Summer Perfume Recommendations, Part I: What Are We Wearing This Season

Written by Angel Hoque, Sima Keijzers-Puodziute, Ally Santos

As the days stretch longer and the temperature rises, and as you can feel summer impatiently waving from around the corner, it’s time to reach for brighter, lighter scents. If you’re still looking for the perfumes that will stay with you while you create new summer memories, the contributing authors of PlezuroMag share their recommendations.

Photo credit: Pexels

Summer perfumes are more than seasonal accessories — they’re bottled experiences waiting to happen. A citrus sparkle that lingers on sun-warmed skin. A salty breeze folded into soft florals. A sweet heat that clings to the collarbone after a late evening. The right fragrance won’t just accompany your summer — it might even define it.

This year, we’ve curated a list of perfumes that capture the spirit of summer in all its forms: refreshing, radiant, and unexpected. Whether you’re headed to the coast, a rooftop party, or simply chasing the feeling of vacation in your everyday life, there’s a scent here to match your mood.

Sima’s Picks

Hermes - Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate

One of my favorite scents for hotter days is Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate by Hermes. This scent was love from the first sniff. It enchanted me with a perfect balance of sweetness and freshness. I often see that most typical summer fragrances are either very fruity or citrusy, but this one, in my opinion, is a unique one. It has that fruity, juicy, slightly sugary facets that make your mouth water, but at the same time, it has that inviting rhubarb sharpness and lightness, that lifts your spirits up and balances the composition beautifully. This scent really makes me smile and brings joy to my daily life!

Roger & Gallet - Fleur Osmanthus

A very affordable, joyful, subtle, and sunny fragrance! I adore it so much, and it’s such a bargain that I practically bathe in it during hot summer days. Despite its lightness, it has a surprisingly long-lasting scent that has become my favorite companion at bedtime. It is perfect for humid hot days when you don’t want overpowering, overwhelming scent, but something light, subtle, a bit sweet, with fruity floral facets.

Versatile - Sea, Sud, and Sun

I've been raving about this perfume ever since I got it. It's fresh, ozonic, creamy, and slightly gourmand, with beautiful fig notes (which are one of my favourite ones during hot days)! Imagine if 'Philosykos' and 'Nice Bergamote' had a baby. The only downside is that since it's an oil-based perfume with a dab applicator, it can make my hair a bit oily (I like to apply perfume behind my ears). So, I prefer to use it on my wrists, elbows, or other body parts that don't come into contact with my hair.

Buly - Groseille de Scandinavie et Tomate du Pérou

We all know that summer scents tend to focus more on fruity, citrusy, floral, aromatic notes. However, lately, perfumers are experimenting a lot with integrating ‘vegetables’ into their perfume compositions. I recently tried Officine Universelle Bully’s ‘Les Jardains Francais’ collection which is inspired by centuries-old seed collections and the curiosity of 18th and 19th century botanists. Think of sweet potato, carrot, cucumber, beetroot inspired scents. The one that stood out for me was Scandinavian Redcurrant & Peruvian Tomato’. Mostly because of its originality and the use of ingredients: tomato & red currant. It brought back childhood memories of exploring my grandmother’s greenhouse filled with ripening tomatoes, and picking redcurrants to make winter compote. Those nostalgic scented memories and not the trends are often the ones that cannot stop me from buying a certain perfume.

Angel’s Picks

After nearly eight months of hibernation, we in the Northern Hemisphere are finally ready to welcome the sun, sea, sand, warmth, and all the joy that summer brings. For Canadians especially, summer holds a unique significance. Much of the year is spent under gray skies, and even the faintest glimpse of sunshine in autumn or winter has us bundling up and heading outside to soak in the icy rays. That’s how deeply we cherish sunlight and warm weather — they’re not just a change in climate, they’re a celebration.

Because of this, my summer fragrances don’t get as much wear as my other perfumes throughout the year. I intentionally save my quintessential summer scents for these precious four months, allowing myself to fully savor everything they represent — the lightness, the energy, and the carefree spirit that defines this vibrant season.

Let’s dive into a few favorites of mine that I am looking forward to wearing this summer.

