Top 10 of Summer: Light and Easy Edition

Elisa on some of her favorite summer perfumes.

Earlier this week, Victoria wondered if summer perfumes are necessary, or if the “summery” designation is just marketing spin. In past years, I’ve mostly ignored the supposed seasonality of my perfumes, often most enjoying smoky ambers or patchouli gourmands when amplified in the heat. (Perverse, I know.) But this year, I’ve been in more of a relaxed, hammock-lounging mood, and traditionally “summery” perfumes like citrus scents and light florals are just what I want. So here are some of the easy, almost humble perfumes I’ve been reaching for at home and packing with me when I travel.

roses in blue

Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus

Far from the most renowned perfume in the Ormonde Jayne line, for good reason; Osmanthus is not as opulent or distinctive as some. But it’s an incredibly pretty rendition of the apricot-tea scent of osmanthus, mixed half and half with pomelo juice like a spa version of an Arnold Palmer.

Frédéric Malle Eau de Magnolia

Eau de Magnolia is exactly the sort of floral that would have bored me in years past, but now feels perfect for easygoing mornings with a book or the Sunday crossword. Almost a cologne, it’s lemony and creamy and light as petals.

Etat Libre d’Orange Fils de Dieu 

Basmati rice, coconut milk and lime zest – I’m addicted to the way this semi-savory perfume seems to rise like steam off skin in the heat.

Yves Rocher Neroli 

I’ve been all about orange blossom lately, and this one’s pretty perfect: simple, clean and natural-smelling with a toasty-warm vanilla base.

Van Cleef & Arpels California Reverie 

One of my favorite releases from last year, this citrusy jasmine and frangipani floral has become a go-to for outdoor weddings and parties, next to my personal summer classics like Estée Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia and by Kilian Sweet Redemption.

L’Occitane Arlesienne 

I can’t stop being surprised by how much I like Arlesienne, a powdery, “papery” rose with violet and honey, possibly inspired by Chanel Beige and in some ways better.

Atelier Cologne Figuier Ardent 

Most new figs are variations on earlier figs, and fig lovers are generally fine with that. The new one from Atelier Cologne is in the woody, green Diptyque Philosykos mold, but with more citrus and pepper, and more saturated – if Philosykos is sage green, Figuier Ardent goes on almost teal.

Stella MacCartney Eau de Toilette 

I love a big, dark, dramatic rose as much as the next girl, but sometimes a delicate pink rose is all that I want. The new EDT version of Stella is completely successful in this regard, sheer and fresh and Paris-esque with plenty of watery violet leaf.

Les Parfums de Rosine Rose Praline

Same fresh pink rose, gourmand-ified – Rose Praline is about as candied as you can get while still being summer-weight, thanks more to its hue than its strength. I love the balance between the fruity, almost chewy geranium-rose accord and the oriental base.

Madonna Truth or Dare Naked 

Sexy name, sexy bottle, sexy scent: This alternative to Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess–style beach scents is a tangy summer amber with a soft accord of bubblegum-like white florals. At first you think it’s going to be too sweet, but it soon mellows out and the drydown is just lovely.

For other lists of top favorite summer perfumes please visit Grain de Musc :: Now Smell This :: The Non-Blonde :: Perfume Posse

What fragrances are you wearing the most this summer?

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

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93 Comments

  • Michaela: Thank you for your top ten! I was waiting for your list since your comment on summery perfumes. It’s a delight to read your descriptions even if I don’t know the perfumes 🙂
    Out of all, I sampled and got in love with Fils de Dieu. It’s gorgeous! I know only Stella EDP which I love very much, but it seems different from the EDT. And I may like Figuier Ardent because I like everything I sampled from Atelier Cologne. My greatest discovery this summer is their sparkling Orange Sanguine.

