I’m tempted to draw comparisons with bathroom air fresheners here). July 18, 2022 at 11:59am
Victoria: Sometimes when it’s too hot, not wearing any fragrance is best. Or what I do is scent my clothes, instead of apply perfume to skin directly. July 18, 2022 at 1:43pm
SoSuSam: So nice to see (read) you here as well as IG. And what wonderful suggestions! I used to adore 4711, I should revisit it. My hot weather staples are Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine and Cedrat Enivrant, Chanel Eau de Cologne (les exclusives) and Cristalle (EDT), Hermes Voyager and Osmanthe Yunan, Frederic Malle Geranium pour Monsier, and Carthusia Mediterraneo. Two recent discoveries that work well in the heat are Chanel Paris-Venise (for when you’re not in the mood for citrus but need something light) and, as Phyllis mentioned, Vacation (much more elegant and light than you’d expect from the description). July 18, 2022 at 12:05pm
Victoria: Such nice choices here. Thank you for sharing them. I might go for Paris-Venise tonight–doesn’t the idea sound lovely? July 18, 2022 at 1:45pm
Muriel: Hello Victoria,
Soooo happy to see you back 🎉
I’m under the same temperatures and wow, anything fresh helps! Tomorrow, I’ll go to Parfums d’Ambre for our monthly reunion and I’m looking forward to smelling « un zeste de rose ». They have many parfums de Rosine there, and I think this one could be what I’m looking for right now! Will let you know!! Lots of love! Take care! July 18, 2022 at 12:09pm
Victoria: I hope to join you one of these days. It would be so much fun. July 18, 2022 at 1:45pm
Gabriela: I love summer too but this year there is too much heat here in Spain. I am wearing a lot of hydrosols, I keep them in the fridge and spritz some after shower. July 18, 2022 at 12:35pm
Victoria: Which hydrosols are you wearing? July 18, 2022 at 1:46pm
Gabriela: I love the rosemary one in the summer! July 19, 2022 at 4:32am
Hera: I am so happy you are back Victoria.
Thank you for all these great recommendations. Today I am wearing Phi Une Rose de Kandahar and enjoying it a lot during hot weather. July 18, 2022 at 12:38pm
Victoria: Thank you, Hera. And thank you for sharing your favorite. July 18, 2022 at 1:46pm
Alityke: Great post Victoria. I am not built for heat being reddish blonde, pale & a freckle face (sadly now joined up into age spots). My regular rotation as cooling spritzers are Eau Dynamisante, 4711, O de Lancôme & Cristalle EdT. I find Cristalle EdP too sweetly fruity.
Others I call on are Jacomo Silences, EA Green Tea & some of it’s flankers and AA Pamplelune. I know many find Pamplelune overly sulphurous & catty. July 18, 2022 at 1:09pm
Victoria: Oh, Silences is a joy during hot weather. Definitely worth considering. July 18, 2022 at 1:47pm
C Rose: Thank you for these recommendations! Living in hot, humid Houston, my collection leans heavily towards summer fragrances. Most are light florals or greenish, or feel “dry” due to incense or oakmoss. In the evenings I may wear more complex scents — we live in constant air conditioning, after all!
Some summer favorites are:
Sel de Vetiver, The Different Co.
Vent Vert, Balmain
Tiare, Ormond Jayne
Russian Tea, Masque Milano
Iris Bleu Gris, MPG
Strass, Luciano Soprani
Un Zeste de Rose, Les parfums de Rosine
Mimosa Pour Moi, L’Artisan
Fleur d’Oranger, L’Artisan
Dzongka, L’Artisan
Jil Sander Woman III
AA Angelique Lilas, Guerlain
AA Rosa Rossa, Guerlain
Apres L’ondee, Guerlain
Ferre, Gianfranco Ferre
Lys Mediterranee, Malle
L’Eau d’Hiver, Malle
Eau de Magnolia, Malle
Donna Karan Gold
No. 18, Chanel
No 22, Chanel
Ma Griffe, Carven
Barbara Bui
Libertine, Vivienne Westwood
Koto, Shiseido July 18, 2022 at 1:12pm
Victoria: Thank you for this wonderful list! You’ve shared so generously here. July 18, 2022 at 1:47pm
Tiffany Gallaher: I bought Relique d’Amour by Oriza L. Legrand, an incense and lilies scent that also smells of mossy old stones. I love its distinctive smell but have had a challenge determining how and when to wear it. I’ve found wearing it in wet or cold weather to be a bit too sad, but its perfect for hot days, especially for quiet moments when I am spending time alone. Its a contemplative scent. July 18, 2022 at 2:15pm
Tatiana Owen: Vintage Eau de Roche de Rochas and La Chasse aux Papillons de L’Artisan Parfumeur are my two favorite hot Southern California summer fragrances. July 18, 2022 at 5:36pm
Mel: Hi Victoria! What a lift to find a new Bois de Jasmin post in my email! Wish I could send you our Venice Beach weather for the next few days!
