When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. ( credit: Who What Wear)
As a beauty lover, I wish I could say I loved all of my editorial beats (hair, makeup, skincare, nails, etc.) equally. Alas, I do not. I could wax poetic about my favorite skincare and makeup products for far longer than anyone would ever want to pay attention to, but other topics like hair or fragrance feel trickier.
For example, I have an unapologetically straightforward and boring hair product routine and styling repertoire, and Ive just never been a huge perfume lover. Perfume is a personal part of ones beauty routine, and historically, Ive found recommending fragrances (let alone trying to describe them) to be extremely difficult and, at times, a tad forced. However, in my opinion, the past couple of years have been uncharacteristically wonderful in terms of obsession-forming perfume launches. As someone who used to turn my nose up at most new fragrances Id sniff, Ive been stunned by the number of fresh scents to strike my fancy recently. The turn of the season is also a prolific opportunity to identify a new favorite scent, and this spring and summer have been no different.
Im sharing 10 of the best summer perfumes in anticipation of the season so you can find a new favorite. As Ive been spritzing and testing away the past few weeks, the sparkly summer selects below have provided a comforting mood boost. And because I know choosing a new perfume can be incredibly difficult (like finding a needle in a haystack), Im comparing these perfumes with some of the best cult favorites from seasons past. Hopefully, this will provide some context as far as notes, fragrance family, and the like. Keep scrolling! The 10 best perfumes for summer (and the popular formulas theyre similar to) await your perusal below.
Selecting the perfect perfume can be tricky. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to settle on just one signature scent. While some fragrances seem designed for specific seasons, there are plenty of versatile options that can be worn year-round. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best perfumes to keep in your rotation no matter the weather.
Why Have a Year-Round Perfume?
Having a go-to perfume that you can wear no matter the season has some great benefits:
-
Convenience: You don’t have to keep switching up your scent or buying new perfumes. Just one bottle covers you all year long.
-
Familiarity When you wear the same fragrance regularly it becomes associated with your personal scent. This familiarity can be comforting.
-
Compliments If people compliment your signature scent, you can keep delighting them by wearing it often
-
Cost savings: Sticking to one perfume means you don’t have to invest in multiple seasonal fragrances.
How to Choose a Year-Round Perfume
When selecting a year-round perfume, you’ll want to look for:
-
Versatile notes: Fragrances with notes like vanilla, musk, woods, and light florals have widespread appeal.
-
Moderate silage Silage refers to a perfume’s sillage or trail A year-round scent should have silage that’s neither too soft nor overpowering,
-
Good longevity: Choose an eau de parfum or eau de toilette that lasts several hours so you don’t have to reapply frequently.
You’ll also want to consider your personal taste. Selecting a year-round fragrance involves finding the perfect balance of notes you enjoy.
Best Year-Round Perfumes for Women
Here are some top picks for women’s perfumes that work in any season:
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre EDT
This vibrant, fruity-floral scent features notes of grapefruit, jasmine, and cedar. The uplifting citrus notes give it versatility from season to season.
Valentino Donna Born in Roma EDP
With notes of blackcurrant, jasmine, and bourbon vanilla, this floral gourmand scent transitions seamlessly from day to night.
Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb EDP
A feminine bouquet of jasmine, rose, and patchouli gives this perfume year-round wearability and a seductive sillage.
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium EDP
Coffee, white flowers, and vanilla make this an addictive gourmand scent suitable for cooler and warmer months.
Chloé EDP
Peony and rose notes give this airy floral scent a delicate femininity. Base notes of honey and cedar add warmth and sensuality.
Best Year-Round Perfumes for Men
Men can also find premium fragrances to wear no matter the season:
Bleu de Chanel EDT
This modern fougère fragrance has fresh notes of grapefruit and ginger alongside sandalwood and incense.
Dior Sauvage EDT
Widely appealing notes of bergamot, pepper, and Ambroxan make this a go-anywhere men’s fragrance.
Creed Aventus Cologne
The Aventus DNA shines through this sparkling blend of blackcurrant, apple, and musk. It’s fresh yet masculine.
Tom Ford Ombre Leather EDP
Leather, cardamom, and jasmine sambac give this scent a luxurious depth ideal for daily wear.
Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme EDT
This woody aromatic scent combines energizing citrus with soothing tonka bean and vetiver.
Tips for Making Your Perfume Last
To get the most out of your signature year-round fragrance, follow these simple tips:
-
Apply perfume to pulse points like wrists, neck, and décolletage where body heat amplifies the scent.
-
Layer the fragrance with its matching body lotion for extra longevity.
-
Store perfume away from excess heat and light to maintain the quality.
-
Don’t overdo it. Apply 1-3 sprays for adequate silage without being overpowering.
-
Bring a travel size for touch-ups later in the day if needed.
Finding Your Perfect Year-Round Perfume
With a versatile, high-quality fragrance in your arsenal, you can rock the same scent no matter the season. Test out different perfumes to find one with notes and performance that make your heart sing. A signature year-round scent allows you to reduce your perfume wardrobe while always smelling amazing.
Try: Skylar Salt Air Eau de Toilette SkylarSalt Air Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: freshKey notes: driftwood, sea salt, seaweed To date, Isle might be Skylars best-selling fragrance, but we have a hunch the natural fragrance brands Salt Air might give the aquatic-themed perfume a run for its money. If the refreshing, calming smell of salt-crusted sea breeze were captured inside a bottle, this would be it. Better yet, all of Skylars scents are designed to be mixed, matched, and layered, so feel free to layer Isle and Salt Air for a unique, dreamy summer perfume. Customer review: “Im so glad I bought this one! It really captures the beach vibe and has a clean, fresh scent. I absolutely love it!”
If you love: Prada Candy Eau de Parfum PradaCandy Eau de Parfum
Fragrance family: warm, spicyKey notes: white musks, benzoin, caramel accordCustomer review: “This is a full bodied fragrance. Its olfactory family is spicy gourmand. Its warm, creamy, luscious, and decadent. Its sweet but not cloying like bubble gum and cotton candy.”
23 Men’s Fragrances For Different Occasions and seasons!
FAQ
What is a good perfume that lasts all day?
What perfume for each season?
Use anything you want. But if you want to match the season, then match the weather. For summer go for fruity, green, fresh, ozonic, aquatic fragrances. Fall use amber, woodsy, earthy, gourmand leaning. Winter is the best time for gourmand and sweetness imo, as well as woodsy, spicy, and herbal.
What is the #1 fragrance in the world?
- Dior Sauvage.
- Creed Aventus.
- Versace Eros.
- Chanel No5.
- Gucci Guilty.
- Armani Code.
- Gucci Bloom.
- Burberry Brit.
What’s a good everyday perfume?
- Christian Dior Homme. A simple yet delightfully sweet scent that will guarantee you compliments. …
- Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio. …
- Montblanc Legend. …
- Polo Blue Eau de Parfum. …
- Carolina Herrera for Men. …
- Paco Rabanne One Million. …
- Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme.