What is your most refreshing perfume? What fragrance makes you feel cool and uplifted?
As this summer has been alternating between rainy and infernally hot, I nevertheless have been relying more on my effervescent and refreshing fragrances. They brightened up the dull, grey days and made the hot and humid ones feel much more bearable. So, here they are, my most refreshing perfumes, the ones that evoke a delicious sensation of ice cubes melting on skin: Prada Infusion de Vétiver, Hermès Eau de Gentiane Blanche, and Frédéric MalleAngéliques Sous la Pluie.
Photo: Frozen Strawberry by Carl Smith via flickr, some rights reserved.
Perfumes I find very refreshing include Diptyque Oyedo (which actually makes my skin cold and tingly when I spray it on!) and Philosykos (fig notes remind me of the smell of a freezer or air conditioner), and Sonoma Scent Studio Voile de Violette, whose sweet, fruity green violet note smells almost *drinkable* somehow, and fills me with contentment.
Posted by: Elisa | July 29, 2011 at 13:37
Hermès D'Orange Vert. Too bad it has almost zero staying power.
Posted by: RMF | July 29, 2011 at 13:41
Eau de Guerlain, without a doubt. I love it because its herbal, oakmoss, and floral notes make it more interesting than the average eau de cologne. I love splashing it on, just to feel a boost!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 29, 2011 at 13:43
I used up most of my Un Jardin sur le Nil decant this summer, as it was the first one I bought in June. Now I find it a little difficult to wear, it is so grapefruity, but it *is* refreshing, feels like a glass of lemonade. Now I switched to Frédéric Malle En Passant when it's really hot. And when my decants of Annick Goutal Eau du Sud and Ninféo Mio finally arrive, I'll put them on the list too!
Posted by: Alnysie | July 29, 2011 at 13:44
Angéliques Sous la Pluie (with a nice cold gin and tonic!) and I'm really enjoying Eau de Cartier this summer as well.
Posted by: MK | July 29, 2011 at 13:47
Voile de Violette is so lovely! I am very much enjoying it this summer.
Posted by: Victoria | July 29, 2011 at 14:11
Ah, so true! It hardly lasts on me too, but I still love it.
Posted by: Victoria | July 29, 2011 at 14:12
I think that it is one of the best colognes, hands down! I sometimes even keep a small decant in the fridge for an extra boost on very hot days.
Posted by: Victoria | July 29, 2011 at 14:13
Most of the non-floral Goutals are very refreshing. I love Eau du Sud. March of Perfume Posse turned me onto it.
Posted by: Victoria | July 29, 2011 at 14:13
Eau de Cartier is very much like gin & tonic itself with its bitter herbal and leafy notes. Now, I am tempted to wear it today.
Posted by: Victoria | July 29, 2011 at 14:14
Atelier Cologne: Orange Sanguine or if I'm feeling cheap; Roger & Gallet: Bois d'orange ;-)
Posted by: kurt | July 29, 2011 at 14:17
Bulgari Green Tea, Caron Pour Un Homme and Clarins Eau Dynamissante
Posted by: behemot | July 29, 2011 at 14:35
Eau de guerlain, and concentree d'orange verte is very energizing...
Posted by: Carla | July 29, 2011 at 14:47
Elisa ITA, Oyedo has so much mint you can feel it on your skin! I also love Arancia in the summertime.
Posted by: Dragaa | July 29, 2011 at 14:54
sl vetiver oriental always feels shady and cooling to me. eau d'italie's paestum rose is all cold stone, incense and rose - very cooling. the new balenciaga is also crisp and cool, as is chanel 31 rue cambon. that newish goutal, ninfeo mio is also crisp and green and fresh, which i find cooling. dior's eau sauvage is also refreshing.
Posted by: minette | July 29, 2011 at 15:17
Cristalle, Diorella, Rose Ikebana, Eau d'Hadrien. Sometimes I also wear vintage Guerlain Vetiver.
Posted by: Caro | July 29, 2011 at 15:36
Right now, in sticky hot Toronto, my cooling perfumes are:
Santa Maria Novella - Acqua di Colonia
Penhaligon's - Orange Blossom
Diptyque - Philosykos
Bvlgari - Femme
Bvlgari - Eau Fraiche
L'Artisan Parfumeur - Ananas Fizz
Eau d'Italie Jardin du Poete
And I just got a sample of Lubin Gin Fizz that is very nice. Not as gin-y as Angeliques sous le pluie but more like lemonade and gin.
Posted by: kjanicki | July 29, 2011 at 15:40
It was a 100 degrees last week in New York, the only perfume I can wear by such conditions is Serge Lutens Nuit de Cellophane.