My summer go-to scents I can count on one hand:
Guerlain – Herba Fresca
L’Artisan – Mandarine
Comptoir Sur Pacifique – Aqua Motu
Martin Margiela – Replica – Sailing Day
Sonoma Scent Studio – Champagne de Bois
And I keep a box of 4711 “refreshing tissues” in the refrigerator for whenever I need a sudden body cooler. July 18, 2022 at 5:47pm
Amanda M: Welcome back dear Victoria! I’m so very pleased that this lovely blog is back up and running. I missed it when it had to be taken down…🥺
I just wanted to ask a question about keeping perfume in the fridge – I currently keep all my vintage Eau de Toilette’s in the fridge, several bottles of Chanel Cristalle, No.19 and Mitsouko.
I store my EDP’s in a dark closet.
Will the fridge storage degrade the oils in the EDT’s at all…I guess it’s too late if it has, as they’ve been in there for some years…
I thought that keeping the EDT’s there would stop them from spoiling? July 18, 2022 at 8:25pm
Amanda M: I used to have Quartz Molyneux. It shares some similarities to Chanel’s Cristalle, which I love! July 18, 2022 at 8:54pm
Amanda M: *Oops, this was meant to be a reply under Aurora’s post further up 😊 July 18, 2022 at 8:55pm
Barbara F.: Along with many others, I am very happy to see you returning to your blog, Victoria. Many prayers are ascending for your beloved Ukraine. I have several friends here in the US with strong ancestral ties to Ukraine. Some 7 years ago I packed a bottle of Songes by Annick Goutal for our son’s beach side wedding in Jamaica. We all stayed in cottages with gardens and pathways of tropical flowers, and Songes was perfect! I had been concerned that the scent would be too heavy for that tropical clime, but it was right at home there. It also wears well here in Virginia during our hottest humid days. July 19, 2022 at 5:02am
Hélène: What a pleasure to have you back, Victoria ! July 19, 2022 at 5:32am
Ewan: I made a combination of Oud, Jasmin Sambac and Yuzu. It’s a little dreamy, the jasmin kidnapping the Yuzu, while the woody oud looks on. July 19, 2022 at 5:42am
John: As, with others, I will chime in and say how grateful I am that you are back! So often your articles remind me of why I wear fragrance at all…that intersection between art and life addressed in your writing on the level of the personal as well as the artisanal, in good times and in bad. Today I am wearing a new fragrance (to me) Acqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza… In many ways it smells like a more highly engineered 4711, which is perfect for me just now. The latter is beautiful because it is a short, bright burst; the way Essenza extends this uplift into soft wafts that carry you through the brightest part of a summer morning is blissful and seems rather uncanny despite its seeming naturalism. Other warm weather favourites include Guerlain Vetiver (absolutely any time at all), Guerlain Homme (out for drinks) and Eau Sauvage (as it one of my wife’s favourites: date night…we need more of these!) July 19, 2022 at 1:29pm
a.: hi victoria, i’m back to reading your blog after a long break because, life (i think i started first reading back in… 2007!? based on an old comment of mine that i found… though i never commented a whole lot TBH, i was more of a lurker 😉 i’m so glad to still be able to read your beautiful, evocative, incisively intelligent writing on the sensory joy that is fragrance! (and so much more.)
