Salty Fragrances Are Sublime, and These 10 Are "I Can't Even Handle It" Good
These scents work for everyone.
Fragrance is deeply personal. In general, what works as a signature scent on one person might smell entirely different on someone else thanks to pheromones. As a perfume-obsessed beauty editor, I’m big on testing different fragrances. I’m constantly churning through my massive collection, and there are some notes that I don’t like on myself but love on others.
There is one fragrance note that I think works for nearly everyone, though, and that’s salt. If you think about it, it makes sense—our bodies have naturally occurring salts in them. Salty notes in perfume just help you get that certain je ne sais quoi. People will tell you that you smell good, but they won’t quite be able to land on why. And while I love a good summer fragrance, salt-based ones specifically give your skin a certain creamy, oceanic scent that’s hard to resist. Keep reading for some of the most intoxicating salty scents out there.
The Best Salty Perfumes, Listed
- Best Beach-Inspired Perfume: Ellis Brooklyn Salt Eau de Parfum
- Best Earthy Perfume: Jo Malone London Wood Sage Sea Salt Cologne
- Best Vanilla-Infused Perfume: Lancôme Idôle Aura Eau de Parfum
- Best Floral-Inspired Perfume: Dior Eden-Roc
- Best Citrus-Infused Perfume: Pinrose Sun Saint Eau de Parfum
The Best Salty Perfumes of 2025
Best Beachy-Inspired Perfume: Ellis Brooklyn Salt Eau de Parfum
As the name might suggest, this fragrance depicts salty skin at the beach. You know the feeling of frothy waves washing over your toes on a sunny day? This is that in a bottle.
Pros: Subtle and long-lasting
Cons: Some say the floral notes are too noticeable
Key notes: Ylang-ylang, Tahitian tiare, ambergris
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: "This is my favorite perfume I've ever tried. Most perfume doesn't last very long on me, but I can smell this hours after applying. It is such a unique scent, it's really difficult to describe but that's part of what I love about it. It's not overtly masculine or feminine, it just smells clean and like the ocean. I love it, highly recommend."
Best Earthy Perfume: Jo Malone London Wood Sage Sea Salt Cologne
This might be the antithesis of a warm, tropical day at the beach—instead, picture brisk, seaside air sweeping through cliffs. Herbal, earthy, and woodsy notes render this fragrance an electric, invigorating breath of fresh air.
Pros: Fresh and long-lasting
Cons: Some say it's a bit bitter
Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
Size: 3.4 oz
Customer review: "I was on the hunt for a summer 'clean girl' perfume, and this is perfect! So clean, fresh, and bright. I sprayed it on my wrists and neck around 10 a.m. and was still smelling it on me at 6 p.m."
Best Vanilla-Infused Perfume: Lancôme Idôle Aura Eau de Parfum
While it's floral on the nose, this fragrance weaves in salty notes by way of salted vanilla. It's like eating a macaron in a blossoming garden.
Pros: Floral undertones are subtle
Cons: Not long-lasting
Key notes: Isparta, centifolia roses, white jasmine, bergamot, salted vanilla
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: "The description they give for this perfume is an exact fit! It's like laying on a beach with flowers in your hair! You can even smell the salt spray. Incredible! This is definitely a vacation scent."
Best Floral-Inspired Perfume: Dior Eden-Roc
If you were able to smell underwater, this is what plunging into the ocean would smell like. You'll get the perfect mix of citrus and earthy notes while still maintaining that ocean-side scent. The brand describes this fragrances as a "vibrant declaration to the Hôtel du Cap Eden-Roc," a hotel located in South of France that Christian Dior loved.
Pros: Evolves with time
Cons: Expensive for the size
Key notes: Sea salt, citrus, minerals, jasmine, mastic, pine tree, labdanum
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: "This is definitely a scent that some would say leans feminine, but that does not stop me from rocking this fragrance, especially in the summertime! When applied, it does not open up as a powerhouse scent, but as it dries down, it becomes more intoxicating, without ever becoming overwhelming."
