Fresh, feelgood fragrances that smell like spring/summer

Freshly cut grass, delicate cherry blossoms, beach-baked salty skin – there’s no faster way to evoke summer than with a clever new seasonal scent. Fancy being transported to sunnier climes? Here are the best perfumes for spring and summer to obsess over now.

As with clothing, spring/summer scents tend to be lighter than their autumn/winter fragrance counterparts, but that doesn’t mean forgoing spicy, rich and woody perfumes altogether. Try mixing florals with niche, decadent woody scents (patchouli, fig, tonka bean) and sensual, nuzzly amber musks. Douse your wrists (and your linen shirt) then wait for the compliments to roll in. 

Prefer your fragrances fresher in feel? Fig, bergamot and orange blossom offer a crisp, fruity twist on more traditional floral and woody bases. Off to a wedding? Opt for sparkling citrus top notes and swirls of lemon oil for clarity and a joyful energy boost. Layer with a warm, spicy, peppery base for a more sensual finish.

Florals for spring? Of course. Opt for soft, romantic top notes (pink pepper, patchouli or jasmine) alongside subtly seductive ylang-ylang and neroli for long, lazy days. Mix with sweet citrus and/or warm woody notes to soothe a busy mind.

Inviting, intoxicating and quietly confident – amber scents feature notes of bergamot, neroli and saffron, softened with cocoa shell, tonka bean and vanilla. The perfect perfume plus-one for vacations and staycations, these are the sensual, skin-soaking stop-and-stare scents that come with compliments as standard.