    I sample as many colognes as I can this summer after I’ve neglected them for years. I prepared Eau Parfumee au The Vert and Eau de Gaga but I didn’t have time to wear them because of sampling, a lot of sampling, thanks to Rainboweyes – remember her recent giveaway? 🙂 Found many favorites so far. Too many!

    Other than colognes… For a fresh and long lasting orange blossom I love Knot this summer. For a cheerful, luminous, girly, fresh floral I love Bulgari’s Omnia Amethyst (wonderful lilac on my skin, all day long). For a skin scent, but a ravishing opulent one, a rose Midle-Eastern attar (perfume oil). For my all-times jasmin, VC&A First. And my all-times almost perfect perfume – Eau des Merveilles. June 26, 2015 at 8:04am Reply

    • Hamamelis: Great list, and Eau des Merveilles is so gorgeous! June 26, 2015 at 9:05am Reply

    • Elisa: Hi Michaela! I do find the original Stella different from the EDT — the EDP is much woodier.

      I’ve been very curious to try Eau de Gaga since V’s very positive review, but haven’t run across a tester yet… June 26, 2015 at 9:22am Reply

      • Michaela: Thank you. Good to know.

        You will find it, I’m sure. It’s worth sampling! Me, I like it very much, I find it bright and refreshing, but I am usually fond of tea scents and violet leaves. June 26, 2015 at 10:01am Reply

        • Elisa: I’m also fond of violet leaf. June 28, 2015 at 10:43am Reply

  • Gaye: Although I’ve never been to Egypt, Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil is my all-time favourite summer fragrance. Light but not evanescent, fresh like a cologne, but somehow greener and deeper. June 26, 2015 at 8:48am Reply

    • Elisa: I quite like the tomato leaf note in the Mediterranean one — though Hermes is not usually my thing. (Again, they felt too light for me in years past!) June 26, 2015 at 9:23am Reply

    • Michaela: Un Jardin sur le Nil is so beautiful! June 26, 2015 at 10:29am Reply

    • Rebecca: Spray Jardin sur le Nil on your bed linens, guys! I thought I was the only person to do this but it turns out to be quite the thing (extravagant though). SO fresh and green as you slip into your bed. Even the room feels cooler (which takes some doing in California this year). June 26, 2015 at 11:08am Reply

      • Elisa: That sounds lovely! June 26, 2015 at 11:16am Reply

      • Gaye: Great idea! In rainy season Japan, what a treat to drift off to sleep and perhaps dream of “un jardine sur le Nil”! June 26, 2015 at 9:55pm Reply

  • Hamamelis: Thank you for your summer list, always fun to read about known and unknown scents. Both OJ Osmanthus and YR Neroli are ones I own and like very much, but I haven’t worn them yet as we did not have a summer (it will arrive any day I read on the forecasts). In my Spain suitcase I brought PdN Weekend, newly discovered love, and PdN Eaux samples, all good. I also brought Eau du Sud, its fleeting smellalike Eau Dynamisante, Eau des Merveilles bodylotion and Ambre des Merveilles EdP.
    I bought a big bottle of Cristalle Eau Verte. Evenings so far are scented with A La Nuit, Memoir and Ciel Opale, all samples. When I am back home I probably will wear Songes, Vetiver Extraordinaire, Hiris, and I will try and see if I can test Arlesienne at the airport. Looking forward to reading everyone’s list. June 26, 2015 at 8:59am Reply

    • Elisa: I love your list! Weekend a Deauville is gorgeous, and I love her summer scents. Songes is an old favorite too, and VE is my favorite vetiver. June 26, 2015 at 9:25am Reply

    • Michaela: When you don’t have summer, go find it in Spain – what a brilliant idea 🙂 And make sure you have a perfumed holiday… Enjoy your Cristalle Eau Verte and your trip! June 26, 2015 at 9:55am Reply

      • Hamamelis: Thank you 🙂
        Miss my 4 legged girl though! June 26, 2015 at 11:25am Reply

