Which Summer Perfume Are You? Let Us Help You Find Out…

Our sense of smell is intrinsically linked with memories and the emotions they evoke, which is exactly why fragrances have the unique knack of whisking our minds back to a particular time and place. And what could be more memorable than a summer holiday? When time lingers with mornings spent bobbing in the ocean, balmy afternoons lounging horizontal in the sunshine, short-lived romances developed at record speed (blame the rosé). So take a trip down fragrant memory lane, and find your future summer fling…

Island Girl

Joely Walker, Grazia Health & Beauty Director

Introduction: In her day-to-day life as a beauty director, Joely flits between fresh and simple rose-based scents and smooth and interesting musks (hello Le Labo Another 13). But come summer months, with holidays calling and a carefree mood in the air, her penchant for Island-vibe fragrances takes hold – favouring those ‘holidays bottled’ blends that feature sweet coconuts, creamy vanillas and signature citruses. The sort that makes you want to be beachside with a margarita in hand, pronto.

My Summer Diaries:

I spent my late teens gallivanting off to exotic destinations, my minimal belongings bundled up into a backpack (mostly bikinis, Havaianas and denim hot pants). The only luxe exception was Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche, £62 for 100ml, which – I’ll fess up – was stolen from my older sister. It’s sun-cream reminiscent scent sums up sunsets in Thailand, rolling beaches in Brazil and getting lost in Laos.

The summers of my early twenties were spent spritzing Tom Ford Mandarino Di Amalfi, £162 for 50ml, after being gifted a single bottle. It was my first adult venture into citruses, with a unisex grapefruit, lemon and basil blend offset by a base of vetiver. I didn’t get to the Amalfi coast – but it didn’t matter when I was wearing this.

Continuing with my sunbaked, Mediterranean vibes I stumbled across Hermes Un Jardin En Mediterranee, £87 for 100ml – a juicy, figgy, citrusy melting pot that put a spring in my step as soon as I spritzed.

Creed Virgin Island Water, £230 for 100ml, is the Caribbean bottled, with bergamot mingling alongside the undeniable trace of sweet coconuts. It deserves to be worn with sand between your toes and salt-spray in your hair – which is exactly what I did earlier this year for my honeymoon.

Similar fragrance profile to Joely? Try these new spritzes

Floral Fanatic

Emma Stoddart, Senior Beauty Assistant

Introduction: With summer in her psyche all year round, Emma opts for dresses over jeans, salt spray over hairspray and fresh florals over dark and woody fragrances. And it’s these signature floral scents – like rose, tuberose and peony - that conjure up blissful memories of family trips to Spain, evening strolls in bluebell woods and soaking up the sun in her grandma's garden.

My Summer Diaries:

Sweet but not sickly, Miss Dior EDP, £112 for 100ml, was my first holiday romance that became the benchmark for all my future favourites. A bold step away from my body spray days (sorry Impulse), this rose and bergamot blend made me feel sophisticated with a single spritz - even with a clashing hair braid.

My love for florals continued to bloom when I discovered Tom Ford’s Orchid Soleil, £82 for 50ml, in duty free. It’s spicy pink pepper, sweet tuberose and creamy vanilla concoction works even better on warm, sunbaked skin.

Summers that followed stressed-out university semesters called for long weekends away in the countryside bathed in Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia, £94 for 100ml. To me, its summer bottled: all fresh and delicate with ripe pear and florals. The perfect partner for sunny woodland strolls.

A more recent discovery, Miller Harris Rose Silence, £105 for 100ml, transports me straight back to my Grandma’s garden in Somerset overflowing with roses, apple trees and sunshine. I can’t help but feel perkier and happier after misting this soft-petal scent.

Similar fragrance profile to Emma? Try these new spritzes…