Best Citrus-Infused Perfume: Pinrose Sun Saint Eau de Parfum
This is one of those fragrances that you can't quite put your finger on in the best way possible. It's like a vibrant beachside picnic that you don't want to end. You'll experience key notes like lime, eucalyptus, coconut wood, and sandalwood, among others.
Pros: Uplifting and vibrant
Cons: Not very long-lasting
Key notes: Lime, eucalyptus, mandarin, yuzu, sea salt, cashmere musk, violet, coconut wood, sandalwood
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: "I adore this scent I have nothing in my collection that smells like it. This scent is fresh and uplifting. It reminds me of sitting in the beach drinking a fresh coconut and feeling the salty breeze on my skin. "
Best Subtle Perfume: Skylar Salt Air Eau de Parfum
This scent captures the essence of placid water at dawn. It's refreshing and airy, making it the perfect subtle scent. This is more unisex, but the notes of driftwood, sea salt, and seaweed make it lean more masculine.
Pros: Long-lasting and warm
Cons: Some say the scent is too masculine
Key notes: Driftwood, sea salt, seaweed
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: "I am absolutely in love this this perfume. It’s perfect for spring and summer. It makes me think of the beach! Absolutely beautiful. Definitely recommend!"
Best Unisex Perfume: Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk
The ideal end to every long beach day is a sunset walk along the shore. This fragrance captures that perfectly, evoking the feeling of dusty golden rays bouncing off the water. It has a clean essence thanks to the mix of bergamot, heliotrope, and coconut milk.
Pros: Subtle and fresh
Cons: May need to reapply throughout the day
Key notes: Bergamot, heliotrope, coconut milk
Size: 1 oz
Customer review: "This is one of my favorite scents from this brand. It’s clean and fresh. It definitely reminds me of the beach. It's a soft scent and not overwhelming."
Best Long-Lasting Perfume: Diptyque Do Son Eau de Toilette
This unique scent is bright, fresh, and airy. It's like lying down in a tuberose field and looking up at the sky—the perfect mix of floral and citrus. It'll last all day long without it being overpowering.
Pros: A good-sized bottle given the price
Cons: Some say the floral notes make it smell too mature
Key notes: Tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, marine accord
Size: 3.4 oz
Customer review: "Lovely perfume, I have several favorites on rotation, this being one of them. It has a fresh feminine fragrance with good staying power, which manages not to be overpowering."
Best for Layering: Maison Margiela Replica Sailing Day
When I smell this fragrance, I picture cobalt-blue water, sun-bleached sails, and a cloud-free sky. It's the fragrance equivalent of dipping your head underwater to cool down. Plus, it's a top pick for unisex fragrances amongst many users.
Pros: Unisex
Cons: Small bottle for the price
Key notes: Aquatic accord, coriander, red seaweed essence
Size: 1 oz
Customer review: "This is by far my favorite perfume. It smells so fresh and clean. I love how it’s not too feminine or masculine but a lovely somewhere in between. I saved up and got the 100ml bottle and have zero regrets!"
Best Budget Perfume: Salvatore Ferragamo Oceani di Seta Eau de Parfum
If there were a perfume for mermaids, I think it'd be this one. It almost smells like if you put a garden underwater. It's slightly feminine due to the mix of ingredients like salty accord, magnolia, and heliotrope.
Pros: Budget-friendly and lightweight
Cons: Not as unisex as advertised, more feminine-leaning
Key notes: Salty accord, magnolia, Filo di Seta exclusive accord, heliotrope
Size: 3.4 oz
Customer review: "I received a sample, and this is great! It's lightweight, but not plain. It's definitely suitable for summer—fresh with a subtle floral motif."
How We Chose
As with all buying guides here atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , we compile our product lists based on original testing and expert recommendations. For this roundup, we did hours of research on the highest-rated salt perfumes and took that into account in tandem with our extensive knowledge on perfumes. We know the notes and size of the bottle play a role in our readers' purchasing decisions, so we made sure to list out those details for each product. Customer reviews are also important to keep in mind, especially when it comes to viral or celebrity-endorsed favorites. That said, we scoured the review sections of our favorite retailers when compiling our list.
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Since 2006,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover Wholesale Replica Bag brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think ofBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
Prior to her time atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Katie Berohn worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles.