For many of us, our beauty and grooming routines have changed during coronavirus. Working from home means you probably have significantly switched up your makeup, for example. But one thing that never changes is the beauty of a great fragrance. Sure, you wear it for the people around you, but most of all, fragrance is something you wear for yourself. Even if date night looks totally different or the board room has been replaced with a Zoom meeting, fragrance can still transform your mood. That’s why it’s always time for a scent refresh. These are the best new spring and summer fragrances that you won’t be able to stop spritzing.
By Kilian Good Girl Gone Bad Eau Fraîche, $210, bykilian.com. “When I’m good, I’m very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better,” said Old Hollywood icon Mae West, who is the muse behind the scent, along with the biblical figure Eve. The OG Good Girl Gone Bad has captured attention for years with its floral blend and now it gets a limited edition summer update with the addition of cool and aquatic notes. Warm and sensual, it evokes sticky summer nights. It opens with orange blossom from North Africa and roses from Turkey and Morocco, with a heart of Egyptian jasmine sambac and tuberose, and a drydown of floral musk.
Byredo Lil Fleur, $180, byredo.com. If you were a teenager going to a summer festival, it would smell like Lil Fleur. The innocent, uplifting scent was inspired by teenage emotions. It sounds hard to capture that moment in time in a bottle until you take a whiff and realize Byredo nailed it. The elixir features top notes of cassis, tangerine and saffron with a heart of damascene rose and leather, and a base of blonde woods, amber and vanilla.
Tom Ford Rose Prick, $335, tomford.com. This is as close as you’ll get to visiting Tom Ford’s private rose garden. That’s exactly what inspired this beautiful rose with an edge scent with a tongue-in-cheek name. It spotlights a trio of rose breeds: Rose de Mai, Turkish and Bulgarian roses. Just like real roses, it’s seductive and warm.
Chanel Chance Crayons de Parfum, $80, chanel.com. You’ll have just as much fun playing with these crayons as you did with your Crayolas as a kid. The limited edition set of four solid fragrances includes Chance, Chance Eau Tendre, Chance Eau Fraiche and Chance Eau Vive. The travel-friendly format makes it perfect for on-the-go, and you’ll want to show off the sweet pastel packaging. The silky crayons glide right onto skin, so you can draw on wherever you’d like a dab of the pretty scents.
Carolina Herrera Bad Boy, $98, macys.com. Even before they take a whiff, chances are guys are going to covet this fragrance simply for its sleek bottle, but what’s inside is just as cool. The oriental aromatic is powerful and arresting. Red and white pepper mingle with Italian green bergamot at the top, with heart notes of cedarwood and sage, and a base of tonka beans and absolut of cocoa. The latter two are a playful nod to the Eau de Parfum Good Girl, as it shares the same bottom notes.
Dolce & Gabbana Shine, $76, ulta.com. Everything about this cheery fragrance is an instant pick-me-up, from the yellow juice to the bright packaging to the floral cap and, of course, the scent itself. Fresh and fruity, it’s a delightful combination of mango, grapefruit essence, jasmine and blond woods.
Acqua di Parma Yuzu, $330, bloomingdales.com. A rare and prized fruit, Yuzu originally hails from China. The most coveted Yuzu now is grown on the remote Japanese island of Shikoku. Chefs across the globe love it for its delectable juice and golden peel, and it’s the center of a winter solstice bathing ritual in Japan. The precious ingredient takes center stage, surrounded by notes of bergamot, Sichuan pepper, lotus, mimosa, violet leaves, jasmine, musk, licorice and sandalwood.
The Harmonist Moon Glory, $336, neimanmarcus.com. Imagine taking in the aromas of flowers at dusk in Hawaii and you have the concept behind Moon Glory. The amber floral is all about that fleeting moment between after the sun sets and before dark sets in, as the light and scent of the air shift. The shimmering silver bottle, designed by tattoo artist Dr. Woo, conjures that with twinkling stars. The Harmonist focuses on the ideals of Feng Shui, harmony and well-being and their latest scent focuses on notes that are all about Yin energy, including Hawaiian jasmine, ylang ylang, lychee, queen of the night, passionflower, organic honey, Hinoki wood, Peru balsam and Australian sandalwood.
Chloe Nomade Absolu de Parfum, $142, Sephora.com. Warm and dry like the desert, Nomade Absolu continues the journey of the original Nomade Eau de Parfum and has the same oakmoss heart. The latest iteration is warmer and has even greater intensity. It opens with mirabelle plum, has a heart of davana and a sandalwood base. The elegant bottle with gold studs and a suede tassel is a nod to Chloe’s glamorous fashion.
