With Halle Bailey's The Little Mermaid finally hitting theatres, the 'Mermaidcore' trend is rightfully consuming our entire aesthetic—right down to our fragrance game. So, to help us be part of *that* world, here are some of the best 'Mermaidcore' perfumes...
When it comes to selecting the best perfume for you, it can often be helpful to suss out which perfume notes, in particular, are trending. And naturally, with the popularity surge around all things mermaid-related—thanks to Halle's rendition of Ariel—there's a big ol' demand for sparkling, beachy scents. In fact, some of the best vacation perfumes for 2023 include some rather salty blends.
So, if you're looking for a new Ariel-inspired scent for summer (or perhaps a niche office perfume?), these are our pick of 'mermaidcore' fragrances...
Best 'Mermaidcore' perfumes to evoke seaside vibes
Recommended notes: salt, bergamot, cirtus, coconut, marine accord and woods
Before we delve into what notes really make a mermaid-approved scent, we've rounded up a few of the best mermaid-approved scents—including some floral perfumes—that would definitely leave Prince Eric singing on the shoreline for you (IYKYK)...
RRP: from $39.90 for 3.0 fl. oz.
This perfume features a blend of orange blossom petals, jasmine, bergamot and ylang-ylang notes, warmed by hints of amber. It's designed to literally smell like 'summery heat' on your skin—as if you've come up to the surface for a sunbathe...
RRP: from $24 for 3.04 fl. oz.
For a great travel option, this perfume and hair mist boasts an aroma of solar tuberose (which is also a must-have note for a date-night perfume!), coconut milk, white florals and creamy vanilla. This scent evokes 'the warmth of sunshine on skin' and is very nostalgic, which is a feeling most of us can relate to in regard to our childhood mermaid dreams.
RRP: from $40 for 1.7 fl. oz.
This perfume gives 'the deep' vibes, with its warm and woody blend of black pepper, coconut water, cashmere woods, jasmine petals, salted musks and fig leaves,
It's very much a skin-like scent, that will definitely give you a very mysterious signature...
RRP: from $85 for 3 fl. oz.
Aptly named 'Beach Walk' this scent features a mix of bergamot, heliotrope, coconut milk, lemon and musk and was inspired by 'salty air and rays of sun.' It's fresh, but warm and ideal for a beach-side vacay.
RRP: from $78 for 1 fl. oz.
With a sensual blend of tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine and marine accord, this perfume is definitely the aroma of a beach-side romance...
RRP: from $80 for 1 fl. oz.
Now moving on to some pricier options, this Jo Malone scent is perfect for that mermaid vibe. With earthy key notes of sea salt, sage and ambrette seeds, this perfume is the scents of waves breaking and salty sea spray.
What is a 'Mermaidcore' perfume?
To put it simply, a 'Mermaidcore' scent is what a mermaid might smell like, so salty but also with hints of exotic flowers that might grow in the deep. To put it another way, these oceanic scents are effectively perfumes for wearing to the beach or if you want to embody that coastal grandmother or coastal cowgirl vibe.
Now of course, when we say ocean-themed perfumes, we don't mean that seaweed and fishy scent that's often associated with the beach but rather the smell of salt water on your skin and hair, the milkiness of sunscreen and that warm, intoxicating (yet hard to pin down) aroma of hazy summer days and holidays past.
If you're really looking to embody the deep blue, salt notes are your best bet, as The Fragrance Shop's Natalia Ortiz explains: "Like a burst of sea air on your skin, salt notes are used to add a zing to aquatic, wood and gourmand fragrances. It’s the perfect warm weather note as it adds a tang to otherwise sweet notes. Think chocolate, praline, vanilla and caramel. It creates a really wow contrast."
You should also look for marine accords, or citrusy scents of lemon and orange, to really capture that sun and sea feel. May every day smell like a beach day!
