20 Best Summer Perfumes that Will Transport You to Paradise
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Sunshine's calling, beach days are beckoning, and it's officially time to ditch the heavy winter scents. To help you find your perfect summer scent, I’ve curated a list of the 20 best summer perfumes that will transport you to paradise. From tropical escapes to fresh & flirty florals, this list has something for everyone. Continue reading to discover your signature scent for the hottest season of 2024.
Best Summer Perfumes for 2024
Best tropical: Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Tiger Lily
Best coconut: The 7 Virtues Coconut Sun
Best fruity floral: ABBOTT Papaya Isla
Best citrus: Oribe Cote d'Azur
Best aquatic: Skylar Salt Air
Best budget-friendly: Dossier Aquatic Coconut
Best beachy: Vacation by Vacation
Best body spray: Caudalie Fleur De Vigne
Best Tropical: Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Tiger Lily
This sensual, warm-solar perfume transports you to a tropical summer oasis where exotic flowers perfume the air. With a blend of creamy coconut milk, wild-floral tiger lily, and juicy mango, Viktor&Rolf’s newest release, Flowerbomb Tiger Lily offers a vibrant and captivating scent for your next summer getaway. It’s one of the best tropical perfumes you’ll want to spritz all summer long.
Price: $145 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Coconut Milk, Tiger Lily, Mango
Best Tropical Floral: AERIN Hibiscus Palm
If you’re looking for the best summer floral with a tropical twist, AERIN Hibiscus Palm is an invitation to a sunny island paradise. With lush notes of hibiscus and crisp palm alongside melati flowers and coconut milk, it’s the perfect fragrance for those craving a sense of pure relaxation this summer.
Price: $150 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Hibiscus, Melati Flower, Coconut Milk
Best Coconut: The 7 Virtues Coconut Sun
Coconut is the scent synonymous with summer. When it comes to selecting the perfect coconut fragrance for the warmer months, look no further than The 7 Virtues Coconut Sun. This irresistibly delicious perfume is a beach escape in a bottle with enticing notes of coconut water, frangipani, and gourmand vanilla. Clean, uplifting, and subtly sweet, you can’t go wrong with this tropical coconut delight.
Price: $88 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Coconut, Frangipani, Vanilla | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Clean, Vegan
Best Budget Coconut: Le Monde Gourmand Lait de Coco
Luxury shouldn't break the bank, and Le Monde Gourmand Lait de Coco proves it. This fragrance is a coconut lover's dream, offering a delicious and creamy coconut milk scent at a price that won't make you sweat. It's not overly complex, but that's precisely why I love it. Light and great for layering, it’s a wearable gourmand worth spritzing this summer.
Price: $25 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1 oz | Key Notes: Bergamot, Vanilla Praline, Coconut | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Best Floral: Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Eau Néroli Ambrée
While floral scents are typically associated with spring, there are some delightful choices perfect for summer. For a feminine floral option, Narciso Rodriguez’s Narciso Eau Néroli Ambrée is a winner. Its top notes of neroli and frangipani blend seamlessly with musk, orange blossom, and warm base notes. Sun-drenched florals never smelt so sophisticated.
Price: $56 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1 oz | Key Notes: Neroli, Frangipani, Musk, Orange Blossom, Cashmeran, Amber, Cedar
Best Milky Floral: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Soleil Cristal
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Soleil Cristal stands out as the ultimate feminine fragrance for summer. This bright and sunny take on the original La Vie Est Belle is a milky floral masterpiece offering a tropical blend of coconut, vanilla white iris, and mandarin. Warm, fresh and floral, it perfectly captures the essence of a summer day.
Price: $120 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Mandarin, White Iris, Ylang-Ylang, Vanilla
Best Fruity: Jo Malone London Sunlit Cherimoya
If you’re searching for a fruity fragrance for summer, Jo Malone London Sunlit Cherimoya is a must. This scent evokes green cherimoya fruit basking in the heat across beachfront stalls with juicy pear, warmed by copaiba resin and creamy tonka bean. It’s an exotic, fruity cocktail that’s both refreshing for the summer and distinct from your average fruity fragrances. I’m also obsessed with this beautiful bottle!
Price: $115 | Type: Cologne | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Bergamot, Cherimoya, Copahu Resin
Best Fruity Floral: ABBOTT Papaya Isla
Inspired by a small tropical island on Lake Nicaragua, ABBOTT's Papaya Isla beautifully marries fruity and floral. A warm and tropical scent, with its papaya fruit and jungle green notes, will transport you to an island paradise. If you’re looking for a more mature fruity fragrance, Papaya Isla is the best floral fruity perfume for your next summer getaway.
