“Perfume is the art that makes memory speak”
– Francis Kurkdjian
They say no sense preserves memory like the sense of smell, and no season creates memories quite like summer. With good weather, longer days, and holiday breaks, summer is the perfect time for new adventures. What better way to enhance these experiences than with a unique, beautiful perfume?
If you want to stand out and avoid smelling like everyone else, keep reading to discover masterful creations from niche perfume houses. In this article, I share 7 unique feminine summer perfumes with diverse scent profiles that I’ve discovered over the years. Some are narcotic and perfect for summer nights, while others are light and airy for daytime. Each one is beautiful, somewhat unexpected, and ideal for creating lasting summer memories.
1. Debaser by DS & Durga
Recently, I went into Ministry of Scent in San Francisco’s Mission District looking for Jazmin Yucatan by DS and Durga, but ended up falling in love at first whiff with Debaser instead. Creamy, well rounded, and utterly intoxicating, it’s the kind of scent that instantly stands out in a room and leaves a lasting impression.
Before Debaser, I did not actually think I could be a fan of fig-based perfumes. I never quite understood the hype around Philosykos, Diptyque’s fig forward scent. It was too green and sharp. Debaser tones the earthy greenery down and rounds things out with creamy coconut and tonka bean. Its notes blend into a perfect harmony that evoke long, lazy summer dinners with friends that bleed into hot, humid nights ripe for mischief and adventure.
Scent Profile: Fruity. Ripe fig, coconut, iris, vetiver, tonka bean, moss.
Who is it perfect for?
The rebel with a creative, entrepreneurial streak. I could picture the fictional version of entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso in the Netflix TV show Girl Boss wearing this, stomping around San Francisco building her vintage clothing empire.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
A smaller, more intimate city with a rich, musical history. Think Nashville, Austin or San Francisco.
2. Mojave Ghost by Byredo
Mojave Ghost is a beautiful, delicate yet surprisingly unique floral musk scent. I really think Byredo really chose a perfect name for this scent: it has a rare, exotic quality, much like an ephemeral ghostly flower in bloom in an otherwise barren Mojave desert.
I’ve gifted this scent a couple times before and I’ve found it to be universally well received (lots of “OMG that perfume you gave me smells SOOOO good”). It’s definitely easy to wear, despite being quite unique. It has a certain “je ne sais quois” that elevates it above comparable floral, “clean girl” scents. Perhaps it’s the rarity of its sapodilla note, or simply the genius of its precise harmonious blend of notes. Regardless, this is one of my all time favorite enigmatic yet alluring crowdpleasers.
Scent Profile: Woody Floral. Sapodilla, Ambrette, Magnolia, Violet, Sandalwood, Cedar, Ambergris.
Who is it perfect for?
The chicest “clean girl” you know who always looks put together despite always rushing from place to place on account of her full calendar.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
A music festival in the desert, an air-conditioned office building, Nobu Malibu and everywhere in between. The beauty of this scent is its versatility.
3. Durga by DS and Durga
Can you tell I’m a big fan of this artsy, indie perfume brand based in New York City? In my opinion, Durga is the incomparable, magnum opus of this perfume house, aptly named after the female founder half of the husband-wife duo behind the brand. It is the most lush, verdant, photorealistic jasmine tuberose scent. In my opinion, it literally redefines and sets the bar for this entire genre of perfumes.
Picture a forbidden, Romeo and Juliet style romance, set to the backdrop of a palatial mansion with lush gardens in South or Southeast Asia, to the tune of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer”. Yes, this picture is oddly is specific, but so is this unabashedly luxurious, attention-grabbing masterpiece of a perfume.
Scent Profile: Floral. Tuberose, ylang-ylang, chrysanthemum, orange blossom, jasmine, musk.
Who is it perfect for?
Someone who wants to fall in love in the summer.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
On a date. Nothing more to be said.
4. Do Son by Diptyque
Do Son is the original scent that made me believe in the concept of a “summer perfume”. Nothing screams tropical beach vacation in a far-flung resort quite like this scent. It is a pure, unadulterated, creamy tuberose. I do think a linear, straightforward tuberose can be a love it or hate it kind of scent, so don’t pick it up if you’re on the fence about white florals.
To me, this scent feels like what a sophisticated career woman would wear during her Out of Office days in a 5 star resort faraway, where her only calendar activities are beach days, spa appointments, and long lazy 5 course seafood meals.
Scent Profile: White floral. Tuberose, orange leaf, jasmine, musk, pink pepper.
Who is it perfect for?
Someone who would choose the beach over mountains, in every lifetime. Or, someone who’s just a very big fan of the White Lotus.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
Any beach town in the Eastern Hemisphere. Think Kota Kinabalu, Bali, or Do Son, the scent’s namesake beach in Vietnam.
5. Virgin Island Water by Creed
This is a boozy, sparkling, citrus scent that is reminiscent of pina coladas, suntan lotion and a saltwater breeze. It’s scent that perfectly balances realistic citrus notes with creamier coconut, white rum and sugar cane notes. The result is a smooth, luxurious cocktail that smells like it would be worn by the clientele at upscale island resorts, or fancy golf clubs. The scent wears close to the skin but really sparkles and comes alive when you’re sweating in the hot humidity of summer. If I had to choose one, archetypal “resort” scent from this list, it would be Virgin Island Water.
Scent Profile: Citrusy floral. Lime, bergamot, mandarin, jasmine, ginger, ylang-ylang, coconut, white rum, sugar cane, musk.
Who is it perfect for?
Someone who plans on attending a lot of summer weddings, or vegetating at beach resorts.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
Any beach town in the Western Hemisphere, like Turks and Caicos, Santorini or St. Tropez.
6. Fleurs D’Oranger by Serge Lutens
This is the most elegant, sophisticated, photorealistic orange flower perfume I have ever smelled. It’s giving breakfast in the Mediterranean in a small, cozy, family-run hotel, white tablecloth and polished silverware, overlooking idyllic rolling hills and orchards blooming with juicy fruits and flowers. My mom used to have a bottle of this, and she would get compliments every time she wore it out, anywhere from the grocery store, to the classroom she taught at. Even though it is definitely a loud floral, it has a woody, almost tea-like note that balances it out beautifully and renders it incredibly wearable for women of all ages.
Scent Profile: Floral. Orange blossom, Indian tuberose, jasmine, citrus, hibiscus, cumin, musk, woody notes.
Who is it perfect for?
Honestly, I could picture Daphne from Bridgerton Season 1 wearing something like this. Or, the modern woman who is a hopeless romantic at heart.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
A sophisticated fashionable metro, like Paris, London or Shanghai. Or the countryside.
7. You by Glossier
She’s the coolest girl in the perfume world. You is another one of those “second skin” scents, designed to either be layered or worn alone to enhance your natural skin scent, like Le Labo’s “Another 13” or DS and Durga’s “I don’t know what”. However, I do think “You” is in a league of her own: she is universally flattering on women, distinctly feminine, and sparkles with an uplifting, alluring charm. It’s the kind of scent that you can spray on after your pilates class in the AM, wear throughout an entire day at the office, then continue to get compliments on from strangers as you get dinner and drinks into the night.
Scent Profile: Musky floral. Iris, pink pepper, ambroxan, ambrette.
Who is it perfect for?
The girl who has a ton of goals to hit and places to be this summer, who wants to look effortlessly put together.
Imagery:
Where to wear this:
A denser, grungier city that thrives on hustle, like Hong Kong or New York City.
If you end up trying any of these unique, feminine perfumes out for summer, let me know in the comments how you like them. And even if you don’t, would love to hear what summer adventures you get up to anyway. ❤️☀️
