For many, August is the heaviest summer month, filled with languid, lazy days spent simply trying to keep cool. There’s a thickness in the air, and it feels wrong to do anything other than rest by a body of water. One of my favorite notes to wear when it’s this hot is a white floral; I love their clean elegance, their ability to smell fresh even when the air feels impossibly muggy. Here are five favorite summer white florals:
If you have any vacations this month, particularly of the European variety, you simply must try Narciso Rodriguez For Her Pure Musc, a delicate cloud of scent that makes me think of white linen worn on a balcony in Portofino, Italy. Orange blossom and jasmine offer their delicate petals, while musk and cashmeran wood form a honeyed base. This is one of those perfumes that wafts off the hair, clothes, and skin, tricking those around you into thinking you naturally smell that good. It’s been my consistent daily reach for the past month – I can’t get enough of that dry-down. At once feminine and sensual, it’s a scent that transcends age and season.
Coconut Sun by The 7 Virtues is an aquatic and zingy tropical scent with a healthy dose of jasmine and orange flower, reminiscent of a summer cocktail with a salted rim. This is not your typical creamy, sunscreen-y coconut, but rather a fresh take on the fleshy fruit that is equal parts citrus and floral. The coconut in here is not creamy – it reminds me more of coconut water. The hint of vanilla ensures it’s not too bitter, making me want to drink it straight from the bottle.
Ylang in Gold is bottled sunshine, capturing the feeling of a ray upon skin. Ylang is a flower that is technically yellow in color, but is often grouped with white florals due to how well it plays with them. Here, it’s paired with orange, lily of the valley, vanilla, coconut, and more – I swear I get an orange blossom note, though it’s not listed. Upon first spray, it reminds me of smoky bubblegum, then settles into the most gorgeous, sweet concoction of sun-drenched florals. This is niche perfumery at its finest; you won’t find something like this at your local mall.
Houbigant’s Quelques Fleurs Royale was originally created for the French princess Adelaide d’Orléans in the nineteenth-century; what else needs to be said? A fragrance good enough for a princess is good enough for me. I love this one because it has the magical quality of feeling so modern, though its powdery base recalls its historical past. Tuberose and Egyptian jasmine form the floral heart, while honey, bergamot, and white musk dance around it. Although no powder or violet notes are listed, I swear I get a hint of that charming scent so often associated with this time period.
Last but far from least is Prada Paradoxe Virtual Flower, my absolute favorite Paradoxe flanker. This has that summery, tropical flower feeling without going too beachy. The first thing I smell is jasmine – a beautiful, ethereal night-blooming jasmine smelled on a warm breeze. The word “virtual” in the name comes from the fact that the perfumers, working in a micro-lab containing a thousand vials of jasmine, used artificial intelligence to craft the perfect jasmine accord. There is also neroli, musk, ambrette, and bergamot here, creating a surprisingly simple profile that is perfect exactly as-is. This is a fresher take on the original, and would be perfect any time of year as a signature scent.
