This year, it seemed as though summer would never really begin in my part of the world. After weeks of almost-daily rain, however, and an odd chilly spell that saw me wearing black tights well into June, we’ve finally enjoyed some well-deserved days of sunny blue skies and warmer temperatures. I’m finally adjusting my clothing, my fragrances, and even my mood to suit the climate. So, at last, here is a list of my personal fragrance choices for the season.
Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau. I have a feeling I mentioned this fragrance in my top picks for Spring 2008. I wear it even more often during summer, and I’ve done so for the past five or six years. For me, L’Ombre dans L’Eau is the perfect balance of floral, berry, and grass notes, with a rosy heart that suits my tastes perfectly.
Creed Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare. Speaking of roses, this is one of the truest rose fragrances that I’ve ever tried. It can be hard to find, and it’s definitely not cheap, but tester bottles do occasionally surface on online discount sites. It’s a dewy bunch of just-picked pink roses, a few green leaves, and a wisp of lemon peel. (Rumor has it that this fragrance was created for Ava Gardner, but it feels bright and airy rather than glamorous.)
Honoré des Prés Bonté’s Bloom. Honoré des Prés offers five high-end organic fragrances (four of them created by Olivia Giacobetti), each intended to evoke a different experience of nature. To my nose and my mind, Bonté’s Bloom is an afternoon in the countryside. It makes me feel as though I’ve spent the morning lying in the grass and wildflowers of a sunny meadow. It has light staying power, but then again, it’s impossible to over-apply, even on the stickiest of summer days.
Kenzo Parfum d’Été. I wore Parfum d’Été exclusively one summer, the year it was released, and I received constant compliments. I’m glad it’s still available, even though Kenzo has given the bottle a boring redesign. It’s one of the few “green” fragrances I enjoy; somehow, its watery quality softens the crisp edges of its lily of the valley and leafy notes.
Aroma M Geisha Pink. Summer is the perfect time to indulge in frivolities such as a brightly colored pedicure, a big floppy hat, or a fruity cocktail. Once you’re in that playful mindset, you might also want to try a sweet blend like Geisha Pink’s concoction of sugared plum, orange, and vanilla. Geisha Pink, like its sister Geishas from Aroma M, is packaged in a roll-on bottle (with a whimsical, kimono-like wrapping) that’s perfect for a vacation getaway.
Ava Luxe The Beach. This fragrance was reportedly inspired by memories of childhood visits to the beaches of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and that sounds about right to me. This scent is a bit salty, a bit breezy, and could be worn by either women or men. It suggests a beach where you would make sand castles, gather driftwood and sea glass, and fly a kite at sunset.
Bond no. 9 Fire Island. Bond no. 9’s interpretation of a beach, on the other hand, demands a daring designer bikini and a very chic pair of oversized sunglasses. It’s a sparkling blend of neroli, tuberose, and ozone notes that conjures up an expensive suntan lotion worn on the French Riviera, and even though that’s not my usual style, I love wearing this scent on hot days. I think it smells best on sun-warmed skin.
Creative Universe Element of Surprise. For me, the surprise is finding a citrus-and-tea scent that works well on me. All of Creative Universe’s light, simply-constructed fragrances are suitable for summer wear, but I’m particularly fond of this one. The lemon note is tart but never turns sharp, and the jasmine-tinged white tea base is smooth and clean without feeling stale. Element of Surprise also lasts unusually well for a citrusy fragrance.
Caron Aimez-Moi. Aimez-Moi’s quirky confection of violet and anise is something that the film heroine Amélie could have worn while strolling the streets of Montmartre. Unfortunately, the Parfum formulation has been discontinued, but the Eau de Toilette has a vivacious personality that makes it even more appropriate for summer.
L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Été en Douce. On a late summer afternoon, nothing feels as good as a nap in a shady room, on a bed made with freshly laundered sheets. L’Été en Douce (formerly known as Extrait de Songe), thanks to its notes of linden, hay, and soft musk, smells cottony and relaxing in just the same way.
Wishing you some fragrant summer pastimes, wherever you may be spending the coming months!
For more Top 10 of Summer choices, check out Bois de Jasmin :: Grain de Musc :: Perfume Posse :: Perfume Smellin’ Things.
Note: image is Sur La Falaise - Robe d'été de Redfern (plate VII from Gazette du Bon Ton, Volume 2, No. 10, August 1913) by Francisco Javier Gosé.
I need to get a sample of Aimez-Moi, I keep forgetting about it.
Where can you buy Caron perfume? I don’t know where I can get a full bottle if I decide that I ~*need*~ it.
