With the official start of summer, it’s time to consider summer fragrances.
Summer is a magical time for me, and I love everything about it – the beach, dining al fresco, shopping for bathing suits and sandals – and changing up my fragrance.
I must admit that I’ve already used Beach by Bobbi Brown (on my summer of 2024) list, a few times. I find it has been a perfect escape from the dreariness of what has been a rainy and cool spring in New York. Its blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin truly captures the summertime vibe, taking me – if only in my mind – to a sun-drenched beach. The anticipation of experiencing this scent at an actual beach is palpable, and I can’t wait for that moment to arrive.
Summer colognes offer a coastal fragrance experience that evokes the essence of sunny days, warm breezes, and refreshing sea air, regardless of the weather. Their salty and citrusy scents capture the spirit of summer and serve as reminders of happy times spent by the shore.
Here’s my brand-new list for summer 2025, each a standout with its own unique charm. A captivating fragrance transcends age, making us all feel youthful and renewed. Scent triggers memory and emotion, allowing a well-crafted perfume to evoke vivid recollections and feelings.
Vacation by Vacation
In 2021, Vacation, the brand behind what has been billed as “the world’s best-smelling sunscreen,” launched the unisex fragrance Vacation. The Vacation fragrance is not just a scent: it’s a sensory experience. With a scent and formulation similar to its iconic sunscreen, the cologne is marketed with the tagline: the “scent of sunscreen & swimming pool.” It has been aptly characterized by reviewers as “summer in a bottle.”
This fragrance combines notes of coconut water, coconut milk, banana, sea salt, and a unique mix of swimsuit Lycra, pool toy, and pool water. I was skeptical about the last three ingredients, but sure enough, after spraying it on my wrist, I could detect that unmistakable scent of pool water. It transported me back in time to my childhood swimming lessons in Florida, as well as some of my best summer memories. This fragrance is a perfect choice for anyone looking to relive the nostalgia of endless summer days.
Vacation comes in a compact bottle, making it the perfect companion for your summer adventures. Its small size allows you to carry it with you, ensuring you can refresh your scent throughout the day, no matter where your vacation takes you.
Beach Blossom Cologne by Jo Malone
You can’t go wrong with a Jo Malone scent. There’s one for every taste and every season. And as if all of Jo Malone’s more than 200 varieties of scent aren’t enough, the brand offers seasonal limited editions. Beach Blossom, released in March,is one of them. Beach Blossom combines the sweetness of coconut with the creamy warmth of vanilla. This unisex cologne has been described as a “tropical getaway in a bottle” with surprising hints of mint and lime.
“It’s very popular. We’re almost sold out,” said Cindy, a client specialist at the Jo Malone store in Garden City, New York. She also noted that Beach Blossom is part of the brand’s limited-edition summer collection, available in two sizes, and one of the annual Blossoms scents released in spring.
Beach Blossom is only available at standalone Jo Malone stores, as I discovered while shopping at Macy’s. However, Meera, a Jo Malone representative, suggested Frangipani Flower, another limited-edition scent for summer, as a rotation option. Meera also reminded me that Jo Malone’s fragrances tell a story. What story will it tell about you this summer?
Revel Eau de Parfum by The Maker
This season, I discovered Revel Eau de Parfum from an unexpected source: The Maker Hotel in Hudson, New York. Now, I don’t know about you, but I usually eat pineapple; I don’t think about wearing it. But let me tell you, it’s equally refreshing and delicious when used as a note in cologne – a delightful surprise for the senses.
Revel is described as “a sparkling, fruity floral that bottles the best day of your life.” Inspired by epic celebrations at The Maker Hotel, it combines the tropical sweetness of pineapple with the exotic allure of frangipani. Toss in additional key notes of lychee, velvet musk, frangipani flower, and rosewater, and you’ve got a heady mix of fragrance that is sensual and celebratory, as The Maker intended.
The bottle’s ribbed glass design, inspired by an antique ink flask, reflects the Maker Hotel’s aesthetics and serves as a distinctive feature. It will look equally appealing when displayed on your dresser.
Limone di Sicilia by AERIN
Imagine Sicily, a land bathed in bright sunlight and filled with citrus and floral aromas, notably lemons, rosemary, and bergamot, as a fragrance. There you have Limone di Sicilia, a fresh zesty fragrance in which Sicilian lemons and bergamot are central to the fragrance profile. This floral citrus also contains notes of Italian mandarin, jasmine, rose centifolia, and pink pepper.
