This Beachy Ingredient Is the Secret to 2025's Most-Loved Summer Perfumes
"Summer never gets old, and anything that makes us think of the ocean has the potential to bring joy," David Seth Moltz, perfumer and co-founder of D.S. & Durga, tells ELLE. While salt itself doesn't have a strong aroma, ozonic accords and musky notes like ambergris are often used to give perfumes a salty essence.
"Oceanic notes make perfumes smell more realistic," adds Moltz. Just like how salt enhances flavor in food, salty notes can amplify a fragrance's profile, adding a savory, skin-like quality.
From classics like Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt to Glossier's buzzy You Fleur, I sniffed my way through dozens of sea salt perfumes—and tapped Moltz and ELLE editors—to determine which ones are truly worth the hype. Discover my edit below.
Tropical florals and marine notes are a match made in fragrance heaven in this bestselling Ellis Brooklyn perfume. Ylang ylang and tiare flower blend with salty vegan ambergris to create a summery scent that's anything but basic.
'Salt Eau de Parfum is the first day of a beach vacation," Ellis Brooklyn founder Bee Shapiro previously told ELLE. "You wake up early on your own, there's no one on the beach yet, and there's still that morning freshness in the air. It's such a unique fragrance because it's not playing on any oceanside perfume stereotypes. It's this gorgeous, sophisticated take on how the ocean makes us feel.'
Key notes: Ylang ylang, Tahitian tiare, ambergris
Sizes: 0.34-3.4 oz.
Want a subtle way to dip your toe into the sea salt perfume trend? The latest iteration of Glossier's cult-loved You is more summery than its predecessors, featuring sea salt accord and apricot skin atop musky ambrox base notes. Personally, I think it's even better than the original.
'This smells like sunshine and showering after a day in the ocean, without any of notes of sunscreen," adds Beauty Director Kathleen Hou. "It is a very soft fragrance that evokes the feeling of freshly laundered towels... It's very comforting and cozy and the quintessential girlhood scent—this generation's Marc Jacobs Daisy.'
Key notes: Apricot skin, osmanthus, sea salt, cashmeran
Sizes: 0.27-1.7 oz.
Rose Atlantic is an ode to Moltz's favorite summer destination: the New England coast. As a New England native myself, I can confirm this perfume smells just like the region's fragrant seaside roses mixed with salty ocean air. It also boasts impressive longevity and sillage—you'll only need a few sprays for this modern rose scent to linger all day.
Key notes: Lemon, rose, salt water, dune grass
Sizes: 0.33-3.4 oz.
On the hottest days, the last thing you want is a heavy fragrance. Enter this refreshing hair and body mist, lightly scented with honeysuckle, lily of the valley, and pink sea salt. It's designed to have an instant cooling effect—much like a welcome breeze.
"This scent is heavenly," raves one Amazon reviewer. "It's light yet floral and sweet with the perfect balance of salt air, so you smell so fresh when wearing it! This one will be a staple for me."
Key notes: Honeysuckle, muguet, pink sea salt
Size: 3.4 oz.
The original sea salt scent, Jo Malone's Wood Sage & Sea Salt evokes crashing waves on rugged cliffs, blending earthy sage, sea salt, and musky ambrette. To me, it's the quintessential summer office fragrance: sophisticated and memorable, yet not overpowering. (Its eau de cologne formulation is less potent than an eau de parfum, making it ideal for those who prefer a more subtle fragrance.) I keep a bottle at my desk for a midday pick-me-up that won't give my coworkers a headache.
Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
Sizes: o.3-3.4 oz.
Looking for a gourmand perfume that won't turn cloying in the summer heat? Consider Liis's Choux Choux, inspired by the fluffy French pastry of the same name. This irresistible scent features a sea salt note drawn from fleur de sel caramel, balanced by citrus peel, sandalwood, and creamy, lactonic aromas.
Key notes: Citrus peel, cream, fleur de sel caramel, sandalwood, vanilla
Size: 1.7 oz.
If you're a fan of aquatic, slightly soapy perfumes, Salt Air is worth a sniff. Combining driftwood, sea salt, cotton blossom, and water lily, it's a fresh-out-of-the-shower-skin scent that's as soothing as lapping waves.
'Every time I smell this fragrance, I feel like I should be driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible," says Beauty Editor Katie Berohn. "To me, this fragrance is Los Angeles in a bottle—vibrant, sexy, and a little unexpected.'