    • angeldiva: Hi Hamamelis,
      Thank-you for your list! Always an education! Proud to say I have a bottle of A La Nuit, and have tried two others you mentioned!
      What does YR and PDN stand for?
      Also, I love my Creed Fleurissime, but I have a block when reaching for it! LOL As you know we don’t have royalty in the US. So, the association with Grace Kelly, and her becoming a Princess, makes me think I can only wear this on special occasions!
      I would love to know the scent tastes of royalty worldwide- learning about this fascinates me.
      I read that the Queen Of England – HRH- Elizabeth wears BIJAN! Amazing!
      A. June 26, 2015 at 9:04pm Reply

      • Elisa: YR = Yves Rocher
        PDN = Parfums di Nicolai June 28, 2015 at 10:42am Reply

  • leathermountain: Thanks especially for that heads-up about Arlesienne. Must investigate! June 26, 2015 at 9:02am Reply

    • Elisa: The lotion versions are very nice too, if you want to try in a less committal way! June 26, 2015 at 9:25am Reply

    • nozknoz: I like Arlesienne, too, and they offer a cute, inexpensive 7.5 ml mini bottle. June 26, 2015 at 2:07pm Reply

      • Elisa: Oh, they do?? I definitely want to pick that up! I’ve been waffling on buying the big bottle. June 28, 2015 at 10:41am Reply

  • limegreen: Thanks for a fun list! You forgot to mention that Yves Rcoher Neroli is a bargain, so one can be deliciously lavish with it. 🙂
    At the other end of the spectrum, I do love Eau de Magnolia and it is like a cologne but wears all day for me, which is nice.
    I will have to see if I can test the VC&A California Reverie, sounds delectable! June 26, 2015 at 9:20am Reply

    • Elisa: California Reverie is definitely worth trying if you’re a white floral lover! It’s not a big dramatic white floral like Carnal Flower, but more on the light/pretty side, in spirit closer to Le Chasse au Papillons. June 26, 2015 at 9:27am Reply

      • limegreen: Would you say if one has La Chasse that California Reverie is “redundant” even though I am a white floral fan? June 26, 2015 at 2:48pm Reply

        • limegreen: (I only ask because VC&A is not easy to find here) June 26, 2015 at 2:48pm Reply

          • Elisa: Hmmm, I think the Chasse is a little sweeter, and with a linden note, but if you can’t find VC&A where you are, they do have some overlap. June 28, 2015 at 10:41am Reply

  • Jovan: My signature summer scent was Jo Malone’s Verbenas de Provence. I was saddened when they discontinued it several years ago. Nothing I tried could replace it.

    I visited La Jolla, California in the summer of 2013 and discovered Tijon Fragrance Lab. It was an “aha” moment as I was able to create my own lemony recipe that I named “Lemoncello”. I loved it so much, my partner and I decided to purchase the lab from the original owner who resides in St. Martin.

    Now we get to play with scents 24/7 and it seems (based on Trip Advisor feedback) that our customers love Tijon as much as we do.

    If you are ever in the San Diego area, stop in and say hello! June 26, 2015 at 9:29am Reply

    • Elisa: Wow, how cool! I love La Jolla — though I haven’t made it out that way in a while, I’d love to go back! June 26, 2015 at 9:40am Reply

    • Michaela: Sounds great, Jovan! June 26, 2015 at 10:11am Reply

    • Rebecca: Oh, I that sounds wonderful. I live just a couple of miles away so I will most definitely have to come by. June 26, 2015 at 11:05am Reply

    • angeldiva: Jovan-
      That is too cool for school! Will go there, when I’m in the area! June 26, 2015 at 8:19pm Reply

  • Neva: Interesting list which reminds me of some scents I wanted to try for a while – Eau de Magnolia and Figuier Ardent. Meanwhile I’m busy drinking my bottle of California Reverie (love it!) and testing my newly discovered love for incense in the summertime. Tam Dao is high on my wishlist. June 26, 2015 at 9:33am Reply

