Perfume has the power to transport you almost anywhere in the world. An intrinsic connection between scent and memory means that the unfolding notes of a single spritz can conjure visions of languorous summer holidays on the Italian coast; hiking through the verdant Californian Palisades, or taking a city break in the balmy climate of Kyoto.
So, whether you’re managing to take a holiday this year, or staying put in your home town and looking for a little escapism, let the below fragrances take you on an olfactory journey. Lie back, inhale, and enjoy the trip.
Paris with Celine
Hedi Slimane’s newest fragrance for Celine is an ode to the gamine icons of 1960s Paris. Called ‘ZouZou’, an affectionate French nickname for women with short hair, the scent recalls the idiosyncratic sexiness of Jane Birkin, Jean Seberg in Breathless, and writer Françoise Sagan, with warm notes of vanilla and amber, mixed with caramel overtones and a touch of powdery sweetness. It’s a sensual gourmand fragrance that’s still light enough to be perfect for summertime wear, day or night.
Ibiza with Loewe
The newest addition to Loewe’s collection of Paula’s Ibiza perfumes is ‘Cosmic’, a gourmand fragrance dreamed up by Jonathan Anderson and in-house perfumer Nuria Cruelles as an olfactory portal into psychedelic daydreams. Fresh notes of ripe pear and juicy mango are mixed with sweet coconut and warm amber for a fragrance that has the sweet and minerally scent of skin after a day at the beach, when suntan lotion mixes with sea salt and drops of melted popsicles.
Portofino with Victoria Beckham
The exceptional performance of Victoria Beckham Beauty’s makeup products has earned the brand a dedicated legion of followers, and the VB’s fragrances, launched last year, have proven just as impressive. For summertime, try the brand’s ‘Portifino ‘97’ perfume, which is a musky, aquatic blend of Calabrian bergamot, sea notes, musk and incense that is halfway between a masculine cologne and a feminine perfume. Beckham wanted the scent to echo the smells of incense, bedsheets and ocean breezes that she remembered from the secret seaside getaway she made with her then-boyfriend in the early days of their romance. ‘I remember the light, I remember how the hotel smelled and how exciting that time was. I remember it all like it was yesterday,’ says Beckham in the perfume’s press notes.
Greek Islands with Diptyque
Diptyque’s ‘Ilio’ fragrance pays homage to summer days spent cooling off among breezy seaside cliffs. Its central note is Barbary figs, a rare ingredient in perfumery and one that gives it a uniquely soft and woody smell. Touches of lavender and lemongrass add freshness to the scent, making it well-suited to those who want a bright, easy-to-wear fragrance for the season.
Kyoto with Regime des Fleurs
If you’re looking for a truly unique summer fragrance, look no further than Regime des Fleurs’ ‘Himitsu’. Founder of the New York fragrance brand, Alia Raza, worked with master perfumer Dominique Ropion to create a scent that asks: ‘What does the colour purple smell like?’ (The word ‘Himitsu’ translates to ‘purple’ in Japanese, and the perfume is described by Raza as a ‘love letter to Kyoto’). Delicate notes of violet and heliotrope are undercut with the smoky sweetness of tolu balsam and powdery suede. It's a wispy floral with strange, synthetic undertones that develop as you wear it, making it a good summer option for those who prefer more dynamic, peculiar fragrances.
California with Louis Vuitton
‘Pacific Chill’ is the latest addition to Louis Vuitton’s collection of California-inspired fragrances. In-house perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud was inspired to create the fragrance after days of drinking green juice (a California staple) and hiking through the Palisades. The result is a tasty blend of carrot seed essence, blackcurrant, orange, mint, and basil that is sweetened by a hint of apricot. As for previous fragrances in the Californian-inspired series, the bottle was designed by LA-based artist (and former Wallpaper* Design Awards judge) Alex Israel.
