Have you ever noticed your perfume intensifies in the heat?
We’re welcoming in the lighter and brighter fragrances around this summer, both for their scent and their practicality.
Maybe your subtle eau de toilette can suddenly be detected by those around you in way that’s cloying rather than inviting.
It’s normal – fragrances change in warmer climes, which is also why it can be a good idea to switch things up for the coming months.
Gwen Gonzalez, a perfumer at Givaudan, one of the largest fragrance manufacturers, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘The summer heat and humidity can intensify a fragrance’s diffusion and evolution process.
‘The rate of diffusion of alcohol in a fragrance increases as the skin warms to your surrounding temperatures.
‘This means the process of evaporation or wear of a fragrance can be perceived as more enhanced and so the wear can be quite powerful.’
That’s why your trusty winter scent doesn’t wear quite how it used to.
Instead you can go for scents that are typically fresher and lighter, rather than heavy and potent scents.
Gwen advises you might want to look out for these typically less intrusive and cloying notes: citrus (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, lime), fruity (berries or tropical), light florals (peony, freesia, magnolia), oceanic/marine, woody (light woods), greens (grassy or dewy), or fresh and watery (eucalyptus, green tea, bamboo, cucumber).
She also says you could chose eau de colognes or eau fraîche fragrance types if you really want a minimal scent, because ‘these all contain a lower fragrance concentration’.
‘If you are someone that has a signature scent and prefers to wear that year around, many brands create lighter summer versions of their leading parfums.
‘This can either be an edt or a body mist/veil, a body wash or a sublimely scented body lotion.
‘With the arrival of the summer warmth we naturally tend to wear lighter clothing, thinner more breathable fabrics with a less is more ethos. The same could be said for wearing fragrance in these warmer, sweltering months,’ she adds.
Though you don’t need to avoid eau de parfums all together – it’s just about picking one that compliments you and your environment.
After all, there are no rules in beauty.
These are some of our favourites.
Escentric Molecules M+ Molecule 01 + Iris
Get it for £95 from Cult Beauty.
The most famous ‘your skin but better’ scent has been updated with a dash of iris, which adds a powdery quality to the light woody notes.
Zara No1 Rose Petal Drops
Get it for £25.99 from Zara.
The popular Zara X Jo Malone collab has quietly been expanded, with one of the new scents being this watery rose.
Miller Harris Rêverie de Bergamote
Get it for £85 from Miller Harris.
The latest launch from the luxe perfume house is a unisex, lightly herbal citrus. As with all Miller Harris perfumes, one spritz is all you need.
Bvlgari Omnia by Mary Katrantzou
Get it for £87 from Selfridges.
A true summer scent, this looks as vibrant as it smells.
It’s fun and floral thanks to orange blossom and the scent develops in a way that’s noticeable without being invasive.
Floral Street Wild Vanilla Orchid Body Cream
Get it for £24 from John Lewis.
Floral Street have released their most popular scents as creams, making them perfect for a gentle scent across the body.
Alongside vanilla, this sensual one has notes of bamboo, jasmine and sandalwood.
Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue Forever
Get it for £51 from The Perfume Shop.
This year’s Light Blue is slightly more fruity than usual, with it’s apple and lemon notes.
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa ’40 Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
Get it for £18 from Feel Unique.
For something that serves more as a pick me up, try this sweet yet comforting plummy mist that you can spritz into day-old hair too.
Jo Malone Frangipani Flower Cologne
Get it for £52 from Jo Malone.
A limited edition cologne that offers ‘solar warmth’ – perfect for days spend in the UK lusting over international travel.
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
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