Despite wearing all manners of perfume year-round (Ambers are ALWAYS good!), there are a few scents that say summer, sunshine, carefree happiness like nothing else.
Here are a few mini-reviews of my favorite mood-lifting, Pina Colada drinking, Beach Boys playing, sand, salt and sun evoking fragrances.
Jil Sander Sun: This was launched in 1989, when I was 14 and I believe this was my first perfume ever (not counting stolen spritzes of my Mom’s and Grandmother’s stashes). Sun is by no means a light fragrance, it is a full-fledged oriental, obviously laying the cornerstone of my love affair with that kind of perfume. I have great memories associated with Sun, and also a few embarrassing ones. 😉 After all this time, and with my “new nose”, I still like it and it still works to get me into holiday mood, also it is really well made, maybe that is why it is still here and considered almost a classic by now, at least in Europe.
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess: I have already devoted a real review to this, but it deserves another mention here. The non plus ultra of summer scents.
Creed Virgin Island Water: I cannot get over the dishwashing liquid-like super synthetic top notes. Sorry, I had high hopes for this, but it is like bug spray with a tiny hint of coconut.
Bobbi Brown Beach: Another oldie in my collection, Beach is an exotic floral fragrance with an added whiff of salty sea. Very sunscreen-y, in a good way, but a bit thin and synthetic, I miss substance here.
CB I hate Perfume 1966 At The Beach: That is the niche version of the above. CB At The Beach is exactly what it says – beach, sun, sunscreen, salt, wind and skin. Lovely.
Honoré des Pres Love Coco: aside from inspiring experiments with male perception, Love Coco is a wonderful summer scent, fresh, clean (not in a shower associated kind of way) and exotic, it feels as refreshing and healthy as the coconut water you drink.
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino: A very straightforward neroli/orange blossom cologne-style fragrance, Tom Ford’s (overpriced) scent is undoubtedly lovely, even available in a special turquoise bottle this season (accompanied by body care products), yet it is nothing unique. You would be able to find very similar fragrances for a fraction of the price. It smells good, but not better than Dior Escale a Portofino , and certainly not better than Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli.
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca: This is one of the bestsellers of the Aqua Allegoria series by Guerlain. It is a quick refreshing fix for hot days, interesting because it features mint, which cannot be found very often in perfumes. Here it works well, without evoking toothpaste in the least. A blend of herbs and citrus, Herba Fresca is perfectly unisex, perfectly nice, perfectly refreshing, perfectly uplifting and perfectly shortlived. After an hour only the memory remains…
Six Scents Series 1 Number 1 Urban Tropicalia: This is a lovely surprise for me! Urban Tropicalia (love the name!!!) was part of a generous sample set Ines sent me, and I did not expect much from it, I have to say. The whole series with their long names and complicated numbering and limited distribution and number of bottles available, was not interesting to me before. Enter the little roll-on vial of Number 1, Series 1 (See what I mean?). It smells delightful. Happy, summery, fresh florally, fruity, exotic and light – does not sound very interesting yet, huh? But it is also unique. There is an edge to it (I guess that is where the urban part of the name comes in) that makes this exotic bed of flowers bloom amidst the asphalt jungle of a big city. In my mind there is a garden on a roof, although very different from this one here, where a little oasis grows in an unexpected environment. A place of escape. No wonder this works so well on me… 🙂
And finally let me remind you of the lovely Atelier Cologne fragrances, all of them are perfectly suited for summer, they combine freshness with longevity Рthat means perfection, as far as I am concerned. Orange Sanguine РBois Blonds РTrefle Pur РOolang Infini РGrand Neroli РVanille Insens̩e
I think I am well armed for the coming summer. But I won’t stop wearing my heavier perfumes, but mostly at night. On really hot nights something like Ambre Orient is the only blanket one needs.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I completely forgot that was the name of the No 1 from Series 1. It really is difficult keeping track of those perfumes. I sort of gave up after series 1.
I’m a bit angry with myself because I know I love that perfume and feel it’s great for a summer but I put the box away and take it out only to send some to people.
No more, I’m taking it out and wearing it from now on!
(well, every once in a while at least, when I squeeze it in among everything else) 😉
It is a lovely scent, glad I reminded you of it! 🙂
one more :
“the beach” – invented by Cosmo Kramer, idea later stolen by Calvin Klein
Right, I forgot about that one! Your favorite! 😉
Cosmo should bring it out as a niche scent, or wait maybe he talked to Christopher Brosius already…
This is so hilarious!!! i love cosmo! didn’t he model for Calvin Klein as well….
of course he modelled for ck underwear. if i remember correctly ck bought himself out of a possible lawsuit against his perfume “the ocean” that way.
Just for the husband: art vandalay, Big in Latex business…..
Herba Fresca is one of my all-time favorites, reminds me of walking on Alpine trails when the hay is being cut and all those mountain herbs are mixed in. But a close girlfriend begged me to give my half-bottle to her when I left, “to remember me by”- how could I say no, that clever gal?? I’d buy another bottle, but it will remind me of Europe and that would make me sad.
As far as Bronze Goddess goes, smells great on me for 3 seconds, then it’s gone! I don’t know whether my skin just erases it (redheads can’t be bronze goddesses afterall, we just freckle!), or I become instantly anosmic.
And Jil Sander Sun is a great perfume!
Aw, that is too bad about BG vanishing on you, I spray myself like a madwoman with it, but once I am done it lasts very well.
Herba Fresca is beautiful, I am reminded of hikes in the mountains as well. I can see how it would make you a little “homesick” for your European home. Are you ever planning on coming back, or are you staying in the US for good?
Sadly, no plans to return to Europe in the next few years. But one never knows where we’ll be sent next!
I’m sorry to hear that, Garmisch would have not been that far from Vienna! 🙂
Lovely mini reviews! Aside from BG, it really seems like the Ateliers are hard to beat for summer scents. (Adding Bois Blonds, Trefle Pur and Vanilla Insensee to the list).
Sounds like the Six Scents frag is a nice, unexpected find.
As for your first perfume being Jill Sander Sun, how sophiscated! (Not that I should be surprised). Sorry and embarrassed to say mine was Obsession, lol! Think I would be somewhat scared to try it again now, well over 20 years later. *shivers*
Jil Sander Sun really did (or does) have an air of sophistication over here, it is as common as they come, but it is a good fragrance. 🙂
I’m sorry that your list is growing, but the Ateliers just have to go on there! 😉
Mini Reviews are Tops!
All this talk about summer scents makes me want to pull out something beachy (maybe Jill Sander Sun???)… however, it’s kinda cold and rainy today! Maybe I can combat the gloom with the bottle. LOL.
🙂
Tops! Yay! 😀 Not the right weather for summer scents in Oregon today it seems, but soon you’ll have plenty of sun! 😉
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