New York with Gabar
Gabar’s newly launched Urban Collection pays homage to New York. In particular, the art of exploring the city at nighttime. ‘05 (LUDLOW) Lull’ opens with notes of orange blossom and black tea, leading into a heart of red apple, cherry and rose. The scent is rounded off with a base of sandalwood and white musk. ‘We imagine that moment of unwinding: letting go or letting loose, the rhythms of going out and seeking connection, or taking time to re-connect with ourselves,’ say Gabar’s founders Phway Su Aye and Susan Wai Hnin. The perfect scent for a swelteringly hot summer evening amidst the concrete jungle.
Italy with Bvlgari
Bulgari’s ‘Baciami’ fragrance takes its name from the Italian word for ‘kiss me.’ It’s a fitting moniker considering the fragrance, designed by Louis Vuitton perfumer Jacques Cavallier, is inspired by iconic Italian romances from history and literature, like Romeo and Juliet (Verona), Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (Rome), Dante and Beatrice (Florence), to name a few. A 'steamy floral,’ ‘Baciami’ is characterised by a heavy dose of creamy gardenia flower enriched with warm notes of vanilla. It's a rich, feminine fragrance ideal for those looking for an interesting alternative to rose-based scents.
The Swedish Archipelago with Colekt
Travel to forests of Sweden's famed summer islands with the ‘La Chambre’ fragrance by Stockholm-based brand Colekt. Featuring notes of oakmoss, pink pepper, and lavender, La Chambre is a delicate, woody fragrance that is ideal for those who prefer musky scents but want something lighter for the summer months.
The Amazon with Fueguia 1833
The ‘Agua Magnoliana’ fragrance from Argentinian brand Fueguia 1833 is inspired by the magnolia fragrantissima flower, a delicate-smelling bloom that comes from a mammoth Amazonian tree. Its aquatic floral scent is enriched by notes of jasmine and sandalwood, making it an elegant fragrance that is light enough for the most humid conditions.
Valencia with Perfumer H
The ‘Orange Leaf’ fragrance from Perfumer H transforms the tangy citrus notes of Valencia oranges into an uplifting summer fragrance. The orange valencia scent used in the perfume is extracted from the fruit itself, rather than synthetically recreated. This is blended with petitgrain essence extracted from the twigs and leaves of oranges for an extra-zesty scent and then toned with notes of basil, frankincense and cedar wood.
The French Riviera with Dior
Dior's fragrance ‘Eden-Roc’ is an ode to the luxurious Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. The hotel was and still is the epitome of French Riviera elegance, inspiring F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night and playing host to the likes of Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Marlene Dietrich and the Kennedys. The fragrance blends sea salt, jasmine, coconut, and pine to evoke ‘a salt crystal placed on the tip of the tongue, bronzed skin warmed by the sun, [and] the protective canopy offered by a pine tree in the south of France’.
Gambia with Maya Njie
Swedish-born, London-based perfumer Maya Njie created ‘Tropica’ as a sensory ode to her childhood trips to West Africa, particularly Gambia and Senegal. ‘For me, it’s evocative of these places, as they represent the transition of leaving a very cold and dark Sweden for warmer climates, sticky beaches, salty oceans, late nights and late mornings, where we could really roam free,’ says Njie. To create the fragrance, she blended uplifting notes of citrus and pineapple with fig, coconut, and musk. It's a lush and bright perfume, more evocative of a tropical savannah than other beach-centric summer scents.
Mumbai with DS & Durga
DS & Durga’s ‘Radio Bombay’ is ideal among summer scents for those who prefer something slightly richer than the typical citrus or floral. This medium-bodied fragrance is designed to evoke a day spent under the hot Mumbai sun with a copper-tube radio playing ragas in the background. It's a woody and fruity scent with top notes of copper and cedar, heart notes of sandalwood and iris, and base notes of coconut musk and ambergris.
Mexico with Xinú
Xinú’s ‘Monstera’ evokes the verdant jungles of the perfume brand’s native Mexico. The freshness of the monstera plant is blended with damp earthy accord for a musty depth. It’s finished off with a creamy white floral tone and a touch of bitter cocoa and vanilla. Once finished with, Xinú’s perfume bottles, made from blown glass and wood, are designed to be turned into an elegant, modernist vase.
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