Endless summer is in full swing. We sniff out the heady seasonal scents we’ll be dousing ourselves in this holiday.

We change our menus and our wardrobes with the seasons, but what about our fragrances? If winter calls for cosy musks and wood notes to match our knits; spring for freshly budded blooms to herald the awaking of nature from its slumber; then summer is all about for sun-warmed skin, freshly cut grass and Mediterranean citrus groves to take us ¬¬– even if only in a spritz – to sunnier, more exotic climes.

This season there has been a glut of new summer scents, a response perhaps to the pent-up demand for summer holidays. Expect notes of sun-warmed nerolis, evening-blooming jasmines and evocative skin-mimicking notes of soft florals and ambers. Whether you’re heading through duty free or you’re just looking for a sunshine spritz to pick-you-up, here are seven new summer fragrances to sniff out.

Jo Malone


Bitter Mandarin, £76


Inspired by a Sardinian summer, the new cologne from Jo Malone is reminiscent of sultry summer nights, with the citrus fizz of mandarin and the bitter notes of a spritz aperitif. A happy, care-free scent, bottled. Buy it here.


Acqua di Parma


Mirto di Panarea, £124


Inspired by the Aeolian island of Panarea, the new scent from Acqua di Parma is filled with native botanicals of myrtle, basil, bergamot, lemon. Leaving a lingering accord of juniper, cedar wood and amber, green and aromatic, it is the scent of an Italian summer. Buy it here.


Diptyque


Ilio, £107


Ilio is the Diptyque founders’ ode to the elements of a Mediterranean summer, from rocky cliffs to turquoise seas and sun-washed days. It features fresh juicy green notes of the prickly pear cactus, drying down to a powdery iris and jasmine base. Reminiscent of an expensive sun cream – in the best possible way. Buy it here.


Dolce & Gabbana


Light Blue Italian Love, £65


I’m sure we all remember *that* Light Blue ad, shot in Capri. Well, this summer the iconic blue bottle from Dolce & Gabanna is back, with the latest ‘Italian Love’ edition. Updated with notes of grapefruit, bergamot, violet leaf, vetiver and patchouli it’s a fresh, bright citrus scent, it is perfect for holidays. Buy it here.


Christian Louboutin


Loubimar, £230


A new addition to Christian Louboutin’s ‘Loubiworld’ fragrance collection, Loubimar is inspired by Christian Louboutin’s Portuguese summer garden by the sea, a citrus floral ‘salted by the Atlantic Tides’. Think white frothy blooms, musk and tuberose, with a tang of lemon and tangerine. Fruity and light, it’s the perfect summer veil of scent to spritz over sun-warmed skin. Buy it here.


Estée Lauder


Bronze Goddess Nuit, £60


If golden hour had a scent, this would be it. From the bestselling ‘Bronze Goddess’ range by Estée Lauder, the new ‘Nuit’ edition is the famous coconutty, summer holiday scent with darker notes of night-blooming orchid, dark tonka, cashmere woods and jasmine sambac. It is warm, sensual – and the perfect match for your holiday tan. Buy it here.


Loewe


Paula’s Ibiza Eclectic, £66


A hedonistic tribute to the Ibizan boho fashion boutique, Paula’s, this new scent from Loewe is a balance of mandarin, ylang ylang, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, vanilla and incense. The perfect pairing with your summer print dresses for an evocative spritz of the White Isle. Buy it here.

By Lydia Mansi
July 2022

Lydia Mansi

Lifestyle Editor

Lydia is an all-round lifestyle guru, tireless champion of women in business and our resident expert on beauty.

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