29 best summer perfumes that feel like sunshine, bottled

Soie has the same premise as the other skin-scent enhancers in the Glossier You stable: it will play with your body chemistry and smell different on everyone. But unlike the original, this feels very much like an evening scent so don't let the initial burst of fresh bergamot fool you. Creamy floral notes – think rice milk, jasmine and musk – are the beating heart of this perfume, leaving a sweet, sensual scent trail in their wake that's perfect for balmy evenings.

If you like a whisper of gourmand but don't want to smell like sweet baked goods, then this is the perfume for you. Yes, there's vanilla in the base but the cherry note has a little bite to it rather than being saccharine while the amber-y base creates a sensual, sun-warmed effect.

In previous years, Bronze Goddess has been the epitome of a sun cream scent with salty and creamy coconut notes. This year the juice, housed in a deep magenta bottle, captures the idea of sunlit skin with an initial burst of fresh bergamot, lemon and mandarin to conjure up the sea breeze on the Amalfi Coast and a warm dry down of jasmine, tiare flower and amber for when the sun sets.

Molton Brown’s Bluebell & Wild Strawberry captures the essence of warm, sunny days in the English countryside. Fruity strawberry blends with delicate bluebell, earthy violet leaf, and a warm amber base. It’s an energising scent that will have you coming back for more.

If you like sweet perfumes but you also like bright, uplifting scents, then Sunlit Vanilla is a marriage made in heaven thanks to a blend of sparkling bergamot, sugar-laden caramel, velvety vanilla and a warm flicker of amber and smoky sandalwood.

Sunny ylang ylang is blended alongside citrusy bergamot, then spiced up with a pinch of cardamom and warm sandalwood. It’s a sun cream scent with a little extra sexiness in the base.

This creamy, pistachio-packed scent leans full-on dessert (in the best way). Rum adds a boozy swirl, while whipped cream, marshmallow, hazelnut and candyfloss bring serious ice cream sundae energy. It’s indulgent, playful and impossible to forget.

If you’re not a sweet, fruity perfume girl, Miller Harris’ Hydra Figue is a gorgeous departure. It opens with lush, fresh fig before being joined by a salty marine note that eventually dries down into a warm woody haze. It’s delicate but a little alternative.

Given this is Fendi, Eaux d’Artifice is predictably intensely elegant. But it's also interesting, meaning you'll go in for a sniff, then another and another because it viscerally captures the scent of water over marble: mineral-ly, crisp and cool, courtesy of a dominant juniper note. Close your eyes and your sitting by Rome's Trevi Fountain.

This is a bohemian scent for free-spirits with an old soul. It has a vintage feel to it with a halcyon mix of citrus and long grass with a simmering warm heat bringing up the base. This is a lazing in the sunshine on an old picnic blanket kind of number. Wholesome hedonism bottled.

If you've ever visited the island of Porquerolles, an island in the French Mediterranean, your nose will twitch from the woody scent of sun-warmed pine needles and sticky eucalyptus, undercut by sea salt. It's a joyful, life-affirming scent and scientists in Japan have even found that inhaling the scent of the forest has a profoundly calming effect. Chloe has cleverly bottled all of these emotions in Sous Le Pins, which also contains bright bergamot oil and warm musk, to lull and invigorate in equal measure.

Inspired by a getaway Victoria and David took to Portofino in 1997, this sunny scent will instantly transport your senses to the Med. Vetiver and amber linger on the skin, while bergamot adds a burst of freshness. Our favourite fragrance from the collection – we’re totally hooked.

This scent evokes the essence of a courtyard garden in full bloom. Zesty fruits mingle with aromatic rosemary, lavender, and angelica, while earthy patchouli, green vetiver, and breezy sea moss keep everything feeling grounded.

Aurner might just be our favourite Aesop fragrance to date. It opens with a hit of pink pepper and cardamom that feels crisp and clean, but it’s the magnolia leaf at the heart – green, floral, a little wild – that really draws you in. There’s warmth too, thanks to sandalwood and cedar, giving it a soft, grounded finish that lingers beautifully on the skin.

The perfect summer scent for a city girl heading to the French Riviera. Created by the same nose behind Baccarat Rouge, this addictive number blends crisp green fig and delicate rose. Cool and confident, yet effortlessly relaxed, it’s like pairing a linen shirt with a silky slip dress.

Soft, sweet and utterly addictive, Cocoa Sunset is like a cosy hug for your senses. It’s rich but not overwhelming, with creamy milk chocolate and vanilla that feel warm and comforting. It’s a gourmand lover’s dream and at £17.99, it's an absolute steal.

If flimsy citruses are not your bag, Byredo’s boozy vanilla has guts. If you’re more of an oud gal, but fancy a summer switch-up, this is perfect. It’s warm, pretty and confident without feeling overpowering.

A love letter to Madrid’s lush Casa de Campo Park, this scent feels like a serene stroll through sun-dappled woods. Violet, sandalwood and musk meet bright citrus and herbs to create this earthy yet elegant fragrance that instantly soothes the senses.

Phlur’s Tangerine Boy is citrus with a pulse – zesty lemon and tangerine meet spicy black pepper and ginger for a hit of bold, sunlit energy. Jasmine softens the edges, while amber and moss add warmth and depth. It’s playful, sexy and guaranteed to turn heads.

A tribute to Parisian mornings spent sipping coffee on a café terrace, this fragrance isn’t flashy – it’s effortlessly chic. Simple, elegant and wearable, it opens with bright lemon and mandarin, before damask rose takes centre stage. Pink pepper and patchouli lend a subtle, sensual allure.

Tom Ford’s Rose Exposed is a bold reinvention of the classic rose. Smoky, rich, and unapologetically punchy, this fragrance demands attention. A striking blend of deep rose notes entices even the most reluctant rose fans, leaving a lasting, undeniably luxe impression.

An ode to night-time Los Angeles, this number pairs lemon and blood orange with bergamot and lime. As the evening wears on, sandalwood, and powdery musk settle across the skin to welcome in the dawn.

Who knew ginger could smell so summery. In this Iso E Super Infusion, it’s zingy, zesty and a total mood-boost. Like an iced ginger tea with a squeeze of citrus.

This is the rose fragrance we’ve all been waiting for – fresh, woody, and completely addictive. With a beautiful balance of crisp bergamot, lychee, and rich rose, it avoids the typical powdery or overly sweet notes. Long-lasting and comforting, this will be our summer everyday go-to.

Narciso Rodriguez’s All Of Me Eau de Parfum Intense takes the brand’s signature musky floral to a whole new level. It opens with the freshness of iris and jasmine sambac, before a rich tuberose heart adds depth. The warm base of vanilla, sandalwood, and musc creates a scent that feels intimate and feminine – like second skin, but bolder, more self-assured. Shop more skin scents I adore.