What perfume is ideal in great heat?
Do you wear perfume when it is hot or do you prefer to go without?
What is your favorite “cooling” scent?
My Answer:
It is hot here! We are having over 30 degrees celsius for several days now and it is said to continue like that for another week. I am not a fan of hot weather and my pet peeve is the enthusiasm the people on the radio exhibit when the thermometer creeps up and up. Who in his right mind loves such heat in the middle of a big city??? Ozone warnings, high particulate matter emission, heatstroke, sunburn, uneven pigmentation and wrinkles – what is so lovely about it? Okay, rant over, we want to talk about perfume:
I long to cool down and some perfumes help a lot! The action of liberally spraying is cooling in itself and if it is a bracing citrus scent the effect is just lovely.
I love to wear Chanel Eau de Cologne, Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose and Atelier Cologne Oolang Infini when it is stifling outside.
What are your hot weather faves?
Olfactoria's Travels 
Hey Birgit,
I love Niki de Saint Phalle and Guerlains Lys Soleia to cool it off. Surprisingly though Amouage Ubar blooms beautifully in the heat, somehow it catches the warmth and throws it off
Portia xx
Catches the warmth amd throws it off – that sounds great! (I doubt Ubar would do this for me though. 😦 )
I like Neroli Portofino – Tom Ford and Pamplelune – Guerlain and yes, it’s hot hot hot. I don’t minder the heat so much, but these thunderstorms are really killing me! I want to sleep:-).
Ah yes, two great choices! I long for a good thunderstorm to clean the air! I hope you get to sleep though!
Morning!
Agree 30 degrees is a bit much. I love around 20-25, but even then hide in the shade.
Angeliques sous la plui, and Cristalle are my favourites for heat, or sometimes Eau de Merveilles. I’ve just discovered Pamplemousse Rose – it’s great, but I’m on a 1 year buying embargo. Maybe next year.
Glad you enjoy Pamplemousse Rose! Very impressed with your embargo.
I forgot another (wearing it today) – SJP Lovely, very crisp in the heat.
The embargo plan is to wear all the ones I have, select around 6 favourites per season (starting this sumer), and then see where I am with my collection at the end of a year. Samples are allowed too. I’ll report back!
Eh, I don’t even have hot weather perfume faves, because I hate hot weather. Over 30 C in too much for me. I live in the Pacific Northwest and it is rarely hot here. I like it. I wear Aqua di Parma colognes when it is over 20 C :):)
I am The Grumpy Cat of perfumistas 😦
I’m so with you! If it were just me I’d hide from the sun and heat, but they kids don’t really appreciate that… 😉
Yes, I know..
Grumpy Cat says:
The sun was out all day.
It was awful 😦
So it was!!!! 😀
I like it hot – but then again I live outside of Vienna and during the week I’m either travelling or sitting in the office, so sadly I don’t get much of the heat.
My choices are Blenheim Bouquet, Frederic Malle’s Bigarade or Liquides Imaginaires Dom Rosa
It is nicer outside the city, I agree (typing this on Neusiedler See).
I’m with you on all the happiness temperatures over 30 generate.
I’m fine with nice sunny weather, but 34 in a humid city, that’s hell!
Today I’m wearing Eau de Cartier and I’ll be looking into more refreshing perfumes these days – Pamplelune comes instantly to mind.
Guerlain Vetiver will work for me as well.
Vetiver helps keeping a cool head (more or less 😉 )
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for some cool 30 degree weather? 🙂
In the sweltering heat and humidity of the UAE I love wearing Aqua Di Parma Colonia and Nicolai’s Le Temps de Une Fete both for a great musky floral. Although today, I put on Roja’s Fetish and it smells even better in the heat than I remember from cooler months – more leather (which I love year round!).
😀
I would not be happy in UAE, that’s for sure…
Hello olfactoriastravels,
Firstly I want to say your blog is very beautiful and enjoyable. I often read your reviews but this will be my first comment here 🙂
I love the Ormonde Jayne’s collection and as a man I would prefer “Osmanthus” for very hot day. İt’s really beautiful perfume and has a great long lasting and sillage. My other chose Frederic malle “Lys Mediterranee”. I live in seaside and I love to use both Osmanthus and Lys Mediterranee in here.
Hello, glad to hear from you and thank you for your kind words about the blog.
OJ Osmanthus is an old favorite of mine too and Lys Mediterranée is simply lovely.
Here in the UK they call anything above 20C a heatwave, probably because it doesn’t get hotter all that often. I love heat and bad weather in summer makes me grumpy. During a UK heatwave I simply carry on wearing what I like, and in a real one wear whatever blends well with sunscreen 50. Last time that was Heeley’s Esprit du Tigre.