Eric Buterbaugh Fabulous Magnolia Eau de Parfum, $210, saksfifthavenue.com. As a world-famous florist to the stars, of course Eric Buterbaugh’s latest fragrance puts the spotlight on magnolia and other floral notes. Evoking one of his fabulous bouquets, it has top notes of lemon essence, lotus and laurel essence; heart notes of magnolia essence, tuberose absolute, ylang ylang essence; and a base of patchouli and sandalwood.
CK EVERYONE, $80, macys.com. CK One broke so many barriers when it was released in the 90s. Now it’s been remade for the next generation, still pushing gender norms and self-expression. It marks Calvin Klein’s first clean and eco-conscious fragrance. Formulated with naturally derived alcohol and ingredients, it’s vegan, recyclable and packaged with recycled materials. That familiar fresh, citrus scent has a top note of organic orange and middle of blue tea accord. The perfect final touch is the iconic waistband around the bottle.
Ermenegildo Zegna Essenze Roman Wood, $230, bloomingdales.com. The latest addition to the Essenze Collection will have you feel like you’re soaking up the sun and clean air in the middle of a forest. Earthy and airy, it features notes of Roman pine, bergamot, cedarwood, amber and cypress.
Lancome La Vie Est Belle Intensément, $133, lancome-usa.com. Lancome’s classic gets another chapter with Intensément, a warm floral that lives up to its name. Notes of bergamot, pink pepper and raspberry make up the iconic scent, while red vanilla and red iris are a rich update, giving the perfume an intriguing mix of layers.
Marc Jacobs Fragrances Daisy Eau So Fresh Daze, $100, sephora.com. This ticks off all the boxes for the ideal summer fragrance: It’s breezy, fresh and fruity. It’ll transport you to a peach orchard at the height of the season. The limited edition update on the beloved OG Daisy opens with white peach, pear and grapefruit, with a heart of orchard blossoms, violet and beach rose, and a base of cedarwood, musk, vanilla bean and peach skin.
Cartier Les Collections de Parfum Les Épures de Parfum, $174, saksfifthavenue.com. We don’t blame you if you can’t decide between Cartier’s three new scents. Luckily, this discovery set allows you to play with all three, which all celebrate the beauty of nature. There’s Pur Muguet, a dainty Lily of the Valley perfume that highlights its fresh green leaves; Pur Kinkan, a sparkling citrus that delivers a burst of energy; and Pur Magnolia, a blend of the magnolia tree with citrusy notes.
Molton Brown Milk Musk Eau de Parfum, $160, moltonbrown.com. The aptly named Milk Musk envelops you like a warm bath. Incredibly soft and soothing, you can feel stress melting away as you inhale the gentle fragrance. The top note of elemi meets the heart of musk, ambroxan and vanilla, and base of benzoin and tonka bean.
Ellis Brooklyn Salt Eau de Parfum, $105, ellisbrooklyn.com. Few things are as synonymous with summer as the sensation and scent of salty skin. That’s the idea behind the latest from Ellis Brooklyn, which captures the heat of the sun in a bottle. To nab that effect, it mixes vegan ambergris with tropical floral notes of Tahitian tiare, violet leaves, ylang ylang, sandalwood and musk. On the flip side, Ellis Brooklyn’s other new debut is Sweet, which was inspired by the E. E. Cummings poem, “In Time of Daffodils.” “In time of daffodils (who know the goal of living is to grow) forgetting why, remember how.” That sentiment is expressed with pear, ambrette, bergamot, violet, orris, cashmere and marshmallow.
Polo Ralph Lauren Deep Blue, $105, ralphlauren.com. It makes perfect sense that Ralph Lauren tapped pro surfer and two-time world champion Gabriel Medina to be the brand partner of their newest cologne. Breaking waves on a tropical beach is the muse behind the scent, as it captures salty sea water with fresh fruits. That explains the blend of Hawaiian green mango, cypress oil and deep ocean accord. “I’m honored to be a part of the Polo Deep Blue campaign because it celebrates the power of our oceans,” Medina said. “Being a surfer my whole life, the ocean has always been a huge part of who I am, so it was easy for me to say yes and be a part of this.”
Diptyque Fleur de Peau Multiuse Fragrance, $110, diptyqueparis.com. Now you can spritz Diptyque’s top selling scent on your sheets, clothes, into any room or yourself! The multi-purpose perfumed water works equally well as a room spray, linen refresher or perfume. You can even add a capful or two in the softener tray of your washing machine to bestow the fragrance on all your linens. Created as a tribute to the mythical love between Psyche and Eros, Fleur de Peau blends musk, iris, ambrettolide and pink peppercorns.
Ex Nihilo Explicite, $225, bergdorfgoodman.com. All about sensual thrills, this scent is all about torrid summer nights. The intoxicating floral ambery juxtaposes delicate blooms with rich creaminess. Top notes of nutmeg and pink pepper meet a heart of peony, Lily of the Valley and praline, with a base of vanilla, sandalwood and amber.