    • Elisa: I like incense in the summer too! Especially L’Air du Desert Morocain. June 26, 2015 at 9:40am Reply

      • Nikki: Yes, Elisa, I love incense in summer as well. While I like to smell the fresh and flowery scents, I prefer darker, drier scents in summer. I use ambre du Nepal by Maitre Parfumeur even though it is a room spray, and I also like a vetiver like Guerlain. I think dryness is the word….I love the scent of immortelles or straw flowers in summer. Gouttes de Rose by Cartier and Love is All by Guerlain are my flowery summer perfumes I wear in the house. When it is extremely hot, flowers die and only spices seem to survive and even thrive and incense notes seem to be cooling. For the right, cool evening, I choose Carnal Flower Hairspray, so sexy… June 29, 2015 at 3:49pm Reply

  • Ruth: I am headed to a shopping center where there’s a L’Occitane and I’m going to have to stop in to see about Arlesienne! This very hot summer in the Pacific NW, I’ve been alternating between two scents. Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune, which I love for its crisp but also a little dirty/bitter edge, like the pith of a grapefruit and Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay, which also has an interesting undercurrent that I like (it also gets lots of compliments). I just wish it had more staying power. Occasionally I’ve reached for the elegant Estee Lauder Pleasures. June 26, 2015 at 10:09am Reply

    • Elisa: Blackberry and Bay is interesting — always sharper than I remember! If you like that, you might also like L’Ombre dans L’eau which I find to be longer lasting. June 26, 2015 at 10:16am Reply

      • Ruth: Oooh, thank you for the recommendation! I’ll check that out. 🙂 June 26, 2015 at 11:15am Reply

    • Rebecca: Yes and Yes! to Pamplelune for the summer heat. June 26, 2015 at 11:09am Reply

  • Aurora: Thank you for a great list, Elisa.

    I have been wearing during this rather cool first part of summer in the UK:
    Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger Neroli Blanc, Guerlain AA Nerolia Bianca (I guess I’m on a OB kick), L’Eau de Kenzo, Alvarez Gomez Agua de Colonia Concentrada, Shalimar EDT, Eau de Rochas, vintage Eau de Cologne Gres. June 26, 2015 at 10:30am Reply

    • Elisa: I’ve been obsessed with orange blossom lately! I will have to try to track down the Guerlain one. June 26, 2015 at 10:53am Reply

  • Erica W: I love Eau de Magnolia, but we need some space after I wore it one day while having a hangover and it exacerbated my nausea haha.

    Sur ne Nil has been the one fragrance I’ve been using the most during the hot weather! It makes me smell so fresh!

    Today I’m wearing Pomelo Paradis. I like it more than Orange Sanguine. I’ve tried to like Orange Sanguine but after 20 min it smells like soap to me :(. Pomelo Paradis doesn’t seem to have the sudsy scent to me. Though this morning I asked my husband how he liked it and said its a little boring; that it just smells like I squeezed pomelo juice on me. I don’t know if that’s a bad thing 🙂 June 26, 2015 at 10:41am Reply

    • Elisa: I like Pomelo Paradis too, though it hasn’t replaced my favorite grapefruit frags — Moschino Funny and L’Eau Mixte. June 26, 2015 at 10:55am Reply

    • angeldiva: Hi Erica,
      Wow, compassion! I don’t drink much, but I feel your pain.
      So, all I need to do is author a perfume that eases the discomfort of a hangover! Then I can be the worlds FIRST TRILLIONAIRESS !!!

