Portable Perfumes for Summer Adventures

Whatever your destination this summer, Patricia shares her selection of travel sprays and rollerballs.

Summer is a time I like to take things down a notch, kick my shoes off, and wiggle my toes in the sand. Food becomes simple salads, boiled shucked corn, and barbecued meat and veggies; clothes are less restrictive and in lighter fabrics and colors; and summer hours are the norm at many workplaces.

sea

Serious perfume also takes a backseat in the warmer months, as my nose and my brain crave a respite from anything too complicated or fussy. What suits in February becomes too much in July. Because of recent problems of evaporation and separation in many of my homemade decants, I’ve increasingly turned to travel sizes and rollerballs offered by the manufacturers. Small and generally well priced, the following are what I’ll be popping into my beach bag this summer.

Let’s pull out the wicker hamper, red checked tablecloth, and lots of paper napkins and pack our perfume picnic. First in is Cédrat Enivrant by Atelier Cologne (7.5 ml travel spray, $25). This citrus beauty is as cool and refreshing as a summertime gin and tonic, but it lasts really well. Because these Atelier travel sprays are as hard to resist in summer as the potato chips already in the basket, I’ve added another to my list: Orange Sanguine (also $25). This is as close as you will get to the real fruit, fragrant, juicy, and rolling around the bottom of the basket.

A picnic isn’t complete without iced tea, and Bvlgari offers travel sizes of its Eau Parfumée au Thé series in Blanc, Bleu, and Vert. I’ve decided on Thé Bleu for its lavender take on the citrus tea theme (10 ml travel size for $25). The lavender is so cooling in the hot summer sun. (For another refreshing green tea variation, Victoria suggests The Different Company Tokyo Bloom, Japanese sencha tea and dandelion leaves in a lemony cologne. It’s available as part of the TDC discovery box, which includes 12 different perfumes and retails for $125.)

tokyo bloom

Although a pricier choice, the 15 ml Hermes travel sprays from the Hermessence collection seem made for summer. I choose Épice Marine, which is like eating spicy beef brisket on a bun while watching the waves roll in. (Four 15 ml travel sprays are available for $156 on the Hermes website and can be mixed and matched.)

To set the scene, Frédéric Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire (10 ml. travel size for $56 at Barneys.com) evokes the sight, smell, and sound of dry beach grasses rustling in the ocean breeze. Rosa Rugosa, a flowering beach shrub native to Asia, is conjured up by the original Chloé EDP (6 ml rollerball $28) or by the drowned rose aspect of L’Ombre dans l’Eau EDT by Diptyque ($60 for three 12 ml travel sprays on diptyqueparis.com).

Lastly, I invite some Remarkable People by Etat Libre d’Orange (5 ml travel spray, $12) for the sparkling conversation between grapefruit and champagne, with cardamom as their sidekick. The animated chatter sadly fizzles out after a few hours in the open air, but remains good company in a quieter way for a few more hours.

Don’t forget to bring a wide-brimmed sun hat and enough sunscreen for everyone to share. Bursting with tropical white flowers and coconut, Bronze Goddess by Estée Lauder is for me the quintessential sun cream fragrance (6 ml rollerball, $25). Into the basket it goes.

Whether you fill your beach tote or your 3-1-1 airline travel-approved baggie, please do let us know which fragrances you will be turning to this summer. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, we’d love to hear what you are wearing for winter.

Unless otherwise noted, all travel sizes mentioned are available at Sephora.

Also, please be sure to read lists by Grain de Musc :: Now Smell This :: The Non-Blonde :: Perfume Posse

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

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87 Comments

  • Alicia: My dear Victoria, since I have a broken foot, and the summer has come in force to Upstate NY, I have been using more fragrance than usual. Half a large bottle of Guerlain Eau Imperiale, plenty of Giacomo Silences and Penhaligon Ostara, Hermes: Narcisse Bleu, Eau PATVerte, and Bleu, and on occasion some vintage L’Air du Temps, Paris, and CdG Kyoto. I am about to open a bottle of my delightful Pamplelune. Finished all my samples of Goutal, E.de Charlotte and Eau de Camile, as well as Tam Dao and Do Son.When a rose was called for I wear Sa Majesté la Rose with pleasure. Never imagined that my very limited movement and high heat would lead me to this fragrantic splurge, while writing an article on Renaissance interpretations of Virgil.Today the news of Nice broke my heart. I used to go there often with my parents and little brother, and stay in a hotel called Negresco, overlooking the beach, just on the Promenade des Anglais. It is difficult to think of so much barbarism together with so such beauty. But the name of the city derives from NIKEIA, which comes from NIKE, Victory. I have no doubt that the millenary beauty of Nice will triumph. July 15, 2016 at 7:58am Reply