I also need to send Mals her sample of Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau someday.
You can buy Caron perfumes at parfum1.com or beayuencounter.com. I bought my bottle of Aimez Moi at beautyencounter- but left it at my parents place..Now my mom’s enjoying it…:) It is one of my favorite summer perfumes.
Hi Krokofdilgena, Lavanya has named some good online resources, and you can also Caron’s line (except the exclusive “extrait” fragrances) at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, perhaps some Neiman Marcus stores, a few of the new “360” beauty/pharmacies, etc.
Whenever you get around to it, K. I bought my 1 oz bottle of Aimez-Moi at beautyencounter for, um… $28. I think. I haven’t tried it in the heat, but I really, really like it. (I went for the small “glass inkwell/tasselled pillow” original bottle because it’s pretty, and because Caron’s standard bottles are So Darn Butt Ugly. Call me shallow.)
Mals86, hah… I actually used to think the Caron bottles were kind of tacky, but they’ve grown on me over the years.
this bottle?
http://theperfumedcourt.com/Images/caronaimezmoi.JPG
I don’t really have an opinion on that bottle, but I’m hating Caron’s website
Krok, Yes, that’s the one! Most of the women’s fragrances are sold in that bottle (as EdT and EdP). I agree that the website can be frustrating to navigate. I keep hearing rumors that they’re working on a new format… we’ll see!
… Well, I just checked, and that *is* the new website. It must have gone up very recently. Now I prefer the old one… this one has too many “moving parts” and doesn’t include complete lists of notes. *sigh*
Thanks for the list, Jessica. I must sample Ava Luxe’s The Beach; I love her line and it sounds like it’s similar to a favorite, CSP Aqua Motu. Also curious about Fire Island, though I don’t think many of the Bond’s work well on me. I have to confess I got seriously nauseated by something in L’Ombre Dans L’Eau when I sampled it in a shop a few months back; it turned very cheap room spray on me, but I’ve been reading so much love for it lately that I feel I want to try it again.
As for me, it’s hardly felt like summer yet, which isn’t uncommon here, where high temps seem to rarely vary more than 10-15 degrees all year. I’d love a bit of a heatwave. In any case, I’m reaching for the citrus often these days: Dior Escale a Portofino and CdG Grapefruit are in heavy rotation. I’m also loving a new decant of Wienerblut Klubwasser, which is the best type of herbaceous cologne. A favorite last summer was KenzoAir; I still need to get a bottle. A warm weather favorite I’ll never fall out of love with = Philosykos. It’s a refreshing but so comforting and soothing at the same time.
Joe, sometimes it’s frightening how much our tastes overlap. I too was scared away by L’Ombre Dans L’Eau. Didn’t like it at all – it was very harsh on me. But like you I want to give it another try. I also want to try The Beach and Fire Island (but Bonds don’t seem to work on me, either, so we’ll see). KenzoAir is one I’d like to try, and I’m lusting after a bottle of the Escale a Portofino (now THAT is summery!).
Jessica, I love the sound of your list. Bonte’s Bloom and Parfum d’Été sound especially wonderful. This year, I’m especially enjoying Neil Morris Mariner and i Profumi di Firenze Brezza di Mare. I know that I will also pull out my Diptyque Philosykos and Do Son.
Wishing you all a great remainder-of-the-summer!
Fire Island isn’t very Bond-y. It’s one of the few in the line that doesn’t smell like (a lesser version of) something else.
Miss Kitty, That’s true, it doesn’t seem to have any clear “ancestor” in the perfume family tree!
Although it does sound like that 80’s tanning gel, Bain de Soleil.
Smells like. I meant to type “smell.” Sound?? What is wrong with me?? Too early in the morning.
That’s encouraging! Thanks, Miss Kitty and Jessica! I’ll seek a sample of Fire Island.
oh great! Thanks a lot Kitty! Now I’m going to have that ” Bain de Soleil for that San Tropez tan….” jingle in my head ALL DAY!
Oh, I remember those Bain de Soleil ads. And I actually owned a tube of Bain de Soleil one summer, as a preteen, and felt incredibly chic!
Haunani, iPdF’s Brezza di Mare would definitely be a runner-up for me! And I haven’t explored much of Neil Morris’s line, so that’s something to add to my list of reminders.
Morris is such a varied line – there seems to be something for everyone!
I’ve only tried one Neil Morris fragrance—Spirit of Water which smells just like Mr. Bubbles!
Thanks, Joe! I would classify The Beach as a cousin of Aqua Motu, so you may like it. And now I need to try Escale a Portofino, just because the name is so wonderful!
