Eight women's fragrances for summer
Easy to wear and deeply desirable, these are the perfumes to complement warm evenings and bright days
Byredo Gypsy Water Kabuki Perfume
Ideal for sprucing up your scent on the move, Byredo's Kabuki powdered perfumes come in a compact and portable package complete with a silky soft, retractable applicator brush. Gently sweep over the wrist and neck several times a day to be transported into warmer climes with fresh and zesty top notes of bergamot, juniper and lemon.
£42 for 7g; byredo.co.uk
Ex Nihilo Cologne 352
This unisex scent is a signature of the Parisian perfumer, with its delicate olfactory palette designed to evoke the fragrant greenery of the French capital's grand Tuileries Garden. One spritz of the intriguing fragrance will have you dreaming of the outdoors, starting with hints of Italian lemon and orange blossoms and rounded off with heady white cedar, gaiac wood and white musk.
£150 for 50ml; harrods.com
Penhaligon's Paithani Eau de Parfum
For something a little different from the light and fruity aromas typically favoured as the weather improves, this new release from Penhaligon's transports the wearer instead to hot, summer nights in Mumbai with an alluring mix of rich spices and complex floral notes. Cardamom, black pepper and nutmeg are deftly mixed with rose and milk to recall an Indian culinary staple – a cup of chai.
£164 for 100ml; penhaligons.com
Jo Malone London Osmanthus Blossom Cologne
You'll need to move fast if you want to sample one of this season's most covetable collections – Jo Malone London's Blossom Belle. Available exclusively online for a limited time, it comprises three different colognes; among the most tempting is the osmanthus edition, which places the flower's apricot-like bouquet against a backdrop of petitgrain and cashmere wood.
£92 for 100ml; jomalone.co.uk
Floris Chypress Eau de Toilette
Of the fragrance families, Chypre is one of the most sophisticated – a warm combination of citrus top notes on a mossy base. This new take begins with punchy bergamot, lemon, sweet orange and neroli before moving on to feminine florals and ending on a deep, rich mix of amber, vanilla, musk and patchouli. Available from June.
£60 for 50ml; florislondon.com
Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo
For those not ready to commit to just one signature summer scent, splash out on Acqua de Parma's new unisex eau-de-toilette collection. The three fragrances – you have the pick of a choice of seven – conjure up long, lazy days in the Mediterranean and, should you wish to go there yourself, the petite 30ml bottles make airport-friendly travel companions.
£99 for 3 x 30ml; acquadiparma.com
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum
Released earlier this year, this much-anticipated scent from Guerlain doesn't disappoint. Provencal lavender, floral vanilla tahitensis and delicate Arabian jasmine sit against rich sandalwood, all presented in a pretty-in-pink bottle, designed using the quadrilobe shape that has been a signature of the brand since 1908.
£68 for 50ml; selfridges.com
Hermes Eau des Merveilles Bleue Eau de Toilette
This latest edition to Hermes' Eau des Merveilles line eschews florals together for a clean woody and mineral concoction that recalls the freshness of salty sea spray. Created by prolific perfumer Christine Nagel, its marine influences even continue to the light blue bottle that recalls the sparkle of the ocean on a sunny day.
£102 for 100ml; hermes.com