    • Patricia: Dear Alicia, I, too, have found perfume to be the best medicine, and you have some lovely fragrances to chose from. And good for you for finishing up your samples before they had a chance to evaporate! You have also reminded me to pull my bottle of Pamplelune from its storage box. The weather is muggy and hot here today, and Pamplelune will be a refreshing antidote.

      We here at Bois de Jasmin share your sorrow and incomprehension at the cowardly and vicious terrorist acts in Nice. Vive la France! July 15, 2016 at 9:36am Reply

      • Alicia: Patricia, please excuse my inexcusable mistake. Because of Victoria’s travel blogs, I thought this one was hers. Lack of attention is no excuse. Thank you for your so kind response. July 15, 2016 at 6:08pm Reply

        • Patricia: No problem at all, Alicia. 🙂 July 15, 2016 at 8:55pm Reply

  • Nora Szekely: I only travel inside my country this month, to my granny’s weekend house by a lake.
    I can take full bottles there, lucky me:

    1. Apres L’Ondee – my most recent purchase, I love this light, delicate violet-iris scent, I like to wear it with my white cotton and lace dress and white straw hat.

    2. Bronze goddess perfume oil with shimmer – I sometimes like shimmery girly shine on my skin and I can wear this scent on the spots where sun reaches my skin, holiday in a bottle

    3. Portrait of a lady body butter by Frederic Malle – I’m addicted to it. I use it every day, putting it on in the morning while sipping of my coffee and watching book review vlogs. Now for sunny vacations, I can either put it on in the evenings or wear just a tiny bit where my summer dresses cover my body. Anyway it comes with me. July 15, 2016 at 7:58am Reply

    • Patricia: These are such nice choices to bring to a lakeside house! I can picture you all in white, wearing Après l’Ondée. I own the Bronze Goddess whipped body creme, which is just gorgeous…better than the perfume, I think.

      I’m tempted by the POL body butter. Is it as powerful as the perfume? July 15, 2016 at 9:45am Reply

      • Nora Szekely: It is quite powerful, I receive compliments on it. However I find it slightly let aggressive than the perfume, it melts into the skin nicely. Many times I don’t even wear the perfume with it, just the body butter and I can smell it for 4-6 hours. July 15, 2016 at 11:57am Reply

        • Patricia: I can’t imagine the two together. It must be nuclear! 🙂 July 15, 2016 at 5:16pm Reply

  • spe: Thank you for your ideas and favorites, Patricia. I have the femme Kurkdjian sample set. Those are my main travel companions this year. There are also a few decants I’ve made – Mon Precioux Nectar and Flower by Kenzo. Also some Hermessence travel bottles: several in the Merveilles series and Monsieur Li.

    Prayers for all involved in the Nice tragedy. When will we all decide to live in peace? Will we see that day? July 15, 2016 at 8:20am Reply

    • Patricia: Thank you, spe. I recently received the femme Kurkdjian sample set as a gift and have been wearing them at home and away. It’s a shame that they aren’t available individually at that size (11 ml.) and must be purchased as a set for $195, although sets of three (all the same perfume) can be had for $90. Monsieur Li has been a frequent choice of mine, as well. I don’t think that it’s ground breaking, but it is very enjoyable and well done and just right for summer.

