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Summer scents aren’t usually my thing. I don’t love smelling like grass or salt, and I’m definitely not a sun worshipper or a beach person. I prefer perfume to smell less like “body” (“sensual” is the word other writers might’ve used) and more appealing to edible-like flavours. Yet when I learned about the new releases for summer 2025, my nose perked up. The latest flankers included unexpected food-inspired notes.
“The trend has shifted toward warmer, gourmand and creamy notes, including vanilla, tonka, coconut and musks, even in summer releases,” says Audrey Bernard, founder of Stimulation Déjà Vu, a perfumer specializing in emotion, memory and travel. “This reflects a growing preference for scents that feel more comforting or gourmand even in hot weather. While vanilla isn’t entirely new, its inclusion in summer editions as a soft, gourmand twist rather than a heavy base is a more recent rounding-out of the trend.”
How to keep that summer feeling all year long.
What scents are summer scents?
What makes a perfume more typical for June, July or August? “Summer is one of the richest seasons for scent-evoked memories,” says Bernard. ”This is due in part to the heightened sensory context of summer, more time outdoors, new experiences, travel, festivals, and nature. Our olfactory system is directly connected to the brain’s limbic system, where memory and emotions are stored, making scents powerful emotional triggers.”
I ask her to share the typical summer scents and the new warm-summer trends she’s noticed. I put it all into a table for easy reading. “Seasons much like the moods they evoke – offer a beautiful framework for choosing what resonates with us emotionally.”
| Typical summer scent | Scent memory |
|---|---|
| Salty air and lake water | Road trips, camping and surf experiences |
| Coconut and sunscreen | Beach days and childhood vacations. |
| Citrus fruits and icy treats | Refreshment and summer freedom |
| Cut grass and blooming flowers | Parks and gardens, and warm evenings |
| Urban and savoury | Heat rising from the pavement, mingling with the scent of food carts grilling |
You gotta make this recipe: Simple Summer Crêpes à la Nutella.
Can you wear summer scents other times of the year?
As a card-carrying fall fan, I adore autumn. I love the season that brings out the classics: boots, long jackets, thin knits, full sleeves, cozy socks and more. As for scents, the pumpkin spice thing is overdone. So, I’m leaning into the new summer scents that noses and the perfume cognoscenti call gourmand and warm. (Bernard’s favourite scent is Marseille Metro Exit, Summer.)
Her solution to my May-December issue: Layering.
“Our sense of smell is deeply tied to memory and emotion, so layering fragrances can become a way to express not just a season, but a state of mind.” Layering means using more than one fragrance to create a scent that’s unique. “Layering allows someone to maintain a signature scent, while adapting it subtly to reflect seasonal shifts, occasions, or personal moods. For instance, a fresh citrus base worn year-round can be warmed up in the fall with amber or woody notes, or made more playful in summer with coconut or soft florals.
Makes scents: Improving your mood with luxury home fragrances.
How to layer fragrances and not smell like a perfume counter
“Ultimately, layering is a personal and creative ritual. It’s like building your own emotional olfactory landscape, one note at a time,” says Bernard, of @stimulationdejavu. She shares her tips for layering like a real nose.
- Choose an anchor fragrance and experiment with lighter or deeper layers depending on the time of year and the occasion. Some combinations may become overwhelming in heat or lose clarity in the cold, so always test them first.
- Don’t just test it at the store with a blotter, as skin chemistry plays a huge role – what smells balanced on a blotter might react differently.
- Apply this as a base scent. Let it almost dry to avoid muddying the notes.
- Add a second layer of a simple perfume. Two complementary scents are often more powerful than multiples. differently on your skin.
According to Candle Science, the following scents are complementary. You can try this as your guide when experimenting.
Spice (what you might find in your spice jar) ⇒ Floral (what you’d find in a garden)
Gourmand (sweet like dessert) ⇒ Citrus (bar garnish)
Amber (powdery and musky) ⇒ Marine (cool and crisp)
Woody (dry and smokey) ⇒ Green (grass and cucumber)
Aromatic (pine or juniper) ⇒ Fruity (orchard, red or tropical fruits)
Summery scents to take into fall
This blends summer with fall with a coffee-floral fragrance that’s also giving vanilla.
YSL Black Opium, $210, at shoppersdrugmart.ca
