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Courtesy of Brands/Sephora/Collage by Sarah Olivieri Beauty Perfume & Fragrance The 8 Best Perfumes for a Heat Wave, According to Perfume Experts The 8 Best Perfumes for a Heat Wave, According to Perfume Experts Light, easy fragrances to wear when you’re hot and sweaty
Fall is right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean the sticky, humid weather is letting up anytime soon. Jumping into your fall fragrance wardrobe too early can lead to a nightmare cocktail of bold scents with sweaty temps. “Fresh, clean, citrusy, and airy fragrances are ideal for a hot day,” says Frank Voelkl, master perfumer, DSM-Firmenich. “Green notes and fresh fruits work especially well, while light sensual notes can also be a great option.”
Givaudan perfumer Dana Schmitt agrees and adds that citrus and watery scents with green or minty undertones are a great option. “I also love florals in the summer—it's when the flowers are blooming, after all,” says Schmitt.
Another thing to consider is that heat and humidity can affect how a fragrance is perceived. Voelkl says perfumes can smell less strong as they evaporate more quickly in the heat. “Sweat and other body odors can also interact with a fragrance, which may alter how it smells on the skin,” he adds.
Schmitt says to avoid overly sweet fragrances or ones with dark woody notes, as they can feel overwhelming and harsh in the heat: “Those cozy, richer notes tend to work better in the winter. So, while the fragrance itself might be amazing, the context is different, and it could end up feeling a bit off-putting.”
If you’re on the hunt for the perfect perfume to wear during the dog days of summer, check out picks from the perfumers and other fragrance experts below.
Schmitt recommends Ellis Brooklyn’s Sunfruit, with notes of fresh fig, handpicked jasmine, and Vanilla planifolia.
Another pick from Schmitt, this perfume is inspired by the scent of the brand’s after-sun gel. Notes include aloe vera gel essence, green tea, ozone, tonic, minibar gin, resort-towel plush, and open-weave linen—all things you’d want when the temperature is above 90 degrees.
Voelkl’s pick is Robert Piguet Fracas Eau Fraîche. It’s a citrus-forward and yet bold white floral with mandarin orange, bergamot, gardenia, jasmine, and tuberose.
“This one, personally, made me love citrus,” says Arabelle Sicardi, author of The House of Beauty and Bazaar ’s fragrance columnist. “It’s what I imagine the Garden of Eden to smell like, and the perfumer was this incredible punk woman whom I admire so much.”
Sicardi also recommends Dreams and Nightmares as one of the best scents for hot weather. Top notes are pink pepper, cardamom, eucalyptus, and bergamot. In the middle, there’s patchouli, petrichor, and wet earth. The base is moss and amber woods.
“I'm a long-time fan of YSL Libre in just about every iteration, but the line's L’eau Nue in particular is one of my scent go-tos when it's simply too hot to think,” says Tiffany Dodson Davis, Bazaar’s beauty commerce editor. “Since the formula is water-based instead of alcohol-based, a few spritzes of the Mediterranean summer-inspired green mandarin, bergamot, and orange blossom scent feel extra refreshing and perfect for beating the heat.”
Personally, I’ve gone through three bottles of You Fleur since it came out. It’s the perfect summer scent, a fresh balance of fruity f…