9 Best Summer Perfumes to Smell Fresh And Feel Confident

Written by Sayantani Deb, Makeup & Beauty Writer
Updated on Feb 06, 2024
Summer Perfumes
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Wearing perfume can uplift your mood and make you feel good. During summers, you may feel more conscious about your body odor. To help you find the best summer perfumes that may suit you, we have explored some of the best out there. With the smell of sweat being so overpowering, the need for a pleasant and refreshing fragrance is unavoidable. After all, when you smell good, there are higher chances of you feeling good. 

Perfumes have a great impact on the state of the wearer. They make you feel confident, while exemplifying luxury and class. With your body emanating extreme heat during summer, your body odor could be unpleasant, which may impact your overall mood making you feel uncomfortable. Summer perfumes come as saviors when you want to feel energetic and lively. Light, floral scents or crispy earth scents are great for summer months. They also uplift your mood and make you feel positive about yourself. Additionally, they create a lasting impression on the people you are surrounded with. 

A good summer perfume is a must-have to feel clean and fresh as well as to enhance your aura. However, finding a perfume that is both refreshing and light can be confusing. To help you feel and smell good, we have curated a list of products that will spruce up your body appeal. Scroll away to see our product picks!

9 Best Summer Perfumes

Infused with fresh aquatic notes of apple, water lotus, cedar wood, and musk, this perfume by NAUTICA is an ideal choice for daily wear. The woody base of this long-lasting scent combined with amber makes it an excellent pick for standing out on any occasion. With an invigorating fragrance, this summer cologne is perfect for saying 'yes' to outdoor adventures.  This versatile spray can be used to feel refreshed and smell great while exploring outdoors or joining in at any casual or formal event without feeling overpowered.

Pros
  • Refreshing
  • Lasts for hours
  • Pocket-friendly
  • Confidence booster
Cons
  • Too watery
  • Holy Grail Women’s Perfume

    Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum

    Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum
  • Delicately crafted to make one reach their olfactory bliss point, this eau de parfum by Lancôme is a perfect amalgamation of citrus, floral, powdery, and fresh accords. The fragrance opens with the freshness of bergamot, smoothly transitioning to the sweetness of roses — a powerful blend that commands attention. Following that, the notes of Indian jasmine, white musk, patchouli, and cedar work as calming neutralizers that make the scent linger for a long time. We cannot think of a single occasion where this fragrance won’t work, and that is what makes the perfume so irresistible to buy!

    Pros
    • Smells clean and fresh
    • Excellent confidence-booster
    • Holy grail feminine scent
    • Fantastic projection and sillage
    • Attractive bottle
    • Lasts for a decent while
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Hair And Body Mist

    PACIFICA HIMALAYAN PATCHOULI BERRY PERFUMED HAIR AND BODY MIST

    PACIFICA HIMALAYAN PATCHOULI BERRY PERFUMED HAIR AND BODY MIST
  • Embody freshness and indulge your body in a beautiful scent  with this hair and body mist by PACIFICA. This revitalizing spray is an explosion of colorful scents including grapefruit, white patchouli, sugar notes, and geranium, which makes it a go-to for daily wear. With the addition of warm coconut oil and a creamy blend of vanilla, this fine mist doesn’t weigh down your hair and can also be used as a hair spray. To get the best results, spritz it to your hair and body to get a calm and refreshing feeling.

    Pros
    • Alcohol-free
    • Budget-friendly
    • Cruelty-free
    • Relaxing notes
    Cons
    • Doesn’t last long
  • Best Smelling Perfume for Women

    VICTORIA’S SECRET BOMBSHELL FINE FRAGRANCE

    VICTORIA’S SECRET BOMBSHELL FINE FRAGRANCE
  • This fruity floral fragrance by VICTORIA'S SECRET is a timeless addition to your perfume collection. Infused with scent notes of purple passion fruit, Shangri-La peony, and vanilla orchid, it's an exotic burst of delicious aroma. With a sweet and sultry smell, this perfume adds an alluring attractiveness to your aura. Additionally, it has a natural pleasant touch of earthiness to neutralize the strong, fruity notes — a perfect balance that makes it among the best smelling perfume for women.  You can apply this luxurious mist to enhance your aura to stand out on any occasion.

