The best summer fragrances capture the essence of sun-kissed skin, warm breezes, and dreamy beach getaways—bottling the spirit of the season in a single spritz. As we swap spring layers for breezy linens and airy dresses, our perfumes deserve a seasonal update too. Think light florals, bright citrus, and fresh aquatic notes that bring to mind sunset strolls, rooftop parties, and lazy summer Fridays. This is the time for fragrances that don’t overpower but linger softly on the skin, enhancing your natural charm with every warm gust of wind. Whether you’re chasing sunsets or just soaking up the sun, the right summer scent can be the perfect invisible accessory for your warm-weather style.
“When I think of summer, I imagine a carefree, happy mood—and I want my fragrance to match that feeling,” says Autumne West, Nordstrom’s beauty director. “I lean toward light scents that don’t feel heavy.”
### Vogue’s Favorite Summer Fragrances
– Best Newcomer: Chanel Chance Eau Splendide, $176
– Best Summer Gourmand: Tom Ford Vanilla Sex, $400
– Best for Men: Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, $115
– Best Unisex: Le Labo Neroli 36 Eau de Parfum, $235
– Best Aloe Vera Scent: Vacation After Sun Eau de Toilette, $60
– Best Floral Musk: Phlur Solar Power, $99
– Best Citrus: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme Eau de Parfum, $245
### What Scents Work Best for Summer?
Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, says tropical and fruity notes always feel like summer. “There’s been a wave of fruity scents—banana, mango, pear—that are perfect for the season,” she says, pointing to Kilian’s Sun Kissed Goddess as a standout. Or, stick to timeless beachy scents like Chanel Chance and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme, which never go out of style. Whether you prefer salty citrus, soft florals, or warm musk, there’s a summer fragrance for you. Below, our top picks for 2025 from experts and Vogue editors.
### Best Raspberry Scent: Chanel Chance Eau Splendide
Price: $176
Why We Love It: When Nordstrom’s Autumne West predicted this would be the summer fragrance, she was right. Now, as temperatures climb, Eau Splendide is everywhere—from Brooklyn murals to beauty TikTok. Created by master perfumer Olivier Polge, it opens with a bright, juicy raspberry note, followed by delicate rose geranium and violet, all anchored by soft woody musk. The result? Fresh, flirty, and effortlessly chic.
Key Notes: Raspberry, rose geranium, violet, white cedar, musk
### Best Summer Gourmand: Tom Ford Vanilla Sex
Price: $400
Why We Love It: Far from overly sweet, Vanilla Sex is sensual and surprisingly light for a vanilla scent. A mix of rich vanilla absolute and vanilla tincture from India gives depth, while sandalwood and white florals add freshness.
Key Notes: Vanilla tincture, vanilla absolute, sandalwood, jasmine, orris, animalis accord
### Best Sea Salt Scent: Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Price: $168
Why We Love It: A cult favorite, this cologne is worth stocking up on every year. Fans love its crisp, oceanic vibe—like a walk along the shore.
Key Notes: Sea salt, sage, grapefruit, ambrette seedsHere’s a natural, fluent rewrite of your text while preserving the original meaning:
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Best Genderless Scent
Fans love its universal appeal—neither too masculine nor too feminine. This fresh marine and woody blend of ambrette seeds, sea salt, and sage is delightfully wearable for anyone.
Key Notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
Best Citrus Scent: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme Eau de Parfum
Price: $245 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: Amyris Femme tops our list of best perfumes for women, especially in summer. Francis Kurkdjian blends Jamaican amyris with Florentine iris for a fruity, feminine, yet crisp scent that’s irresistibly fun and alluring.
Key Notes: Pear, sweet pea, amyris, lemon blossom, iris
Best Ethereal Scent: Parfums de Marly Valaya Eau de Parfum
Price: $235 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: Described as “heaven on earth in a bottle,” Valaya opens with a bright burst of peach, aldehydes, and bergamot. Soft white florals bloom over a musky base, creating a clean, satin-like feel. It’s a joyful, signature-worthy fragrance.
Key Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nymphaea, vetiver, musk
Best Tropical Fruit Scent: Vilhelm Parfumerie Mango Skin Eau de Parfum
Price: $275 at BlueMercury or Amazon
Why We Love It: If mango scents are trending this summer, Mango Skin is a must. It smells like biting into the ripest, juiciest mango, blended with blackberry and a hint of black pepper. Patchouli and florals add depth, making it fresh yet sophisticated.
Key Notes: Blackberry, mango, black pepper, wild orris, black lotus, jasmine, patchouli, vanilla, pink sugar
Best White Floral Scent: Kilian Sunkissed Goddess
Price: $295 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: Kilian’s Sunkissed Goddess is the scent of summer—warm, lively, and long-lasting. Inspired by Polynesian Monoi Oil, it features ylang-ylang, tiare flower, and coconut for a radiant, skin-enhancing fragrance.