I think I’d do quite well in the UK. 🙂
I was so unlucky. When I was in London 6 years ago in May, the temperatures were in upper thirties. Not good 😦
I barely survived.
I spent 2 wonderful weeks in London early July last year, it was 32C everyday, except for the last few days. Coming from Australia that was a lovely mild temperature, anything above around 38C is starting to get a little hot. During last summer I wore one of Michael Kors new perfumes which was a gift. It was surprisingly pleasant on a hot day, also Eau de Merveilles and Gin Fizz by Lubin.
Eau de Merveilles gets many mentions, deservedly so.
Glad you had a good time in London!
Oh, I can imagine your suffering…
Calyx. I wore it constantly last summer when we had a couple of weeks of mid to high 30s every day. Other faves are Un Jardin sur le Nil, AGs Neroli, and Eau de Givenchy. I’m not one of those brave souls who can wear dense, winter-worthy scents in the summer to test how they react. I need my citruses, both fruity and dry/herbal. Stay cool!
I’m not one of these either, I feel suffocated by too heavy a scent when it’s hot. I love your picks, Annemarie!
When eau du cologne was available, I would keep a bottle in the fridge during the Summer. Fab way to cool and scent yourself. Then EDC was dropped in favour of EDT which I love, but don’t care to wear on hot days. The exception was L’Occitane’s limited edition (please Lord get them to bring it back!) Sorbet Verbena; a a blend of citrus, mint and verbena. No need for refrigeration. You got a gloriously icy hit of cool and the fragrance! There’s a rumour going round that it will be brought back. We live in hope. I wish someone would bottle the scent of Bain de Soleil.
Bain de soleil would make a fabulous scent!
Hope you find a replacement for your beloved L’Occitane!
It’s been freaking hot for last few days here too. It’s forecast for 38 degree on Wednesday… I was wearing Puredistance I while I was walking around in the heat and it was just about right. I quite like wearing Aqua Di Parma Colonia in summer weather. 🙂
Colonia gets several voted already. I must go looking for my sample!
Unless I’m in a/c I don’t reach for the summery scents. They fade far too fast in the heat and it seems like a waste to just spritz something that will be gone as soon as I step out the door. That happens enough already when it’s not hot. No, I’m one of those people who reach for the big guns. I like my big white florals, ambers, patchouli, etc. I find they bloom in the heat and are able to stand up to it. If its not terribly hot and more springlike, that’s when I’d reach for those traditional warm weather scents. The only exception I can think of is Jean Nate body splash/spray which I keep in the fridge for instant refreshment on hot days. That’s my summertime cheap thrill.
That is another way of looking at it. Some florals are indeed amazing in the heat (Songes for example).
I’m with you, Poodle! Fresh, citrus-y, or floral “summer” fragrances just fly off of my hot, sweaty, sticky skin in the summer so I like to go straight for the Shalimar!
I had Shalimar on yesterday and got to work to find the A/C was broken. It was a bit toasty but I smelled amazing!
Eau de Cologne des Princes by L.T. Piver or Yardley English Lavender
Ah, Lavender, so very cooling and nice. Thanks for sharing your picks!
30C? Cardigan weather :P. 48C today in Kuwait and I wore my beachy fave Acqua di Sale. Beautiful, ozony goodness. I’ve also been wearing a lot of ASAQ Cedar of Lebanon and the corresponding oil, both with a dominant gardenia note. Oooh, must try refridgeration of EDCs.
48C? You win! 😉
Must try Acqua di Sale in any case.
I like Ninfeo Mio and Yuzu Rouge for summer, as well as a number of the Nicolais: L’Eau Chic, Eau d’Ete, and Week End.
I hope the heat wave breaks soon!
Nicolai makes great summer scents. I just read about her new one for this season: Musc Monoi, inspired by Ambre Solaire sunscreen. My prayers have been heard! 🙂
It isn’t fun is it? We get weeks of over 40C and you cab feel every cell in your body just shrivel up 😦
My heat wave frags (go without?! Bah!)
include Guerlain Jardin Sur le Nil and Mousson, and Vetiver, also Caron Eau de Reglisse and Bvlgari Thé Vert. Any cologne is great after a shower but they disappear in an instant.
Sending rain and cool breezes your way B 🙂
Oh and Ali reminded me- L’Occitane Verbena.
Thank you, Lynley!
Great picks for the heat! I must try Eau de Réglisse!
Fun question! I have lots of answers: –
For cutting through humidity a fresh green like L’Heure Billiant, Cartier or Eau de Campagne.
For a beachy feel, Nuxe Prodigieux le parfum
For elegance even with heatstroke Eau de Magnolia, Frederic Malle
For work, Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan
For the weekend, Dita Von Teese/Oolang Infini
I love your recommnedations, Tara! Especially the elegance despite heatstroke option, I hope to smell like that soon! 🙂
Ed Magnolia – exquisite !
