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20 Best Summer Perfumes for a Fresh Scent This Season

Swap out warm, rich fragrances for something lighter, like these perfumes blooming with invigorating and breezy notes.

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summer perfumes
Mike Garten

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The perfect summer perfume is inspired by the season itself: The season's familiar scents can transport you back to a time when you spent the day slathered in sunscreen at the beach or breathing in fresh-cut grass at a cookout on a warm summer night. You can opt for a classic summer fragrance with refreshing notes of vanilla, coconut or lemon, or shop for a unique summer fragrance that blends together notes of salt, bergamot or rose petals. Either way, hot summer weather calls for uncomplicated scents that are crisp, airy and light.

Below, we've gathered up the best perfumes to try this season. While you'll find a variety of price points, all of these perfumes are all playful, nostalgic, sexy and beachy — and some are downright unexpected (which is what makes wearing perfume so much fun!).

1
COOL CUCUMBER

CLEAN RESERVE H2Eau Water Lotus Eau de Parfum

H2Eau Water Lotus Eau de Parfum

Like a refreshing drink for your senses on a steamy day, this water-based spritz features a mix of airy floral notes (peony, water lily) and dewy hints of just-picked cucumber.

2
JUICY TOMATO

Maison Margiela Fragrances REPLICA From the Garden Eau de Toilette

REPLICA From the Garden Eau de Toilette

Inspired by the slightly sweet, herbaceous aroma of sun-warmed tomato fields, this perfume melds a tomato leaf accord with tart mandarin and green moss.

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3
CRISP PEPPER

D.S. & DURGA Bistro Waters Eau de Parfum

Bistro Waters Eau de Parfum

Several vegetable garden staples, including bell pepper and basil, add an uplifting touch to this unique fragrance warmed with spices like nutmeg and coriander and topped with a twist of lime.

4
ZESTY BASIL

Eau d'Italie Jardin du Poete Eau de Parfum Spray

Jardin du Poete Eau de Parfum Spray

A sparkling infusion of bracing basil leaves and bitter orange along with wild greens is the perfect perfume cocktail to conjure a balmy backyard stroll.

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5
EARTHY SAGE

Jo Malone London Yuzu Zest Cologne

Yuzu Zest Cologne

This lush herb's rich, almost musky scent brings softness and depth to this fragrance also starring a fruity citrus element.

6
BREEZY JASMINE

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette

Light Blue Eau de Toilette

With notes of Sicilian lemon and jasmine, this classic summery scent that conjures up an image of sipping spritzes on a boat floating in crystal clear waters.

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7
EXOTIC COCONUT

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc

Soleil Blanc

Bergamot, pistachio and coconut are the stars of this sun-drenched scent that smells like a sunny day on an exotic faraway island — bright and warm, with a hint of citrus.

8
SWEET HONEY

Ellis Brooklyn BEE Eau de Parfum

BEE Eau de Parfum

This fragrance complements sticky, late-summer heat. Dripping with notes of honey, rum and vanilla, this mist smells good enough to eat.

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9
BEACHY AMBER

Maison Margiela Fragrances REPLICA Beach Walk Eau de Toilette

REPLICA Beach Walk Eau de Toilette

Ocean air and sun-drenched days get bottled in this beachy fragrance, which is made to smell like sun-kissed skin. Lemon, coconut milk and amber come together to create a warm scent.

10
SENSUAL SANDALWOOD

LE LABO Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

This iconic perfume's cedar, leather and sandalwood notes will transport you to a roaring bonfire on the beach.

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11
EARTHY MINT

Ralph Lauren Polo Earth

Polo Earth
Credit: Ralph Lauren

With mint, sage and zesty mandarin softened by cedar, it's perfect for sunny days outdoors. Even better: For each bottle purchased, the brand will plant a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation.

12
CLEAN MUSK

Lake & Skye 11 11 Fragrance Oil

11 11 Fragrance Oil

If sweet, fruity summer fragrances aren't for you, this Lake & Skye fragrance is a game changer. It has a clean, fresh scent that smells like your skin, just better. Plus, the oil-based formula helps the scent last for hours.

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13
SALTY FLORAL

Ellis Brooklyn SALT Eau de Parfum

SALT Eau de Parfum

If your idea of a perfect summer day is sprawling across a sandy towel on a sun-soaked beach, this is the perfect summer perfume for you. Ylang ylang, white florals and grey amber blend together in an ocean-blue bottle.

14
HEADY BOUQUET

Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum

Bloom Eau de Parfum

Smell like a freshly picked bouquet from the farmer's market with this flowery spritz. Rangoon creeper, a flower that changes from white to deep scarlet as it blooms, is blended with jasmine and tuberose for a scent bursting with florals.

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15
FRUITY COCONUT

Vacation Eau de Toilette

Eau de Toilette
Credit: Vacation

A spritz of this and your senses are filled with a pleasant, sunscreen-y scent reminiscent of the beach. Its coconut top notes offer a light scent that feels just right on a warm summer day.

16
SUBTLE SPICE

Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume

Not a Perfume

For a light but fragrant smell, this perfume offers just one top note, called cetalox, which is often used as a base note. Its minimalist formula makes it a great option for those who don't love strong scents.

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17
SPARKLING CITRUS

AERIN Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum

Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum

Visit the sparkling blue oceans of the Mediterranean with this unique spritz. Sweet honeysuckle and delectable grapefruit make you feel like you're brunching on vacation.

18
POWDERY MUSK

Hermès Un Jardin Sur la Lagune Eau de Toilette

Un Jardin Sur la Lagune Eau de Toilette
Credit: Hermès

This Hermès fragrance was inspired by an imaginary garden, with woodsy, floral and salty notes blending together.

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19
WOODSY SEA SALT

Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne

Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne

This neutral unisex fragrance has just two notes — sage and sea salt. Perfect for anyone looking for a light, unique scent, it's beachy without being tropical and isn't as overpowering as other woodsy fragrances.

20
CLASSIC SUMMER

Bobbi Brown Beach Eau de Parfum

Beach Eau de Parfum

One of the original beachy fragrances, this has that iconic fresh, sunscreen-like scent that instantly channels summer. Jasmine, sea spray and mandarin come together to create the perfect beach day mist.

Headshot of Katie Berohn
Katie Berohn
ELLE Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red nail polish, Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends. 

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