I know, I know. Perfumes are so personal. How do I even have the nerve to recommend one, let alone 10? There are so many new scents out for Spring ’13 and trust me, when I tell you I have tried them all, I have. I have literally tested, sprayed and sneezed my way through more new perfumes than I can count to find the 10 best for Summer 2013. Hopefully there are one or two on this list that work for you.
1. (untitled) Maison Martin Margiela Eau de Parfum, $100 – $140
I received a sample of this when I attended the MMM for H&M opening earlier this year and fell instantly in love. It’s not new, in fact it launched in 2010, but it’s new this year to me and it’s perfect for summer. Untitled L`Eau by Maison Martin Margiela is actually a unisex scent, which I normally don’t care for, but this one I find more feminine, but not too feminine. The top notes are citruses, the middle notes are green and mint and the dry down is frankincense and white musk. I swear it smells better than it sounds.
2. Balenciaga Paris ‘Florabotanica’ Eau de Parfum, $65 – $125
Technically this scent came out last fall, but again it’s perfect for summer. Florabotanica has quickly become a best seller and for good reason. With notes of Turkish Rose, Carnation, Wild Mint, Hemp Leaves (yes, hemp) and White Amber…well, you just need to give this one a try.
3. TOCCA ‘Liliana’ Eau de Parfum, $68
I typically find Tocca perfumes cloyingly sweet, so I was a little hesitant to try this one, but low and behold…it surprised me. Liliana (just released in March 2013) is an ode to the roaring 20’s. Think of a Great Gatsby type party with a lush lawn, dancing the Charleston amidst flowing bottles of champagne and beautifully dressed men and women. This light floral is a mix of muguet, gardenia and peony with a dry down of sandalwood and musk. I’m actually wearing it today. It’s the perfect summer floral.
4. Lanvin’ME’ Eau de Parfum, $55 – $98
Who doesn’t love Lanvin? The fashion house’s newest scent created by Alber Elbaz blends mandarin with a heart of tuberose, rose absolue and sandalwood. This one is for the confident woman who likes a stronger scent. It opens with notes of sparkling blueberry, but the heart is a feminine white floral and the dry-down is a little headier with notes of liquorice black wood leaves. Very unusual.
5. L’Occitane en Provence Eau de Toilette, Pivoine Flora, $47
I reviewed this new L’Occitane floral recently and I still love it. Pivoine Flora is the perfect scent for those who like floral and green notes. It’s a combination of peony, magnolia and grapefruit with a very light musky, woody finish. It’s very intoxicating and light. The perfect daytime scent. Especially for those who don’t normally care for perfume.
6. Dries Van Noten by Frédéric Malle, $185
On to something a little heavier. This collaborative scent between the famed designer and famed perfumer was a match made in heaven. Dries Van Noten par Frédéric Malle is an oriental-based fragrance which incorporates notes of sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli, musk, bergamot, and jasmine. Yet, it starts out with hints of powder, but dries down more spicy and musky. It’s totally intoxicating and addictive and not too feminine, which is what one would expect from the designer.
7. Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum, $75 – $135
Granted this scent came out a couple of years ago, but it’s still worth considering since it’s so amazingly different. Think jasmine, leather, plum and pink pepper. It’s complicated, yet it works. There is a reason why Allure magazine gave it the ‘Best of Beauty’ award for Best New Fragrance, 2012.
8. Jimmy Choo ‘FLASH’ Eau de Parfum, $55 – $98
I can’t tell you how much I love this newest Jimmy Choo fragrance. It’s by far my favorite evening scent. FLASH totally embodies that adrenalin rush you get when you are getting dressed up for an evening out among glamorous jet-setters. Thankfully you don’t have to be nocturnal to appreciate this magnetic scent. It opens with pink pepper, tangerine and strawberry. The heart notes are exotic white flowers with a tuberose signature enriched with notes of jasmine and white lily. The dry-down is more powdery yet woodsy. You need to sample it to see what I mean.
9. Desire by Dolce&Gabbana, $79
This newest scent from Dolce&Gabbana is a heavier, feminine fragrance. The top notes are mandarin, lychee, and bergamot and lily of the valley. The core notes are madonna lily, Indian tuberose, jasmine and sweet plum nectar. The base is vanilla infused caramel, sandalwood, musk and cistus labdanum. It’s got a lot going on and is for the woman who wants to make a statement with her perfume!
10. Jo Malone London ‘Osmanthus Blossom’ Cologne, $110
Who doesn’t love Jo Malone scents? The problem is settling on just one (or 3). Well try this newest white floral. It’s inspired by the floral components of the osmanthus blossom from Asia. Yet, it also has notes of apricot and leather. I can’t even capture what it’s like in writing. It’s just one you have to try and love for yourself.
–Lauren Dimet Waters
Image Layout: Second City Style