      A. June 26, 2015 at 9:43pm Reply

  • Emma: My favorite New York summer fragrance is Serge Lutens La Vierge de Fer, it works great on hot muggy days. June 26, 2015 at 11:07am Reply

    • Elisa: I haven’t managed to try that one yet, but I find that heat brings out all the different facts of the base notes in the Lutens line, which to me is very basenote centric. June 26, 2015 at 11:18am Reply

      • Emma: Hi Elisa,

        This one feels like a Chanel white floral to me, it has none of the traditional Lutens base, it’s bright, fun and pretty, but not generic or boring. June 26, 2015 at 2:20pm Reply

      • Nikki: Basenote-centric, yes, so true! I wear Creed’s Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie for the basenotes, they are heavenly. June 29, 2015 at 3:51pm Reply

  • Gilad: Summer’s my favorite time for scent—thanks for the lists. Here’s mine: Eau de Givenchy – 30 years of hot weather memories. Mazzolari’s Marina – perfection of fresh flowers, clean rivers and honey & lasts forever. New fave – Nest Orange Blossom, neroli & jasmine. The well-known and duly admired PdN Le Temps D’Une Fete, though it’s powdery drydown on me skews it nighttime. Overcame the shock that I’d like anything Lilly Pulitzer, enough to get Beachy, a salty, warm, white flowered trip back to childhood summers in SoCal. For brisker moods: Eau de Cartier Concentree’s yummy dry greeness. Lanvin’s Vetiver Blanc or the old Armani (men’s) for working, smell like summer without making me want to jump ship. June 26, 2015 at 11:15am Reply

    • Elisa: Now I want to try the Lily Pulitzer! June 27, 2015 at 9:10am Reply

  • nozknoz: It’s been so hot here in the DC area that I’ve mostly stayed in the AC and worn whatever I felt like. Today, though, I’m wearing Magnolia Grandiflora Sandrine, a true to life and very wearable rendition of the surprisingly light, dry scent of the huge flowers. June 26, 2015 at 2:09pm Reply

    • Elisa: I was in North Carolina recently and it was lovely to see actual magnolias blooming! June 27, 2015 at 9:11am Reply

  • Tammy: My Summer fume list:
    Creed acqua fiorentina (English summer in a bottle)
    Serge lutens encens et lavandre
    Prada infusion d iris (esp layered with Chanel Coco)
    Creed virgin island water (piña colada)
    Penhaligons Castile (best neroli) June 26, 2015 at 4:00pm Reply

    • Tammy: I think the creed number is officially supposed to be an Italian summer, like a “renaissance” orchard – and not an English summer, but since I have never been to Italy or been existentially contemporaneous to the high Renaissance- I am wont to simply trust my subjective olfactory line of reason. June 26, 2015 at 4:19pm Reply

      • Tammy: Sorry folks – just had to make the addendum. Marketing- it will drive us all insane. Lol June 26, 2015 at 4:26pm Reply

    • Elisa: I’m intrigued by your Infusion d’Iris + Coco layering suggestion! June 27, 2015 at 9:12am Reply

  • Tammy: My Summer fume list:
    Creed acqua fiorentina (English summer in a bottle)
    Serge lutens encens et lavandre
    Prada infusion d iris (esp layered with Chanel Coco)
    Creed virgin island water (piña colada)
    Penhaligons Castile (best neroli)
    Le labo vetiver June 26, 2015 at 4:01pm Reply

  • Austenfan: Great list! I’m always glad to see another mention of Fils de Dieu. Such a brilliant fragrance. I bought it on the spot in Paris a few years ago and have never regretted it.
    I surprise myself by how much I like Arlésienne as well. It’s a lovely fragrance and I like it way more than Beige. Not saying it is better but Beige does sort of translate as bland to me, and L’A. does not. June 26, 2015 at 4:15pm Reply

    • Elisa: I think perhaps it’s that the floral notes are more distinct in Arlesienne? June 27, 2015 at 9:14am Reply

      • Austenfan: I don’t remember either well enough to be able to comment on that. I mostly put it down to the fact that I find a lot of Chanels too “polished” for want of a better word. June 27, 2015 at 4:22pm Reply