      I join my prayers with yours for the people of France and all affected by this terrible tragedy. July 15, 2016 at 9:56am Reply

      • spe: Patricia – which of the Kurkdjian’s are you enjoying the most? July 17, 2016 at 1:31am Reply

        • Patricia: Amyris might be my favorite, with APOM and Aqua Universalis close seconds. And you? July 17, 2016 at 3:27pm Reply

          • spe: Aqua Universalis and APOM are at the top. What do you think of Pluriel? July 17, 2016 at 7:41pm Reply

            • Patricia: I found Pluriel to be pretty, but rather generic, more like a department store perfume although unquestionably well made. I think I will wear the others in the set more frequently. Did you like it? July 18, 2016 at 12:26pm Reply

  • Monica: I am travelling to the beach soon. I will be packing EL Bronze Goddess, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia, Bond No.9 Fire Island, The Different Company Sel de Vetiver. Finally a week vacation after so many hard working months.
    My prayers with all the people in France. July 15, 2016 at 10:20am Reply

    • Patricia: Have a wonderful week off with your favorite summer fragrances, Monica! July 15, 2016 at 10:48am Reply

  • Sandra: Hello Patricia-Thank you for the wonderful post and picture of the sand. We will be traveling to the beach this summer and I cannot wait to stick my feet in the sand as well!

    These days my summer scents are Limon Verde, Shangri La (I have the travel spray), Providence Co Tabac Citron, and Thorn & Bloom A bird of Paradise.

    Hope this summer brings you lots of love and beautiful smelling things..
    Love & Peace July 15, 2016 at 10:43am Reply

    • Patricia: Thank you, Sandra! I haven’t tried any of your favorites, but Limon Verde sounds right up my street. May your summer be restful and sweet smelling, too. 🙂 July 15, 2016 at 10:51am Reply

    • Surbhi: All your choices sound so interesting. I have put them on my to try list. July 15, 2016 at 10:10pm Reply

  • Tijana: Dear Patricia,

    I am currently traveling to Bahamas from Canada. I brought a 30 ml Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom with me and it is the perfect choice. Although it tends to be fleeting, for the evening hours in the beautiful Bahamian climate it is just perfect and I already got a few compliments!

    Typically though, I resort to Hermes in the summer and you just reminded me that I’ve been wanting to buy Epices Marine for a while now, so I must pick it up when I get back.

    Enjoy your summer and thanks for the article! ❤️ July 15, 2016 at 11:08am Reply

    • Patricia: Thank you for your comment, Tijana. I find most of the Jo Malones to be fleeting in nature, and my favorite is Wood Sage & Sea Salt (still going with the beach theme!). Enjoy your trip in the Bahamas. 🙂 July 15, 2016 at 5:20pm Reply

  • Amalia: In the hot Greek summer, I will be packing EL Bronze Goddess (the body cream which is very good!), Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune and Diptyque Philosykos. I think L’Ombre dans l’Eau will be a disaster in Greek heat. But! My lovely perfume lovers, we are in war…massacre in Nice broke my heart. Vive la France! Thanks for the article! July 15, 2016 at 12:18pm Reply

    • Patricia: The EL Bronze Goddess body cream is something I will never be without. It is quite a bargain, too, compared with the creams issued by niche brands and some of the high end designer brands such as Chanel and Hermes.

      Thank you, Amalia, for your comments both about perfume and about Nice. July 15, 2016 at 5:28pm Reply

  • Eric: I’m halfway through my bottle of Epice Marine and am dreading needing to buy another. Should I win the lottery, I’d buy the 200ml bottle.

    I’ll add Paprika Brasil to my list to, a fiery flash of copper in the sun. I know it isn’t one of the favorites from the Hermessences but is perfect in the summer. I happened to purchase a tester on eBay for less than half the cost and I’ve put some mileage on it

    Also, PdN’s 30ml size is perfect for summer travels. I love her l’Eau Chic.

    My personal Atelier Cologne of choice is Mistral Patchouli: anise and graphfruit with a slightly earthy rasp. July 15, 2016 at 12:26pm Reply

    • Eric: I need to edit BEFORE hitting Submit, I guess. 😛 July 15, 2016 at 12:27pm Reply

    • Patricia: Hi Eric, Glad to hear from another fan of Epice Marine. I also love l’Eau Chic for the summer as well as Eau d’Eté and Week-End, all of which I own in those nifty little PdN bottles.

