Fragrance

It’s time for another perfume roundup! I’ve been exploring more fragrances this year and I’m thrilled to have found so many great new loves. Today I’m focusing mainly on the new ones I love right now but I’ll mention a few misses too.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Kurky

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Kurky ($245, Nordstrom) is my favorite splurge this year! It’s a creamy fruity gourmand that isn’t too sweet. Has a beautiful mix of musk and vanilla for a bright fun feel. Power is on the softer side so I have to spritz VERY liberally. I haven’t really explored much from MFK over the years but after a recent visit to a local boutique recently I was really surprised to find that most of the ones I tried in store don’t have very long lasting power or throw. Have you experienced this too?

NOTES: Tangy fruity accord, tutti-frutti notes, musk, vanilla.

New from Phlur

Phlur’s new Hair and Body Mists are so fun for summer. Peach Skin* ($25 – $38, Sephora) is another amazing fruity juicy scent with white freesia, jasmin, amber, coconut caramel, sandalwood mixed in. I didn’t realize that I liked peach scents but I really love this one. After trying this I went to investigate another peach from Guerlain Peche Mirage and while it’s nice, it wasn’t pure love. I might check it out again. Sometimes I need a few tries to really get a sense of how a perfume will perform on my skin.

Peach Skin NOTES: Top: Peach Bellini, Plum, Peach Skin, Bergamot
Heart: White Freesia, Vanilla Orchid, Jasmine Nectar
Base: Milky Sandalwood, Sheer Amber, Coconut Caramel

Beach Skin* ($25 – $38, Sephora) is the perfect airy beachy coconut scent with bergamot and tiare blossoms. I like this one a lot more than the Coconut Skin which is lovely, but the Beach Skin has more depth with a lighter more summery feel.

NOTES Top: Bergamot, Salted Tiare Flower, Pink Pepper
Heart: Coconut Milk, Lily of the Valley
Base: Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk

I did try the Golden Rule* and Rose Whip* from Phlur and I think they’re beautiful, the notes are just not my vibe. I found Golden Rule a little too sweet and Rose Whip is a very velvety rose which I have never been able to pull off in warm weather climates.

Chanel Chance Eau Splendide

Chanel Chance Eau Splendide* ($143 – $176, Chanel) is the latest addition to the Chance family and I think it’s the best one yet. It’s bright, fruity, sweet and youthful with raspberry accord, violet, rose and rose geranium. The scent also has a mix of powdery iris, cedar and musk to give it some more depth. It’s a flirty sweet kind of scent with a very bright and youthful feel. I was surprised how pretty it is as I don’t usually like raspberry scents but this one is really pretty.

NOTES: sparkling raspberry accord, rose, violet, rose geranium, minty note, iris, cedar and white musk.

New from Creed

Creed Eladaria* ($445, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Creed) is a fresh powdery rose with peony. I love how this transforms on the skin once it sets. You can also detect notes of lily of the valley with a bit of musk. It’s a very elaborate complex rose but still fresh. For a floral my heart still belongs to Spring Flower from Creed.

Eladaria NOTES: Top: Mandarin, bergamot, pink pepper
Middle Notes: Rose, peony, lily of the valley, powdery notes
Base Notes: Musk, vanilla, ambroxan, cashmere wood

New from Celine

Celine Un Ete Francais ($310 – $450, Celine) is the latest addition to Celine’s fragrance lineup and it’s summer in a bottle. It’s a beachy floral with bergamot, petitgrain, neroli and has a bit of a green feel to it. It’s fresh and the powdery notes are subtle. To me it has a similar feeling to Frederic Malle’s Carnal Flower even though they smell different – the floral notes are very strong and summery to me. Celine Un Ete Francais has a fresh green vibe to it. Shared a quick look at the Celine boutique in Miami here.

NOTES: BERGAMOT, PETITGRAIN, NEROLI, GORSE AND VANILLA ACCORDS.