Joe, the same thing happened to me with L’Ombre Dans L’Eau—the first burst caught my heart, and then within minutes it had lost its form, and just melted into some kind of rosey soapy lozenge—albeit, refined. I don’t seem to get the green everyone else senses…will try it again.
Question for the group: do Ava Luxe The Beach and CB I Hate P.’s Eternal Return share anything? I think they are inspired by the same shoreline, no?
I’ve tried neither Ava Luxe or the CBIHP, but I thought CB’s “beachy” scent was called 1967 or something… is Eternal Return beachy also?
Joe, I haven’t tried Eternal Return, but I do like Summer of 1966 (which is beach-with-Coppertone-and sea-breeze).
I like both M. Hulot’s Holiday and At the Beach 1966 (?), but haven’t tried Eternal Return yet. Thought that one was supposed to be more like a ship at sea than a beach though, sea air and cypress, something like that?
Joe, did you send for a sample of the Czech and Speake Citrus Paradisi? I just this minute got my sample pack (cutest sample presentation on earth) and plopped a bit of that on my right wrist – very pleasing, with a bit of masculine edge and I think it would actually be a nice autumn citrus as well as for our odd never-quite-summer weather.
Escale a Portofino is amazing! Lasted about 40 seconds and I know if/when I get a bottle I will be spraying with Kevin-style abandon.
Tama, I’m hoping my C&S samples arrive soon as well. I’ll take not of Citrus Paradisi. You’d think all the stuff showing up in my mailbox lately would tamp down my cravings…. but no…
Tama – that was my problem w/Portofino as well. Smelled fabu for about 30 seconds, then went all flat and dull and then…gone. I was sad, bc the first 30 seconds were great, and I looooove the bottle. Still holding out hope for the Pondichery…
Oh, you should not have picked up the CREED scent… Roses, beloved roses! I put it on my list.
I stay withe the Hermès range of Les Jardins for summer.
And all grapefruity stuff like Kelly Caleche EdP (not Edt!) and Eau de France by Rancé.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank *you,* Mybeautyblog! It’s the only Creed I really enjoy wearing. I think Hermes is a particularly line for summer… I’m fond of the “delicat” version of 24 Faubourg, too!
Lovely and evocative descriptions, thanks Jessica. The first one, the Diptique, allowed me to visualize someones lovely garden. I think I would like the Caron Aimez Moi as I love the smell of violets and pretty much like anise, too.
Laken, I’m definitely a floral-lover, and I wish I had a garden of my own, although I wouldn’t be much good at keeping up with the maintenance of it!
Great list, thanks! I adore Fire Island, it is the best choice for hot days. I know, the Bond fragrances are very expensive (especially in germany) but Fire Island is worth every penny
Kankuro, True, they *are* expensive… just like the rents in New York! Some of them I could do without, but I think Fire Island is wonderful and tops in the “beachy” category!
Turns out that after dissing chypres recently (as in, “I don’t love chypres, I keep trying but the only ones I even halfway like are very floral”), I’m really digging them in this middlin’ heat and high humidity. Ivoire de Balmain’s soapy-mossy heart was icky in March, but just right these days. And I recently fell in luuurve with L’Arte di Gucci’s rosy-viny garden simulacrum. PdN Le Temps d’une Fete, though not really a chypre, is getting a lot of love from me too.
I’m also wearing Paris Pont des Amours, Terracotta Voile d’Ete, and the old Kenzo Parfum d’Ete. (Jessica, I think Kenzo has reformulated it, not just changed the bottle design. I have a carded sample of the new, with a pic of the simpler bottle, and it seems far more green, far less floral, than the older version, which I have a big tester bottle of.) I have used up my PdN Just un Reve sample, and I need another one! It’s gorgeous.
I forgot a few: PdRosine Rose d’Ete, all apple/ melon/ rose/ greenery, cool and refreshing; Petite Cherie, which I sleep in for comfort; and Jardin sur le Nil.
Hi Mals86, I’ve never really been a chypre wearer, although I keep trying to “train” myself. I can appreciate them more now, but I feel like I’m borrowing someone else’s clothes when I wear them!
Rose d’Ete is such an adorable fruity-floral!
Love Rose D’Ete! You’ve reminded me to find my sample.
Mals86, I just discovered the Terracotta. I love the light, warm carnation on a hot day! And I’m with you in discovering that some chypres seem to work great in the heat. I love Ivoire now, and the other day I wore YSL Y, and loved it!
