Where would you most like to escape the heat this summer? Perhaps to a villa on the southern Italian coast, where the air smells of salt water, fresh lemons and florals? Perhaps a tropical island where you can laze on the beach with cocktails? Or would you rather stay closer to home: in a sun-drenched rose garden at the end of August? Even if you’re not jetting off this summer, the best new fragrances of the season are ready to take you along.
From light, airy and fresh to warm, spicy and heady, we’ve got them all covered in our roundup of the best new fragrances for summer 2023, for day or night. Whether by the pool or in the park, it’s best to wear your favourite summer outfit, read a new beach book and have a cold drink.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Media Cologne Intensive, £175
Imagine you’re on holiday in southern Italy. It’s golden hour, the windows are open, the summer breeze blows through the curtains onto your skin, and the sound of the waves lapping and the sound of the ocean can be heard in the distance.
Holidaymakers enjoy the sun. Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s latest creation takes you into this world thanks to herbal notes of Italian bergamot and green moss, combined with spicy verbena and sweet fennel, and base notes of
earthy patchouli and matcha. To me, it smells almost lemony – like a slice of lemon for an evening aperitif.
Phlur Solar EDP, £96
“Sour green, aquamarine / Girls dancing on the beach.” Like Lorde’s song of the same name, Phlur’s Solar manages to capture the joyful feeling of spending a day at the beach. How? Top notes of Italian red mandarin, bergamot and jasmine essence, heart notes of orange blossom and neroli, and to top it all off, base notes of driftwood, sea salt and what the brand calls “solar musk”.
Spray it on and enjoy the comfort of lying on the beach and letting the warm sun dry your limbs wherever you are. The scent is said to get stronger as your body temperature rises. So apply it to your knees and elbow creases for a longer-lasting, richer scent.
Diptyque Ilio Eau de Toilette, £125
I can’t help but think that the name of this fragrance reminds me of Elio from Call Me By Your Name, and for good reason. Diptyque’s latest scent combines notes of cactus, lavender and lemongrass, leaving us dreaming of a hazy summer romance under European skies. It’s an Eau de Toilette, meaning it has a lower concentration of essential oils and is lighter than an Eau de Toilette – perfect for those hot days when you just can’t bear to wear clothes.
Plus, it comes in beautiful packaging featuring illustrations inspired by the Mediterranean coast by American artist Erik Winkowski. Flower Street Sweet Almond Blossom Eau de Toilette, £68 Calling all sweet fragrance lovers! Even those who don’t generally like sweet scents will be pleasantly surprised by Flower Street’s latest offerings (I’m like that, and I don’t like anything too savory). Sure, they’re sweet – mostly thanks to a blend of apple blossom and creamy vanilla – but tempered by spicy passionfruit and pink grapefruit (similar to grapefruit), earthy sandalwood and nutty tonka bean.
Sweet. Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle Clementina, £100 Pack your bags (figuratively, of course); Aerin takes us to the Amalfi Coast, where the air is filled with heady citrus scents. With a base of Corsican clementine and the warmth of jasmine and musk, it’s the perfect summer scent for those seeking something light, fresh and welcoming.
Juliette’s Desire for Sunshine, £95 If you’re hankering for a tropical holiday (or at least want one), then Juliet Got a Gun’s latest fragrance is for you. Lust For Sun combines the floral notes of coconut with exotic ylang-ylang and monoi oils (made primarily from the Tiare flower). It is warm and sensual, reminiscent of skin kissed by the sun during golden hour.
