Dreaming of a holiday? Us too, which is why we’re looking elsewhere for our wanderlust fix. Enter perfumes that, when you close your eyes and inhale, transport your mind away from the humdrum of the everyday (if even for a moment), offering up an instant feel-good mood-boost. You know the kind – those fragrances that immediately remind you of that trip of a lifetime, that snap you back into holiday mode faster than you can say ‘Aperol Spritz, please’.
‘It’s truly fascinating how a scent can transport you to a specific location or moment in time,’ says Vilhelm Parfumerie founder Jan Ahlgren. ‘The brain’s smell centre – the olfactory bulb – is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, so the smell of something can immediately trigger a detailed memory or intense emotion.’ See! Our primal brain biology proves a new sunny fragrance can take you on a trip back to more carefree times. And with so many new spritzes taking inspiration from holiday destinations – there’s never been a better time to take a scented holiday, especially now that shops have reopened and we can spritz and sniff them IRL. Spritz this way...
Best Summer Fragrances 2021
1 of 10Dolce Rose by Dolce & Gabbana Beauty, £88 for 75ml
Guaranteed to spark joy, Dolce & Gabbana's first EDT is an addictive fruity floral scent that combines delicate rose with soft musks and tangy redcurrant.
2 of 10Creed Acqua Originale Zeste Mandarine, £220 for 100ml
Paying homage to the infamous Sicilian citrus fruit, Creed Zeste Mandarine is summer in Sicily bottled. Zingy lemon, delicate patchouli and hints of orange blossom smell like warm sunshine on skin. D.i.v.i.n.e.
3 of 10Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noir, £98 for 100ml
Bottling the sultrier side of balmy summer nights, Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noir combines leather suede with sweet plum.
4 of 10Malin + Goetz Strawberry EDT, £75 for 50ml
Perfect for spring, this light and bright fragrance is meant to evoke the strawberry's full life cycle from floral to bud, to green, white and finally, red. Creamy cedarwoood and pink pepper cut through the sweetness of strawberry.
5 of 10Loewe Solo Ella EDP, £65.80
Green apple, neroli and creamy woods - LOEWE Solo Ella smells as good as it sounds. No – better!
6 of 10Guerlain Mon Guerlain Sparkling Bouquet, £113 for 100ml
Fruity fragrance fans, Guerlain Mon Guerlain Sparkling Bouquet has your name written all over it. It's a juicy splash of pear, vanilla and jasmine.
7 of 10Nivea Sun EDT, £25 for 30ml
Ever wish you could savour the smell of suncream on sea-salted skin? Well, Nivea has delivered exactly that with its first foray into fragrance.
8 of 10Loewe Paula’s Ibiza EDT, £70 for 50ml
Amber, patchouli and a tropical floral tang – Loewe Paula's Ibiza EDT, is a worthy ode to the heady White Isle.
9 of 10Zara Emotions Amalfi Sunray, £25.99 for 90ml
If you've been lucky enough to sip limoncello on the Italian Riviera, Zara Emotions Amalfi Sunray will bring back the best la dolce vita memories.
10 of 10Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey EDT Cush Cush, £27
Ideal for on the go, this sophisticated scent can be pressed onto skin - offering up to 240 days of use. Created to evoke the smell of springtime flowers, fresh lily dries down to a warm, earthy base.
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