In the market for a signature summer fragrance? Here’s our guide. Firstly, when out on the search don’t spritz before you hit the stores. Your skin needs to remain odour-neutral to accurately test those new fragrances. “Smelling the perfume on paper after the alcohol has evaporated is the only sane way to test a fragrance. Spray a few scents on blotter cards, taking note of the names, and smell them away from the alcohol-heavy air of the perfumery,” explains Roja Dove, world-renowned fragrance specialist and perfumer. Now wait. Hold off for 30 minutes until making a decision on which are your favourites.

This time delay is necessary to see how the fragrance evaporates and evolves into the heart and base notes once applied. Next, go back to the shop and apply the fragrances you selected one by one to your skin to see how they combine with your natural pheromones (those chemicals emitted by the skin that affect how a perfume will smell on you – and whether your crush will fancy you too). As for where to put them? “The back of your hand and the wrist are ideal,” says Will Andrews, director and technical expert of fragrance communication at Coty. And don’t worry about ‘breaking’ fragrance molecules by rubbing your wrists together. “It’s impossible,” says Andrews. “The worst it can do is warm it up and make it develop into the heart note more quickly, as it would in a hotter climate.” Turns out it’s a pretty good thing to do. 
Right, now you know what to look for and how to look for it. Here are a couple of our summer favourties.

Exclamation Queen EDP

This fragrance has a blend of stone fruits and warm spices, it is perfect for everyday wear with its invigorating distinctive scent that will leave you confident all day.

Coty Exclamation Queen EDP 50ml

Oscar de la Renta Bella Blanca EDP

A gorgeous romantic bottle with even more gorgeous notes. Floral jasmine, orange blossom and rose with sparkling notes of pear and green leaves. The base notes include sandalwood, root of iris and musk. It’s like a breath of floral freshness.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA Bella Blanca 50ml

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Abercrombie & Fitch Instinct Blue For Her EDP

An easy to wear fragrance that’s got fresh notes of blackberry, salt, bergamot, jasmine, apricot and patchouli and vanilla. Fresh, delicate and sophisticated, it’s a fragrance which transitions easily from day to night.

ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH First Instinct Blue Ladies 100ml

Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue EDP

A sparkling fresh floral scent that is sure to evoke energy with due to lemon, mandarin, jasmine and musky woody and cedarwood accords. This fragrance has staying power.

Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue 100ml

Givenchy L’Interdit EDP

Orange blossom, jasmine and tuberose, vetiver and patchouli make this fragrance a real crowd-pleaser. It’s an alluring scent that smells both sexy and fresh. Suitable for both day and night… like we said… a real crowd-pleaser.

Givenchy L’Interdit Eau de Toilette 35ml

Narciso Rodriguez Rouge EDP

This gorgeous minimalistic red cube houses a warm sexy scent that has notes of Bulgarian rose and iris. Floral, Fiery, creamy, heady are the words that come to mind. Perfect to heat up any date night.

Narciso Rodriguez Rouge 30ml