        • Elisa: I can see that. June 28, 2015 at 10:39am Reply

  • Alicia: Very interesting list Elisa. Thank you. This summer (and late Spring) I am wearing lots of citrus for casual wear (Eau d’Orange Verte, Cologne Bigarade, Pamplelune, and my gold standard, Eau Sauvage). For florals, in casual ways, Eau de Narcisse Bleu and Pleasures. For more formal wear Miss Dior Original, EL Private Collection, EL Gardenia Tuberose, and also finished what was left last season of Guerlain Chant d’Aromes. I have also finished a bottle of L’Eau Perfumée au Thé Vert, and half of a small bottle of Une Fleur de Cassie. I am about to start with Rochas Tocade. And Summer is still very young… June 26, 2015 at 5:26pm Reply

    • Alicia: I forgot to mention one of my season favorites, Prada Infusion d’Iris. I have just ordered a bottle of Creed Fleurs de Bulgarie, in memory of the Creed roses my grand mother used to wear, and of which I have a very faint memory. Let’s see how it compares with Malle Une Rose and Lutens Sa Majesté la Rose. June 26, 2015 at 5:37pm Reply

    • Elisa: Glad to see another fan of the Lauder Tuberose Gardenia! It’s just so pretty. June 27, 2015 at 9:15am Reply

  • rickyrebarco: I love Van Cleef’s California Reverie, too. It’s a summer favorite. My other summer go-to’s include Parfums MDCI Rose de Siwa, Hermes Jour and Hermes Jour Gardenia. Hermes Hermessence Iris Ukiyoe and Rose Ikebana are 2 great summery scents also. Another summer love is Carven L’Eau de Carven and Elie Saab L’Eau Couture. June 26, 2015 at 8:53pm Reply

    • Elisa: I definitely enjoy Kurkdjian’s white florals in summer. NR for Her is one of my go-tos, and there’s an Alien flanker that I adore and haven’t managed to wear yet this year. Will have to break it out this week! June 27, 2015 at 9:16am Reply

  • angeldiva: Hi Elisa!
    I’m recovering from exhaustion, and loving this thread!

    Here are three scents I am most interested in testing:
    California Reverie- Limegreen is so right- it’s hard to find a tester- especially without travel time
    Floris-Palm Springs!!!
    And , the BdJ Summer holy grail: Guerlain -Terracotta

    I was in Macy’s, and briefly tried a few scents, but, they don’t carry the three above.
    I ‘ve been loving my testers of Modern Muse by EL. I wouldn’t have thought of this if not for Victorias review. The EL website is very generous with free samples with purchase. So, now I have smelled the two flankers: Chic (stronger) and Rouge- couldn’t really describe the difference with Rouge. I love the basic Modern Muse best.
    My summer scent crush 2015 is Bronze Goddess. I tried the shimmer oil, and can’t understand it’s appeal when compared to the spray, and body lotion which is decadent!
    I recently misplaced my L’occitane -Verbena, and I feel like a poodle who’s water dish has been moved.
    So, to compensate I have been enjoying a wonderful inexpensive scent by Woods Of Windsor- Bergamot and Neroli. Great for summer.

    Also, enjoying a (rare) period where I’m more inclined to give scents away than purchase new ones! Feels like I’m on a successful diet!
    Summer Love!!!
    Angeldiva June 26, 2015 at 8:54pm Reply

    • Elisa: Ah, the Modern Muse review was actually mine! I didn’t like it very much, but it’s partly that I hold Estee Lauder to a higher standard and it felt, while well-made, phoned in to me and not original. June 27, 2015 at 9:18am Reply

      • angeldiva: Elisa,
        Sorry! Maybe, V had a comment about it somewhere… Anyway, my skin must just love Modern Muse because it smells quite original on me. Like I’m wearing an expensive niche scent. I think the Chic flanker has more juniper, but I don’t quite have the nose of yourself or Victoria.
        I just know what smells good on me.
        🙂 June 27, 2015 at 2:52pm Reply

        • Elisa: That’s all that matters in the end 🙂 June 28, 2015 at 10:38am Reply

    • Karen: Hey stranger! Fun list and very summery bright fragrances! June 28, 2015 at 9:40am Reply

      • angeldiva: Hi Karen,
        Happy Summer! There will be a giveaway of my Ma Griffe, soon -in honor of Madame Carven passing.
        Angeldiva June 28, 2015 at 4:45pm Reply

  • Marie: Nice list! 🙂 i am very curious to try Arlesienne now, I have always liked Beige but something is missing or the fragrance it too pretty and not for me, I don’t know. Arlesienne sounds good!

