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Scent Stories: 10 holiday perfumes that perfectly bottle the sense of summer
Whether you're looking for a classic summary scent or something unexpected, let the experts guide you on choosing the ultimate holiday perfume
While the perfect summer holiday perfume is as personal a choice as any, there are certain characteristics of scents that can help capture the magic of a time and place. As says perfumer Jean-Christophe Hérault of Contes des Parfums Sevilla, fragrances chosen for a holiday can carry the character and ambiance of a season or destination. “A holiday scent becomes a time capsule of your best moments, so carefully select one that captures the essence of your travel experience,” he advises.
How to choose a holiday perfume
“Consider the climate and season at your destination and the activities you are planning. Try to imagine how your fragrance might mingle with the smell of this place,” offers Claudio Denz, co-founder of Maison Noir and creator of multiple best-selling perfumes for various brands. “Some might say you should wear a light or heavy fragrance depending on the season, place and weather, but I think you should just go with the fragrance that feels right.”
Hérault adds: “Personally, for sunny days, I would opt for something fresh, sparkling, and light – an eau de cologne, for example. When the sun sets and you’re getting ready for a night out, I’d recommend choosing a more sophisticated, richer perfume, with an unforgettable sillage.”
The perfume notes that say summer
When it comes to notes that lend themselves best to a summer holiday, Hérault explains that citrus scents, such as lemon and bergamot, are ideal given their refreshing and energising characteristics. “They evoke a sense of vitality and freshness, perfect for hot days,” he explains.
Another classic summery option can be found in florals, as they “are reminiscent of blooming gardens”. Similarly, “green fragrances, inspired by leaves, grass and herbs” work well, as such notes “breathe life in our senses, evoking the great outdoors,” he continues. And when experiencing soaring temps that the season can bring, turn to aquatic notes for a cooling effect. “Think of a sea breeze, the scent of the ocean…”
Below, find Bazaar’s favourite holiday perfumes for summer 2024 and beyond.
‘Solar’ scents are trending this year, with many brands creating golden juices that glow and glisten on the wearer as much as in the bottles. Symbolic of sun-kissed skin, the ever-viral Phlur nailed the theme with Solar Power, cocktailing citruses such as blood mandarin and bergamot with white florals including jasmine, orange blossom and neroli, all anchored by a musky base of sea salt and driftwood.
“While I typically gravitate towards piercing citrus perfumes in summer, there’s something so special to me about this fresh floral fragrance which oozes a kind of ethereal romance,” says multiplatform beauty director Bridget March. “The work of master perfumer Alberto Morillas, Tear from the Moon is a beautiful blend of dewy white flowers that leaves a sweet, sparkling trail. I recently took it the Maldives and it perfectly enhanced the trip's majestic tropical ambience.”
Few scents say summer like Dolce & Gabbana’s cult Light Blue, and its chic-looking Summer Vibes iteration continues to capture the escapist energy of Capri. Fresh, fun and flirty, Calabrian bergamot accompanies ripe peach and smooth cedarwood.
“One of my favourite summer scents is Sevilla by Contes de Parfums,” says Hérault of his Andalusian-inspired fragrance. “This scent is an olfactory escapade to the sun-kissed streets of Seville, where the air dances with the sweet notes of orange blossom and jasmine.”
Another Mediterranean-inspired concoction, capturing the spirit of a summer day as it slips into an endless evening, Villa Neroli evokes the light of a setting sun on the island of Capri witnessed from your villa garden. Combining Calabrian lemon with neroli, orange blossom and vanilla absolute, it’s quite the dolce vita cocktail.
As Denz says, “holidays are a great opportunity to try something new” – and Maison Noir’s aromatic citrus Vertigo 236 won't disappoint. Alongside lemon and mint leaves, patchouli, vetiver and musk, it has an ozonic note evoking an aquatic breeziness that makes it perfectly fitting for the season’s stickier climes.
“I often gravitate towards fragrances that are warm and sumptuous – Chanel N°5 being one of them – which works beautifully in winter but can feel stifling in the summer heat,” says Bazaar’s beauty editor Medina Azaldin. “So my perfume trick for the sunnier months is to opt for similar notes, but in a lighter concentration – for example, switching from an eau de parfum to an eau de toilette or cologne. That way you can still enjoy your favourite notes all year round. My go-to this season is Chanel N°5 L’Eau, which feels fresher and airier thanks to the addition of gentle musks, bright ylang-ylang and woody undertones. The new limited-edition bottle is handy for travel and pleasing to hold, too. Who can resist a perfume bottle that looks like an objet d'art?”
A floral gourmand, À Fleur de Pêche by the perfumer Antoine Maisondieu is an ode to the essence of ripe peach – from woody core to fuzzy skin. Combining notes of patchouli, jasmine and rose, it also captures the rich lavishness of Versailles. An olfactory adventure – whether you’re home or away this summer.
One of our favourite fruity fragrances for 2024, Paula’s Ibiza Cosmic aspires to transport you to the energising ambiance of Ibizan nightlife, “making wearers feel invigorated, adventurous, and immersed in the Island's spirit”, perfumer Nuria Cruelles explains. With notes of coconut, sandalwood and mango, it evokes feelings of warmth, vibrancy, “and an undeniable sense of excitement”.
If a summer holiday to you is less synonymous with the heady flamboyance of partying and more about windswept seaside walks, Jo Malone London’s refreshing Wood Sage & Sea Salt is ideal. Crisp, fresh and comforting, the combination of salt and sage here beautifully represent the bracing British coast in all its beauty. Snap it up for your next staycation.
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