MALS86, I’m quite sure the Kenzo has been reformulated. Last month I did a radio show on perfumes in France, and one of the listeners called in to complain that it had completely changed since its launch.
I also love Element of Surprise. Because lemon notes last such a short time, what you’re left with when the lemon’s gone is pretty important. I tried a lot of lemons with really unappealing drydowns (too spicy, too heavy, too musky, too waxy, too aftershave-y) before settling on this one. The long drydown of EoS is a moderately sweet jasmine / tea, but it still manages to be summery. Reminds me a lot of Love’s Fresh Lemon, only much more refined.
Bergere, I was pleasantly surprised (heh) to notice how long this one lasted on me. The bright-yellow lemon note does get a bit more muted after a while, but the jasmine-tea keeps everything fresh! Much better than the jasmine/tea/citrus offerings from L’Occitane and other lines…
I wonder if the floral-tea-citrus scent is at all reminscent of Bvlgari’s Eau de Thé Blanc? That is my honeymoon scent and I’ve been looking for a deeper, longer-lasting version of it. I will get my hands on a sample of Element of Surprise. (I do like Element of Attraction but not enough to wear it repeatedly.)
Hi Lemonprint, Bulgari’s White Tea never had much staying power on me, but this one does last for a while! It also has more citrus than the White Tea. Hope this helps!
J: If you’d like some summer, pls visit us here in Florida! Living in the nation’s steam room, I’ve been loving Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil (a little dry touch underneath is great) and SOTD is L’Ombre Dans L’Eau. I’m also liking Bronze Goddess and L’Artisan The pour un Ete. Will have to try that Aimez-Moi, haven ‘t sniffed that yet. Stay cool!
Suzanne, I haven’t tried The pour un Ete in a while! Must revisit it. Actually, I loathe sun/heat/sweat/flip-flops etc., so I’m generally not a summer person, but it was such a loooong rainy winter-spring that I actually craved a break in the clouds!
I’ve been trying to restrain myself from buying the Hermes. I am so broke, but it keeps calling my name…
I got it at fragrancex.com with free shipping. I think it’s pretty widely available on line, but I know it depends on how much discretionary $$ you have lying around ;(
I’ve found it at a couple places for under $45, but due to my being $200 short this month, any expenditure at all would be a stupid one.
I’m hoping they’ll all carry it for a while at those prices. I’ve learned to buy when you see it, since a lot of stuff becomes unavailable fast. (Which is unfortunately how I get into these financial messes.)
Oh, Miss Kitty, I think Jardin Sur le Nil will be around at discount prices for a good long time. I think I bought my 50ml bottle at somewhere between $45-$50 well over a year ago and they’re still out there and even cheaper now at discounters & ebay.
Wow, my first non-enabler on here! Nice! Thanks for helping me to keep my debt down!
Here Kitty, Kitty …
Not wanting to cause trouble here, but I just noticed that Rei Rien has Un Jardin Sur Nil at $15 for 15 ml Edt.
well, according to this list, all mens summer fragrances must suck. not even 1 in the top 10.
This appears to be Jessica’s list, so I suppose it would be rather feminine. Kevin does these “best of” lists from time to time, and I think his summer list is probably different!
Can we have your list, R? I’m sure the male readers would be very interested, and maybe some of the girls, too.
Looks like Kevin did the Top Ten of Summer 2008, if you’d like to check out that article. To find it: on the right hand side of the blog, there’s a “Browse by” box, where you can search by Author, Date, or Tag. Or just search – I plugged in “kevin top ten” and it popped right up. Enjoy!
R, it is true, we all take turns doing the top 10 lists…
Rictor, We take turns with the seasonal “Top Ten” lists, rotating the seasons. (Last year I covered Spring, for example.) Each writer tends to focus on his or her own “areas” of fragrance knowledge and his or her own tastes. I don’t think it’s meant to be a definitive “World’s Greatest!” type of list.
Hi Jessica,
Another fan here of Element of Surprise. I love the scent and I love that it is reasonably priced. Your description is right on.
As for me, I’ve been enjoying Guerlain Vetiver Pour Elle and Creed Tubereuse Indiana this summer.
Have a fantastic weekend.
~Dawn
Where did you find a bottle of the Vetiver Pour Elle?? I want!
Thanks, Dawn! Enjoy your summer too.
Although the hot days have been few and far between this year (sigh) here are my summer loves:
La Haie Fleurie du Hameau (L’Artisan) – wearing this today – they said it was going to be +25 degrees C!
