I love my spicy, oriental perfumes, but they’re, unfortunately, most suited for fall and winter. Hot weather means I have to scour the stores looking for a scent that’s not too fruity, too floral, too aquatic, or too citrus for my personal tastes.
I’ve learned a few tricks for finding scents that work in the summer:
Skip those famous powerhouse scents. You know the ones—Flowerbomb, Opium (the old formulation, at least), Poison, etc. When those heat up on your skin, those around you may feel like they’re drowning in a pool of maple syrup and fruit juice while grinding carnations between their teeth.
If you can’t let go of your signature scents, try spraying somewhere other than pulse points–spray in the air and walk through, spray your ankles so the scent wafts up, spray your summer scarf instead of your neck…
You don’t have to completely jump ship if you’re a fan of scents that are typically meant for the cooler months. Every year, flankers—spinoffs of classic perfume favorites—are released. So if you love Ralph Lauren Romance, Chanel Chance, or Victor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb, no problem. They lighten up for summer, often keeping the essence of the fragrance the same.
You may see the introduction of a few “summertime” notes like white florals and fruits, the removal of a few heavier ones contained in the original, and the scent will seem lighter overall. Be sure to try it out before you make a purchase if you can, though; sometimes the flankers are nothing like the originals or there will be a note your skin just can’t deal with (it’s grapefruit for me).
Another option is to look for a body wash or lotion version of your signature scent. Just don’t use the lotion from head to toe until you’re sure of its strength. I made that mistake once before work and people in the back of the building wanted to know who brought in a freshly baked vanilla cake. Oops. At least they liked it.
Get a rollerball or a decant of your favorite scent to keep with you in your purse. Scents evaporate more quickly in the summer, so you may need to reapply before the day’s done.
Perfumes to try:
- Fresh Hesperides
- LaVanilla Vanilla Summer
- Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT
- Burberry Brit Sheer
- Marc Jacobs Marc Jacobs
- Clean Warm Cotton
- Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey
- Coach Poppy Flower
- Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Dreaming in Portofino
- Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche
Photo credit: Sephora
