So. We are almost at summer. Those of you who have been around for a while know what happens. I grab my Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan, Rose Ikebana, a couple of other lighter tea’ish scents from Bvlgari, maybe an occasional white floral or incense, plus Malle’s En Passant and avoid perfume for the rest of the summer.
I don’t know why this is. Now it feels like it is more about being outside and in the pool so much or doing yardwork – sweat and perfume are kinda ick. Chlorine and perfume are really ick.
It feels like it is more than that – I love the smells of summer outside so much more than anything else – fresh cut grass, heavy sunlight on skin, roses and lillies and my elderberry blossoms. It’s like everything else pales.
I don’t think I’m entirely alone here. I do have a couple of things coming that I want to test before heat gets here and I’m on here weekly talking about everything else but perfume, and I do have a giveaway from two weeks ago I need to draw for, will do that next week. So what is your fave perfume wearing season and also your least fave? Poll below! And tell us why in comments!
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I’m also in Virginia, previously in Monterey, CA for 17 years and before that, I was born & grew up in New England (Western Mass & Cape Cod). When you complain to someone from Georgia about the humidity in VA, they just laugh at you, lmao. I hate summer here so much, between the humidity & zillions of bugs, I truly just grit my teeth & get through it! I wear perfumes in all seasons, but like so many of you, have a different fall/winter “fumedrobe” vice what I wear in spring/summer.
So, I put some Chanel Eau de Cologne on my forearms the other night from the tiny decant I had. Enjoyed the 2 minutes of heaven, then crashed for the night. It was the first really warm, humid-ish night we’d had here so far this summer and a few hours later, I awoke to the scent of the EdC having revived in a surprising way. I’m not going to call it glorious, but had I drenched my skin, it MIGHT have been. I bought the 200 ml bottle from the Chanel website a couple days later, now being convinced it has a place in my life, best worn in heat & humidity. Still waiting for it to arrive. Gonna drench myself in it, spray it on my nightgowns, & carry a decant everywhere. I’ve also been wearing Hermes Pamplemousse Rose in this recent heat. I like spraying Beach Roses or Pacifica’s Persian Rose on first, then topping with PR. I get maybe 3 hours-worth that way. I love hearing all your ideas & opinions & the frags in your ‘drobes!!
I live in the Rocky Mountains with extremes of temperature but always low humidity. Winter is very cold and dry (even with tons of snow) and Summer is hot and dry. Having constant low humidity makes it difficult for perfumes to last on the skin and display much sillage during Winter/Summer. My favorite seasons for wearing perfume are Autumn/Fall and Spring. Temperatures are moderating and there is more moisture in the air. However, I wear perfume every day, in every season and at all temperatures because I love perfumes!!
I have a few perfumes that I love which are seasonless: Chanel Coromandel; Coco Mademoiselle; Parfums d’Empire Ambre Russe; L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube; 24 Faubourg; DKNY Black Cashmere; Mitsouko and Shalimar.
PS – Rosarita….I’m so sorry about the leg brace. Take care, sweetie….hope you are back to normal very soon. ?
I am, to put it baldly, a fat sweaty old woman, plus I’m a mosquito magnet so I only wear perfume in the summer if it’s an inside day. Honestly, I pretty much despise summer except for the Lake Michigan shoreline and all the fresh fruits and vegetables. I’m in a leg brace from the bottom of my foot to my knee for the foreseeable future that can only be worn with socks and tennis shoes (bye sandals,) too massive for shorts and tank tops and now I’ll have on a mask besides, and did I mention the mosquitoes? C’mon, fall.
I do wear less perfume in the summer, but when I do, I either wear something very light and refreshing, or I get really perverse and GO BIG — like, douse myself with Salome or Carnal Flower. It’s so twisted, I know.
I voted Spring as my favorite season for perfume — my favorite perfume genre is green chypres, which work pretty much anytime, but are especially delightful in the spring.
I don’t find Salome big on me, but both that and Carnal Flower are some of my favorite warm weather scents. Twist away!
When I was in Hawai’i ten years ago, I found I wanted to wear little if any perfume. The smell of the ocean, the flowers everywhere…it just seemed like enough somehow. I also go for the lighter, citrusy, rosy, scents during the summer, to refresh and uplift. I don’t stop wearing these ever, really – I need that uplift in the dreary days of winter too!
I agree about Hawaii. Before I ever went myself, I asked a friend who had been there about it. She said the air always smells of flowers. I was amazed to find out she was right! You don’t need to wear perfume there.
while I don’t focus on perfume overmuch in Summer, when I do I tend to Go BIIIIIG! REALLY BIG. I bust out the Amouage Attars, like somebody’s after me – because they were designed for extreme heat and omgosh, do they deliver. Especially a smoky one like Tribute. OOOOH! A hefty slicker of Tribute on a 90F day is STUNNING! in a Good way! Homage is a little rosier but it’s still so lush and luxe that it just feels perfect for the intense heat.
Another (but non-attar): Epic. Yep. I used to think of it as a Winter perfume but found it really amazing in the dead of Summer, when even the wasps are too hot to do much.