Eva (Santa Maria Novella)
Eau de Cartier
Chevrefeuille (Annick Goutal)
Must also try L’ete en Douce and Kenzo Air – they sound like they’d be right up my alley.
Scentred, Doesn’t Goutal do some lovely spring-summer fragrances? I’m very partial to Chevrefeille, and also to Eau de Camille.
They certainly do. I agree, Eau de Camille is another great one. However I drained my sample so quickly – it’s just a fond memory now ;-(
I still need to try the Camille…I’ve had such good luck w/the AG line, and that one sounds right up my alley.
Camille has a wonderful dewy green-vines note! It’s worth sampling at some point.
Jessica, many of your choices I don’t know too well… But Bonté’s Bloom could’ve easily made my top ten summer list. I get exactly the same vibe from it as you do. If it weren’t so fleeting, I’d have a full bottle by now despite the price. It’s probably perfect for a day in the countryside — it really *does* feel natural.
Carmen, I know, isn’t the brief life of those Honore scents kind of frustrating? I wish they’d been released in smaller bottles of more concentrated fragrance, because I really do like two or three of the scents themselves…
I think it’s more a matter of their being all-natural materials with none of the heavy-hitter fixatives (woods, balsams…). The gaiac one, Chaman’s Party, is the only one that stays put.
Furiously scribbling down suggestions. I haven’t tried any of Jessica’s favorites except for the L’artisan, and that one sadly is even more fleeting than the L’artisan’s normally are on me. Must try the Kenzo, since I love green scents in the summer, my favorites being Mandragore, Miller et Bertaux Greenx4, Private Collection, and Kiehl’s cucumber and coriander oils. I’m also loving my decant of Pulp. *waving to Daisy* Last year I went through half a bottle of Bronze Goddess, but this year I haven’t reached for it much, maybe because the weather just isn’t cooperating.
Pulp is YUMMY!! I just ordered a sample of it, and can’t get enough of it. Normally I don’t do fruity, but it’s weird enough for me to like it.
Isn’t it fabulous! And so much fun. On me it reads very green, I get a lot of fig, and a big hit of grapefruit, even though it’s not listed as an official note.
I was with a friend when she bought Pulp, and it smelled wonderful on her! I think my favorite from Byredo is Gypsy Water, although it feels more Fall than Summer to me…
I haven’t looked at what the fragrance notes are, and I’m not very good at identifying things accurately. I just feel like it’s a big, oddball guava notes up front. After that, yes, definitely fig. I agree, more green than fruity.
Ok, just looked at the Byredo website. Must be the fig that I’m interpreting as guava. And maybe it’s the bergamot interacting with something else that gives the grapefruit effect on you? I wish it did that on me. I love grapefruit.
Argh, I want that Kiehl’s Coriander oil. Their Coriander lotion has been a favorite of mine for a while.
So many great ideas… I love Private Collection too…it’s great in the heat; wore it yesterday and it holds up magnificently. Also am enjoying Matin d’Orage (and Mandragore) and Malle’s Outrageous–the apple plus metallic musk is so bracing. Love it. And I want some Pulp!
Gilty, Mandragore is another good one? (Why don’t I own a bottle?) And I do have a sample of Outrageous!, which I started liking once I acknowledged that it has the wrong name!
Jessica, I know what you mean, the name Outrageous is a bit out of left field (and the label on the bottle is OTT) but the juice is great. It’s one of those perfume names I’m slightly embarrased to say when someone asks what I’m wearing… Mandragore’s crispness make it great for summer but I find it almost always hits the spot–but is another one with a name that doesn’t seem to fit…think the Guide says this too. I have the edt but am keen to try the edp based on Robin’s review, and the upcoming flanker as well….
Oh, the “Poupre” Mangragore! I really want to try that one too! And it’s true, the name does lead us to expect something darker and weirder…
Waving right back!
Jessica,
Ok, that’s it, this was a final push. I will dig out my Honoré des Prés samples and try them. Thank you for the lovely list!
No pressure! But I really am enjoying the fragrances. Sexy Angelic has a silly name, but is a cuddly light gourmand, and Chaman’s Party has an ingriguing vetiver note. Nu Green would be perfect for 100-degree days!
Lovely list, Jessica! And I adore the accompanying illustration.
I’ll have to seek out Bloom and Element of Surprise, to expand my summer repertoire; I tend to fall back on my old favorites. So far this season SMN Acqua di Colonia has been in heavy rotation, along with Goutal’s Hadrien and Le Chevrefeuille, and Ava-Luxe Neroli Blossom. On really warm days, I am also enjoying Bond Eau de New York, which has a pleasingly salty quality as it dries down. Like Fire Island, it needs warm skin and sunny skies to reach its full potential.