Key notes: Sea salt, seaweed, water lily, cotton blossom, driftwood
Sizes: 0.33-1.7 oz.
Made to mimic the scent of perfumed skin after a dip in the ocean, La Mar blends creamy coconut, salt water, jasmine, gardenia, and tuberose. While I haven't had the chance to try it just yet, it seems like the kind of intoxicating fragrance you'd wear while lounging in a private cabana at a five-star resort in the Maldives. Bonus: Its quartz-capped bottle easily doubles as decor.
"It's light and feminine, wearable enough for everyday and special enough for date night," notes one Bloomingdale's reviewer.
Key notes: Jasmine, sea water, tuberose, gardenia, coconut
Sizes: 1.3-2.5 oz.
Salt-forward fragrances ooze sex appeal, since they often evoke the scent of lightly sweaty skin. Described as a "savory skin musk," Eauso Vert's Salvia Salvia smells like humid air after a tropical thunderstorm.
"Salt and mineral accents along with Mexican herbs, like salvia and clary sage, make this scent stand out,' Hou adds. An earthy base of labdanum and ambermax give it depth and longevity, lingering well beyond the six-hour mark on my skin. It's complex but not overwhelming, making it ideal for year-round wear."
Key notes: Mexican green lime, sea salt, sage, labdanum
Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
"Salted Muse smells fresh and a little earthy (in a good way), like that first whiff of ocean air you breathe in on a beach day," says Commerce Editor Sarah Maberry. "There's something a little brine-y about it that makes you want to go back for another smell." If your signature cocktail is a dirty martini, this fig and olive tree-infused scent is a must-try.
Key notes: Sea salt, olive tree, cedar
Sizes: 0.33-3.4 fl. oz.
Like vanilla soft serve on a scorching afternoon, this fragrance mist is equal parts creamy and refreshing. At first spritz, it's pure nostalgic vanilla sugar, but it dries down to cozy sandalwood, keeping it from veering too saccharine.
It also happens to be one of the longest-lasting body mists I've ever tested. I love how it transforms on my skin throughout the day—I can still catch whiffs of it well into the evening.
Key notes: Vanilla, sea salt, sandalwood
Size: 8 fl oz.
After its collaboration with Chloe Sevigny, niche perfume brand Regime des Fleurs has stayed on my radar for its unique, evocative fragrances. Inspired by midnight beaches and bioluminescent surf, Nitesurf Neroli features a rare smoked seashell accord that makes it one of the most distinctive floral perfumes on the market. It's an ethereal scent I love reaching for on sultry summer nights.
Key notes: Neroli, salty mist, citrus, smoked seashells, ambroxan
Size: 2.5 oz.
David Seth Moltz is a perfumer and co-founder of D.S. & Durga.
Lauren Gruber is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over four years of experience covering lifestyle topics, specializing in beauty and fragrance. For this roundup, she consulted a scent expert about the sea salt perfume trend and tapped her fellow editors for their recommendations. After conducting extensive research on the topic, she personally tested nearly every scent on this list to round up the 12 best sea salt perfumes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
2 days ago
- Elle
Brunello Cucinelli Transformed the Hamptons Into an Italian Piazza for a Night
The threat of rain didn't deter guests—including Christie Brinkley and Alexandra Daddario—from donning their finest Brunello Cucinelli and heading to the Wölffer Estate Stables in The Hamptons last night. Upon arrival, they were immediately and perhaps unexpectedly transported to an Italian piazza, where two long, winding tables circled a fountain and a makeshift mercato was set up, stocked to the brim with tomatoes, cheese, and charcuterie. Dressed in the quiet luxury brand's signature shades of beige, cream, and brown, attendees mingled during cocktail hour, chatting about the looming storm and their end-of-summer plans out east. 'I brought sunglasses too, but where's the sun?' joked Kelly Turlington Burns. Next, the evening gave way to a seated dinner with an Umbrian-style menu of rigatoni pomodoro and gelato with fresh fruit, serenaded by live acoustic guitar, and naturally paired with Wölffer Estate Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. 'This was a tiny little farmhouse on a potato field,' co-host Joey Wölffer told the crowd, gesturing around the space. 'It's spectacular. It's way more than I could ever imagine.' Brunello Cucinelli CEO Riccardo Stefanelli flew in for a quick 24 hours to make an appearance. 'I'm not complaining—being in such a beautiful place with such beautiful people,' he said. 'There are many words—beauty, dignity, craftsmanship, attention to detail—but what we have here is not just a winery or a cellar, it's a community.' Scroll through below for an inside look. Claire Stern Milch is the Digital Director at ELLE, where she oversees all content and strategy. Previously, she was Deputy Editor at ELLE. Her interests include fashion, food, travel, music, Peloton, and The Hills—not necessarily in that order. She used to have a Harriet the Spy notebook and isn't ashamed to admit it.