      I’m going to try to find my sample of Mistral Patchouli, as anise and grapefruit sound like a cooling combination. July 15, 2016 at 5:36pm Reply

      • MrsDalloway: Great article. I also have a 15ml Epice Marine, which I got in a swap and like but haven’t worn much. I will have to take it on holiday, along with my 25ml bottle of Ninfeo Mio. I think that was one of your previous summer recommendations, Patricia – it is a gorgeous fresh green. July 16, 2016 at 8:37am Reply

        • Patricia: Thank you! Yes, I have recommended Ninfeo Mio several times before and have worn it frequently this summer. However, I have a larger bottle that isn’t very travel friendly. I would make a small decant or fill a Travalo if I were going on vacation and thought I would use most or all of it up during the trip or shortly thereafter. July 16, 2016 at 12:33pm Reply

      • Eric: I need to try more PdN perfumes! I’ll be traveling to LA late August and that’s the line I’m most excited to try in person July 16, 2016 at 10:28pm Reply

  • Joy: I live on the North Coast of Oregon. It rarely gets hot here, and never over the high 70’s. But, in the summertime I love Chanel’s Cristalle and no. 19. I find the woody green so refreshing. I know many do not like E A’s Blue Grass, but I love it in the summer time even though it is not the same as it used to be. I wish it still came as a splash and the lotion were still available.
    I also love Rose Splendide for a frothy, light rose.
    I just went through a muguet phase with a series of samples and decants. I can even wear Patou’s 1000 here in the summer, though.
    This is a great topic. I appreciate all the suggestion. I do like that more fragrances are coming out in roller ball so that one can enjoy more choices without having to commit to a FB. July 15, 2016 at 2:34pm Reply

    • Patricia: Hi Joy, I envy your weather just now. It’s over 90 on the East Coast today. 🙁

      Both Cristalle and Cristalle Eau Vert are summer favorites of mine. No. 19 I wear year-round. I bought a used splash bottle (age unknown) of Blue Grass some years ago on eBay. I bought it totally for the beautiful frosted glass bottle surrounded in raised horses and the gold cap with a rearing horse on top. The contents still smell pretty good, too! July 15, 2016 at 5:48pm Reply

      • Joy: Patricia,

        Thank you for reminding me of the Blue Grass bottle. It was pretty!
        I spend winters in Tucson. By the end of March it is getting hot, and the heat makes me dizzy. In the desert I have to chose my perfumes carefully. The dryness of the air and the dryness of my skin have a strange affect on perfume. Chanel no. 5 works, but no.22 fades quickly and has a sharpness to it. The old EL classic Youth Dew works. It has a more oily base. I use more body creams there. I once wore a slight spray of L’ here Bleu when I went hiking in the desert. I nearly smothered from the powerful scent. Unfortunately it was a long hike. Bad choice! July 15, 2016 at 6:11pm Reply

        • Patricia: The desert landscape in Arizona is so beautiful. I used to visit a friend who lived in the Phoenix area quite frequently in February or March when the desert was in bloom. But it could certainly get hot, even then, and I well remember the dryness of the air. That would make it difficult to choose a perfume to work well in an arid climate. July 15, 2016 at 8:41pm Reply

          • Surbhi: I have heard that oil based perfumes and itaar (attar) works well in arid climate.

            I tried le fille de berlin … I couldn’t even smell it 10 mins later. July 15, 2016 at 10:06pm Reply

            • Victoria: Yes, I found it too. Attars wear well in dry climate and even heavy blends don’t smell overwhelming. Humid climate, even if cold, is more complicated for wearing perfumes. July 16, 2016 at 7:40am Reply

  • Debby: Lovely article, makes me long for extended beach days and hot weather, sadly a rarity in NW Scotland where I live! Because of the erratic weather, specific summer scents aren’t really a big consideration, but my favourite hot day fragrance is Etro Vicolo Fiori EDT, and for evening the original Salvador Dali. I never seem to see many travel sizes in the stores I have available, I have a Van Cleef and Arpels Oriens rollerball, not my favourite scent but it is super handy to have something a bit luxe when I travel as we are backpacking/camping types and big bottles are not that convenient! July 15, 2016 at 2:56pm Reply

    • Patricia: Hi Debby, I’m so impressed that you bring perfume on your camping trips! I think that I’d be mostly in Eau de “Off.” 😉

      What is Etro Vicolo Fiori EDT like? I haven’t tried it. July 15, 2016 at 5:51pm Reply

  • Madaris: Here in above-90 degrees North Carolina, my Number 1 summer scent is the hard-to-find Azuree Soleil by Ester Lauder (formulated by Tom Ford). Also I like Bronze Goddess.

