Now that we’re in the throes of summer, I’m having a bit of an identity crisis about my signature scent. I love warm, sugary fragrances so much that I wear them 365 days a year. But the 90-degree weather in L.A. has me second-guessing my go-to scents. While I have become adventurous in my year of discovering new perfumes, I’m still a gourmand gal at heart. Still, I’m starting to crave lighter scents, especially with swimming pool hangs and beach days in full swing. A brief, seasonal pivot from my gourmand ways might just be necessary.
I decided to embark on a quest to find a new poolside-friendly summer scent and visit the Maison Henry Jacques in Beverly Hills, also known as the mecca of luxury fragrances. The boutique opened in 2021 and is the first location for Henry Jacques in the U.S. It feels like an entirely different world when you step inside, as it is made to look like a 19th-century French apartment. There, I had a one-on-one fragrance consultation unlike anything I’ve experienced. Anyone who is fragrance-obsessed must plan a visit to the boutique when in L.A. It is heaven.
I smelled an array of fragrances while at Maison Henry Jacques, most of which came from Les Classiques, a collection of 50 signature scents. But it was the In All Intimacy collection, a collaboration with Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria Perello, that I found to be perfect for summer.
Rafael was reportedly inspired by the Mediterranean when creating his two fragrances. One is a lighter scent designed for when he plays tennis. It consists of coriander, thyme, violet, lavender, lemon, and artemisia. The other is his personal scent and has notes of bergamot, jasmine flower, lilac, and rose.
Maria’s fragrance has violet, orange blossom, bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood, and white musk.
I also sought the guidance of a couple of fragrance experts. When I asked Clara Molloy, co-founder of Memo Paris, what to look for, she said it all depends on how you want to feel when by the pool or on the beach. "There are no rules; perfume is a matter of freedom to be matched to your desires of the moment. Whether you're with your family, as a couple, alone or joining friends, planning to have lunch or go for a swim, wearing a dress, a sarong, a hat, jewelry, and so on, it can change your perfume mood," she said. "If you're there mainly to enjoy the water, you may prefer fresh, soft, light scents."
I also wanted advice from Marisa Auciello, senior vice president at Europerfumes. She had me envisioning myself as the queen of pool parties (even though I don't know how to swim) while wanting to plan some epic date nights with my husband. This would require two types of summer fragrances, which sounds great to me! Ahead, see her recommendations for poolside fragrances and a few favorites from me!
The Absolute Best Perfumes to Wear Poolside
Fruity notes are what I gravitate toward in lieu of gourmands, and this pineapple-centered scent hits the spot.
If you're inviting me to a pool party this summer, know I'll be wearing this scent when I arrive. "As effortlessly cool as your outfit is sure to be, complete the vibe with Lust for Sun," says Auciello. "It's an ode to the joy of summer. Notes of coconut, vanilla, and fresh florals will dance on your sun-kissed skin while you soak up all the compliments."
The vanilla and sandalwood automatically draw me and my gourmand nose in, but this perfume definitely has a summer fruit vibe because of the plum accord and mimosa absolute.
Auciello says this fragrance is perfect for an al fresco dinner date. "As you gaze over your cocktails at the deep blue waters, your date and waiter are likely to be in a trance over your fragrance,” she says. "Blue Heart is an extrait de parfum, a highly concentrated perfume bursting with coconut, vanilla, saffron, and amber. This sensual scent is the ideal nighttime fragrance for summer.”
If you’re lucky enough to be on a yacht this summer (first of all, invite me), consider this your signature scent. "The most luxurious of summer scents," says Auciello."You’re dressed in white linen, sailing at sunset. When the breeze hits you, you leave a luminous trail of Calabrian citrus, coconut, juniper berry, and tonka bean. Just one spritz of this sophisticated perfume surrounds you in the scent of endless summer.” Gorgeous!
If you’re dreaming of a Greek island getaway like I am, this new launch from Memo Paris is the next best thing. With scents of bergamot, cedar, and blackcurrant, it’s inspired by the Greek myth icons Ulysses and Penelope and the island they called home, Ithaca.
Leila Lou, the first fragrance from Rosie Jane, just celebrated its 15th anniversary, and it makes a lovely summertime choice. It’s inspired by the perfect pair of blue jeans, which screams summer, and has notes of pear, jasmine, and freshly cut grass.
Delina is no doubt a popular scent year-round, but Delina La Rosée is a good summertime choice as it’s brighter and fresh, thanks to a blend of transparent water flowers and peony flowers. There’s also a citrusy lean due to the Italian bergamot, lychee and pear.
It would be criminal to leave Vacation off a list of poolside summer fragrances. We start with coconut water and coconut milk, then meet up with bergamot, banana, and pineapple, and finally round it out with notes of pool water, sea salt, and swimsuit. Perfection.
Yes, this may technically not be a perfume, but I had to include this divine hydrating body oil on this list as I’ve been using it all summer.
I love that this fragrance is inspired by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, one of my all-time films. It's also the name of one of my favorite Bjork songs (though that part seems to be a coincidence). This citrus and floral fragrance features black currant harvested from the Burgundy region, Guatemalan cardamom (another fave of mine), and jasmine sambac from India.
I know buying a perfume based on the name is not great advice, but this Cat on a Hot Tin Roof reference is too good. And look at that bottle! But this perfume is also fantastic for summer. It has notes of champagne, ambrette musk, peach, oakmoss, violet, orris, sheer amber, castoreum, patchouli, sunlight, and sandalwood.
I love the Snif brand as its scents are free of parabens, preservatives, phthalates, and synthetic dyes, but this scent, in particular, is a go-to fragrance for the summer. Citrus is a given for the season (grapefruit, lime zest, etc.), but it also has creamsicle, white amber, and cedar.
This might be a little warm for summer, but this cognac, tonka bean, and oakwood delight is Beyoncé’s favorite, so it’s on the list, no questions asked.
This stateside best seller is a great choice for summer nights. Freshness brought on by Mandarin oil and Elemi essence is combined with leather accord, vetiver, and cedar.
When I smelled this out of curiosity, my jaw literally dropped. With my gourmand’s brain, I never thought I’d like anything with "Lily” in its name, but notes of plum, gardenia, carnation, Indian tuberose, rosewood, and honey drew me in. This is a perfect scent for date nights in the summer.
This previously sold-out fragrance is back in stock just in time for you to make it your signature summer scent. With geranium, Moroccan orange flower, ginger, coconut water, vanilla, and Italian bergamot, I’m ready to bathe in this.
Ellis Brooklyn has a ton of great choices for poolside fragrances, but why not opt for the popular SUN scent in a handy body mist? This solar fruity scent features sweet clementine, vanilla, and orange flower.
From Initio’s Hedonist line comes this mystical fragrance that combines the essences of palo santo and white sage with notes of bergamot, lavender plum, black pepper, sandalwood, and agar.
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