Smells like summer – Celebrate the season with these lighter, airier go-to summer scents

Thought summer was all about sun cream and strawberry daiquiri’s? Sarah Young takes a look at the best summer fragrances out there from cult classics to new releases

Despite the enduring downpours us well-weathered Brits are still fronting the sandals are out and after work drinks have relocated to the beer garden; it’s official, summer is finally here. Warmer climes are a great excuse to re-invent your wardrobe and just as our knits enter hibernation to make room for seasonal sun dresses and sandals, so too our beauty repertoire must adapt. When it comes to fragrance, the idea that freshness becomes a part of our perpetual ode to the season is inevitable, and rightly so; lighter, airier and less heavy scents will give you that instant hit of holiday and carry you through the hot, sticky months ahead. Finding ‘The One’ for you can be tasking but with so many seasonal offerings on the market, from cult classics to new releases, the quest for your go-to summer scent is never too wide off the mark.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess 100ml £50

BEACHY KEEN

If the thought of blissfully digging your toes into the sand is more of a daydream than a reality this year then bring the shore to you with a fresh-from-the beach summer scent. Summing up the smell of holiday, warm fragrances do their best to transport you to a sunny beach. An oldie but a goodie, Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess is a classic – think coconut, jasmine and the very slight hint of suncream. If you’re in the market for something new then Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc combines a luxurious base of coconut milk with spicy notes of pink pepper and bergamont for a scent that exudes the endless pursuit of summer sun; it’s also unisex so great for couples who care to share.

YSL Mon Paris 30ml £47 boots.com

SWEET DREAMS

If sickly sweet florals are more your thing then YSL have got you covered with a fragrance that guarantees a holiday romance that will never end. The Datura orchid and white flower heart combined with a hint of musk captivates, while top notes of juicy pear bring freshness and a sense of vibrancy. A new scent is all well and good but what if you can’t bear to part with your favourite aroma? Well, both Jimmy Choo and Viktor & Rolf have sought to revitalise their most popular fragrances with lighter versions of some winning whiffs; Illicit Flower and Flower Bomb La Vie en Rose.

CKOne Summer 100ml £20 superdrug.co.uk

ZEST FOR LIFE

Infused with tangy zest and energy citrus fruit fragrances are a lively addition to anyone’s summer scent-drobe but this season both our favourites are uni-sex, rebellious and totally addictive. First up, Diptyque bring an unexpected offering with a citrus aromatic fragrance reminiscent of warm Italian summers –think orange blossom, juniper berry and patchouli. Meanwhile, Calvin Klein present their annual summer limited edition with CKOne Summer; crisp lime and lemon peel is fused with wet cucumber and ginger root to create an intoxicating scent which has us dreaming of gin and tonics by the pool.

Diana Vreeland Daringly Different 50ml £135 net-a-porter.com

TOUCH WOOD

If warm, rich accords are more your thing, don’t panic because musky aromatics are still very much on the radar for summertime. From cult classic Escentric Molecules’ Molecule 01 to Diana Vreeland’s Daringly Different, traditionally heavy interlays take on warmer climes for those who like their scents on the heavy side. For rich, spicy florals Dolce & Gabbana’s Velvet Ginestra inspires a real earthy take on seasonal perfume while the aforementioned Escentric Molecules offers a more subtle take with soft, velvety notes that meld with your natural pheromones.