So summers here (says she typing on a rainy Sunday afternoon) and it's time to ditch the powerful and opulent fragrances of long dark winter evenings and switch to scents reminiscent of days at the beach, fresh citrus perfumes to freshen up on a hot sunny day or a waft of anything as intoxicating as the smell of a summer bouquet.
![Hermes 1]()
Hermes Eau Des Merveilles has been my summer signature fragrance for the past four or five years now. Not strong or overpowering but a sophisticated scent containing floral notes and a sweet citrus freshness which is more orange than lemon. It always draws comments from those around me, proving that you don't have to buy something strong for it to stay around as I only ever wear the Eau de Toilette and usually buy the 50ml size. I stumbled upon this purely by accident in the House of Fraser January sale, a gift set which was heavily reduced and contained a bottle of perfume, a handbag spray, shower gel and body lotion. Once home, my first sniff told me it would be my perfect summer scent and I have bought it many times since. I have never strayed from this old faithful although there are other versions like the Amber which also contains patchouli, I never seem to get around to trying.
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For my daughters wedding I was always convinced I would wear Chanel No.5 but whilst out shopping one day I asked Chloe which scent she intended to wear for the big day and she mentioned that somebody had recommended Dior's Forever and Ever. Probably more because of the name lending itself to a wedding, but Chloe said she didn't like it. I had never smelt it so we headed off to the perfume department where I became smitten with this fragrance my 25 year old daughter wasn't overly impressed with! Luckily my husband unexpectedly treated me to a bottle which arrived in the run up to the big day. I think he felt guilty after treating himself to a Tom Ford gift set! Freesia and Jasmine Petals sit alongside Bulgarian Rose for another light summer scent that really does have staying power. It is definitely a new favourite for me! Dior Forever and Ever Eau De Toilette 100ml £79.
![L`Eau Couture Eau de Toilette]()
The bride wore Elie Saab which I thought I had taken a picture of but it appears not! A few of us in the family have the original Elie Saab but Chloe's (now) husband says it smells like old ladies, obviously the reason why I like it so much, but the new L'Eau Couture has citrus, bergamot and magnolia top notes, orange blossom at it's heart and crunchy green almond and vanilla at it's base and is described as "utter addiction". I am not going to argue with that very apt description although I confess to having absolutely no idea what a crunchy green almond is?
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I am also drawn to perfumes that aren't that common, the one's I never smell on those around me and Annick Goutal's Eau De Hadrien is one of those. This is my preferred holiday scent with it's fresh citrus fragrance of Sicilian lemons and grapefruits blended subtly with cypress. I can't bear being on holiday, out for a nice meal on a very hot evening and you become intoxicated by the scent of Angel before you can even lay eyes on the woman wearing it! Or is that just me?
Do you switch scents in summer time? Do you wear any of my favourites? Which one's would you recommend?
Hermes Eau Des Merveilles 30ml Eau De Toilette 50ml £69
Hermes Eau Des Merveilles has been my summer signature fragrance for the past four or five years now. Not strong or overpowering but a sophisticated scent containing floral notes and a sweet citrus freshness which is more orange than lemon. It always draws comments from those around me, proving that you don't have to buy something strong for it to stay around as I only ever wear the Eau de Toilette and usually buy the 50ml size. I stumbled upon this purely by accident in the House of Fraser January sale, a gift set which was heavily reduced and contained a bottle of perfume, a handbag spray, shower gel and body lotion. Once home, my first sniff told me it would be my perfect summer scent and I have bought it many times since. I have never strayed from this old faithful although there are other versions like the Amber which also contains patchouli, I never seem to get around to trying.
For my daughters wedding I was always convinced I would wear Chanel No.5 but whilst out shopping one day I asked Chloe which scent she intended to wear for the big day and she mentioned that somebody had recommended Dior's Forever and Ever. Probably more because of the name lending itself to a wedding, but Chloe said she didn't like it. I had never smelt it so we headed off to the perfume department where I became smitten with this fragrance my 25 year old daughter wasn't overly impressed with! Luckily my husband unexpectedly treated me to a bottle which arrived in the run up to the big day. I think he felt guilty after treating himself to a Tom Ford gift set! Freesia and Jasmine Petals sit alongside Bulgarian Rose for another light summer scent that really does have staying power. It is definitely a new favourite for me! Dior Forever and Ever Eau De Toilette 100ml £79.
Elie Saab L'Eau Couture 50ml £47
The bride wore Elie Saab which I thought I had taken a picture of but it appears not! A few of us in the family have the original Elie Saab but Chloe's (now) husband says it smells like old ladies, obviously the reason why I like it so much, but the new L'Eau Couture has citrus, bergamot and magnolia top notes, orange blossom at it's heart and crunchy green almond and vanilla at it's base and is described as "utter addiction". I am not going to argue with that very apt description although I confess to having absolutely no idea what a crunchy green almond is?
I am also drawn to perfumes that aren't that common, the one's I never smell on those around me and Annick Goutal's Eau De Hadrien is one of those. This is my preferred holiday scent with it's fresh citrus fragrance of Sicilian lemons and grapefruits blended subtly with cypress. I can't bear being on holiday, out for a nice meal on a very hot evening and you become intoxicated by the scent of Angel before you can even lay eyes on the woman wearing it! Or is that just me?
Do you switch scents in summer time? Do you wear any of my favourites? Which one's would you recommend?