Byredo Absolus

Both of the new Byredo Absolu editions in Mojave Ghost and Blanche are beautiful. They are both very similar to the originals with very subtle difference on the skin but I find them significantly stronger with better lasting power. These both have more depth and warmth making them more interesting to me. If you already own and love the originals I don’t think you need the new ones unless you’re repurchasing in which case I recommend opting for the absolu.

Blanche Absolu ($280 – $385, Nordstrom) has more warmth while the original Blanche has a very crisp and sharp clean smell to it. The new Absolu is similar but not quite as sharp.

Blanche Absolu Notes Top: Aldehyde, Rose Centifolia
Heart: Peony, Violet
Base: Musks, Sandalwood

Mojave Ghost Absolu ($280 – $385, Nordstrom) is also a little warmer and creamier with a richer base. Lasting power is a lot better than the original although I’ve never had issues with Byredo lasting power on my skin.

Mojave Ghost Absolu Notes Top: Ambrette, Jamaican Nesberry, Pear
Heart: Magnolia, Sandalwood, Violet
Base: Cedarwood, Chantilly Musk, Crisp Amber, Vetiver, Amyris

Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Hand Creams

If you’re a fan of some of the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria perfumes they added a few of the scents in super cute Aqua Allegoria Hand Creams ($60). The scents aren’t new but I thought I’d share a quick look because I was super curious. I have and love the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Forte in Mandarine Basilic ($185)  which is a beautiful sweet citrus with basil and green tea. The hand cream is beautifully packaged with a smooth texture. It’s not quite as smooth as the Chanel La Creme Main, but the Guerlain has a nice lightweight texture with minimal stickiness. The hand cream has a lighter scent (as in not as potent as the perfume) and smells very light and fresh. After testing it I don’t think I would call it worth the splurge but I will keep using it until it’s used up. I personally think the Chanel La Creme Main or Dior Le Baumes have a better smooth texture for the hands.

In terms of a citrus perfume I love the Guerlain but still prefer the Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera or Paris-Biarritz.

Valaya Exclusif

I loved the original Parfums de Marly Valaya but the new Valaya Exclusif is even better. Valaya Exclusif ($250 – $410, Nordstrom) is softer with a more velvety powdery feel. Both are beautiful but I love the new version better as the original almost smells sharp by comparison.

Valaya Exclusif Notes Top notes: Velvety Almond, Bergamot, Mandarin
Middle notes: Orange Blossom, White Flowers, Powdery Facets
Base notes: Akigalawood, Sandalwood, Ambroxan, Vanilla

New Glossier

Glossier You Fleur ($32-$78, Sephora) is a skin-like floral with mineral salt accord. This is the first osmanthus scent I’ve actually liked and it has a mix of ylang-ylang and apricot. It’s subtle and smells like your skin with a subtle musk + floral vibe. It has a similar feel to Glossier You, but the Fleur one pulls more skin-like and more natural smelling. If you want something potent and strong this is probably going to be too light for you.

A quick little peek at my perfume corner in my new beauty closet! We are slowly putting our new place together. I might share more home decor once we have everything setup. We are close to finally having our new place fully furnished. Sneak peeks shared here on my Instagram Highlights if you’re interested!

Press samples have a * next to them. All others purchased by me.

above: mirror, agate tray, marble tray, earrings

I have so many favorite fragrances right now. Summertime scents are my favorite to wear and luckily I live in Florida where it feels like it’s summer year round!

I’ve tried quite a few new brands and scents from samplers this year including Parfums de Marly, Kilian, Ex Nihilio, Giardini di Toscana, Valentino. I went down a rabbit hole wanting to try more and more after watching some fragrance YouTubers. There are so many options out there and I have to say that finding a few experts with similar taste is super helpful navigating the world of perfume.

There are so many stunning options for every mood but I’ve found that most on my current list are still my tried and true. I’ve split my favorites by type. I’ll also rank my top 5 most worn ones at the end.