Ormonde Jayne - Tolu

A balmy, resin-rich orange blossom scent with an oily texture, accented by crisp herbs and a delectable amber base — Tolu has been a staple in my collection for the past three years. It’s a multi-faceted floral amber that I wholeheartedly recommend to every woman without hesitation. Among the few Ormonde Jayne creations with impressive longevity, Tolu breaks away from the brand’s signature understated elegance. Instead, it’s a bold, room-filling white floral — thick, nuanced, and unapologetically attention-grabbing. While not a traditional or classic scent profile, it carries a contemporary flair that feels timeless and poised to age beautifully. Pair it with your favorite butter-yellow outfit this summer, and I promise — you’ll feel radiant from the inside out.

In addition to Tolu, Ormonde Jayne has some impressive offerings for summertime like Frangipani, Taif, Levant and Tanger.

Santa Maria Novella - Fresia

Over the past two to three years, the "clean girl aesthetic" has taken over social media — and for once, I truly embrace this trend. As I've grown older, my personal style and scent preferences have naturally evolved, leaning more toward refined simplicity. This genre of fragrance has become one of my favorites because you really can't go wrong with something that smells effortlessly pleasant and still makes you feel beautiful from within.

That said, the fragrance must embody the essence of the clean girl vibe — understated, elegant, and purposeful. Freesia captures that feeling perfectly. It’s a clean floral with a crystalline, soapy, almost watery translucence that wears close to the skin but still stirs emotion.

If you tend to prefer bolder, more intense perfumes, this one may not feel worth the investment — especially at just over $100 for 50 ml. But if I had to define this aesthetic in a bottle, it would be this soft, iridescent musky floral. Pair it with a mid-length cotton or linen dress in soft pastel hues, and you’ll see the magic come to life.

Another favorite of mine from Santa Maria Novella for summertime is Rosa Novella.

Liquides Imaginaires - Liquide (Gold)

This is a unique take on white florals — a spicier, less solar interpretation of orange blossom. Gold carries an undeniably captivating narrative that fully supports its rich composition and aesthetic. It’s incredibly powerful, layered with a multitude of notes that create a radiant, almost omnipresent trail of the most exotic kind.

In my opinion, it leans perfectly unisex. While it stands beautifully on its own, Gold also makes an excellent layering fragrance, adding depth and complexity to create an even more enchanting olfactory experience.

In addition to Liquide Gold, Blanche bete and Ame De Couer are my favorites for the season.

Adamo - Juanillo

Somewhere on your dream tropical island, soaking up the sun, walking through the narrow alleyways in your beautiful silk dress , biting on your melting pistachio and orange gelato, enjoying all that there is for you to absorb, emanating your sultry and buttery suntanned musky allure and living every bit of the sunlight until the sun sets down the horizon.

I have to say though along with Juanillo, all the fragrance enthusiasts should put their nose on the entire summer collection of Adamo such as Eden and Uluwatu.

Goldfield & Banks - Sunset Hour

Playful and carefree from the very first spray, Sunset Hour bursts open with crisp pear, mandarin, and desert peach — a tart, sun-drenched fruit note tinged with rhubarb and a subtle salty-skin warmth. As it develops, the heart reveals a lush blend of jasmine’s creamy white florals, green mango, zesty ginger, and smooth coconut cream, all enhancing the tropical allure of desert peach. A touch of pink pepper sharpens the fruit's tang, adding a lively contrast.

Anchoring the fragrance is Australian sandalwood — a botanical cousin of Quandong — offering a spicy, green-woody base that perfectly supports the decadent blend of coconut and peach. This smooth transition into musk and vanilla creates a warm, plush dry-down that lingers beautifully.

Sunset Hour captures the essence of unforgettable evenings — where the world’s most breathtaking sunsets serve as the backdrop to music, dancing, and a collective spirit of joy. It’s a scent that bottles those golden moments, destined to become cherished memories.

In addition to Sunset Hour, I love Velvet Splendour and Ingenious Ginger to wear in summer.