I am holding O de Lancome and Creed Royal Water in abeyance for the steambath that is August in New York. They are the scents I reserve for days so hot and humid that anything else would make me feel queasy.
Mgirl, Oh, I like Eau de New York too! Its neroli note really glows in warmer weather. And you’re right, the pleasant weather we’re finally having can’t last forever… the steam-bath is yet to come! That’s when I’ll using almost nothing but Bonte’s Bloom and Element of Surprise and Fleur de The’ Rose Bulgare.
Does anyone know, is the Aimez-Moi in the “inkwell/tasseled pillow” bottle the same formulation as what’s as the tall, current bottles?
Hi Gilty, Do you have a link to an image of that bottle? The Aimez-Moi parfum bottle looked like a curved inkwell with a blue cap, but it’s discontinued (although perhaps still floating around the internet here and there).
It’s the one mals mentioned up at the top; not sure if this will work as a link but here it is on beautyencounter:
http://www.beautyencounter.com/brands-c-caron-aimez-moi-by-caron-for-women.html
Interesting! The looks just like the discontinued parfum bottle. However, I’ve never seen this at the Caron boutique in NYC, at least, not over the past five years. Maybe someone else has information about it…?
Thanks Jessica. Would love any insight anyone might have. LT/TS have been so outspoken about the Caron reformulations, it’s all a bit worrying. I know I shouldn’t buy unsniffed but sometimes a tempting price plus some glowing recommendations make a girl lose her head. Maybe with this one you can’t go wrong with either version–violets, anise and “vivacious personality”…sounds good to me!
Yeah, Gilty, how CAN you go wrong with violet & anise? Aimez-moi has been on my radar for awhile now. And that $28 pricetag has me chewing my fingernails… how about you take the plunge and buy it and I’ll buy half from you. Kidding but serious… Sigh.
I have Aimez-Moi in both bottle types, and yes, it is the same formulation, at least to my nose!
Joe, I know, that’s the price range that makes me start thinking…well, it’s that’s almost free…
Jill, thanks, great to know. That’s one small obstacle out of the path to acquiring some Aimez-Moi. Not that that’s a good thing!
Oh, good to know! I bought the original bottle because I wasn’t sure it was the same – especially since my other favorite Caron, Parfum Sacre, HAD been reformulated. I now own one of the standard bottles of PS as well as a small vintage one, and there’s a discernible difference in intensity, the newer one being less intense.
Ah! Thank you for clearing that up, Jill!
You have a great summer, too, Jessica. Thanks for your great picks!
Thank you so much!
I love TDC’s Osmanthus in the summer. It lasts longer than in winter, and has such a fresh unexpected fragrance – a flower like no other.
That one is a treat! I just wish it lasted longer on me. I need to try more Osmanthus scents. I recently smelled a good one by Acqua di Stresa…
I’m sitting here with two really conflicting scents on my wrists, which means I must get in the shower momentarily. I got my Czech & Speake samples and have Citrus Paradisi and Magnolia on – not a good combo but individually nice. The Magnolia is one of those super-expensive-soap aromas that I can actually tolerate as a “soapy”.
Anyway, my weather has not cooperated enough for me to go very summery. I have gotten my beloved CdG Vettiveru at last and do enjoy it on a warm day. I also got Pacifica’s Malibu Lemon Blossom, which may be my fave lemon so far (makes me glad I didn’t spring for Din-Dan). But my poor Bronze Goddess is languishing, waiting for a beach day.
Tama, You know what, Bronze Goddess is one of the few beachy scents that I really don’t enjoy… it’s the coconut that does it! But I’m glad that this scent keeps coming back, since it has so many fans. It seemed like a LE at first.
See, for me, it is not “beach” without coconut!! Must have been all those summers spent slathered in Hawaiian Tropic.
I mean Mimosa, not Magnolia. Close.
Tama, No problem, and either day, I’m still new to Czech and Speake!
The Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom is delish. So is the Tuscan Blood Orange (if you don’t mind smelling like Fruit Loops, which I don’t). Their Waikiki Pikake is the only one that didn’t work for me–loved it as a candle, on me as a fragrance it smells like mothballs. Eek!
That’s how I felt about the Tibetan Mountain or whatever it is – great candle, but I really just smelled like a big candle when I put it on!
