Summer is upon us: the days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, and the distinct scents of the season are overwhelming our senses. Every year, I think of summertime as a significant memory; the sandy beaches, botanical gardens in full bloom, and the fresh shower after baking in the sun all day. Smell is one of the primary senses that signal our brains to identify a specific scent, generate feelings regarding the scent, and head toward the hippocampus of our brain where memories are stored. What better way to pay homage to our summer memories than to invest in a fragrance that smells like summer in a bottle? We’re here to give you our favorite scents ranging from higher-end investments to affordable fragrances that won’t break the bank.
Notes: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Jasmine
Daisy by Marc Jacobs is one of the brand’s most reputable scents because of the intoxicatingly feminine, romantic vibe it produces. I remember the first time I smelled this fragrance, standing in the aisle at Sephora with my mouth agape as I shoved it quickly into my shopping basket. The floral base notes mix with the wild berry middle notes (enter the hint of jasmine), and you are a walking garden in full bloom. As spring comes to a close, this fragrance is a perfect transition scent into summer.
Notes: Bergamot, Heliotrope, Coconut Milk
As much as we at Gazette Gal adore the entirety of Margiela’s ‘REPLICA’ line, Beach Walk is high up on our list of contenders for that summer-in-a-bottle feeling. The ‘REPLICA” line’s motif is one that is hyperfocused on scents that evoke memories, which is exactly what you’re trying to do when searching for a summer fragrance. Picture this: you’re walking along the boardwalk as salty air mixed with warm, luminous rays kiss your skin. If this sounds like your summer, we highly recommend testing out a sample of this nostalgic aroma. The mini-size (.34 fl oz.) retails for $35.
Notes: Mandarin, Bergamot, Aquatic Accord
Airy and fresh, this scent attempts to mimic a golden summer sky coupled with a citrus top note — and successfully does so. The aroma envelopes you and everyone around you; fresh and fruity essences offer a mixture of two fragrance families that are integral to getting that CLEAN vibe you just need in the summer months. The fragrance is water based, doubling down on the brand’s mission that aims to have you feeling and smelling lightweight.
Notes: Ruby Red Grapefruit, Bergamot, Hawaiian Wedding Flower, Spring Mimosa
Aren’t we all happy in the summer? This fruity-floral scent is another perfect transition scent from spring to summer because it's a mixture of the season’s past blossoming gardens and the beginning of many mimosa-ridden summer brunches. The Hawaiian flower offers the hope of many warm days to come, even as autumn eerily approaches in the first few weeks of September. All fragrances can be worn year-round, but this summer-centric scent really proves itself to be a great contender in our search for the summer-in-a-bottle vibe.
Notes: Aloe Vera Essence, Minibar Gin, Resort Towel Plush, Open Weave Linen
We were tempted to put Vacation’s “Vacation” on this list but thought that would be too on the nose. A tropical scent is always a great idea when searching for a summer fragrance, but the clean linen notes mixed with the distinct aromas of juniper and aloe vera surpass the O.G. tropical essences. This is a bottle that encompasses that feeling when you might’ve gotten a little too much sun, but you hop in the shower and put some soothing aloe on your body while having a gin and tonic in your favorite linen robe. Nothing beats the moments after a beach day when your exhaustion meets contentment in the promise of more days like those to follow. This scent might be one of my favorites because of how fresh it is.
Notes: Solar Tuberose, Leite de Coco, Creamy Vanilla
Sol De Janeiro’s signature scent has been all the rage the last couple of years. The brand’s new Rio Radiance line is listed as a “solar floral” fragrance. Rio De Janeiro states they were inspired by the 1987 “Summer of the Cans,” where beach parties meet the music/art world. The soft notes of vanilla and coconut complement the fiercer flower of love, tuberose. Rio Radiance aims to evoke that same feeling when you wear it, much like the ‘REPLICA’ Beach Walk scent. Fragrances are leaning even further into memory association and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
Notes: Dragon Fruit, Orange Blossom, Musk
I yelped a little when I came across Ouai’s St. Bart's scent. The fragrance boasts that it is not your “basic beach” aroma. Instead of a coconut top note like many tropical fragrances, St. Barts prefers to highlight a musky top note that complements the dragonfruit and orange blossom essences. The complicated mixture of scents works effortlessly together to paint a picture of basking on the beach of St. Barts while you smell the locals pick up their gardening tools for the first time that summer. To boast about this fragrance further, you will be getting 3.3 fluid ounces for $28 (and you can spritz it in your hair too).
Notes: White Almond, Jasmine Sambac, Cashmere Musk
If you’re into even muskier scents, Anthropologie’s Golden Hour is the fragrance for you. The white almond aroma is sweet and nutty (adjacent to a candied marzipan — YUM), the jasmine sambac is sultry, and the cashmere musk is reminiscent of your favorite sweater at sunset. The nostalgia line at Anthropologie is also working on the idea of memory, and I promise you won’t be disappointed. They offer other summer-in-a-bottle scents like Summer Vacation, Beach Trip, and Road Trip. With this price point, it’d be a shame if you didn’t test it out for yourself. Summer is right around the corner!