    Pros
    • Wonderful smell
    • Calming
    • Light and breezy
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Doesn't last long
  • Best Organic Formula

    Shi ALFRED SUNG EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY VAPORISATEUR

    Shi ALFRED SUNG EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY VAPORISATEUR
  • Embody elegance and tranquility with this perfume by Alfred Sung. Infused with a unique blend of sweet floral notes, water musks, and silver birch wood, this creates an impression of harmony and renewed clarity. With the addition of orange blossom and frangipani, this naturally balanced soft scent gives you an enriched aura of femininity. This refreshing daytime perfume is ideal to feel fresh and pleasant at any formal or casual event.

    Pros
    • Exemplifies beauty
    • Attractive bottle
    • Attractive bottle
    • Has a calming effect
    Cons
    • Doesn't last long
  • Best for Everyday Wear

    VICTORIA’S SECRET tease EAU DE PARFUM

    VICTORIA’S SECRET tease EAU DE PARFUM
  • Meticulously formulated with black vanilla, white gardenia, and anjou pear, this refreshing perfume by Victoria's Secret is a burst of icy freshness in a sultry weather. With the floral notes of vanilla, this irresistible scent gives a soothing and soft effect. Whether you're dressing up for any special occasion, or want to amp up your everyday vibe, it's a good perfume to add to your collection. Apply this playful and flirty scent to reflect your innate joyfulness.

    Pros
    • Revitalizing
    • Smells luxurious
    • Natural and pure
    • Budget-friendly
    Cons
    • Dissipates quickly
  • Best Signature Perfume

    DAVIDOFF Cool Water CARIBBEAN SUMMER EDITION

    DAVIDOFF Cool Water CARIBBEAN SUMMER EDITION
  • This refreshing scent by Davidoff is a signature perfume that evokes a soothing and pleasant feeling. Infused with citrus notes of mandarin, lemon, and grapefruit, this aromatic spray makes you feel fresh and energetic. The addition of basil, sage, and juniper enhances your masculine aura while creating a bold and warm effect. You can apply this summer scent to smell fresh and clean on any casual or formal occasion when you want to be low-key!

    Pros
    • Refreshing
    • Long-lasting
    • Organically made
    • Doesn’t feel overpowering
    Cons
    • Slightly expensive
  • Best for Travel

    Pure Instinct Perfume Oil

    Pure Instinct Perfume Oil
  • An alluring and timeless fragrance, this perfume oil by Pure Instinct makes you smell luxurious and tempting. Infused with a blend of fruits and flowers, this naturally balanced pheromone perfume gives you an alluring appeal. Perfectly suitable for day-to-day use as well as special moments, you can easily carry it with you to instantly feel confident in just a few spritzes. This versatile spray offers a unique layering feature. You can layer it with your favorite perfume/cologne to look and feel more fabulous.

    Pros
    • Layerable feature
    • Travel-friendly
    • Long-lasting
    • Pocket-friendly
    Cons
    • A little overpowering
  • Best for Skin

    Zoha VANILLA BLOOM Perfume Oil Roll-on

    Zoha VANILLA BLOOM Perfume Oil Roll-on
  • This luxurious perfume by Zoha is a sweet smell that doesn’t feel too obnoxious for daily use. Infused with a unique combination of essential oils with a vanilla  base, this perfume roll-on moisturizes your skin and makes it smoother. As it is designed to evolve with your skin’s chemistry, the formula ensures that it doesn't irritate your skin. Additionally, this perfume has a fresh and delicate scent that makes it linger for a long time — a versatile choice for everyday use, workplaces, and romantic evenings.

    Pros
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Refreshes your senses
    • Travel-friendly
    • Alcohol-free formula
    Cons
    • Doesn't last long

    Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best summer perfumes, refer to the following buying guide and steps to use so that you can shop wisely and make the best of your product.