Price: $88 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Papaya, Jungle Greens, Ambrox | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Clean, Vegan
Best Fruity Tropical: Vilhelm Parfumerie Mango Skin
Mango stands out as a top ingredient for crafting a fruity tropical perfume. Among the best mango-inspired scents is Mango Skin by Vilhelm Parfumerie. This luxurious blend is a celebration of all things tropical with a harmonious blend of blackberries, mango, and black pepper notes. The result is a fragrance that captures the fruity freshness of the season.
Price: $175 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Mango, Black Pepper, Vanilla
Best Warm: Kayali Utopia Vanilla Coco
If you love the comforting warmth of vanilla but crave a touch of something unexpected, you must try Kayali Utopia Vanilla Coco. This perfume combines creamy sandalwood and sweet white florals topped with milky coconut and then whipped together with vanilla bourbon. It’s one of the best coconut summer perfumes that smells like a luxe beach getaway.
Price: $100 | Type: Eau de Parfum Intense | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Coconut, Jasmine, Vanilla Bourbon
Best Vanilla: Juliette Has A Gun Vanilla Vibes
For vanilla lovers, Juliette Has A Gun's Vanilla Vibes is your perfect summer companion. This amber fragrance is a warm-weather rendition of your average vanilla perfume with notes of sea salt, sandalwood and orchid alongside natural vanilla. Aquatic and tropical, this perfume is reminiscent of hot days by the seaside.
Price: $110 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Sea Salt, Natural Vanilla, Sandalwood
Best Warm Vanilla: Sol de Janeiro Sol Cheirosa '62
If you're looking for a warm vanilla scent that’s still appropriate for summer, Sol de Janeiro Sol Cheirosa '62 is a gorgeous option that smells like a trip to the beaches of Rio. Rich and long-lasting with boldly delicious notes of pistachio, salted caramel, golden sandalwood, and warm vanilla, it’s bound to become your go-to this season.
Price: $78 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Pistachio, Jasmine Petals, Salted Caramel | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Best Citrus: Oribe Cote d'Azur
You may be familiar with Oribe's renowned luxury haircare products, but they also make some stunning perfumes. Searching for a fresh summer fragrance? Look no further than Cote d'Azur, featuring a citrusy blend of lemon, Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and warm sandalwood. This scent is sensual and invigorating, embodying the classic glamour and heat of the French Riviera.
Price: $125 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 2.5 oz | Key Notes: Lemon, Black Currant, Calabrian Bergamot, Sicilian Orange | Highlights: Vegan
Best Aquatic: Skylar Salt Air
When it comes to aquatic perfumes, Skylar Salt Air stands out as one of the freshest options. This fragrance smells of breezy beach days with notes of sea salt to give you a fresh-out-the-water feeling. Grounding driftwood and green seaweed mingle with light floral notes of water lily for a clean perfume that is ideal for everyday wear.
Price: $90 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Driftwood, Sea Salt, Seaweed | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Clean, Vegan
Best Earthy: Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil
If you’re in the market for a fresher summer scent, Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil is a must-try. This fragrance evokes a lush island garden on the bank of the Nile with green, vegetal scents like green mango, lotus blossom, calamus, and an earthy blend of incense and sycamore wood. This sophisticated scent is lovely all around, and the tropical notes make it an easy perfume to wear in the summer months.
Price: $115 | Type: Eau de Toilette | Size: 1.6 oz | Key Notes: Green Mango, Lotus Blossom, Incense, Sycamore Wood
Best Gourmand: Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Daze
Summer isn't all sunshine and beaches. Sometimes, you crave a scent that's a little more delectable. For my gourmand girlies, Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Daze smells like peaches and cream with almost-edible notes of apricot, osmanthus, and amber. It’s sweet, fruity and lactonic with lick-off-your-skin sweetness, a delicious option for summer.
Price: $86 | Type: Eau de Parfum | Size: 1.6 oz | Key Notes: Apricot, Osmanthus, Amber
Best Beachy: Vacation by Vacation
Looking for a perfume that smells like tanning lotion? Vacation’s Vacation is summer in a bottle. This scent perfectly captures the scent of sunscreen and poolside memories with a blend of juicy pineapple and creamy coconut alongside pool water and swimsuit lycra. It's the ultimate vacation perfume (I know, shocking) that is ideal for carefree days by the ocean.
