
From Juicy Fruits To Neogourmands, These Are Summer's Trending Perfume Notes
Summer requires scents that are 'light, fresh and cheerful, nothing too serious—fun and sun in a bottle,' says Bettina O'Neill, EVP of business development and merchandising at Scentbird, the monthly perfume discovery subscription service. Word of advice? Less is always more when it comes to picking the perfect scent layer, 'simply because fragrance intensifies as our body temperature rises, particularly when we perspire,' she adds. Instead of opting for a strong eau de parfum, O'Neill suggests stocking up on eau de toilettes or body mists, as they have a 'lighter concentration perfect for the intense summer heat, may contain only one to three percent of perfume oil, and can last up to two hours,' she says. 'The opposite is true for winter; extrait de parfums and eau de parfums last longer on the skin because of their higher concentration of perfume oil (15 to 40 percent).'
Time to set aside those smoky ouds and candied vanillas of the fall and winter seasons—this summer's perfume trends embrace the youthfulness, intimacy, and nostalgia we all could use right now. Before you add anything to your cart, Scentbird's Bettina O'Neill and Jeniece Trizzino, VP of innovation and physical product at Scentbird, break down the season's hottest trends we're about to smell everywhere.
We get it: gourmands in the summer can easily go awry due to their deep, heavier base notes. Toasty caramel, creamy hazelnut, and sugary vanilla warmed up under the sun can veer bakery-sweet than expected. However, Trizzino predicts a vanilla evolution this summer. Vanilla, 'once considered soft, sweet, and safe, is transformed into something bold, smoky, sensual, and complex. This is the evolution of sugary Y2K cupcake to dark, complex, and more sophisticated iterations. Think vanilla leaves, vanilla absolute paired with darker notes like black amber, leather, pink pepper, coriander,' she explains.
A summer fruit salad is as refreshing as it is tasty—now imagine it compressed into a juice that's sweet, candied, and elegant for the heat and not at all the adolescent whiffs from our youth. 'Traditionally, fruity fragrances were often associated with youthful, overly sweet scents reminiscent of candy. But we are seeing a big evolution in the fruity category right now; this movement reflects a shift towards more natural, juicy, and sophisticated fruity scents, appealing to a broad spectrum of consumers,' Trizzino explains.
While summery produce typically always swirls in coconut, Trizzino predicts a darker, sexier twist with this season's coveted fruity scents. 'These fruit notes are wrapped with elevated florals and rich, sensual woods, she adds, listing pear, plum, cherry, passionfruit, and banana as unexpected notes to look out for. And, of course, we couldn't forget to mention summer 2025's main character ingredient, guava.
Yes, although less is more for warm-weather-appropriate ingredients, musks can actually weather any season. Typically found in the base layer of a scent composition due to its staying power, musks are soft, skin-like notes that add depth to any fragrance. 'They tap into what people are craving emotionally and culturally right now—intimacy, softness, comfort, and authenticity. They've evolved from being just base notes to becoming the emotional heart of modern fragrance,' Trizzino explains. She notes that newer musk scents fall into two categories:
Scented Softness: 'We're seeing a resurgence of powdery, slightly sweet, milky, creamy musk profile in perfumery. They feel hazy and velvety and slightly romantic and are comforting and craveable all at the same time.'
New Clean: 'These musks are radiant, skin-like, modern, and transparent. They are less powdery and more warm skin-like, and strip musks from their stereotypical aldehydic qualities.'
Trizzino shares that a popular note category leading this revival is 'fougere,' otherwise known as the green, herbaceous notes that beckon images of the damp forests and fresh plants, and will transform into genderless juices. 'Lavender, moss, and tonka fougere is being reclaimed as unisex and elegant, and brands will play with notes of iris, fig, tea, and suede to modernize the classic structure—basically fougeres with tenderness,' she explains. These greener, more universal notes help tone down the 'loud, sharp, spicy opening that we see in a lot of traditional '90s scents, and we'll see brand launch scents that shift toward more diffusive, atmospheric notes.' These airy notes fall under the Ozonic note family, which features zesty yuzu, 'airy citruses, and soft green florals—notes that mimic fresh air or rainfall,' Trizzino says.
'During challenging times, people seek comfort in the familiar. The classical revival trend aligns with a broader desire for stability and connection to the past,' Trizzino explains.
Remember the Burberry Her fragrance you were gifted for a past birthday? This year the brand introduced its intense counterpart, leaning into emotion and familiarity as a key driving point.
'This is about reconnecting with memories, softness, identity, and innocence in a time that feels uncertain and overstimulated. Through the use of nostalgia, fragrances are able to channel a safe space for customers by reminding them of cherished childhood memories. Research has shown that scents are strongly linked to memory. Fragrance houses are tapping into this emotional link by offering perfumes that make people relive past moments or tap into memories that evoke happiness, love, and warmth.
These notes generally veer floral and powdery, employing classic feminine fragrance notes 'like rose, iris, violet, orange blossom, white florals, and sweet fruits, but in radically modernized ways,' she adds.
