Scents of Summer

Posted on March 1st, 2009 / Filed under For the Body:

You lighten up on makeup and clothes for summer, and you should be doing the same for your fragrance. Heavy, heady scents are fine for cooler weather, but in the hotter months, go for clean and fresh. For a feminine scent, try light florals such as rose, jasmine, violet and gardenia. Citrus notes like lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit and bergamot are fresh and fun. Sporty or outdoorsy types will gravitate towards green scents, which include herbal blends, as well as bamboo, green grass, tea and mint.

Suggested Products

Bath and Body Works Magnolia Blossom ($18.50, bathandbodyworks.com) has top notes of peach blossom, spring dew and pear, with middle notes of magnolia blossom, honeysuckle, rose and jasmine, and base notes of sheer musk, white sandalwood and amber.

DKNY Red Delicious ($36, sephora.com) is a sweet combination of lychee, raspberry, apple, rose, vanilla bean, amber and patchouli.

Gucci Envy Me2 ($43.50, fragrance.net ) has top notes of orange, violet leaf, magnolia, with rose and heliotrope at the center, and finishes with a blend of patchouli, sandalwood and vanilla.

Lacoste Touch of Sun ($53.30, fragrance.net ) is a blend of crisp green notes and bergamot, with rose, jasmine, sandalwood and peony.

Masaki Matsushima Mat; Orange ($60, sephora.com) is a juicy blend of blood orange, bitter orange, watermelon, passion fruit, apricot, mango, mandarin, lotus flower and crystal musk.

Stella McCartney Sheer Stella ($49, sephora.com) is a delicate, ultra feminine mix of rose, lemon, green apple and amber.

Yves Rocher Green Tea Eau de Cologne ($16, yves-rocher.com ) is a fresh, clean scent with a hint of lemon.

Tips & Tricks

  • If you really can’t bear to give up your favorite scent, then switch to a lighter concentration — either an eau de toilette or body spray.
  • Several brands have started putting out lighter versions of their most popular fragrances, so check to see if your signature scent is one of them.
  • Use concentrations with little or no alcohol, since UV rays can interact negatively with alcohol-based scents.
  • If you like spicy, musky fragrances, try a “semi-oriental” for the warmer months. They combine oriental notes with florals, which makes the scent less heavy.
  • Remember that heat increases peoples’ sensitivities to smell, so don’t douse yourself in fragrance.
  • Dab fragrance on your elbows, behind the knees and around your ankles. Scent rises, so if you just apply it behind your ears, it will disappear faster.