Price: $60 | Type: Eau de Toilette | Size: 1.0 oz | Key Notes: Coconut, Banana, Pineapple, Orange Blossom, Pool Water, Pool Toy, Swimsuit Lycra | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Best Budget: Dossier Aquatic Coconut
If you're looking for an affordable summer fragrance that doesn't sacrifice quality, consider Dossier's Aquatic Coconut. It’s inspired by Maison Margiela's Replica Beach Walk, another warm-weather favorite. This solar piña colada combines salty watery accord with the sparkle of citrus and pink pepper. A few spritzes will transport you to a summer day on the beach, with the caress of a warm sea breeze, a subtle smell of sunscreen, and the sensual feeling of sand on the skin.
Dossier's fragrances are inspired by high-end brands, so you can enjoy luxurious scents without overspending. I’ve been using Dossier perfumes for years, and I’m always impressed by their recreations.
Price: $29 | Type: Eau de Toilette | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Bergamot, Heliotrope, Coconut | Highlights: Cruelty-Free, Clean, Vegan
Best Body Spray: Caudalie Fleur De Vigne
Sometimes, a lightweight body spray is all you need to stay fresh and fragrant throughout the day. The best option for summer is Caudalie's Fleur De Vigne Body Spray. This fresh, light-scented water captures the essence of fleeting blooms in June with energizing notes of grapefruit, mandarin and cedar. It's the perfect on-the-go scent for a quick spritz after a swim or to layer with your favorite summer perfume for a touch of cooling, floral fragrance.
Price: $42 | Type: Eau Fraîche | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Notes: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Cedar
Shop Summer Perfumes
Tips for Choosing Your Summer Perfume
1. Consider the Seasonal Notes
Summer calls for lighter, fresher notes that reflect the season. Look for fragrances with citrusy notes like lemon, lime, bergamot, or grapefruit for an instant burst of energy. Light and breezy floral notes like jasmine, lily of the valley, or peony can offer a more floral and feminine aroma. Additionally, tropical notes like coconut, pineapple or mango can transport you to far-off paradises and add a touch of exoticism to your signature summer scent.
The perfumes featured in this post have many of these seasonal notes that make them ideal for the summer season. You can also learn more about the composition of each fragrance on perfume sites like Fragrantica.
2. Consider the Climate
When choosing a signature scent for summer, it's essential to consider the climate you'll be in. In hotter and more humid regions, opt for fragrances with lighter compositions that won't become overpowering in the heat. Look for fresh, aquatic, or citrus-based scents that offer a cooling sensation and invigorating effect, making them ideal for hot summer days.
Aquatic and ozonic fragrances evoke the freshness of the ocean and often feature notes such as sea salt, water lily, or marine accords. ****Inspired by Italy’s Mediterranean coast, Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia is a popular aromatic option that smells simultaneously clean and revitalizing. A more affordable option is Anthropologie Nostalgia Beach Trip, a feminine aquatic scent that is clean and slightly tropical, perfect for a seaside vacation.
3. Test the Perfume on Your Skin
Perfume can smell different on your skin compared to how it does in the bottle. The chemistry of your skin can alter the fragrance, so it's essential to try the perfume directly on your skin. Apply it to your wrist and allow it to develop for a few minutes. This will give you a better sense of how the scent interacts with your body chemistry and whether it's a good fit.
4. Sample Before You Commit
Before purchasing a full-size bottle, it's a good idea to obtain samples or travel-size versions of the fragrances you're interested in. This way, you can test them over a few days and in various situations to ensure you're truly in love with the scent. Many retailers and fragrance brands offer sample sets that allow you to explore a range of scents.
Every season, I visit Sephora to sample different scents. I always ask for samples of my favorite scents to wear and test for a few days. This allows me to find a fragrance that best compliments me. Sometimes I’ll blind buy a perfume if I’ve researched the scent enough to feel confident that I’ll enjoy it.
5. Consider the Occasion
Think about the occasions you'll be wearing the perfume. Are you looking for a day-to-night scent, something for special evenings, or a fragrance that's perfect for a beach vacation? Different perfumes can suit various occasions, so it's essential to choose a fragrance that complements your lifestyle and plans. Consider having a lighter, more casual fragrance for daytime wear and a slightly richer scent for evenings.
Whether you prefer tropical and fruity aromas or lean towards citrus and fresh scents, there's a summer perfume just waiting to be your signature scent for the season. Although I normally reach for fresher scents during the summer, I’m excited to try some of the tropical options on this list!
What is your favorite summer fragrance? Let me know in the comments below.