    My winter preferences: Tam Dao, Organza Indecence, Biehl eo01, and hard-to-find Burberry Brit Gold. July 15, 2016 at 7:03pm Reply

    • Patricia: I’m not sure I’ve ever sampled Azuree Soleil (Azuree, yes). Is it a discontinued fragrance, or just one that’s not carried at most Estée Lauder counters?

      Tam Dao is one of my favorites, too. It’s such a warm, comforting sandalwood. 🙂 July 15, 2016 at 8:47pm Reply

      • Madaris: Azuree Soleil is unfortunately discontinued. This happens to so many glorious fragrances. July 16, 2016 at 11:14pm Reply

  • jeanne: 92 degrees in Philadelphia today. I am heavily into Diptyque this summer: Phylosykos, Eau Duelle, Eau de Lierre and Vetyverio on rotation. Also well into a new bottle of Byredo Bal d’Afrique. Still working on a bottle of Hermes Apres La Monsoon from last summer, which is really nice when it is super hot. July 15, 2016 at 7:32pm Reply

    • Patricia: I love Diptyque, too. The fragrances you mention are just so wearable! I’ve had less success with the Byredo line, though I do like Flowerhead very much, which is a nice one for summer. Have you tried it? July 15, 2016 at 8:51pm Reply

      • jeanne: The Byredo store in Soho was generous with samples, I think I have a sample of Flowerhead, I will pull it out and try it, thanks! Give Bal d’Afrique a try, very nice! July 15, 2016 at 9:44pm Reply

  • AndreaR: Enjoying travel sizes of PdN Eau D’Ete, Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan & Un Jardin Après La Mousson and Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au the bleu. July 15, 2016 at 8:01pm Reply

    • Patricia: I’m wearing PdN Eau D’Ete right now. 🙂 July 15, 2016 at 8:53pm Reply

      • AndreaR: Love wearing Eau D’Ete in the summer. July 15, 2016 at 10:05pm Reply

  • Surbhi: I wore Carnal Flower exclusively on my trip to Belgium and France. I received few complements from friends.

    After I came back I decided to still be in the mood and continue to wear CF at work. Someone loved it so much that she asked me what am I wearing and she sprayed it on her wrist in office. After that so many people stopped by complementing her that her office is smelling so beautiful.

    I was in many meetings that day and I got so many complements that I was wearing CF exclusively up until today (and maybe for a while). July 15, 2016 at 10:01pm Reply

    • Victoria: How was your trip? I would love to hear about it, what you’ve discovered, seen, sampled. Hope that you enjoyed your visit. July 16, 2016 at 7:38am Reply

      • Surbhi: My trip was great. Everything happened so fast that I am still processing. Things that I liked: the artsy thread and needle work on white cloth. I saw it at many places in Belgium. I almost wanted to get everything from the shop. I also loved the pierre marcolini chocolates (the one with dates and almonds was simply a piece of art).

        Bruges such a cute little town, I loved walking there, all the houses and the canal and the lake and wind mills. I will definitely go there again (not alone this time 😉 ). I loved the square in Brussels. The grandeur and lights make it so lovely in evening. I also watched football at delirium. I am not much of artsy person but I spent few hours in magritte museum.

        There was a little market on the road on the weekend. The guy brought many perfumes and I actually liked one which smelled like saffron. It was really cheap so I got it without much thought. I will try it few times and then if I like I will post here.

        In Paris, I was just lost. I did most of the touristy stuff. I went to Frognard’s museum. I liked the original frognard scent out of all I smelled there. I have to wear it yet though. Liked it on my wrist though. I love Frederic Malle perfumes so much that I paid a visit to their first store and saw the shoes there.. To my surprise I didn’t like any this time.

        I loved Versailes so much. I love fountains in general and so many in one places.. I was almost running like a kid from one to another listening to the music. The tan I got that day was so worth it :D. I spent a day in louvre. I loved napoleon’s home and the section where they had objects, watches and the math instrument ( I guess science and math student’s brain took over). French grandeur was impressive but all the art and paintings were about war and I don’t like wars nor am I impressed by glory of victory or wars.

        I went to jovoys and tried NVC perfumes. The only one I liked was trayee. but I generally don’t like any perfume first time. (I somehow disliked CF first few times too). I went to perfume de nicolai.. didn’t like anything). I randomly walked into a store called busy 1803.. they had water based perfumes.. I think their rose perfume was ok. Serge Lutens boutique in Palais Royale.. I didn’t like the mysore santal 🙁 I guess few more attempts would be needed. But finally finally.. he started liking jasmine. He actually like A la nuit over any other scent :D. Smiling cheek to cheek.