Love this list, and thank you for including my beloved Aimez-Moi! I wore it a lot last summer and will again this year. Have been wanting to try Fire Island too …
Jill, Glad you enjoyed it! And I’m happy to see so many Aimez-Moi fans. I love its older “sister” (or mother, or aunt?) N’Aimez Que Moi even more, but for the summer, Aimez-Moi just feels so sparkling and clever. Not your typical warm-weather scent!
I still have not tried N’Aimez Que Moi, but if you love it even more than Aimez-Moi, I really must try it!
This has been a strange summer for fragrances because of the cool wet weather. I was gearing up for some new large decant eau de colognes and to use the awesome Hermes Jardin sur le Nil. Normally I am searching for those perfect fragrances that make me feel “cool”, refreshed, and can stand up to heat and humidity! This year I am looking for florals that make me feel “warm” & cozy in the damp & rain. I’ve been dipping into Annick Goutal Songes, Sonoma Scent Studio Rose Musc, Coco edt which is pretty light, Tauer’s L’Air du Desert Marocain, AG Heure Exquise (to get to that warm sandalwood dry down), a newly discovered Mauboussin, and surprisingly, Patou’s Joy seems to perform very well in the cool – it smells more like dewy garden than I have experienced before. All my light hot weather florals are just glaring at me out of the drawer, and I’m trying to discover what works in this unusual weather!!
Oh, and how could I forget, a nice jump on wearing some Amouage Lyric!
Boojum, I’m not a Tom Ford fan, but almost anything else priced at $24 would catch my interest!
LOL! I wasn’t either, and it’s not love, but something about it in that particular weather just worked, well enough to give it some thought.
I thought I was the only one who liked Black Orchid in the heat! On me, the heat brings out the strange, earthy, mushroom notes which I love.
OMG, why do you people keep taunting me with your Tom Ford Black Orchid?? I swear, I have scoured the Marshall’s, and not a one. Ugh.
It was just a 30 ml, and only the edt…..
I will take whatever I can get. Telling ya, my trips to Marshall’s have not been nearly as fruitful.
If it’s still there next time I go, do you want me to snag you one? I almost bought it, bc I knew *someone* was wanting it… I just couldn’t remember who it was! You can zip me a note over on MUA if you want…
Here’s my deep, dark secret: I can’t figure out MUA. I have tried to sign up several times, and it never works. I will try again!! Yes, I want that! If something goes wrong at MUA (again), my email is glitterdivine@gmail.com.
One really needs to SCOUR. I found the one bottle at the back of a bunch of face creams. And yes, I’m liking a dab of it in the humid weather. So unlike me, as what I’m wearing mostly these days is PdN’s Vie de Chateau which is about as light and fleeting as. . .well, as it is.
Ha! “Coco edt is nice and light.” Good grief, girl, what do you call heavy?? (Says the chick who dragged her Tocade out of the storage cabinet, out of its plastic bag, out of its box and spritzed it on at bedtime a few days ago…
something about that vanilla rose was perfect when the evening temp dropped to 62F. )
Ah, Tocade!
Hey, I wore Tocade today! You mean that’s not light and fresh and summery?
Oops, I guess I never got the hang of “subtle.”
Hmmm…heavy: the original Fendi, Prada, Noir Epices, Badgley Mischka, Youth Dew, AG Duel….Let me rephrase myself: Coco edt is different and a bit lighter than Coco edp or parfum and I’m a light applier anyway….The other day at 10:30 am it was only 55 degrees and raining, so edt seemed kind of “light” for a July day. But C! My scent twin! One of these days you’ll be right there with me on Coco!
I’m beginning to think MN is the only place getting an actual summer this year! Maybe you should all grab your summer scents and come for a visit.
Sounds like fun! It has only cracked 70 degrees two times in the past two weeks!!! I suppose I’m spending all the $$ I normally do on air conditioning on fragrances, so that’s not so bad!
I am assuming you mean Black Orchid? I should revisit my sample which in the past was too “fermented” for me, but maybe with this weather might work??….. I always see it as well at our TJ Maxx, so maybe it’s a good time to pick it up!
Ann and Boojum, It’s been bizarrely pleasant in the NYC metro area for the past week or so… finally! I enjoy Hermes Jardin sur le Nil, too. I’ve gone through a few samples of that one!
What a great list! You have several on here I’ve not tried … isn’t that the great thing about fragrance? Always something new *to me.*
Exactly! The same here.
Great list Jessica – thanks! I’ve been on a sampling binge this summer, looking for some new summer scents for myself, so I haven’t worn anything very consistently. But it’s been fun.
Glad to oblige! I know what those “sampling” moods are like.