Oh goody! Can’t wait to smell it!
I second Portia with Ubar – it smells fabulous in the heat, as do a number of the Amouages. But I must say I am desperate to have a bottle of Chanel´s Eau de Cologne. I have never smelt it, which is dumb because I have had ample opportunity. I just might walk straight in there next weekend and buy a bottle. I may or may not sniff it first. Bis bald. xxxx
You can’t do wrong with Chanel Eau de Cologne, but do smell it before you fork over the money, just to be sure. 😉
I love the way it looks in the bottle. Haha. Not a good enough reason to buy it, I know! I’ll try it. 😉
I’m sure you’ll buy it once you smell it, because you’ll love it! The best cologne out there and worth every penny imho (and the bottle is the epitome of elegance!)
During summer- the few days when we’re experiencing HEAT upp here, I reach for things like PG Tuberèuse Coture, Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentree , Vero Profumo Mito voile d’extrait or Nectars des Iles from En Voyage Perfums. oddly enough I often also choose heavy things like SL Ambre Sultan or Dior Leather Oud , I think they bloom in the heat, but refreshing is not the right name for them.
Beautiful choices, ladywinther!
Don’t hate me – I am loving the heat! I have been wearing Amouage Beloved, Malle Lys Mediteranee, Arquiste Flor y Canto and tomorrow I will wear Amouage Ubar. Yay for summer! xo
🙂
You are strange! (Just joking!) You smell great of course!
Can’t type much,arm in a cast, but two favorites in South Carolina heat are Eau de Patou and
Bronze Goddess, although I am neither bronze or a goddess..(-:
Ha, my review title for Bronze Goddess was White Mortal, so I know just what you mean! 😉
What happened to your poor arm? I hope you are not in too much pain and discomfort. Get well soon!
Thanks, Birgit. I slipped and fell after mopping the kitchen. So much for housework!
As I always say, housework is not good for your health!!!
Ugh, I really hate hot weather but after the winter we had I refuse to complain (almost). I like Etro Messe di Minuit in the heat, it’s like being in an old stone building that never warms up.
Very good image for Messe de Minuit!
I like Rance’s Avant le Jour for the hottest weather! and thank God it’s finally summer! 🙂
I must try the Rancé line eventually. Thanks for the tip, Annie!
My pleasure! Can’t wait to read more of your lovely posts! 🙂 xx
Lots of hot days for me, I like Pamplelune, Guerlain Vetiver, Agua de Colonia, and lemon Turkish cologne and Roger & Gallet Osmanthus or Cedrat
Hmmm, lovely choices!
🙂 As every year, I’m addicted to Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose when it gets really hot, like these past days. Haven’t found anything better so far… 🙂
Have a good and HAPPY week! 🙂
It is definitely among the very best!
A good (and cool) week to you, happyface!
The most cooling fragrance I own (at least in decant form) is Serge Lutens Encens et Lavande. I especially like to wear it to bed on hot nights.
A good idea, now where is my sample…
My most ever loved scent in a heat wave is 40º a l`Ombre from Satellite Paris. I love the bitter fresh scent. But i dont know where to get a new bottle once its gone sigh
I’ve never heard of it! Must educate myself asap.
let me know if you find it somewhere, im afraid they stopped producing perfumes and only do their jewellery 😦
My favorite cooling scents in the summer are L’Artisan Parfumeur’s discontinued L’Eau de Jatamansi, Hermès Eau d’Orange Verte and Serge Lutens Gris Clair… Also, a nice bay rum, like Domenica. For the way they bloom in the heat, L’Artisan Al Oudh, Hermès Osmanthe Yunnan, and Amouage Tribute.
Excellent picks. furriner.
Favorite heat wave scent is Guerlain Vetivier or Hermes Jardin apres la Mousson or Voyage d’Hermes. Not a big problem here at the moment though!
Lucky you 🙂
Well, right now it’s 13C outside and I’m cold…
I’m down to a bikini and still sweltering!
🙂
Hermès is king in the heat, isn’t it?
Hmm. It was 38-39 this weekend in the central valley. All the fur beasts were prone trying to find a cool spot in shade or on a hardwood floor that might have some coolness. Our usual summer highs are between 25-30. I have to admit, I agree with you. I prefer the temps at 25 or lower. Since I do not tan at all, I just prefer to stay out of the sun. I like FM Angeliques sous la Pluie, Hermes Eau des Merveilles or any bracing vetiver based scent for this hot weather. Although today, when it’s only supposed to reach 30, I’m wearing Ann Gerard Cuir de Nacre.
25 or lower would be great.
Angeliques is a particularly lovely perfume, I imagine it is great in the heat.