Best Vacation-In-a-Bottle Scents

Creed Virgin Island Water

Creed Virgin Island Water ($345 –  $470, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue) remains at the top of my list for the ultimate tropical scent. There’s nothing like it. It has the perfect mix of freshness, tropical fruit and coconut. It’s well balanced, unique and smells expensive. If you haven’t checked out their refillable atomizers I highly recommend them. They’re so beautiful and you can refill them with any scent.

NOTES: Lime, Bergamot, Tropical Fruits, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Jasmine, White Flowers, Tonka Bean and White Musk

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc ($155 to $235 Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta Beauty)  will also always be at the top of my list. I alternate between this or the original Soleil Blanc. It’s fresh with a beautiful coco de mer + coconut vibe. I know some of you do not like the lighter Eau de Soleil Blanc version and only prefer the original Soleil Blanc. They pull very similar on my skin with my current favorite being noticeably lighter and fresher.

Eau de Soleil Blanc Notes: Coco de Mer, Ylang Ylang from Comores Island, Bergamot Flower

Kilian Sunkissed Goddess

NOTES: Ylang-ylang essence, tiare flower, coconut

Kilian Sunkissed Goddess ($295, Nordstrom, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue) was a spring time purchase and I think it was 100% worth the splurge. It has been several years since I tried anything from Kilian. I bought a sampler set and each one is very different and unique from what I’ve smelled in other brands. There are so many beautiful stand outs, but they didn’t really fit my personality. I think I might revisit them later in the year. I did fall in love with the Sunkissed Goddess. It’s vacation in a bottle, similar vibe to the Tom Ford but the Kilian has stronger floral notes.

Vacation Inc.

NOTES: Petitgrain essence, Coconut water, Coconut milk, Bergamot, Solar Musk, Banana, Pineapple, Pool Water, Swimsuit Lycra, Sea Salt

Vacation Inc. Eau de Toilette ($60, Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty and in a Value Set at Nordstrom) is the ultimate summer time pool like scent. I don’t know that it’s for everyone but it smells just like summer. Has that summer sunscreen vibe that’s so unique and fun.

Fresh Lush Fruity

Parfums de Marly Meliora

above: brass mirror, hoop earrings, knot bracelet, nail color Premiere Dame

NOTES: Red Berries, Raspberry, Lemon essence, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine Tea, Vanilla, Musk, Cedarwood

Parfums de Marly Meliora ($375, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus) was my first from Parfums de Marly. I finally tried the line this year with a sampler set and fell head over heels. It’s definitely in my top 3 favorites for all fragrance brands. I have so many on my wishlist from mini samples I’ve accumulated from a few orders now. I picked Meliora as my first which is very different from what I usually wear. I’m not really into fruity sweet scents but this one is just beautiful.

Dioriviera

NOTES: Rose and fig

Dioriviera Eau de Parfum ($150 to $450, Dior Beauty) is still a favorite. I’ve talked about fig scents before and while I love it in candle form, it’s hard for me to find one that has the right blend to wear. Dioriviera is the best one because it has some floral rose notes mixed in. It’s very potent, fresh, crisp but warm at the same time. Very unique and gives you the feeling you’re on a fancy vacation. Select scents from the La Collection Privee Line are also now available in a Travel Spray Trio.

Phlur Father Figure

NOTES: Waterlily, Lush Fig, Cassis Buds, Orris Root, Iris Flower, Jasmine Dew, Skin Musks, Vanilla Madagascar, Patchouli Leaf, Sandalwood

Phlur Father Figure ($99 at Sephora, travel size for $29) is another beautiful fig scent. I think this could be a unisex option. It has a beautiful mix of lush fig with some woody notes. I don’t know that most would call it a summer scent but I think it’s one you can wear year round.

Citrus Lover Perfumes

I am the ultimate citrus lover for that crisp clean feel you get with citrus notes. These are my tried and true favorites that smell fresh without being too soapy (if that makes sense).

