Best of the Best

Ah, the warmer days of summer. Whether you are enjoying them abroad or on your front porch, the languid beauty of this season is the perfect inspiration for exploring fresh, sensual fragrances that are transporting and maybe even a little exotic. Many people find themselves veering toward lighter, sheerer scents as the temperatures rise, although within those parameters, the possibilities are endless. Fans of the "clean" genre might opt for an oceanic scent with aromatic overtones, while lovers of fruity and floral fragrances may choose to explore scents inspired by tropical fruits and blooms. Wearers of oriental fragrances needn’t worry that switching to a lighter fragrance will require them to sacrifice sultriness and warmth, since some of the most exquisite eau de toilettes on the market feature animalic and gourmand notes that speak more of sun-warmed skin than sea air.

It is very important to note that fragrance can have a photosensitizing effect on the skin, which means that wearing it may make your skin more sensitive to light. It is best to avoid applying scent to areas that will be exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time, so sunbathers beware (and you shouldn’t be baking anyway!). Each of the selections I’ve made here is truly something of a vacation in a bottle, in my opinion, either by virtue of the notes in its composition or its power to simply suggest summer on the skin. So bon voyage, and may at least one of these fragrances serve as an olfactory counterpart to whatever time you manage to steal away for yourself in the coming months.