        I randomly stopped by some perfume places while walking around but nothing remarkable caught my attention except one fragrance by annick goutal..it was some weird combination of tea and something. I will find the name in my notes and post later.

        And the most important part gallats… They kept the vegetarian stomach filled each and every day. On my last trip I either ate bakery or starved and wasn’t too happy so this was a nice find this time.

        Sparkling effiel tower, Siene, seeing the happy Paris after Semi final win were some nice moments. I Was about to fly to Nice, cannes and grasse and be there but I was so tired with 8-10 miles walking every day that I didn’t go. Reading the news was chilling 🙁

        I wanted to come for your workshop but my US visa situation isn’t clear so hopefully some other time. July 16, 2016 at 8:50pm Reply

        • Patricia: Wow! You really did a lot. 🙂 July 17, 2016 at 3:31pm Reply

          • Surbhi: Oh yes. I was so tired on my last day of the trip that I sat in a place for 5-6 hour and then slept all the way on the flight, came home and slept for another 10. August 12, 2016 at 5:16pm Reply

        • Notturno7: Surbhi, what are your favorite F Malle fragrances that you briefly mentioned?

          I loved reading about your trip. It brought great memories of my last visit to Paris. It was just magical, the whole touristy thing, visit to Versailles, Louvre and other museums, having lovely dinners out with friends, God I just love hanging out in the cafés, but Rodin museum and gardens just stole my heart. I was obsessed taking photos of the statues.

          Carnal Flower was a success at my work, too. I was putting makeup on in the restroom and this lady asked what I was wearing. She said that it made ladies room smell great! Isn’t that a bizarre perfume compliment.
          This summer we’re off to Croatia and later, hiking in Wales. It’s going to be hard to choose what perfumes to bring as we have to travel lightly.
          These days I wear Sarrasins, my latest love and acquisition, No 19 perfume and lotion, vintage Rive Gauche… I also just bought Coco Noir extrait. Every time I smell my wrists I think ‘What notes would Victoria detect?’ -as you mentioned it recently. I find it much deeper and darker then EDP. Any chance you’d review it Victoria?
          Patricia, thanks for the lovely post. I never tried Bronze Goddess. Sounds great for summer 😍 July 18, 2016 at 3:47am Reply

          • Victoria: Of course! I will add it on my list. July 18, 2016 at 8:14am Reply

          • Patricia: Thank you, Notturno7. I love Bronze Goddess, especially the whipped body creme. And never underestimate a perfume that can make a restroom smell good! 😉 July 18, 2016 at 12:05pm Reply

            • Surbhi: So 3 people at my work got Carnal flower after I started wearing it at work last few weeks. August 12, 2016 at 5:19pm Reply

          • Surbhi: So sorry for the delayed response. I somehow missed replying to it.

            My favorite Frederic Malle perfumes are:

            1) Musc RAvageur (I won’t touch it in summer though)
            2) CArnal Flower (I didn’t like it initially as much but for last few weeks i wore it almost daily)
            3) eau de magnolia – my summer go to safe perfume for every occasion)
            4) vetiver extraordinare. I don’t wear it but I love to smell it.

            I love few others from the line as well but these 4 are my favorites. August 12, 2016 at 5:29pm Reply

    • Patricia: Hi Surbhi! I’m so glad that Carnal Flower is a hit at your workplace. It’s such a beautiful fragrance. July 16, 2016 at 9:26am Reply

      • Surbhi: ME too. I like to spray perfumes of my choice on my own time. But I was happy that I could bring my summer vacation perfume to work and just continue to be in the vacation mood. July 16, 2016 at 8:52pm Reply

  • Kismet429: Mistral Patchouli is a favorite with me year round, but lately I’ve been spritzing Bergamote Soleil by Atelier Cologne, and trying to decide if I like it. For me, it has a sharp, bright yellow vibe that is just too much for some days, but just right for others.

    For a softer golden glow, I’ve been reaching for Eau de Lombok by Parfums et Senteurs du Pays Basque, I bought my bottle from the delightful perfumer, Christian Louis, in his Paris shop in the Place des Vosges. The more I wear this, the more I love it–a mellow lemon-y top note with a solid, woody underpinning that gives it more substance than most colognes, which can be lovely but fleeting.