Celine Parade

NOTES: Bergamot, Neroli, Vetiver, Musk and Oak Moss

Celine Parade is my most worn fragrance. I have to tell myself to take a break from it every now and then to mix it up. I think it’s so under-rated. It’s fresh with strong notes of bergamot and vetiver. The added musk makes it soft while the moss adds a bit of green feeling to it. Lasting power is strong on me. This one is a bit harder to find as you can only find it in Celine boutiques and online. They do offer a Sampler Discovery Set and a Miniatures Discovery Set if you can’t get to a store to try them in person.

Chanel Paris-Biarritz

above: Gloss 116, hamptons straw hat, straw bag

NOTES: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Lily of the valley accord, Vetiver and White Musk

Chanel Paris-Biarritz Eau de Toilette ($113 to $150, Chanel) is my second most-worn perfume. It’s been a go-to for years now. I love this for the soft citrus mix. It’s light so if you need something very strong this will most likely be too light for you.

Chanel Paris-Riviera

NOTES: Sicilian orange, Petitgrain, Jasmine, Neroli, Sandalwood and Musk

Chanel Paris-Riviera Eau de Toilette is a slightly stronger and sharper variation of the Paris-Biarritz. It’s more citrusy and crisp. This is another one I really love.

Fresh and Timeless

Parfums de Marly Valaya

NOTES: Bergamot, Mandarin, White Peach, Orange Flower, Nympheal, Vetiver, Akigalawood, Ambrofix, Musk

Parfums de Marly Valaya ($220 to $375) is my newest discovery and I am obsessed with it. I know musks can be hit or miss for many of you. I love this for the classic clean and crisp feel. The mix of bergamot and vetiver add freshness to it. I also splurged on the smaller size even though it’s incredibly expensive. We still have some trips planned so I now have the smaller one to bring with me.

Creed Aventus for Her

NOTES: Egyptian green apple, pink berries, Indonesian patchouli, Italian bergamot, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, Indian sandalwood, styrax, musk, sweet peach, cassis, lilac, amber, ylang-ylang

Creed’s Aventus for Her ($300 to $445, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks) is as classic and timeless as it gets. It’s floral, green and fruity. The apple adds a unique fresh twist to it while the rose gives it a feminine touch. Also available in a 3-Piece Travel Set and 5-Piece Travel Discovery Set.

Chanel No 5 L’Eau

NOTES: Lemon, mandarin, orange, rose, jasmin, ylang-ylang, vetiver, cedar, musk

Chanel No 5 L’Eau ($155, Chanel.com) isn’t a new scent but Chanel launched it in limited-edition packaging in a drop form. It’s beautiful and crisp. It’s clean and sharp and very strong.

Phlur Missing Person

NOTES: Skin Musk, Bergamot Nectar, Sheer Jasmine, Fresh Cyclamen, Neroli Blossom, Orange Flower, Sandalwood Australia Oil, Blonde Wood, White Musk

Phlur Missing Person ($99 at Sephora) isn’t really a summer scent but I think it’s timeless and can be worn year round. I love this for the warm and cozy feel. It’s like skin but better. I own it in the body oil and hand cream too. It’s a solid win.

Byredo Mojave Ghost

above: hoop earrings, brush, marble coaster

NOTES: Ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, Violet, Sandalwood, Magnolia, Chantilly musk, Crisp Amber, Cedarwood

I have been neglecting Byredo this summer, but pulled out Mojave Ghost ($225 to $320) again and love it. It’s another clean crisp scent with some sweetness to it. It’s very unique and distinct. Soft but still a bit sharp with the crisp feel. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend checking out the discovery sets. They recently launched a Mojave Ghost Alcohol-Free version in the larger size. I haven’t checked it out, but it will be interesting to smell this in person!

My top 5 most worn scents this summer: Parfums de Marly Valaya, Creed Virgin Island Water, Chanel Paris-Biarritz, Kilian Sunkissed Goddess and Celine Parade.

What are your go-to summer scents this year? How many perfumes have you added to your collection this year?