Now that we’re in the woes and throes of summer, I’m having a bit of an identity crisis when it comes to my signature scent. I love warm, sugary fragrances so much that I tend to wear them 365 days a year. But LA’s 90-degree weather has me second-guessing my go-tos. While I have become adventurous in my year of discovering new perfumes, I’m still a gourmand gal at heart. Still, I’m starting to crave lighter scents, especially with swimming pool hangs and beach days in full swing. A brief, seasonal pivot from my gourmand ways might just be necessary.
I decided to embark on a quest to find a new summer, or specifically, poolside-friendly scent, and paid a visit to the mecca of luxury fragrances: the Maison Henry Jacques in Beverly Hills. The boutique, which opened in 2021, is the first location for Henry Jacques in the U.S, and feels like an entirely different world when you step inside, as it is made to look like a 19th-century French apartment. There, I had a one-on-one fragrance consultation that was unlike anything I’ve experienced. Anyone who is fragrance-obsessed must plan a visit to the boutique when in LA. It is heaven.
I smelled an array of fragrances, mostly from the Les Classiques collection, which consists of 50 signature scents. But the In All Intimacy collection, a collaboration with Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria Perello, was actually perfect for summer. Rafael was inspired by the Mediterranean, and has two fragrances, a lighter scent consisting of coriander, thyme, violet, lavender, lemon and artemisia for when he’s playing tennis, and another one with notes of bergamot, jasmine flower, lilac, rose as his personal scent. Maria’s fragrance consists of violet, orange blossom, bergamot and jasmine, as well as sandalwood and white musk.
I also sought the guidance of a couple of fragrance experts. When I asked Clara Molloy, co-founder of Memo Paris, what to look for, she said it all depends on how you like to feel by the pool or on the beach. “There are no rules; perfume is a matter of freedom, to be matched to your desires of the moment. Whether you're with your family, as a couple, alone or joining friends, planning to have lunch or just go for a swim, wearing a dress, a sarong, a hat, jewelry, and so on, it can change your perfume mood,” she said. “If you're there mainly to enjoy the water, you may prefer fresh, soft, light scents.”
I also wanted to get advice from Marisa Auciello, Senior Vice President at Europerfumes. She had me envisioning myself as the queen of pool parties (even though, surprise! I don’t know how to swim) while wanting to plan some epic date nights with my husband. This would require TWO types of summer fragrances which sounds great to me! Ahead, see her recommendations for poolside fragrances followed by a few favorites from me!
Fruity notes are what I gravitate towards in lieu of gourmands, and this pineapple-centered scent hits the spot.
Attention anyone who will be inviting me to a pool party this summer: I shall be wearing this! “As effortlessly cool as your outfit is sure to be, complete the vibe with Lust for Sun,” says Auciello. “It’s an ode to the joy of summer. Notes of coconut, vanilla and fresh florals will dance on your sun kissed skin while you soak up all the compliments.”
The vanilla and sandalwood automatically draw me and my gourmand nose in, but this perfume definitely has a summer fruit vibe because of the plum accord and mimosa absolute.
Auciello says this fragrance is perfect for an al fresco dinner date. “As you gaze over your cocktails at the deep blue waters, your date and waiter are likely to be in a trance over your fragrance,” she says. “Blue Heart is an extrait de parfum, a highly concentrated perfume bursting with coconut, vanilla, saffron and amber. This sensual scent is the ideal nighttime fragrance for summer.”
If you’re lucky enough to be on a yacht this summer (first of all, invite me), consider this your signature scent, says Auciello. “The most luxurious of summer scents. You’re dressed in white linen, sailing at sunset. When the breeze hits you, you leave a luminous trail of Calabrian citrus, coconut, juniper berry and tonka bean. Just one spritz of this sophisticated perfume surrounds you in the scent of endless summer.” Gorgeous!
If you’re dreaming of a Greek island getaway like I always am, this new launch from Memo Paris is the next best thing. With scents of bergamot, cedar, and blackcurrant, it’s inspired by the Greek myth icons Ulysses and Penelope and the island they called home, Ithaca.
Leila Lou, the first-ever fragrance from Rosie Jane, just celebrated its 15-year anniversary, and it makes a lovely summertime choice. It’s inspired by the perfect pair of blue jeans, which screams summer, and has notes of pear, jasmine, and freshly cut grass.
Delina is no doubt a popular scent year-round, but Delina La Rosée is a good summertime choice as it’s brighter and fresh, thanks to a blend of transparent water flowers and peony. There’s also a citrusy lean due to the Italian bergamot, lychee and pear.
It would be illegal if I left Vacation off of a poolside summer fragrance list. We start with coconut water and coconut milk, then meet up with bergamot, banana, and pineapple, and finally round it out with notes of pool water, sea salt, and swimsuit. Perfection.
Yes, this may technically not be a perfume, but I had to include this divine-smelling, hydrating dream body oil on this list as I’ve been smothering myself in it all summer!
I love that this fragrance is inspired by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, one of my all-time films, yet is also the name of one of my favorite Bjork songs (though that part seems to be a coincidence.) This citrus floral fragrance features black currant harvested from France's Burgundy region, as well as Guatemalan cardamom (another fave of mine) and jasmine sambac from India.
I know buying a perfume based on the name is not the greatest advice, but this Cat on a Hot Tin Roof reference is too good. And look at that bottle! Aside from all of that amazingness from Marissa Zappas, this perfume is fantastic for summer. Just see these notes: champagne, ambrette musk, peach, oakmoss, violet, orris, sheer amber, castoreum, patchouli, sunlight and sandalwood.
I love the Snif brand as their scents are free of parabens, preservatives, phthalates, and synthetic dyes, but this is definitely a go-to this summer. Citrus is a given for the season (grapefruit, lime zest, etc.) but it also has creamsicle, plus white amber and cedar.
This might be a little warm for summer, but this cognac, tonka bean and oakwood delight is apparently Beyoncé’s favorite, so it’s on the list, no questions asked!
This stateside best-seller is a great choice for summer nights. Freshness brought on by Mandarin oil and Elemi essence is combined with leather accord, vetiver, and cedar.
When I smelled this out of curiosity, my jaw literally dropped. With my gourmand brain, I’d never thought I’d consider anything with “Lily” in its name, but with notes of plum, gardenia, carnation, Indian tuberose, rosewood, and honey, I was drawn in. A definite summer date night scent.
This sold-out fragrance is back, just in time for you to make it your summer signature. Geranium, Moroccan orangeflower, ginger, coconut water, vanilla and Italian bergamot…I’m ready to bathe in this.
Ellis Brooklyn has a ton of great choices for poolside fragrances, but why not opt for the popular SUN scent in a handy body mist? This solar fruity scent features sweet clementine, vanilla, and orange flower.
From Initio’s Hedonist line comes this mystical fragrance that combines essences of palo santo and white sage with notes of bergamot, lavender plum, black pepper, sandalwood, and agar.