    I don’t have a huge collection of perfumes and wear whatever I like, no matter the season. I may spray less but I am already a very moderate wearer of fumes, I think, so: why stop wearing the beautiful MdO Vanille? 😀 (one spray won’t kill nobody)

    Others I wear regularly this summer: Vero Profumo Mito Voile d’Extrait (I love the resinous honey-like tuberose) and Ormonde Woman – it is one of these rare perfumes that feels always right, year round. June 27, 2015 at 4:18am Reply

    • Elisa: Ormonde Woman *is* nice in summer!

      I think I will have to do a full review of Arlesienne… June 27, 2015 at 9:19am Reply

      • Hamamelis: That would be great! June 27, 2015 at 10:36am Reply

  • rainboweyes: I used to wear a lot of citrus in the summer but somehow it doesn’t work for me anymore, I often get a sweaty note from citrus scents so I completely reorganised my summer scent wardrobe and the only citrus left is Ananas Fizz by Artisan Parfumeur. My absolute top favourite for the summer is Ramon Monegal Impossible Iris. I love the raspberry and iris combo and it’s my most complimented scent. Other staples include Olfactive Studio Lumiere Blanche (often layered with Dzongkha in the evenings), Hermes Eau de Gentiane Blanche, Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan, Penhaligon’s Iris Prima, Emmanuel Levain Tendre Pallida and Eau d’Emmanuel, Artisan Parfumeur Passage d’Enfer and Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatal. Although it’s usually my winter scent, I also adore Laboratorio Olfattivo Nirmal in hot weather. I still haven’t made my opinion about Eau de Magnolia: sometimes I love it, sometimes it appears boring. Maybe I need to try some other magnolia scents – the new Atelier Cologne Sud Magnolia and Andree Putman Magnolys. June 27, 2015 at 9:04am Reply

    • Elisa: I tried Sud Magnolia the other day and it didn’t stand out to me — read more as a citrus scent than a white floral. But I didn’t test it alone, so that could be an unfair assessment. June 27, 2015 at 9:20am Reply

  • Patricia: Great list, Elisa! I’m enjoying my vetivers this summer, specifically Lalique Encre Noire, FM Vetiver Extraordinaire, and Diptyque Vetyverio. June 27, 2015 at 3:38pm Reply

    • Elisa: Thanks Pat! I’m not really a vetiver person, but VE is my favorite — the one I”d wear if I were a vetiver person! June 28, 2015 at 10:31am Reply

      • Patricia: I’m not either, so this recent interest in vetivers has really surprised me! Oh, I also like Vetiver pour Elle. My decants are plenty, though I do have a FB of Encre Noire. June 28, 2015 at 5:05pm Reply

  • Figuier: Your list reads to me like the Platonic Idea of summer scent wardrobes! lots of my own favourites there, plus others that are unfamiliar, but sound exactly like the kinds of categories I enjoy at this time of year 🙂 For a light gourmandy rose I wear Traversee du Bosphore, which is transparent enough even for pretty hot weather; I also wear Nasomatto Nuda, Songes (in modest quantities) and the old Guerlain Terracotta. But for work it tends to be greens & citruses – I’ve really been enjoying Eau de Magnolia & its staying power, which is phenomenal for something so cologney & fresh. Now I really have to try Arlesienne and Figuier Ardent! Summer arrived properly today and I wore Narcisse Bleu… June 27, 2015 at 3:44pm Reply