    And speaking of fleeting, C.O. Bigelow Lemon No.1999 has taken a spot on my vanity for the summer and is always good for a quick hit of refreshing. July 16, 2016 at 6:31pm Reply

    • Patricia: Eau de Lombok sounds great. I love lemony colognes, and I’m sure that the woody base adds to it’s charm (and increases its longevity). Do you know if it is available elsewhere? July 17, 2016 at 3:36pm Reply

      • Kismet429: I have never seen Parfums et Senteurs du Pays Basque anywhere else, nor had I heard of it before I stumbled onto the shop. However, they do have a website: http://parfumsetsenteursdupaysbasque.com/ and they may ship to the US. Otherwise, guess we’ll just have to go back to Paris! ;> ) July 17, 2016 at 9:14pm Reply

        • Patricia: Thank you for the link. I was in Paris almost three years ago now…just about time to go back, I think! July 18, 2016 at 12:07pm Reply

  • OnWingsofSaffron: I just stumbled over a scent which I had never before smelled: “Tilleul” by d’Orsay. A linden fragrance and very much a happy scent, naturalistic, slightly soapy and not complicated (at least at first sniff). As I shall be going to the Provence end of August I think that would do very nicely.

    I think holiday scents should be more or less informal and with a smile. N° 22 and Mitsouko will have to stay at home; Vent Vert (vintage), Ninfeo mio, Lavande Velours will be very welcome to join the trip 🙂 July 17, 2016 at 4:04pm Reply

    • Notturno7: Lucky you, with Vent Vert vintage.
      My brain is getting happy and bubbly fresh feel just imagining how it feels! July 17, 2016 at 11:50pm Reply

      • OnWingsofSaffron: Why don’t you give yourself a double happy & fresh bubbly whammy: buy Vent vert in Ebay. It’s no hassle. I have had best experience with VV with eau de Cologne and eau de toilette. But buy the very first edition of VV: there are three different ones 😉 Coraggio! July 18, 2016 at 1:14pm Reply

        • Notturno7: Sounds good but I don’t know if I would be able to pick the first edition. July 19, 2016 at 5:36am Reply

          • OnWingsofSaffron: Do you mean, which edition is the first Vent Vert? Don’t hesitate as it is very easy: look up “vent vert vintage” under google, then look at the pictures they provide. The extrait is the little rectangular bottle in a green plastic box (must have been extremely edgy and modern then 😉 ). The eau de toilette is in a tall round glass, plain, with a plastic cap and a green velvet ribbon and in a darkish green cardboard box. The second version is with that little plastic wave on the cap, and with green and white polka dots (it is not so bad but not like the first edition). See Victoria’s post on Vent Vert, it’s excellent. July 20, 2016 at 2:54am Reply

    • Patricia: Linden is such a beautiful note. Two of my favorite linden fragrances are La Chasse aux Papillons by L’Artisan Parfumeur and Linden Blond Tabac by Voluspa. I think I will wear one of them today.

      I agree with you that the best holiday scents don’t take themselves too seriously 🙂 . July 18, 2016 at 12:15pm Reply

      • OnWingsofSaffron: Today in Brussels, when I walked back home from work, I smelled that gorgeous linden note, looked up and: there they were: blooming linden flowers. Sometimes nature cannot be topped. July 18, 2016 at 1:16pm Reply

      • Aurora: Oh yes linden is lovely, there is also Jo Malone French lime blossom, if you haven’t tried it. It’s one of my 2 JM and it never disappoints. July 19, 2016 at 9:05am Reply

        • Patricia: I will try this next time I’m near a JM counter! July 19, 2016 at 11:41am Reply

  • KateC: I just noticed Remarkable People by Etat Libre d’Orange on the Sephora website last night! This must be a sign that I should buy it. I am very curious! July 17, 2016 at 6:40pm Reply

    • Patricia: I really like it! It is fun, different, and great in warm weather. I may have to buy a bottle once I finish my small sample. July 18, 2016 at 12:17pm Reply

  • nozknoz: Great idea for a summer perfume post! La Via del Profumo offers his natural perfumes in a range of sizes, and the roller balls are perfect for travel. I took Tawaf on my last trip. July 17, 2016 at 8:26pm Reply

