Summer 2025 is off to a hellish start. But if you're anything like me, you cope with whatever pleasures you can grab—namely, fragrance. So, I’m coping by surrounding myself with beautiful smells, dousing myself in perfume and oil.
“Summer scents”—or what people consider summer scents—aren’t always what I gravitate toward. But I do find myself drawn to citrus and the warmth of the season. Still, I’ve created a bit of everything on this list: figgy notes, fresh fruity florals, even ozonic profiles. Let’s smell hot.
Laurel Canyon by Thin Wild Mercury
There are a few scents always heavy in my summer rotation, and one of the most notable is Laurel Canyon by Thin Wild Mercury. I am utterly in love with this fragrance—it’s reminiscent of the late ’60s in LA. Think The Mamas and the Papas, Cass Elliot on a Sunday afternoon. It blends sweet orange, herbal terpenes, grapefruit, Italian cannabis, petitgrain, clove, jasmine sambac, ambergris, birch tar, and patchouli. It starts out fresh and herbal, then dries down into something lived-in and earthy, with patchouli coming through strong. I get about 8 to 10 hours of wear, and I can still catch a whiff on my clothes the next day. It’s one of my all-time favorite fragrances.
Libertine by The Maker
The Maker can do no wrong in my book—each fragrance is special in its own way. I wore Libertine nonstop on a vacation to Vegas last year and got so many compliments. It’s just so lively, so vibrant. With pomelo, hibiscus, cedarwood, mandarin, and other citrus notes, it’s juicy but still feels natural. The pomelo is especially dominant, and the mandarin gives it a slightly green edge while keeping it firmly in citrus territory. I do wish the wear time was better. I get about four hours, but the projection makes up for it. Multiple times I was asked what I was wearing, which, honestly, is a surefire way to make me double that tip.
‘REPLICA’ Never-ending Summer by Maison Margiela
It’s been established: I’m basic, and I love an Aperol Spritz. A girl can’t help it. When Replica released a scent inspired by it, I had to try it immediately. This doesn’t hit with the bright orange sweetness of an Aperol—it leans more into the bitterness and spice. It starts with that citrus sharpness and slowly dries down to something warm and slightly woody. Definitely not a sunshine-and-rainbows summer scent—it smolders a bit. Wear time is about four to five hours, projection is average, but the drydown is genuinely interesting and worth it.
Philosykos by Diptyque / Fig Infusion by Essential Parfums
I’m Greek, so naturally there had to be a fig on this list. Fig is one of my favorite notes for that in-between weather—late spring into early summer, or a cooler summer day. Philosophykos is luxe, clean, and sophisticated. It blends fig leaves, fig sap, fig wood, and black pepper in a way that feels polished without being boring. I usually get about five hours of wear, more if I spray it in my hair.
That said, Fig Infusion by Essential Parfums is a sweeter, slightly creamier take. It adds freesia, orange blossom, black tea, and guaiac wood to the fig, giving it a softness that’s still grounded. It’s also at a much better price point—making it a strong contender if you love fig but aren’t looking to drop Diptyque money. People compare it to Le Labo’s Matcha 26, and….not no.
L’Ivrée Bleue by Ormaie
I wasn’t expecting this one to become a summer scent, but here we are. L’Ivrée Bleue is hot and sensual, ideal for summer nights when the air feels thick and electric. It features rum, mandarin, lily, violet, orris, vanilla, patchouli, benzoin, and cacao. It’s very cacao-and-rum forward—warm, boozy, and a little sweet without going cloying. I get about seven hours of wear, and it makes me feel a little mischievous every time I put it on. It feels like a summer disco, perhaps an evening of snow at Studio 54. I’m excited to find some ways to transition this into cooler months.
Ethereal Wave by Liis
This one is pure water goddess. It’s light but not shy, dreamy but present. Ethereal Wave blends bergamot, cardamom, white tea, black tea absolute, blonde woods, and velvet musk. The white tea and bergamot give it that airy sharpness, while the woods keep it from floating off completely. It’s soft, a little herbal, and has that just-out-of-the-shower kind of intimacy. Projection is moderate, wear time is about four hours. It’s for the most powerful of water witches.
Guava Perfume by Ceremonia
What’s a summer list without a fruity floral? This is pure fun. With lemon zest, peach, brown sugar, violet, and guava, it’s a sweet, juicy, very “you but happier” kind of scent. I like this for low-stakes days where I still want to feel a little elevated. It’s a body mist, so the wear time isn’t long—maybe a couple hours—but that makes it perfect for layering or for people who don’t want anything too strong.
Jake’s House by Henry Rose
I personally make it a point to never visit a man's house; what lies there are only horrors. But Jake’s House is worth a stop. This scent is coastal and clean, but with enough body to keep it from fading into nothing. It blends marine notes, neroli, and musk in a way that feels salty, breezy, and a little compelling. It wears close to the skin and lasts about five hours. I’d wear it alone or layer it with a floral to make it feel more summery. Great for a sunny afternoon where you want to feel polished without trying too hard.
Grand Cuvée by Vacation
This one smells like an affair. Not a mistake—an indulgence. Like watching the pool boy glisten in the sun while your husband is off on another “business” golf trip. Grand Cuvée wraps vanilla bean, amber, argan, peach, and cognac into something warm, creamy, and just shy of sinful. It’s nostalgic in that humid, slow-burn way—like a mom in the ’80s with big hair, bigger sunglasses, and no plans to be good. When the cat’s away... the mice will play.
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