    • Elisa: I’m a big fan of Songes too! *One* of these days I’m going to get my hands on a bottle….. June 28, 2015 at 10:32am Reply

      • Figuier: Songes fans are legion, it seems 😉 It’s very much worth purchasing, imo; even the edt is extremely long-lasting on me, with a grown-up sillage, so a bottle goes a long way. I also have the edp, but only wear it in the evening, in dabs, usually on holiday: it’s quite something! And I recently discovered it layers beautifully with Philosykos… June 28, 2015 at 1:44pm Reply

  • Julie: Hi Elisa- Thank you for the list. Frédéric Malle Eau de Magnolia sounds beautiful to me. L’Occitane Arlesienne is one that I have been using, my mom gave it to me for my birthday in February. It is a really pretty scent.:) What a nice mention about Yves Rocher Neroli. I have had my eye on that & wanted to try it for awhile now. Thank you again! Enjoy your weekend… June 27, 2015 at 5:02pm Reply

    • Elisa: Thanks Julie! I’ve been going through samples of the Arlesienne, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to break down and buy it this summer. June 28, 2015 at 10:33am Reply

  • Lari: I have lived my whole life more or less in New York City which I love. But I have to say summer in this city can be climate hell. I love orientals a good deal of the year but I would be exiled for wearing them in a sticky humid city. Summer for me is Hermes Amazone, Hermes Caleche and Chanel Christalle alternating Edp and Edt. I would like to add something a little more playful and easy. Any suggestions welcome June 27, 2015 at 10:13pm Reply

    • Hamamelis: Have you tried any of the Eaux by parfums Nicolai? (Folie, Chic, Mixte, Soleil) Or Weekend (a Deauville)? I have explored them and think they qualify for playful, and they are quality scents (and available in 30 ml). June 28, 2015 at 3:37am Reply

      • Lari: thanks, i will definitely look into these. June 28, 2015 at 11:14pm Reply

    • Elisa: NYC really can be incredibly sticky in the summer! Another green one you might like in that climate is Kenzo Eau d’Ete — very crisp and green. June 28, 2015 at 10:35am Reply

      • Lari: Thanks for the suggestion. You can’t imagine how sticky! I guess I have some decant ordering to do. June 28, 2015 at 11:16pm Reply

  • Cybele: very nice list! My favorites for summer are Guerlain Vetiver, Lime Basil Mandarin, Stella McCartney Lily, 28 La Pausa, Ormond Jayne Frangipani, Outrageous, PCTG, Osmanthus Different Company, Gucci Envy. June 28, 2015 at 2:44am Reply

    • Elisa: Thank you Cybele! I LOVE Gucci Envy but only wear it a few times per year — trying to make my small bottle last as long as possible! June 28, 2015 at 10:36am Reply

  • Karen: Fun list Elisa! I’m not familiar with most on your list, other than Eau de Magnolia, but love reading the brief descriptions and peoples’ comments. I, too, am in the DC metropolitan area and we’ve been having rain, rain, rain and then some more rain the past few days – I’m sure we will be right back at absurdly hot and humid any moment.

    My latest crush is Rose Nacree du Desert which is working perfectly on me – gorgeous opening through incense finish. Fingers crossed it holds up in our heat, but the saffron opening is bright and sharp so should chase away the heat.

    Will also switch around with CF, Fleur de Chine and une Fleur de Cassie just cause they are all so darn beautiful and are all also current loves. When craving a cologne, FM’s Cologne Indelibile will work, and just may go to the local CVS for a big old bottle of Jean Naté! June 28, 2015 at 9:38am Reply

    • Elisa: Thank you Karen! Denver was plagued by rain for most of May but it’s finally getting back to the sunny/hot Denver I know.

      Spicy roses are good in summer (well, anytime for me!). I find Marni to be a good choice because it’s so sheer. June 28, 2015 at 10:37am Reply

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