Coco Chanel said that "a women who doesn't wear perfume has no future." Christian Dior believed that a "woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting." The first statement certainly doesn't ring true to us, but what we do know is that when we smell good, we feel good.
Finding 'The One' – a fragrance that feels distinctively like "you" and not every other woman on the tube carriage – is a rare and wonderful thing. Our sense of smell and scent recollection is entwined with nostalgia and romance, and with good reason. From Proust's philosophies of odour-evoked memories, to Marilyn Monroe's famous retort on being asked what she wore to bed: "Chanel No.5", to the proliferation of celebrity fragrances in the noughties, what we wear and why we wear it, says an awful lot about us.
So, with that in mind, we've been thinking about fresh summer fragrances to carry us through the hot, sticky months. Like clothes, it can be good to give your staples a shake up when the seasons start to turn. From cult classics to new releases, we've compiled an edit of good quality perfumes that conjure up that summer feeling.
In need of a spritz before cocktails after work? With accents of lime mojito and juicy guava, this new release from CK One is exotic and bursting with summery scents. Naturally, it's unisex, and the packaging alone has got us in the holiday mood.
Last year, Byredo released a line of hair perfumes, and we had no idea we could feel so Louis XIV. This is the Black Saffron scent – the most popular selling of the range – that includes bright citrus pomelo, crisp juniper berry and rich golden saffron. The unique silicone and polymer formula ingredients create a light, invisible veil designed to leave the hair nourished, luminous and divinely scented. Ideal for BBQ-proof locks.
This fragrance conjures up long, hot summer nights with a fusion of spices, leather and florals. Endymion Concentré includes notes of sage, lavender and geranium. As it warms to the skin, leather notes intensify and hints of creamy nutmeg mix with incense for a base that is both sweet and seductive.
Luna is a new floral fragrance from Penhaligon’s filled with the bitter freshness of orange bigarade and lemon primofiore as well as undertones of jasmine and amber.
The Bonbon tree fragrance is part of & Other Stories' wonderfully and decently priced beauty offering. This particular spritz is fragranced with violet, sandalwood, and carrot and is a distinctive enough scent to hold its own against hot summer days.
This seductive scent is full of patchouli, frankincense and spicy woods and is as long-lasting as it is delicious.
Jo Malone Pomegranate noir cologne, £85, available at Selfridges
Forget Daisy (for now) this fresh-out-the-shower perfume is the coolest fragrance up for grabs. Light, breezy and crisp top notes are (obviously) cucumber, then lotus leaf, bamboo and lily.
Marc Jacobs Cucumber Splash Eau De Toilette, £38, available at Harvey Nichols
Byredo's Bal D'Afrique is a special fragrance that smells like nothing else. Inspired by the flamboyance of Paris in the 1920s, the unisex perfume contains floral jasmine, sweet neroli and musk for a warm and crisp scent.
Byredo Bal D'Afrique Eau de Parfum, £90, avaialble at Net-A-Porter
Here's one for the glamour pusses. Founded ten years ago XERJOFF was launched by Sergio Momo with the aim of blending the most luxurious materials on the planet to complement global lifestyles. The result is a collection of some of the most exquisite, unique and limited edition scents available in the world today. This particular scent is floral and robust.
Byredo have come together with glasses brand Oliver Peoples on a scent to celebrate the phenomenon of "Synesthesia" which is the joint perception of sight and sound. This fragrance has notes of juniper berry and California lemon and is utterly lovely.
Byredo Oliver Peoples, £105, available exclusively at Liberty
Jo Malone's special tea collection is well worth a sniff for those after something different. Magnetic Golden Needle Tea perfume evokes the warm wooden interior of Chinese tea houses and is a must for anyone with a nose for sandalwood.
This fragrance, launched in 2005, has become a favourite of noses in the know. Top notes include african orange flower, rose and iris; middle notes are tuberose and pink pepper; base notes are benzoin and musk. Summer- bottled.
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