Posted by: Emma | July 29, 2011 at 16:14
I asked a similar question some time ago. :)
For me it's Guerlain Vetiver, Charmes et Feuilles, AA Pamplelune and Jardin du Poete. I'm sure there would be more if I gave it more thought, but these come to mind first.
Posted by: Ines | July 29, 2011 at 16:37
In the really hot weather, I need something very simple and light; so I fall back on my inexpensive Pacifica standbys; Mediterranean Fig has been great, along with the Sandalwood (which in any other situation, I would hate for its very sweet citrus and too light touch of sandalwood) Avalon Juniper has a very chilly winter edge with the smell of juniper berries, but it works perfectly for summer, despite it being a 'winter equinox' fragrance (supposedly it was blended just for the winter equinox!). These fragrances work really well because they wear lightly. I think my favorite would have to be the fig.
Posted by: Andy | July 29, 2011 at 22:04
My faves are Guerlain Imperiale (or its kissin' cousin 4711), also the beautiful Cartier Brillante which is spray-on gin and tonic to me.
Agraria Bitter Orange. Smells very urban, Saturday Morning Farmer's Market/brunch-y.
xoxoA
Posted by: Musette | July 29, 2011 at 23:38
Jo Malone has actually been very comforting to me in this heatwave.. ive been alternating the assam and grapefruit (refreshing and malty skin scent) and i've also been layering the white jasmine and mint with the orange blossom (so intoxicating)...
Posted by: Stephen | July 30, 2011 at 00:21
LIke Stephen, I've also been using more Jo Malone than usual this summer:Assam & Grapefruit, Early Grey & Cucumber and the Sweet Lemon with either -- or alone -- I really love this one although I'm not sure I'd call it a "perfume" but its nice on really hot days. I can't get enough of Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino this Summer either. Hmm - I'm seeing a pattern of linear fragrances in this heat.
Posted by: Perfumista8 | July 30, 2011 at 01:10
For me, Hermès Eau d'Orange Verte and L'Artisan's L'Eau de Jatamansi are the most refreshing in summer.
Posted by: Furriner | July 30, 2011 at 06:52
Another vote for Jardin sur le Nil, just adore it.
Also Rosine's Zeste de Rose, Mugler cologne and aqua di Parma Colonia. Ooh - almost forgot eau de Camille :)
Posted by: Lily | July 30, 2011 at 08:32
It has been 100 degrees or more every day for 27 days now where I live. I've found myself reaching for Metal (cool, silvery, like water droplets on a silver mug) and my new Crystalle eau Verte (sharp, but mellowing into magnolia blossom on my skin).
Posted by: bellydancer | July 30, 2011 at 08:36
i love many of the pacifica bc they are easy to wear. I carry the sprays with me everywhere I go. i spray my finger tips before I teach, and Lemon Blossom my whole self to refresh!
Posted by: Tracy | July 30, 2011 at 08:36
Lauder's Aliage stays cool throught the worst of the heat for me.
Posted by: jtd | July 30, 2011 at 08:48
Hermes L'Orange Vert. I really like its dry orange-y smell.
Posted by: Irina | July 30, 2011 at 08:49
Apres L'Ondee
Petit Cherie
Eau de Lierre
Tocade
Posted by: Alexandra | July 30, 2011 at 08:59
De Bachmakov by The different Company is my new favorite. Angéliques Sous la Pluie is a summer standby, as is Andree Puttman Preparation Parfumee.
Posted by: allison | July 30, 2011 at 09:01
I love the idea of spraying one's finger tips! I move my hands around a lot, so I feel like I'd be better able to enjoy some of the Pacifica fragrances in that manner. I feel like it would help the fragrance to reach my nose somehow. And I really love the Pacifica fragrances in the roll on size.
Posted by: Andy | July 30, 2011 at 09:49
I teach Pilates, and sometimes (in this heat!) freshening between classes is a witch hazel soaked washcloth with ice water sponge bath, followed by light lemon blossom all over. Exciting also - I JUST ordered my first Jo Malone fragrance red roses! Tho I was looking for tea rose? And they are sending 3 free sample with my purchase - love those free samples!
Posted by: Tracy | July 30, 2011 at 10:01
I JUST ordered my first Jo Malone fragrance red roses! Tho I was looking for tea rose - didn't she used to have a tea rose?And they are sending 3 free sample with my purchase - love those free samples!
Posted by: Tracy | July 30, 2011 at 10:09
I love the idea of her tea scents, but haven't tried them - you obviously like them. how do the tea scents compare to other non-tea scents?
Posted by: Tracy | July 30, 2011 at 10:47
Ah, is that what it is! I don't really smell the mint, but it tingles like menthol! How brilliant for a summer cologne.