    How to Choose the Best Summer Perfumes?

    Here are a few factors to consider when looking for the best summer perfumes:

    A Fragrance That is Not Too Obnoxious: Summer calls for refreshment. On hot and humid days, the overpowering sweaty smell may end up intensifying the impact of the heavy scent you wear. A lighter fragrance, on the other hand, won't overwhelm you. Rather, it will feel gentle and relieving.

    Natural Agents: When looking for a summer perfume, you should prefer going for scents that feel like a burst of refreshment. Aquatic or oceanic fragrances, and floral or citrusy fragrances like lemon, and grapefruit will create a revitalizing effect. 

    Concentration of Fragrance Oil: Using fragrances with a heavy percentage of fragrance oil can be overwhelming during summer. For a lightweight and calming effect, a perfume with less concentration of fragrance oil is a better option to feel lighter and breezy.

    How to Use Summer Perfumes?

    Here are a few simple steps for using summer perfumes:

    Step 1: Moisturize your skin before applying a perfume. Preferably, with an unscented or mildly scented moisturizer. This will ensure the moisturizer doesn’t overpower the fragrance of the perfume. Petroleum jelly works as an excellent alternative for the same!

    Step 2: Apply perfume on more than one area, especially pulse points — wrists, neck, and behind the ears. Pulse points are the warm spots of your body that emit more heat than the rest of your body, which helps in strong diffusion of your favorite summer perfume. Just ensure you don’t rub your pulse points harshly against each other, but instead just dab them. 

    Step 3: You can also spray some perfume lightly on your clothes. This will ensure the fragrance lingers on for a relatively long time.

    Step 4: Use other body products complimenting the perfume. When you apply body products that compliment the perfume, you can avoid an unpleasant explosion of many different scents! The application of many scents at a time can be overpowering too, hence, it is recommended to apply only one fragrance at a time!

    Step 5: Reapply the perfume as per your requirements.

    Conclusion

    Smelling great is an important part of your personality. However, your body odor may not always be pleasing. Grooming yourself with a revitalizing perfume can mask the unpleasant smell while making you feel refreshed and clean. Especially, during summers when the sweat may feel overpowering. Applying perfumes that evoke a sense of freshness compliments the summer season. The above-mentioned products are some of the best summer perfumes out there to make you feel and smell wonderful. Ensure you go through our buying guide and the steps to use before making a purchase. Happy shopping!

    FAQ's

    What fragrances should I avoid in summer?
    Avoid heavy and excessively sweet fragrances like spicy, oriental. These will become more stronger with your body heat leading to overly strong and overwhelming scents.
    How can I smell good all summer?
    Expand your perfume collection with fresh, refreshing fragrances. Apply perfume on more than one area (wrists, neck, behind the ears) after moisturization. Prefer an unscented or mildly scented moisturizer.
    What perfume is the best for summer?
    Davidoff Cool Water Caribbean Summer Edition, Nautica Voyage Eau De Toilette Spray Vaporisateur, Victoria’s Secret Tease Eau De Parfum are some of the best summer perfumes to get your hands on.
    What are the characteristics of a summer perfume?
    Lighter, fresher fragrances with floral, aquatic, and citrusy notes are suitable for summer. Green, earthy scents are also a good option to choose from. A summer perfume should be light and refreshing without making you feel overwhelmed.
    Do fragrances last longer in the summer?
    Not really. On the contrary, excess sweating may reduce the impact of perfume faster and make it last for a shorter period of time.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    If there is one thing that Sayantani, our makeup expert, loves using herself and gifting others, it is perfume. Her love for summer perfumes is unmatchable — she says she can’t live without one as they make her feel fresh and energetic throughout the day. To help you find the best-smelling perfumes for summer, she has crafted this collection of top-rated perfumes that evoke feelings of happiness, calm, sensuality, and energy. Since Sayantani is always on the run, she always has Pure Instinct Perfume Oil tucked nicely in her vanity. It has an alluring floral and fruity scent and lasts all day long. 

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Sayantani Deb
    Makeup & Beauty Writer

    Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More