Elle
2 days ago
- Elle
Here's Where You Know the Cast of ‘The Hunting Wives' From
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. In the mood for a mystery thriller that's just the right amount of unhinged? The Hunting Wives might scratch that itch. Based on the 2021 bestselling novel of the same name by May Cobb, the series follows Sophie (Brittany Snow) as she moves with her family to Maple Brook, Texas, and becomes enraptured by an alluring Southern socialite. When the series landed on Snow's desk, she told People that she 'read the scripts of all eight episodes within a couple hours. I was completely hooked. I was desperate to find out what was going to happen.' All eight episodes are now streaming on Netflix. Ahead, get to know the main cast—and see where you might already recognize them from. Brittany Snow (Pitch Perfect, John Tucker Must Die) plays Sophie, a former PR exec who moves with her family from Massachusetts to Texas. There, she quickly gets wrapped up in a cliquey socialite circle. Malin Åkerman (Dollface, Billions) plays Margo, the wife of an oil tycoon and the HBIC of a group of MAGA-esque socialites known as the Hunting Wives. Dermot Mulroney (Shameless, Chicago Fire) plays Jed, Margo's husband and a successful oil tycoon. He's also running for Texas governor. Evan Jonigkeit (Sweetbitter) plays Graham, Sophie's husband. While in Texas, he begins working for Jed as an architect for a big project. Chrissy Metz (This Is Us) plays Starr, a devout Christian and single mother who is a bit of an outsider in the Maple Brook community. Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick) plays Callie, Margo's close friend and ex-lover who is very possessive of her. Katie Lowes (Scandal) plays Jill, the disregarded wife of a reverend at a megachurch. She mostly focuses on her son, Brad, and the Hunting Wives. Madison Wolfe (The Conjuring 2) plays Abby, girlfriend to Brad—Jill's son—and daughter to Starr. Joyce Glenn (Checkmate) plays Monae, a member of the Hunting Wives.
Elle
2 days ago
- Elle
Want to Look Like You Just Stepped Off the Amalfi Coast? Try the Retro Dolce Vita Bob
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. From claw clips to finger waves, French twists and Bardot bangs, retro hairstyles have been making a major resurgence of late. And the latest one rising to the top of our mood boards, signaling the return of polished and glamorous styles, is the 'dolce vita' bob. Popularized in the 1950s, and reemerging thanks to celebrities like singer-songwriter Raye, whose sculpted, coiffed bob is now something of a signature, this retro bob is officially trending. Everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Cardi B and Zendaya are making a strong case for the bouncy, polished curls and short crop. Think of it as the new, more modern iteration of the 'old money' bob, which went viral last year and saw the return of rather expensive-looking, shiny lengths and the signature 'tucked under' crop from the '50s take shape. Drawing inspiration from the voluminous silhouette of old, the 'dolce vita' bob is all about achieving an ultra-polished finish and bouncy volume. 'This longer bob length shape shares the same luxurious and glamorous texture of the old money bob, but with extra volume and a more cushioned, weightless finish,' shares trend forecaster and hair expert, Tom Smith. How to make it work for your hair type? 'This is for those who like volume and who have thick hair or who want to create that illusion,' shares Smith. 'The long, soft, and fluid layers help to give movement to finer hair and manage the bulk of thicker hair,' he adds. Though it's best suited to those with naturally wavy or curly hair, anyone with straighter lengths can also achieve the look using heated rollers or a classic curling wand. If you haven't mastered the art of rollers yet, fear not—there are plenty of tools, tips, and techniques at your disposal to recreate this hairstyle too, like ghd's Duet Blowdry to Dyson's Airwrap. 'The look can be achieved with a blow-dry using a round brush, but you can also use heated rollers, or tools such as the Dyson Airwrap with the curl attachments,' Smith agrees. Finally, don't forget copious hairspray and a smoothing cream for that polished finish. From: ELLE UK