The sunny yellow packaging, with a thin rope wrapped around its neck beneath a gold cap, adds to its allure.
As Estée Lauder, Aerin Lauder’s grandmother, once said, “Perfume is like a new dress; it makes you quite simply marvelous.” This fragrance, inspired by the sun-drenched citrus groves of Sicily, is sure to do just that.
Coconut Sun Eau de Parfum by The 7 Virtues
Not only do I love the scent of Coconut Sun, but I’m also taken with the backstory. The company was established in 2010 by Barb Stegemann, a wellness author, after her best friend was wounded while serving in the army. She promised him that she would take on his mission of peace. The company’s mantra, “MAKE PERFUME NOT WAR,” is molded into the caps of their products as a reminder of this commitment.
The perfumes, made with natural, fair-trade essential oils – the origins and wellness benefits of each are noted on the bottle – are not just about fragrance; they also aim to support families in nations that are rebuilding after war or strife, making a meaningful impact in these communities.
The scent is long-lasting, with key notes of coconut, vanilla, and frangipani, the flowers of which are depicted on the bottle. It is also infused with sustainably sourced jasmine from Egypt and upcycled orange flowers, which produce a more intense fragrance.
Beach Skin by PHLUR
As I was checking out Coconut Sun, I noticed Beach Skin on the next shelf. Currently available only at Sephora, Beach Skin is a tropical fragrance with notes of salted floral, coconut milk, bergamot, sandalwood, vanilla, musk, and a hint of fresh melon. Reminiscent of Replica’s Beach Walk (on the 2024 list) it evokes clean skin and salty air, ideal for those who prefer a more subtle scent.
Currently available only at Sephora, Beach Skin is a fragrance featuring notes of salted floral, coconut milk, bergamot, sandalwood, vanilla, musk, and fresh melon.
When I reached for the tester bottle, Emely, a customer who told me she had recently returned from visiting family in the Dominican Republic, enthusiastically told me that Beach Skin “smells just like you’re on the beach”. She also recommended Coconut Skin, which she was purchasing for her aunt back in the Dominican Republic.
Arielle Le Beau, the perfumer behind Beach Skin, explained it this way, “I wanted to capture the feeling of stepping off the beach at golden hour, when your skin is still warmed by the sun after a long summer day. It’s that blend of salty air, sun-kissed skin, and traces of sunscreen, with the sensation of sand still clinging to your skin.” That imagery was all the impetus I needed to purchase the mini size to toss in my beach bag so that I might replicate that heady beach experience.
Virgin Island Water by Creed
Creed colognes are pricey, but so worth it. They are made of high-quality ingredients and natural oils, are handcrafted in small batches, and come with a luxury reputation.
Virgin Island Water by Creed, crafted by Oliver Creed, a master perfumer and the head of the perfume house, and his son Erwin, was introduced in 2007. This citrus fragrance draws inspiration from the beauty and warmth of the Caribbean islands, incorporating notes like bergamot, lime, mandarin, coconut, and rum. The fragrance is uplifting and cheery.
Creed not only offers a choice of complimentary bottle engraving or a monogrammed medallion but also supports a noble cause. With each online fragrance order, the company will make a donation to One Tree Planted, contributing to a greener and healthier planet.
Much like Creed’s Adventus, my all-time favorite fragrance for men, Virgin Island Water is a distinctive andunforgettable scent. As Oliver Creed, so aptly noted, “Ladies, a man will never remember your handbag, but he will remember your perfume.” Creed is so right.
Capri in a Bottle by Kayali
Capri in a Bottle, inspired by the Italian island, is one of four fragrances in Kayali’s Vacay in a Bottle collection. Each scent evokes travel to exotic destinations.
Upon the first spritz, I immediately noticed the invigorating freshness of lemon, a key element of Capri in a Bottle. It made me think of lemony treats: limoncello, lemon sorbet and lemon drops. The fragrance settled into a warm and sugary vanilla with hints of freesia, raspberry, and musk, creating an intriguing scent.
I pictured how refreshing it would be to wear it on a warm and carefree summer afternoon. “Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” This quote from writer Henry Jamesperfectly captures the essence of a summer afternoon, a feeling that Capri in a Bottle effortlessly brings to mind.
To explore the other three fragrance destinations envisioned by Kayali – Maui, Marrakesh, and Maldives – try the Vacay in a Bottle Discovery Set.
Let’s Talk:
What is your favorite summer scent? Have you discovered more than one favorite in recent years? What makes a scent whisper “summer” to you?
