Summer 2024 in Fragrance

With the days growing shorter and September around the corner, I’m reflecting on the fragrances I wore throughout the summer. I used to often reach for light citrus fragrances, but over the years, I have discovered that other factory profiles work well for me in the warmer weather.

From fleshy fruits to sparkling aldehydes to unique aquatics, I’ve worn it all this summer!

Some of you may still be enjoying the balmy days, so go ahead and try these transportive beauties if you get a chance.

Or just let me know what you’ve been wearing lately!

Darren Alan Songes À Fleurs

A fragrance that blends the spirit of the past with the vivacity of the present, Songes À Fleurs (meaning “Flower Dreams”) is a perfumer’s tribute to spring’s blooming flowers. While aldehydes may often be associated with dated, heavy perfumes, here they are light, bubbly, and perfectly mixed with luminous green florals. The balance of powdery, opulent, and misty sensations makes Songes a perfect pick for early summer.

Perfumer: Darren Alan White

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Eau Parfumée

This iconic Francis Kurkdjian creation was my very first tea fragrance and one I always love to wear when I spend a lot of time outside. Ironically, I tried it even before Jean-Claude Ellena‘s Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert for Bvlgari, the first tea fragrance launched in 1992. Green Tea Eau Parfumée reminds me of green, slightly tannic tea mixed with lemon zest and a touch of mint. Imagine sipping this cool beverage on a crisp day by the mountains, surrounded by lush vegetation. This fragrance is light, vibrant, and refreshing.

Perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian

Eris Parfums Belle de Jour

Mixing multiple olfactory profiles (aquatic, white floral, musky, spicy), Bell de Jour evokes the collection of scents you might get on a warm summer morning by the sea. Just imagine the air thick with the mingling smell of flowers, rocks, and salt. Jasmine and orange blossom are interspersed with spicy accents that remind me of sweet fennel. Then there’s the moist, green smell of seaweed. Elegant and a bit sordid, this is something that a fantastical sea creature would wear — a brew of white flower petals, crushed mother of pearl, and sea foam.

Perfumer: Antoine Lie

Eris Parfums Delta of Venus

This is a green, crisp fragrance that develops into a creamy and mysterious scent. The guava accord is realistic, juicy, and pink but fortunately never falls into the syrupy tropical fruit category. After a while, I seem to detect the fragrant skin and flesh of white nectarines. The verdancy of galbanum and jasmine Sambac keep the scent crisp and wearable, but also suggest something slightly dark and unsettling.

Perfumer: Antoine Lie

Les Eaux Primordiales Couleur Primaire

This fragrance is pristine and buttery soft like a plush white robe, the kind you’d wear in a chic hotel room. The aldehydes are airy and modern, blending with a fluffy musk to give off a sudsy, out-of-the-shower feel with a hint of creamy softness. I also detect some crispness from the pear and the gentle bubble of a white flower bouquet. This is a laundry-fresh fragrance with remarkable presence and a subtle, refreshing trail.

I love the accompanying skincare line too! The exfoliating soap and cream are a pampering treat for the hands, and the whipped cleansing Chantilly may be the most luxurious body wash I’ve experienced.

Perfumer: Arnaud Poulain

Le Jardin Retrouvé Mousse Arashiyama

Named after the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan, this is a treat for tree huggers and wooded area lovers. You can smell the cool, green sap from lush fig leaf stems along with the terpenic bite of lentiscus and the dampness of oakmoss and soil. Twirls of incense float in the air as you bathe in this lush imaginary forest.

Perfumer: Maxence Moutte

Le Jardin Retrouvé Osmanthe Liu Yuan

This is an ode to the joyful character of osmanthus, a flower with heady, spicy, and suede facets. The fragrance is golden and sunny with green nuances. If you love peach and apricot, you’ll love this too! The peach facet is elegant, juicy, and tart, the apricot fuzzy, sweet, and slightly leathery, perfectly complementing the osmanthus absolute. This brew is uplifting and delicious, reminding me of a refreshing, high-end osmanthus tea beverage. Touches of violet, jasmine, and patchouli add depth but remain in the background. I was lucky to attend the launch party of this fragrance at Esxence 2023!

Perfumer: Maxence Moutte

Linen Tutu Afterthought @7

An ode to the running waters of the Hudson River, Afterthought @7 transports me to a wooded area by a riverbed. I am surrounded by botanical beauty: pretty violets and dewy violet leaves, wild aromatic herbs, and damp soil. The fennel note adds a unique spicy twist that takes me to the warm and dry areas of the Mediterranean scrub in the summer.

Perfumer: Daniela Carrasco

Marbella Perfumes Ever Present

The joyful Ever Present is a sunny and sophisticated blend of yuzu, neroli, and jasmine supported by plush notes of vanilla and tonka bean. Litsea cubeba adds drops of lemon candy and mimosa a touch of green almond. I used the last drops of my travel size vial while I was on holiday, but my special 30 ml bottle is still full!

Perfumer: Helida Dodd

Parfums Dusita Pelagos

Pelagos (“Sea” in Greek) was created as a tribute to a perfumer’s memories of the blue Aegean Sea and life’s endless possibilities. An earthy blend of orris and woods with hints of salt and aromatic herbs, Pelagos specifically reminds me of the earthy, mineralic, and verdant smells of a seaside shore. It’s intense, rich, and creatively interprets the orris theme.

Perfumer: Pissara Umavijani

I’d love to thank the brands and perfumers who kindly gifted me bottles of the fragrances without any pressure to review. I received Couleur Primaire and matching skincare products as part of an international giveaway hosted by the Les Eaux Primordiales and Kathleen @Scentifolia on Instagram. Green Tea and Delta of Venus were purchased by me.

Photo and opinions are my own.