Key Notes: Ylang-ylang essence, tiare flower, coconut, Guaic wood, cistus labdanum
Best Unisex Scent: Le Labo Neroli 36 Eau de Parfum
Price: $220 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: A favorite for summer, Neroli 36 smells like high-end sunscreen—bright citrus, orange blossom, and musk create a clean, beachy vibe. Perfect for daily wear.
Key Notes: Mandarin, calone, orange blossom, salt crystal, watermelon, jasmine, neroli, musk, tonka bean, vanilla
Editors’ Pick: Merit Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum
Price: $92 at Merit
Why We Love It: Soft, clean, and long-lasting, Merit’s fragrance blends white florals with musk, vanilla, and moss for a subtle “second skin” scent that lasts up to 12 hours. A favorite among Vogue editors since its launch.
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Best Floral Musk: Phlur Solar Power
$99 at Nordstrom | $60 at Amazon
Why We Love It: While Phlur’s Vanilla Skin and Heavy Cream spark heated debates on BeautyTok, their floral musk, Solar Power, remains underrated. Inspired by a sun-soaked beach day, this “your-skin-but-better” fragrance blends orange blossom with musk and sea salt for a warm, comforting effect.
Key Notes: Italian red mandarin, bergamot, jasmine absolute, neroli, orange flower, driftwood, musk, sea salt
Best Aloe Vera: Vacation After Sun Eau de Toilette
$60 at Nordstrom, BlueMercury, Amazon
Why We Love It: Vacation knows how to bottle nostalgia—first with their sunscreen-scented eau de toilette, and now with After Sun, inspired by their cult-favorite After Sun Gel. Perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux combines aloe vera essence, green tea verjus, iced cucumber water, and cardamom for a refreshing post-swim scent.
Key Notes: Aloe vera essence, green tea verjus, iced cucumber water, cardamom absolute
Best Tuberose: Diptyque Do Son
$240 at Nordstrom, BlueMercury
Why We Love It: Miami native Carolina Gonzalez, Vogue’s social media associate manager, swears by this summery scent. Do Son blends white florals with a hint of sea breeze, evoking the feeling of biting into a ripe fig on a hot day.
Key Notes: Tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, amberwood
Best Sexy Floral: Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noir Rose
$138 at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
Why We Love It: A sultry twist on the original For Her, this fragrance opens with rich plum and dries down to pink pepper, bergamot, and soft rose. Vogue’s senior beauty writer Kiana Murden is a fan.
Key Notes: Plum, pink pepper, bergamot, musk, rose, tuberose, vanilla
Best Spicy Citrus: Courrèges Seconde Peau
$190 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: Vogue’s beauty editor Arden Fanning Andrews loves this fragrance for layering—its spicy citrus blend of lemon, mint, and vetiver makes it a standout summer scent.
Key Notes: Lemon, mint, osmanthus infusion, cypress, pine, vetiver
Best Sultry Rose: Matière Première Radical Rose
$220 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: Far from a typical sweet floral, this bold rose fragrance features saffron, patchouli, and pepper. With 12-hour staying power, it leaves a mesmerizing trail.
Key Notes: Rose, saffron, patchouli, pepperChili pepper berries, saffron, rose centifolia absolute, patchouli
Best Crisp Citrus: Tom Ford Costa Azzurra Eau de Parfum
Tom Ford Costa Azzurra Eau de Parfum
$240 | TOM FORD BEAUTY
Why We Love It:
Everyone’s talking about the magic of a European summer—and Tom Ford’s Costa Azzurra captures that perfectly. This fragrance brings to mind the Mediterranean coast, with its fresh, crisp blend of salty sea air, cypress, and lemon. Woody and slightly citrusy, it’s an instant escape, whether you’re traveling or just dreaming of summer.
Notes: Cypress, lemon, oakwood
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### Everything You Need To Know
What fragrances are best for summer?
Summer scents are light and airy—think fresh white florals like jasmine or fruity gourmands that whisk you away to the tropics.
While spring and summer florals may seem similar, they’re actually different. As fragrance expert Nwasike explains, summer florals are brighter and bolder, often paired with fruity or tropical notes for a sun-kissed glow.
What scents pair well for summer?
Nwasike shares the best notes to mix for the perfect summer fragrance:
– Floral: Ylang-ylang, orange blossom (neroli), frangipani, tuberose
– Citrus: Lemon, mandarin, pear, bergamot
– Woody: Cedarwood, sandalwood, oud, vetiver, guaiac wood
– Green: Maté tea, green tea, galbanum, blackcurrant buds, violet leaf
– Ambrée: Vanilla, tonka bean, myrrh, frankincense, labdanum
– Spicy: Salt, pink pepper, ginger
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### Meet The Experts
– Linda G. Levy, President of The Fragrance Foundation
– Eudora Nwasike, Certified Fragrance Specialist (featured in Forbes, The Business of Fashion, Mr. Porter)
– Autumne West, Beauty Director at Nordstrom