Thameen - Blue Heart

All I can say is — this is a coconut like no other. While it may not take center stage in the composition, its fleshy, oily warmth blends seamlessly with resinous amber and the creamiest orris, creating something truly unforgettable. This fragrance holds a special place in my heart, tied to memories of my trip to Mexico, and I already know that any future getaway to the Caribbean wouldn’t feel complete without it.

I’ve never quite found the right words to fully capture what Blue Heart means to me — but I’ve also never felt so drawn to a single fragrance for a vacation. It’s an irresistible blend of vanillic coconut and soft orris that keeps calling me back.

Bravi is another spectacular milky tuberose fragrance to wear during summer time from this brand.

Xerjoff - Amber Gold

I’m still making my way through a stack of samples, but this one stands out as possibly my favorite — a spicy, opulent take on orange blossom with a generous base of patchouli. This fragrance comes with a hefty price tag, as it's part of a duo set housed in Xerjoff’s signature white briefcase-style packaging with a bold red interior. Despite its luxurious presentation, Amber Gold remains one of Xerjoff’s most underrated gems — rarely talked about, which only adds to its allure.

While orange blossom leads the way, I detect indolic hints of jasmine, likely due to the quality of raw materials and the masterful use of spices and patchouli. There’s also a subtle hay-like, tobacco sweetness at the heart, giving it a warm, inviting character that melds beautifully with a soft, slightly almondy nuance. To me, it’s one of Xerjoff’s most compelling and overlooked creations — a fragrance with charisma that feels truly one of a kind.

Xerjoff is a brand that has many incredible offerings to wear during summertime. 40 Knots, Pikovaya Dama, Opera, Accento Overdose, 400, Quatro Pizzi, Levar del Sole, Dolce Amalfi, Layla, Torino 21 and 24.

Ally’s Picks

Summer is here, and you know what that means; time to rotate the fragrance wardrobe. I always find this seasonal switch exciting. There’s something about heat and humidity that changes the way perfumes behave on skin. Some bloom beautifully, others get too loud, and a few just melt into magic. So I’ve rounded up the ones I’ve been loving (and reaching for on repeat). These aren’t “safe” summer picks. They’re the ones that made me pause, smile, and spray again.

Thameen - Bravi

The first time I wore Bravi, I was caught off guard. It’s creamy, it’s spicy, and somehow it still works in the summer. There’s bitter orange and ginger up top, followed by honey, saffron, and tuberose, but it’s the walnut milk note that makes this sing. It smells like confidence with a soft heart. If you’ve got summer events in the evening, this is your scene-stealer.

Scentologia - Lactonic

Laconic feels like a summer dessert you never want to end. Coconut, almond milk, caramel, and just a touch of sandalwood. It’s smooth, soft, and comforting—but still airy enough to wear when the temps are high. I’d wear this on days I want to feel cozy but light, like lounging under a shaded tree with a book and no rush to be anywhere.

BDK Parfums - Impadia

This one surprised me. Pear, rose, mandarin, and this little chocolate note peeking through. It’s floral and fruity but not juvenile. It has polish. There’s something fearless about how BDK approached this—like wearing a bold red lip with no other makeup. I’ve worn this to brunch and even to meetings. It somehow fits both moods.

Royal Crown - Celebration

I’ll keep this short: this smells like fresh air and freedom. Mint, lemon, bergamot, chamomile, everything about it sparkles. It’s invigorating and calming all at once. I spray this when I need a reset. If you want a fragrance that lifts your spirits the moment it hits your skin, this is the one.

Mes Bisous - Passion Island

This is the one I wore walking through the streets of Paris, mic in hand, asking strangers what they were wearing. It’s got this sun-kissed, breezy, flirtatious feel. Tropical without being too fruity, warm without being too heavy. I still get transported back to that moment every time I spray it. That’s the power of scent, right?

Coty Infiniment Paris - Encore Une Fois

One more time. That’s what this one says to me. It’s reflective, like the golden hour light catching the edge of a rooftop. It blends warm vanilla with this soft, ambered richness that clings like a memory. I don’t wear this one out, I wear it for myself, when I want to feel a little more in tune with my emotions.