Aaahh, just the mention of summer gets me so excited for the glorious, sunny months of 2018. It is still rather early, I know. But what’s the harm in preparing ourselves mentally and physically for the plane journeys, beaches, barbecues, ice creams and just the sweet, summer holiday air? One of my favourite things in life is perfume. I absolutely adore perfume and the powerful, nostalgic impact certain scents are capable of leaving on us is incredible. A lot of the perfumes on this list are reminiscent of so many of my Mediterranean, summer memories from years past (and hopefully, years future!) So! Onto the 10 best summer fragrances to get your eager hands on this year!
This isn’t particularly one of the BEST summer fragrances; the dark, masculine notes actually make it more convenient for the winter months but since it doesn’t carry a ‘Use only in Winter’ label (hah) then it’s as versatile as an egg, as far as I’m concerned. When I first smelt it, I thought lavender mixed with vanilla sounds strange, but it smells beautiful and has been a firm favourite of mine for years.
Notes include orange, ginger and pear sorbet softened with hints of sambac jasmine, orange blossom, and lavender honey, warmed with precious woods and vanilla.
This seductive fragrance retails at about £82.00 in Debenhams for a 75 ml bottle, but you can most certainly get it for a lot cheaper on most online fragrance stores.
This sophisticated women’s fragrance is such a classic and is a must-have for every vanity table. It’s feminine, timeless and has such a clean, shampoo-y smell to it that’s quite difficult to explain – but it’s gorgeous.
As described on the Debenhams website, Michael Kors intended for the note of this perfume to be reminiscent of glamorous locations around the world; the top notes deliver a mix of delicate floral and sweet spices with dewy freesia and Moroccan incense, floral scents of tuberose, blue orris, white wings peony and arum lilies, warmed with cashmere woods, rich musk and vetiver base notes.
If you’re on a budget, check out Kim Kardashian’s original perfume – yup. It smells exactly like the Michael Kors fragrance and for half the price!
When I think of summer, sure the long, warm days and the busy, breezy nights are the first things that pop up in my head. But nothing exhilarates me more than the vision of a scorching hot, mystical desert. For this reason, I picked Kalemat by Arabian Oud.
The word ‘Kalemat’ means ‘Words’ in Arabic. This bold, unisex oriental scent is beyond perfect for summer. It combines a unique blend of bilberry and anise for top notes; rosemary and honey for heart notes, and musk, sweet Amber and Kashmir word for base notes. And I swear I smell some vanilla in there too! Nevertheless, it is one of my absolute favourite perfumes ever and once you spray it on, it lasts for ages! It seriously does not budge!
For a heavier, more traditional application, I suggest you try out the perfume oil version which comes in a much prettier metallic bottle and is applied using the stick applicator that’s attached to the lid.
Okay ladies, brace yourselves for this one because it’s easily one of the best summer fragrances. Where do I even start? It smells amazing, it smells magical, it stays on, it doesn’t have alcohol in it (which can make perfumes off-puttingly strong if sprayed too much) and it’s ridiculously affordable!
Coming from gibbering on about Arabian Oud’s Kalemat, I was beautifully reminded of this special little bargain that I’ve been in love with for a while (one of the reasons is pretty darn obvious, tehe.) Named after the legendary Queen of Sheba, this baby is a tiny 6 ml roll-on oil formula – so you can easily throw it in your handbag and because it’s an oil fragrance, lasts for a relatively long time. Not only that, but it is as cheap as chips falling under £2.00 to £3.00 – say what?! And without sacrificing quality.
Al-Rehab’s Balkis is described as an alcohol-free Arabian feminine fragrance, enriched with vanilla, violet, lily of the valley and white musk with overtones of jasmine and honey.
Aaahhhh…It’s honestly just perfection in a bottle.
This is a floral, feminine, sophisticated, warm and even slightly mature fragrance. It has that classic, feminine, powdery scent to it. This is definitely another one of those perfumes that should be on every woman’s vanity table! It isn’t sweet or too “youngish”, nor is it too sultry or masculine – it’s just the perfect soft, classic fragrance that exudes an aura of femininity and sophistication, and a small amount goes a long way. It combines a silky blend of wood, musk, muguet, Sicilian bergamot and baie rose.
This is an absolute beauty, and a must-have for this summer. It is perfect for formal evening events, romantic summer dates, weddings and anniversaries, birthdays, you name it!
Floral fragrances are easily one of the best summer fragrances, and this literal Beauty by Calvin Klein is one you must add to your collection. It’s vibrant but subtle, sophisticated but casual, classic but modern. In my opinion, it’s exceptionally versatile and can work great during formal and casual events, night and day. It’s an all-around good perfume for all intents and purposes.
The notes that make up this lovely perfume are sweet lilies, ambrette seed, jasmine and cedarwood.
Another gem by Calvin Klein, Eternity Moment is one powerfully floral but sweet perfume that reminds me quite a bit of pure orange blossom water. It has a very rosy, florally scent to it yet can be worn very lightly during the day so as to not be too overpowering – it is quite strong and a tiny amount sprayed on can go a very long way.
If you’re into clean and fresh, feminine, floral fragrances then this is definitely one you should grab. It contains a fresh mix of fragrant florals and ripe fruits – pomegranates, Chinese pink peony blossom, tasberry cashmere, warm rosewood and musk, lychee, guava, romantic passionflower and nymphaea. – phoar!
This light, modern perfume is one of the best summer fragrances. It combines a flamboyant concoction of fresh, summer fruits and its top notes include pink pepper, kiwi and rhubarb with jasmine, cyclamen and watermelon as heart notes. Musk, sandalwood and lemon tree make up the base notes.
It’s modern, feminine, versatile, exudes youth and for the price, you simply can’t go wrong with it.
No, it’s not a table cleaner. It’s a perfume. It’s also quite mainstream, the only way I can describe it is it’s clean, fresh and quite strong too, considering it’s an Eau de toilette. It’s perfect for those hot, summer days when you’re out on a road trip or doing your last-minute summer holiday shopping while eating ice cream. Again, this is a designer perfume so it is expected to be on the pricier end of the spectrum.
This Fresh fragrance includes pink grapefruit, lily of the valley and cassis at the top, leading on to pomegranate, wild rose and pink jacinth at the heart with a base of cedarwood.
Daisy is quite an old cult favourite, and no perfume stands out as one of the best summer fragrances quite like this one. Asides from the overly cute bottle, the fragrance itself is a natural, fresh, feminine scent with an almost innocent, childlike quality about it. The best thing about this is, as with all the other feminine perfumes, it’s suitable for both young and mature women.
The noticeable velvety softeness of this cute fragrance most likely owes its credit to its top notes of wild strawberries, violet leaves and red grapefruit, a heart of gardenia, violet and jasmine petals rounded with a balance of musk, vanilla infusion and white woods.
No season is complete without a good, unique collection of perfumes, so be sure to start hunting around for your favourite summer fragrances this year!
*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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