    • Patricia: I will have to explore this line, nozknoz. I’m glad you enjoyed the article 🙂 . July 18, 2016 at 12:19pm Reply

  • Aurora: I loved your post, Patricia with its summer picnic theme. It makes me long for summer fragrances but so far we haven’t had much of a summer in the UK, rain almost every day at some stage, so I was only giving a fond pat to my Aqua Allegorias (Nerolia Bianca – this one is a terrific balance of neroli and petitgrain – Herba Fresca, Tiare Mimosa), Sur le Nil, Calyx et al and choosing more year round offerings. July 19, 2016 at 9:01am Reply

    • Patricia: I’m glad you enjoyed the article, Aurora, and hope that the weather in the UK improves. It’s been very hot and humid here in the US, ugh. Only the lightest of perfumes appeal just now, so I’m turning to my citrus favorites for refreshment. I have a gift-sized bottle (15 ml.) of Annick Goutal’s Eau d’Hadrien which has seen a lot of use lately. Citrus and cypress…yum! It has decent longevity, too, and will be replaced by a full-sized bottle when I finish it off. 🙂 July 19, 2016 at 11:37am Reply

  • Rita: You know your perfumes ,i am in awe of you! I am using musk at the moment because if the hot july sun and wven in london it can be unbearable! Loving your blog thanks!!! July 22, 2016 at 4:29pm Reply

    • Patricia: Hi Rita, Victoria is incredibly gracious to let me post occasionally on her blog. :-). I’ve heard that the UK has been going through a heatwave lately. Try to stay cool! July 22, 2016 at 6:10pm Reply

      • Rita: Thank you so much. I am usually one of the first people who complIn about the colder months but i will di anything to get them back! July 22, 2016 at 7:02pm Reply

      • Victoria: Oh, it’s your space too. Thank you for your beautiful contributions. July 23, 2016 at 6:45am Reply

        • Patricia: 🙂 July 25, 2016 at 6:57pm Reply

  • Elena: This summer in San Francisco (although any season here resembles spring) I fell in love with Stella In Two Peony scent. It is wind-resistant, sea-compatible, night jazz club-reliable. July 22, 2016 at 5:02pm Reply

    • Patricia: I love peony as a note. One of my favorites is Peoneve by Penhaligon’s, but I’d like to try Two Peony, especially as it’s wind-resistant, sea compatible, and night club reliable! July 22, 2016 at 6:15pm Reply

  • Kari: I’m not doing a lot of traveling this summer simply because my partner and I both recently started new jobs and thus don’t have much time to take off. I’ll share the two travels and what I did take.

    In May, I had a work related trip to Washington DC for a week. Since I hadn’t been wearing fragrances regularly the last time I flew, and was nervous about leakage of precious liquids, I chose to carry several solid perfume tins from my Lush and Gorilla Perfumes collection. This was helpful in not worrying about liquid TSA regulations, or spillage; also, it allowed me to apply tiny bits of scent throughout the day, so as not to show up at the office wearing monster fragrance.

    I took Smuggler’s Soul (creamy sandalwood); Lord of Misrule (vanilla, pepper and patchouli), Frozen (neroli and rose oil), and Rose Jam (sweet, tart rose) and sometimes layered a couple together.

    This past week I traveled by car to a resort town. The events involved shopping, lots of walking through parks with my dog, and attending a wedding. I decided to carefully wrap up several favorite Serge Lutens decants and minis: Arabie, Chergui, Fleurs D’Oranger, and A La Nuit. They traveled well and stayed cool in my purse in the car, though I experienced a tiny bit of leakage from one of the minis. I wore Fleurs D’Oranger to the outdoors, late afternoon ceremony overlooking a river, and A La Nuit to the evening reception. July 24, 2016 at 9:09pm Reply

    • Patricia: Solid perfume is a wonderful idea! I didn’t think about them, although I own three: Agent Provocateur, Philosykos, and Volutes.

      Fleurs d’Oranger and A la Nuit sound perfect for the riverside wedding and reception. I’m sure that those around you appreciated the effort. 🙂 July 25, 2016 at 7:07pm Reply

  • Surbhi: So many nice suggestions. I will use it as a reference to try things for next summer. July 24, 2016 at 11:59pm Reply

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