If Opium didn’t give me a migraine, I’d wear it in August!
xoxoxo
I need to remember that about attars and other hot spice market type perfumes, I never think of them for summer but of course they would smell awesome.
I totally agree Patty! Summer scents have a hard time mixing with the high heat and humidity in Virginia. I have four or five favorites: Dior Escale a Portofino, Chanel Cristalle eau Verte, Prada Infusion d’Iris, Cartier Declaration, and Hermes Eau de Merveilles, and I’m set. For me, anything sweet, cloying, heavy, amber, thick, heady is no, no, no. A lot of colognes are disappointing because they smell great at first, and then the top notes evaporate, and you’re left with nothing. Wah-wah. Finding a great summer scent is hard.
i was in Virginia a couple of times in summer. OMG, the humidity. After 32 years in high desert, even moving to the lowland and surrounded by lakes and rivers Eastern Kansas was tough. I’m okay with humidity again, but this is nothing like what you guys get. Love eau de Merveilles. See? That is one I would wear in summer, and I forget about it. I also forget about Apres L’ondee, which is weird because it is one of my forever faves.
I like summer the least,because i am not too keen on citrus and i have to ignore much of m y collection, but i wear my summer scents like coriandre, Terracotta or Batucada or some lighter chypre chypre scents
yeah, I don’t wear a lot of citrus centric. Tea with some citrus are my faves in summer – osmanthe Yunnan! 🙂
Huh looks like I am right in line with everyone else. Although it’s still “spring perfume” weather around here! I’m enjoying it while it lasts…
We look to be exiting spring weather and going into 80s this weekend. Great for pooltime, but that’s when my perfume wearing goes in the tank!
I avoid perfume in the summer on days when I am outside–I am scared of attracting bees and especially wasps
Well, there is that. And mosquitoes!
My sister avoided florals in the summer for that very reason! She didn’t want to be confused with her rose bushes!
My favorite time for wearing perfume is Winter, so I can indulge in spice, woods, tea, smoke, all of those wintry smells. Summer…well, I am going very light on fragrance. Not a big fan of citrus but maybe something green & herbal.
Yes, winter gets VERY dark and smoky here! Vanillas, smoke, leather. Just lovely. I think I’m glad I have to put them away and take a long break during the late spring/summer/early fall, because I love them so much more when they are back!
Hey Patty,
While there isn’t a season I don’t like to wear perfume Spring and Autumn are my favourites by far. I love that the days are warm/cool so I can wear a selection of favourites across a week.
Summer is only my least favourite because I am least comfortable in my skin in the heat.
PS I love the smell of salt water chlorinated pool on my skin afterwards.
Portia xx
I agree with you …I’m extremely uncomfortable in my own skin during summer. It doesn’t help that I’m so pale that I’m practically lavender!
That is pale! At least you can enjoy the indoors and shade with lots of scent!
yeah, spring and fall are great. Fall is probably my most favorite just from anticipation. I’m weary of summer, looking forward to new fall releases, and I just crawl through my perfumes rediscovering old loves and wearing them again. chlorine and sun on skin really needs to be bottled somehow. 🙂
I am the opposite of everyone. Something about the heat makes perfume bloom on my scent devouring skin. ABsolute Pour Le Soir smells of dirty knickers in the dead of winter. In the late spring and all summer long it’s a gorgeous honeyed amber. SSS Winter Woods also wears beautiful in the heat. Cristalle, Orange Sanguine, Assam of India and most citruses I prefer in cold climate. It boosts my mood and smells better on my in the cold.
That is so cool. so the heat is actually better for you? My skin does not devour most scents, so I’m guessing chemistry counts for a lot here. I love what you are wearing in summer. 🙂
Yes! The warmth, heat and maybe a bit of sweat makes the perfumes magical . When it’s cold they seem flat ( don’t know if that’s the right word to use but it’s what came to mind) and don’t last long. I have wonky skin!
I think this is a great question…but I can’t think of a favorite/least favorite season. I definitely temper amounts and types per the situation, but I love to wear perfume every damn day.
Oh, that is so nice! I really want to cultivate a better summer scent rotation, but maybe the rut I’m in is as good as it gets. I think it was Miss March that nudged me into trying big old white florals and incense in the heat of summer. She is right, but can’t do them all the time. i do love my summer scents, just thinking I could expand them a bit.
Would Mueget Fleuri by Orize Legrand be too sweet for you?
I love fall/winter, spring is okay, summer is least favourite. I am just not a cologne person and most things are cloying at 90 degrees with 80% humidity.
I think once we hit 80, I just to right off of scent, except the really crisp stuff!
Winter is my favorite because I love ambers, especially thick and chewy ones. Summer – much of my collection gets ignored because it’s too heavy for hot temps. But I still wear it most days, just have a much smaller rotation.
So it’s not just me? 🙂 I need to come up with a list of topics for summer, like books, etc. 🙂
Ya know, every couple of years I convince myself that I’m gonna get a bottle of Osmanthe Yunnan because I’m finally gonna be able to smell it, smell me wearing it, but nope. Bupkis!
Strangely, I still want it.
Oh, I have to have it in winter. Something about it just works when it is hot, but so do a couple of bit old white florals, but that is deffo a mood thing!