Just love your rant!! At the moment we have this “Hundstage” too, I wanted to pick Après la Mousson but then some samples arrived on Thursday and I immediately fell in love with Mito. So I wore this the last couple of days (sprayed in my hair) and will go on wearing it this week, I guess. It reminds me a bit of my beloved pre-reformulated Profumo.
Herba Fresca and Eau Radieuse (Humiecki & Graef) have a good cooling effect in my opinion.
So glad you are loving Mito! It is the perfect green floral chypre. I can see why it reminds you of Profumo.
Hope the Hundstage are over soon! 🙂
I think we need to trade weather, B! I love heat until it gets above about 35-36 C. It is 13 C and pouring rain here. As for hot weather perfumes, I’m not really a fan of colognes or anything citrus. I usually just carry on wearing my normal perfumes, but if it is really sweltering and I want to bask in that sweltering feeling with my perfume, I reach for a light rose scent, something with a lot of coconut, or Vetiver Tonka.
Yes, please let’s trade!
It’s hard to get excited about wearing perfume in hot weather, as extreme heat often distorts the particular scent architecture. That said, I occasionally spritz Fleurs de Sel (Miller Harris), Eau des Merveilles (Hermes- duh!), or Flor Y Canto (Arquiste); the last one is a glorious yet airy bouquet of subtropical flowers incl. tuberose. B, I think you should consider Bikram yoga instead of perfume during the heat waves to increase your heat tolerance- ha ha 😉
Haha, yes, maybe I should! 😉
Flor y canto is beautiful!
I’m not a hot weather person at all either! I just melt! New York in the summertime is just awful and brutal with high humidity, lots of pollution, and no breeze. It doesn’t help that the city pavements basically turn into a big pizza stone 😦 I never know what to wear either . . .
If I had to choose a few summer fragrances that I like, Atelier Cologne’s Orange Sanguine and Ooolong Infini see a lot of use in the summer. Cédrat Enivrant will probably make it’s way in there too this year. Last year I kept Ô de Lancôme in the fridge and will probably do the same this year!
We met in a heatwave and you smelled gorgeous! (Arquiste Anima Dulcis if I remember correctly!)
mmmmmh. right now it would be spearmint by balm balm. it exudes the freshness of a chewing gum but *sans* the cheap or childish candy-ness. it has a subtle sweethess, and I love it!
(if it shall get any hotter, I’ll go for something deeply exotic and warm, just to “go with the flow”)
Sounds wonderfully cooling!
And it is 🙂
I like Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling, Jasper Conran Woman, Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan, Atelier Oolong Infini – lots of pretty white florals, OJ Frangipani, La Chasse aux Papillons, Seville a l’aube, SL Un Lys – oh, too many choices, too few sunny days! 😉
Lovely choices. I hope you get some sunny days to match!
ohoh it looks like that is also something for a hot day its from Andy Tauer TAUER COLOGNE DU MAGHREB… its available from 20.June and i will give it a try 🙂
Hope you enjoy it!
It’s 34 here today and I’m at the beach roasting! I’m definitely going to buy a citrus perfume as quite frankly all my favourites feel unwearable in the daytime. At night I can still wear these but in the day I’m just resorting to lots of facial sprays. The Caudalie one is good – herbal and a bit minty and really refreshing. I think I need to try Pampelune – lots of people talk about it. Ps the temps in Dubai sound nightmarish!
Same here today (again!) and I feel your pain! I hope you enjoy Pamplelune, it’s lovely!
Is Europe having a minor heatwave – it’s not even summer yet in France. I don’t envy you being in a city in this heat! That Hermes sounds good too actually – I know it’s your favourite house so I’m going to give it a try too.
Great! I’m sure you’ll like it, very uplifiting.
Here, we have hot days and cool nights. I traveled only with decants, so I have Do Son, which is lovely. I do enjoy citrus in the heat, and my AG Neroli was always a favorite (I was too lazy to decant it though, so it’s back home). And FM’s Parfum de Therese because I cannot conceive of a time when it doesn’t improve everything, at least in my eyes (and nose)…
Hmmm, Thérèse is always pure beauty! Enjoy your travels!
Hi, dear Birgit 🙂 It’s getting really hot here in the southeastern USA. I love to wear a few EDCs this time of year, such as: 4711 and Pinaud Citrus Musk. Also, Dior Eau Sauvage, Ineke Perfumes Derring-Do, and ck be come to mind.
I bet it’s scorching where you are! The heat and humidity in Savannah, Charleston and Atlanta almost killed me, but I loved those cities anyway.
Great cologne choices!
The heat and humidity almost kill me, too 🙂 Short spells outside are all I can manage this time of year. I love Charleston, especially. A wonderful city.
Great post! 🙂
I will write down all these suggestions because I am still in search for perfect 30C+ perfume. 😀
Hope you find it eventually!