Jessica – you had such wonderful descriptions of all of these fragrances, but especially the Ava Luxe-The Beach. I had never heard of it before, and I will now hunt it down.
I have a few favorites from Ava-Luxe; it’s a reasonably priced range with a nice variety of scents. And, remember the “Seinfeld” episode with the Calvin Klein fragrance called The Beach? This is how I imagined such a scent would smell!
Oh yes, Seinfeld – that’s too funny. I still miss that show. And that made me think of when Kramer was going to be a Calvin Klein underwear model. LOL
I just discovered Penhaligon’s Lily And Spice, thanks Daisy! It’s very true to life, smells like a fresh Casablanca Lily with just enough green and spice to make it interesting…definitely light and charming.
I like to refrigerate Gucci’s Envy (the Sun Mist) and spray it all over when I’m hot. It’s very fresh and green.
Is the Kenso D’ Ete the one in the leaf shaped bottle? I like it’s description.
The Kenzo d’ete is tres confusing, I think. The original 1992 version was in a veined, frosted-plastic leaf bottle that sat upright, with a point at the top of the leaf, and was a fairly complex blend of florals and fresh green notes. I THINK it’s the version to which Jessica is referring, and it’s the one I have. A fuller description here: http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Kenzo/Parfum-d-Ete-3402.html
The current (2002) version is packaged in a very simple leaf-shaped bottle that sits on its side, far simpler, greener and fresher. Also lovely, in a Zen sort of way. A link: http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Kenzo/Kenzo-Parfum-D-Ete-80.html
What’s even more confusing is that there is also a Summer by Kenzo fragrance, packaged similarly to the 2002 version except with hints of yellow rather than green. There. Clear as mud, right?
Mals86, I did own that frosted upright leaf (or two or three of them), then didn’t wear the fragrance for over a decade, and maybe I’m just not noticing the formulation, since it’s been so long and my tastes have shifted…? Possible.
But I definitely *don’t* wear or enjoy the Summer in the yellow leaf… too hawthorny-milky for my taste.
I thought Summer smelled like… butter? And not in a good way.
I enjoyed Lily & Spice when I tried it. Penhaligon’s Bluebell and Elisabethan Rose are both good light florals for summer wear.
Great list! We’re new to perfume and have so much to learn. [ed: 3 sentences removed]
We love your blog. Sue
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderful list – I have not tried most of these, and I really want that Creed!
Flora, Thanks! I haven’t tried quite a few of the scents mentioned in the comments, so I’m making a new (to-try) list!
I’d also like to toss out a vote for L’Artisan’s L’Ete en Douce. A sweeter fragrance than I’d normally wear, but a really soft pretty scent for a warm, humid summer day. To me it smells of a hay field as the sun burns off a morning rain with the cicadas singing back-up. My husband says it reminds him of going to a friend’s farmhouse in the summer as they harvested honey. All that and a good hit of orange blossom, too.
Scentred, I remember liking this one when it was first released as a summer LE, and when it was re-released I didn’t pay much attention, but now I’m back in love with it. It can be hard to find a light, soft scent that isn’t “girly” (hate that word!) or soapy-fresh.
Only Bond no 9 is available in my country
i will add to the collection:
Cristalle by Chanel
Armand Basi in red
Mugler Cologne
L’Occitane green tea
Miss Dior Chrie 2007
Armani Code summer
Edit: Miss Dior Cherie L`Eau
Sabsoob, I have a couple of friends who wear Cristalle, and it’s beautiful on them! Nice picks.
thanks, i wear cristalle since 1996 and i can never live without it.
How I love these ‘top ten’ lists! it gives me great ideas, and reminds me of scents that I want to sample. Aimez-Moi being one of them.
I have been wearing OJ Frangipani a lot this summer, and Andy Tauer’s L’Air du Desert Marocain. And, funnily enough, OJ Woman is a wonderful summer scent – I quite like the heavy hitters in the hot months – Tauer’s Incense Extreme is a great one too. So, basically, I’m on an Ormonde Jayne/Andy Tauer Summer Binge!!!
Blimunda, That sounds like a good kind of binge to be on! I just used up a few Ormonde Jayne samples, and I thought Champaca and Frangipani were so perfect for spring and summer.
Jessica,
Thanks for the list of recommendations for summer frags. Will definitely have to try the L’Artisan and Diptyque.
Discovered Osmanthe Yunnan by Hermes and love wearing it everyday – it seems to do well in the hot weather.
Perfumelaydee, Glad you enjoyed it! I remember liking Rose Ikebana a lot when I tried it. Must visit Hermes again, to try the Osmanthe…