Posted by: Elisa | July 30, 2011 at 15:32
Angeliques Sous la Pluie is my most reached for scent, as it went wonderfully with Seattle's coold and grey summer.. until about last week, when the sun came out and my favorites are Lancome O de l'Orangerie, AG Neroli, PdN Balle de Match (love hesperides!), a couple of figs - Phylosikos and AG Ninfeo Mio, some Artisans - Extrait de Songes and Verte Violette, and some tuberose at night - Beyond love and Vamp a NY.
seriosuly though, i do wear all these regularly! :)
Posted by: Natalia | July 30, 2011 at 16:00
These days I'm reaching for Dune, Balenciaga Paris, Chanel 19 and Un Jardin en Mediterranee
Posted by: Jennifer | July 30, 2011 at 16:58
No status points, but D & G Light Blue is cooling like no other.
Posted by: Sandra Levine | July 30, 2011 at 17:09
At the Beach 1966 is my summer standby vacation in a bottle. Also Nanadebary Green and in the past vintage Kenzo Eau d'Ete when it was not vintage. And L'Artisan Jatamansi, although I prefer the body lotion.
Posted by: Yelena | July 30, 2011 at 18:02
I love Chanel's Eau de Cologne in hot weather (which we've had plenty of in Dallas lately!), as well as Korres jasmine shower gel and body butter. And I just tracked down a sample of Cartier's Baiser Vole today - not my usual style but I am enjoying it and it seems to wear well in the heat.
Posted by: maggiecat | July 30, 2011 at 19:11
In the high heat & humidity, I like 4711, Eau de Rochas, and Pacifica Blood Orange.
Posted by: Julie | July 30, 2011 at 20:12
For me - Jicky edt and Un Air de Samsara. The latter, which was grossly underappreciated and now discontinued, but the mint, herbs, and light florals over a sheer sandalwood base is absolutely cooling and refreshing on a hot summer's day.
Posted by: OperaFan | July 30, 2011 at 22:32
I like a cologne I can afford to "splash" in this weather. I live in the deep south and it is HOT. My favorite splash is def 4711 = it's inexpensive enough to do that with = and it is so refeshing!
Posted by: darcy | July 31, 2011 at 02:28
i liked Jardin sur le Nil at first but now i don't know why, it gets on my nerves...i will give it away to someone who really likes it...
i like En passant when it's spring, not so much when it's hot as it evaporates so quickly
Posted by: columbine | July 31, 2011 at 04:49
i just discovered the perfumer "l'eau de cassis" and their "printemps à Cassis" is a very refreshing white flower perfume for hot weather.
Posted by: columbine | July 31, 2011 at 04:53
Wow, the samples! That's good customer service if you ask me. Strangely, I've never even smelled the Malibu lemon blossom. I feel like, knowing the Pacifica style, it would have a lemon (as in lemon peel) smell to accent the heady lemon blossom. Very freshening I'm sure. I often find myself refreshing with witch hazel too.
Posted by: Andy | July 31, 2011 at 12:02
The blood orange is perfect! Sweet and juicy!
Posted by: Andy | July 31, 2011 at 12:35
Nenuco, a Spanish baby cologne which I've been using since childhood and now use on my kids. A friend sent me a sample of Neroli Portofino and it reminded me of Nenuco. Other warm weather favorites of mine are Cristalle Eau Verte and Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange.
Posted by: Panna | July 31, 2011 at 15:00
Outrageous, Fr. Malle
Envy, Gucci
L'Eau Neuve, Lubin
Posted by: Cybele | July 31, 2011 at 19:05
I'm more of a warm skin scent kind of gal, but Delices de Cartier has a nice cool veneer.
Posted by: Joan | July 31, 2011 at 21:50
For me, it is Eau Sauvage and, surprisingly, Borsari Violetta di Parma.
Posted by: sisty | August 01, 2011 at 00:44
Cristalle EdT, and I only wear it in the summer. It is cooling like none other and summer brings out the whole bouquet of it, from the start when it is crisp as cologne through the white bouquet with traces of a more formal composition.
Posted by: Suzanna | August 01, 2011 at 09:32
Mandragore and Jardin Sur le Nil
Posted by: Gina | August 01, 2011 at 16:21
It has to be Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermes....I see that this is a hot fave with your readers!
Posted by: astrorainfall @ beauty box | August 03, 2011 at 10:26
Vintage Vent Vert has to be my top choice, along with Un Jardin sur le Nil and Silences. DSH Pamplemousse is the best grapefuit perfume I have ever smelled and it really wakes me up!
Posted by: Flora | August 03, 2011 at 16:18
If I want to feel refreshingly frozen, I reach for Comme des Garcons Series 5: Peppermint (and sometimes Rhubarb) Diptyque's Eau de Tarocco is another favourite.
Posted by: Vasilisa | August 05, 2011 at 03:48