anyway — back to the topic, recently i’ve been testing a number of samples i ordered quite a while back (~5 years ago, probably right around when i was last reading BdJ!) including a few orange blossom fragrances, which is what i find i’m drawn to in summer. so far, i could see myself wearing serge lutens fleurs d’oranger most hot days this summer. it evoked the memory of sitting under shady, fragrant orange trees in the heat of the summer as a child (which AFAIK aren’t really supposed to blossom in summer, but were/are/do here in CA!) July 19, 2022 at 5:13pm
a.: *uncannily, beautifully, almost perfectly evoked! 🙂 July 20, 2022 at 1:21pm
Iolanda: Hi everybody, you really make me want to try all the fragrances listed here 💕! At the moment I’m wearing Eau de narcisse bleu (Hermes) that I bought at the very beginning of the springtime but it still goes well with the heat and probably i’ll follow the advise to refresh it in a fridge. As soon as possible I’ ll experiment Perfumes de Nicolai; i think in the collection there are a lot good to have a relief moment in this hot summertime 🌸🌞 July 20, 2022 at 8:45am
Damiana: A few refreshing summer scents I reach out for are Jo Loves Pomelo, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Passiflora, and Astiere de Villatte Grand Chalet. I love anything with linden blossom in the heat. July 20, 2022 at 9:57am
Zazie: I love linden blossoms, but rarely find perfumes featuring the note… do you have any specific recommendations? I’ve been on the hunt for a good perfume for years. Not necessarily looking for a solinote, I actually prefer complex compositions, but I would want the linden blossom to be clearly recognizeable.
The only perfume I found and love with the note is frangipani by OJ, but the linden blossoms are just a mere whisper there… July 21, 2022 at 8:08am
Lydia: Whatever I wear has to blend well with lots of sweat in summer, so I lean towards woody incense (the CdG Incense Series works), very dry citrus, and lavender scents.
Sweet or floral scents sadly don’t work on me when it’s really hot (although I’ve been known to ignore that and wear a natural, lush jasmine just for my own enjoyment).
Amber is surprisingly nice in hot weather, even though I think of it as an autumn note.
I need to try 4711 again. I have a feeling it would be perfect and refreshing in the heat waves we’re having now. July 20, 2022 at 10:39am
Ava: Coming here, reading all your comments is like going an a walk with wonderful women on a summer evening, soft voices murmuring, laughing, just some pure and light joy for a change. Life is here, despite of everything cruel (carfefully put) that is happening on this world right now. It is soothing to take my mind off of things for a little while and deeply needed. All the scents you mention here make my heart sing. The inspiration is returning.
Thank you for being back, Victoria July 21, 2022 at 3:01am
a.: you’ve put it so well, ava… i completely agree! <3 July 21, 2022 at 4:10pm
Zazie: Hi, I hope everyone is coping fine with the heatwave…
I am not very seasonal in my perfume choices, My go to fresh scents are 4711 and the OG cologne by Guerlain as well as ninfeo mio, but I use them more in the cooler months (just for bedtime).
In the summer I get a lot of use out of Kai, vamp à New York, beyond love, Niral and Mohur. This year Paris-Paris, and the samples of Paris-riviera and 1932 edp are getting a lot of skin space, but here I am repeating myself!
I suppose that I look for flowers in the heat. But today that temperatures are hitting 40 degrees, and I am melting away, I am craving oud. Go figure. Any fans of oud for greatness? I need an excuse to go FB. 😉
But for a true cooling sensation, with a nice albeit short lived scent, I strongly recommend Caudalie’s eau de beauté. I also like to use a rose water spray to refresh myself. I have very sensitive skin so if I want to spray with true abandon, I usually don’t turn to perfumes, because of their alcohol content.
Stay cool everyone. Thank you Victoria for sharing your favorites, I’ll definitely seek out a few! July 21, 2022 at 8:02am
Jessica: I love this list. We’re having a heat wave in NYC right now but I’m feeling a little cooler just reading all these recommendations!
One of my summer go-tos is Diptyque L’Ombre dans l’eau…it never fails, for me. And 4711, of course! More recently I’ve added a few others to my hot-weather rotation, including Jo Loves White Roses and Lemon Leaves (just what it sounds like!) and Nomenclature Minted (mint and green tea with a few jasmine petals). July 21, 2022 at 10:36am
Xavier: Loving your articles! Is there anywhere that your YouTube videos are still available? July 25, 2022 at 1:41am
Victoria: I will upload them again. I need to fix the sound quality on many of the older videos. July 25, 2022 at 5:11am
a.: oh, i’m so glad to hear this. thank you, victoria! looking forward to watching them. i’ve been going through your older posts and have been meaning to ask the same question.
speaking of which, i have a question related to an older post. i signed up for your mailing list in the hopes of getting a copy of your “100 Fragrances That Influenced Perfume History” E-Book. is that something you are still sharing? July 25, 2022 at 12:26pm
Victoria: I had to put that project on hold, because I was busy with something else and then I got ill. I hope to return to it. July 25, 2022 at 1:07pm
a.: ah, no worries! you seem to be active and busy with so many things, i’m in wonder at you do it all! if you’re able to get back to it it’d be lovely but if you didn’t i totally understand. July 25, 2022 at 3:23pm