I have a few scents that evoke the smell of summer (in my mind), but I usually don't wear those in summer - instead reserving them for cooler seasons (Eau des Merveilles by Hermes, for instance).
But here I am in the thick of summer - it's pretty hot out there, isn't it? - and the warm and humid conditions here in Miami make it almost impossible for me to wear some of my spicy orientals and heavier scents (even lightly applied). I just feel better wearing certain scents in my wardrobe.
This year these ten (10) were my go-to scents when I knew I'd be sweating outside with the family BBQ, at the gym, at the beach, cleaning the yard and gettin' hot and steamy (well...not that kind of hot and steamy):
Virgin Island Water by Creed. Do I even need to explain this one, people? It's a whole summer vacation crammed into a bottle (cocktails, beach, sand & more). Yes it's overpriced and it's a Creed (I know, I know...) but put this one on, in the heat, and see how it works its magic.
Arancia di Capri by Acqua di Parma (Blu Mediteranneo ). How did they manage to get this to smell JUST like tangerine rind. Unlike some flat citrus scents, this one smells alive and wet - as if the citrus is constantly being misted with water. I spray about 30 sprays (no lie) to get it to stick to my skin. When I wear this and Acqua Viva by Profumum, I feel like that 3 chewing gum commercial. Ahh!!
Vetiver Refreshing Body Splash by Guerlain. Regular Guerlain Vetiver (the EdC is my favorite) can be worn in summer, but the transparent and emollient based liquid of the Refreshing Body Splash flanker is a little less stuffy while still retaining the classy and masculine elements that make the original such a hit. I found my huge 6.8 oz glass bottle of it online at Beauty Encounter.
White by Comme des Garcons. My staple Summer Oriental. 'Nuff said.
Cologne A La Russe by Institut Tres Bien. Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo, as if it was curated by Tom Ford. You need to splash this on - instead of spraying it, and dumping a bunch of it on skin seems to get it to stick. Sadly this, like some others on my list, is officially discontinued.
Aqua Allegoria Mentafollia by Guerlain. Even better than Series 5: Sherbet Peppermint by CdG, AAM has an aromatic (herbal) element to it that lingers and billows together with the mint - not competing with each other. They play nice together. Smells like you're chewing Altoids gum and sipping iced chamomile tea without the throat burn.
Declaration Eau de Genereuse by Cartier. In the buffet of Declaration flankers, this one is the 'citrus, fresh, eau-cologne style' Declaration. Helg (from Perfume Shrine) says it reminds her of Terre de Hermes. For me, it makes the Cartier scent user friendly for hot climates like mine. I swear there's mint or eucalyptus in DEdG even though I cannot smell it, because wherever I spray this I feel a cooling effect after it dries. I love the classy-beer-keg bottle too.
Booster by Lacoste. I confess, I'm a little mint-ally insane. If you're a mint / eucalyptus / menthol fan like I am, then ignore the insect-pesticide-looking bottle (and the fact that most Lacoste masculine scents suck) and get, thee, a bottle of this juice!
Calamus (Series 1: Leaves) by Comme des Garcons. Go outside and find a plant with thick, full leaves. Pull a leaf off the closest branch to you. Tear it cross ways. Inhale. That's what Calamus smells like. The most NATURAL smelling fragrance in the entire Comme des Garcons line. It doesn't get any greener than this.
Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche by and/or Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder. I rarely wear fragrance when I go to the actual beach (Why, the natural smells are so wonderful by themselves?) but ever so often if I am going somewhere before I go to the beach I reach for this juice. Besides incorporating a subtle coconut note in with some gentle white florals, there is a salty rock note that smells like those craggy, weather beaten rocks along rocky coastlines. (Side note: I have tested ASEF and BG side-by-side and they are the same juice.)
That's my list. What's yours?
But here I am in the thick of summer - it's pretty hot out there, isn't it? - and the warm and humid conditions here in Miami make it almost impossible for me to wear some of my spicy orientals and heavier scents (even lightly applied). I just feel better wearing certain scents in my wardrobe.
This year these ten (10) were my go-to scents when I knew I'd be sweating outside with the family BBQ, at the gym, at the beach, cleaning the yard and gettin' hot and steamy (well...not that kind of hot and steamy):
Virgin Island Water by Creed. Do I even need to explain this one, people? It's a whole summer vacation crammed into a bottle (cocktails, beach, sand & more). Yes it's overpriced and it's a Creed (I know, I know...) but put this one on, in the heat, and see how it works its magic.
Arancia di Capri by Acqua di Parma (Blu Mediteranneo ). How did they manage to get this to smell JUST like tangerine rind. Unlike some flat citrus scents, this one smells alive and wet - as if the citrus is constantly being misted with water. I spray about 30 sprays (no lie) to get it to stick to my skin. When I wear this and Acqua Viva by Profumum, I feel like that 3 chewing gum commercial. Ahh!!
Vetiver Refreshing Body Splash by Guerlain. Regular Guerlain Vetiver (the EdC is my favorite) can be worn in summer, but the transparent and emollient based liquid of the Refreshing Body Splash flanker is a little less stuffy while still retaining the classy and masculine elements that make the original such a hit. I found my huge 6.8 oz glass bottle of it online at Beauty Encounter.
White by Comme des Garcons. My staple Summer Oriental. 'Nuff said.
Cologne A La Russe by Institut Tres Bien. Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo, as if it was curated by Tom Ford. You need to splash this on - instead of spraying it, and dumping a bunch of it on skin seems to get it to stick. Sadly this, like some others on my list, is officially discontinued.
Aqua Allegoria Mentafollia by Guerlain. Even better than Series 5: Sherbet Peppermint by CdG, AAM has an aromatic (herbal) element to it that lingers and billows together with the mint - not competing with each other. They play nice together. Smells like you're chewing Altoids gum and sipping iced chamomile tea without the throat burn.
Declaration Eau de Genereuse by Cartier. In the buffet of Declaration flankers, this one is the 'citrus, fresh, eau-cologne style' Declaration. Helg (from Perfume Shrine) says it reminds her of Terre de Hermes. For me, it makes the Cartier scent user friendly for hot climates like mine. I swear there's mint or eucalyptus in DEdG even though I cannot smell it, because wherever I spray this I feel a cooling effect after it dries. I love the classy-beer-keg bottle too.
Booster by Lacoste. I confess, I'm a little mint-ally insane. If you're a mint / eucalyptus / menthol fan like I am, then ignore the insect-pesticide-looking bottle (and the fact that most Lacoste masculine scents suck) and get, thee, a bottle of this juice!
Calamus (Series 1: Leaves) by Comme des Garcons. Go outside and find a plant with thick, full leaves. Pull a leaf off the closest branch to you. Tear it cross ways. Inhale. That's what Calamus smells like. The most NATURAL smelling fragrance in the entire Comme des Garcons line. It doesn't get any greener than this.
Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche by and/or Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder. I rarely wear fragrance when I go to the actual beach (Why, the natural smells are so wonderful by themselves?) but ever so often if I am going somewhere before I go to the beach I reach for this juice. Besides incorporating a subtle coconut note in with some gentle white florals, there is a salty rock note that smells like those craggy, weather beaten rocks along rocky coastlines. (Side note: I have tested ASEF and BG side-by-side and they are the same juice.)
That's my list. What's yours?