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Elle
19 hours ago
- Elle
6 Summer Dresses And The Accessories To Pair Them With, From Bandana Headscarves To Raffia Bags
We all know the devil is in the details, and this maxim couldn't be truer than in the hotter months, when we eschew layering for a single, breezy garment: the summer dress. Such simplicity makes getting dressed much easier, but it also requires clever accessorising to set your outfit apart from the rest. Here you have it, dear reader: our guide to the six best summer dress styles and the hottest accessories with which to pair them. We are extolling the virtues of the nightie-turned-dress, the Y2K-inspired strapless mini, and the bubble-hem midi – not to mention a trio of perfect maxis, in lace, denim and linen, respectively. They are the perfect bases for SS25's trending accessories, from raffia bags and oversized pendant necklaces, to bandana-style headscarves and charm-adorned chain belts. Find your perfect pairing, below. The basket has long been a hot-weather staple and this summer is no exception, with the emergence of sleeker styles (from Anya Hindmarch and Alaïa, amongst others) for those that want to balance the breeziness of raffia with the polish of a ladylike bag. Tote one alongside a well-cut denim maxi dress – both materials feel rustic, but the silhouettes say otherwise. We've called it: the bandana-style headscarf is this season's cutest accessory. As seen on Alexa Chung, Gracie Abrams and Emily Ratajkowski, it is a nostalgic addition to every outfit, which is why it's the perfect partner to the vintage-tinged nightie dress. Take it from Chloé's Chemena Kamali - a romantic, sheer dress and charm-laden chain belt are a match made in heaven. Opt for a mesh or chiffon maxi, layering your favourite bikini beneath when on holiday. Aviators are a perennial classic, but this season, they are bigger than ever. Bonus points if they err on space-age like Loewe's cult style. This futuristic frame calls for a sleek, strapless dress; we adore this silk and linen mini from Prada's 1998 show. Ah, the tent dress – it's the only thing we want to slip into when temperatures are soaring and luckily for everyone, it is still very much trending thanks to Khaite and The Row. It's the perfect canvas for a statement pendant necklace, like this beauty from Juju Vera that's on every fashion editor's wish list. You could offset the playfulness of a bubble-hem dress with slides (as seen at Alberta Ferretti) or a masculine-edged shoe (see JW Anderson). We say have even more fun with a pair of retro jelly shoes – either Ancient Greek Sandal's trending ballet flats or Chloé's in-demand kitten heels.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Erin Andrews Inks Deal With WWE for Women's Fan Gear
Erin Andrews is bringing her fashion aesthetic to the wrestling world. The sportscaster has signed a deal with the World Wrestling Entertainment company to create a women's sportswear collection for its Premium Live Events and Superstars. More from WWD EXCLUSIVE: Bratz and Blackbough Collaborate on Y2K-inspired Swimwear and Accessories Collection Urban Outfitters Debuts Hello Kitty x Monchhichi Collaboration With Plush Bag Charms Taylor Fritz to Front New Palm Tree Crew x Head Collection Andrews, in partnership with Constance Schwartz-Morini, cofounder and chief executive officer of SMAC Entertainment, created Wear by Erin Andrews in 2019. It now works with nearly 200 teams including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, NWSL, WNBA and U.S. Soccer to offer fashionable fan gear for women. This multiyear deal with WWE will feature jackets, T-shirts, sweatshirts, cropped tops and other pieces tied to WWE stars Nikki Bella, Rhea Ripley and Cody Rhodes as well as staple items such as a muscle tank, bomber, hooded denim jacket, lace-up hoodie and cropped long-sleeve shirt. The collection will debut at SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Aug. 2 to 3. It will also be available online at the WWE and Fanatics e-commerce sites as well as at select WWE Premium Live Events. 'Wear by Erin Andrews was created to give women a stylish, authentic way to show off and celebrate their fandom,' Andrews said. 'As we kick off this partnership with the WWE, we take another step forward in serving an even wider audience of female sports fans while celebrating the passionate, bold energy of the WWE universe. I'm thrilled we can now offer our fan-favorite Wear gear to women who want to support their favorite Superstars without compromising on style.' The WWE offers television programming, live events, digital media, and publishing platforms that reach more than 1 billion households globally. Best of WWD Why Tennis Players Wear All White at Wimbledon: The Championships' Historic Dress Code Explained Kate Middleton's Looks at Trooping the Colour Through the Years [PHOTOS] Young Brooke Shields' Style Evolution, Archive Photos: From Runway Modeling & Red Carpets to Meeting Princess Diana


Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Foot Locker just debuted four exclusive Saucony sneakers in nostalgic Y2K colorways 👟
The trends of the early aughts are, indeed, back in all of their nostalgic, colorful glory. The evidence? Foot Locker just dropped a new summer collection with Saucony, which features four exclusive Saucony sneakers in the most vibrant Y2K-era color palettes. And yes, I already have two styles sitting in my shopping cart—because who can resist a stylish running shoe? The new summer collab sees the retail giant in partnership with the internet's favorite running sneaker brand—aka Saucony. And while the collection's featured colorways might be unique to Saucony, the shoes themselves are still equipped with all of the same design details shoppers already know and love—like a responsive, cushiony base and mesh composition (for extra breathability). The exclusive sneaker collection is expected to sell fast—below, see what's worth shopping from the limited-time summer drop and give your sneaker wardrobe the upgrade it deserves: MORE: New and best-selling Allbirds shoes are as low as $60 at this sale Hailed as the ultimate shoe for runners, Saucony sneakers are beloved for their supportive, cushiony design that's uniquely responsive (especially in comparison to other athletic sneakers) and made from Saucony's specialized cushioning technologies—like PWRRUN. Shop more Saucony sneakers at Foot Locker