One of the joys of wearing perfume is the fact that you can celebrate and compliment the seasons by your choice of perfume. There is a wonderful array of light floral or musky tropical fragrances that are a joy to wear during the spring and summer months.
Depending on what country you live in, spring can be a very special time of year. After the dark and cold winter months spring is a welcome relief, as flowers blossom, the weather warms up and the days lengthen.
Personally speaking, I love spring for all it represents – the flush of floral growth, the birdsong and the young animals in fields and hedgerows. Lovely!
So... What fragrances to wear..?
For me spring is celebrated with the lightest, freshest and delicate florals, and for springtime evening-wear try going for fruity florals with a spike of oriental:
Lacoste Touch of Pink – Fruity Floral
A sweet fruity, floral fragrance. Light and inoffensive. Enjoyed by most people.
Paul Smith Woman – Floral
Delicate floral with a hint of violet.
Ghost Cherish – Floral
Light floral with a hint of musk.
Nina Ricci L'air Du Temps – Floral
Considered by some to be old-fashioned, but don't knock it till you try it! It is a classic floral that is delicate and powdery. I love it!
Clinque Happy Heart – Chypre Floral
This is a risky one to choose, but it is light and delicate enough to be worn in a hot, stuffy office without becoming over-powering. Very fresh and lively, a nice balance of florals with a fresh cucumber zing!
Kenzo Flower – Floral Oriental
Powdery, rich florals with a musky finish – for those first warm spring evenings out with friends!
Summer (we all hope) is all about heady, hot days, relaxing with a long, cool drink in the garden and enjoying the long hours of daylight. Yes, I know sometimes the weather lets us down – but we can all live in hope.
I think you can wear light citrus fragrances, as well as florals and as the height of summer softens into an Indian summer, floral orientals come into their own, and they also suit summertime evening-wear with their musky undertones. These summer perfumes are also ideal to take on holiday as you can wear them long into the tropical night:
CK One Summer 2009 – Aromatic Citrus
I have not tried this perfume but I hear it is cool mint and cucumber with a citrus twist and warm and sensual dry-down to the base notes.
JLo Miami Glow – Floral Oriental
Stunning gourmand fragrance that hits you with a tropical burst of fruit and coconut, but never fear, you won't smell like a pina colada – as the dry-down is heady and musky. A joy to wear!
Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise – Floral Bouquet
Intense floral fragrance. See the full review.
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue – Fruity Floral
Sweet floral with very zesty notes. See the full review.
Paul Smith (again!) Floral - Floral Oriental
Nice floral top-notes but dries-down to a woody finish which adds a nice depth.
Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean Breeze – Fruity Floral
Initial fresh and sharp florals mature into warm and sweet base-notes.
Whilst I have named some examples, based on my preferences, don't feel restricted by them, choose a summer perfume that suits you from the types I have mentioned and you won't go far wrong.
Don't forget that fragrance can also be used to brighten up the most miserable of days, so don't feel that you have to limit their usage to only warm spring or summer days. The beauty of perfume is that is it personal to the individual and should be worn to suit a mood as well as the season.
So, it's time to slap on the fake tan, buy a fab new pair of shades and a lovely summery perfume (or two) to compliment the whole ensemble and who cares what the weather does!
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