I Inquired with Experts About the Fragrances of Summer 2026—Here Are 6 Perfume Trends You Should Watch Out For.

      "You smell incredible" is always my favorite compliment, but I have to say it resonates even more in the summer. After emerging from the NYC subway, covered in sweat from navigating the busy Midtown streets, and someone still notices the orange blossom eau de toilette on my neck? That's a win. To gather as many of these compliments as I can, I consulted fragrance experts on how to smell amazing—like, extraordinarily amazing—this summer. They returned with an array of shopping suggestions and notable trends. And yes, their recommendations go beyond just aquatic, vacation-themed scents. In fact, you might be surprised by some of the forecasts below, so keep scrolling to complete your summer fragrance collection.

      Comfort in a Bottle

      Gourmand scents aren’t exactly new in the fragrance scene (experts emphasize that sweet scents are here to stay), but gourmand notes in summer? That seems somewhat unexpected. "Traditionally, the industry has conditioned consumers to think summer equals fresh, light, and citrusy. Clean aquatics. Airy florals. And then you switch to heavy, warm, and sweet scents in fall and winter," explains Jeniece Trizzino, vice president of innovation and product at Scentbird. "That traditional wisdom is being completely challenged right now." So, gourmet fans can rest easy; rich notes like vanilla, caramel, pistachio, and cocoa still belong in your summer fragrance lineup.

      According to Paris-based master perfumer Isaac Sinclair, these "comfort scents" come with a fresh, unexpected twist. "Consumers still desire comfort and indulgence but balanced with more sophistication," he states. "Vanilla is a prime example. We’re seeing smoky, salty, and milky vanillas taking the place of the overly sweet varieties that used to dominate." When searching for a summery gourmand, he advises looking for scents that combine warmth with lightness. "Milky vanilla, sesame, and gentle nutty notes provide comfort while remaining light for summer, especially when combined with fresh herbs like rosemary or basil," he adds.

      Summer Fridays

      Sunlit Vanilla Eau De Parfum

      DECK OF SCARLET

      I'm Expensive

      Wanderlust Notes

      On the flip side, "escapist and globally-inspired fruit notes are on the rise," asserts Trizzino. "Yuzu, lychee, guava, ocean breeze. These notes evoke a sense of travel and novelty for those wishing for their fragrance to transport them to a beautiful destination." While I may not be sailing the sparkling Mediterranean, a whiff of a fresh, sparkling fragrance can mentally take me away. Moreover, according to Trizzino, the more vivid the imagery, the better—consider fantasy notes like sunlit sails, driftwood, and spirulina.

      Phlur

      Island Swim Hair & Body Mist

      Ellis Brooklyn

      Isla Sirena Eau De Parfum

      Vacation

      "Grand Cuvée" Body Mist

      Soft Projection

      "There’s a growing preference for softer projection. People still seek memorable fragrances, but they're leaning toward scents that feel intimate and effortless rather than overly strong," Sinclair adds. On a practical note, this is quite logical. Heat amplifies fragrance (which is why you apply it to your pulse points, where blood vessels are warmer), so during summer, even the lightest skin scents can seem more potent. Just something to consider for those who prefer a more powerful "beast mode" perfume at other times of the year! To achieve that softly radiant feel, Sinclair suggests choosing fragrances with skin musks and soft woods, which "create that effortless sun-warmed skin sensation."

      Fugazzi

      Angel Dust Eau De Parfum

      DedCool

      Mineral Milk Eau De Parfum

      Future Society

      Cloud Reverie

      "Confounding" Botanicals

      Do you want to smell like an unripe banana? Or perhaps beetroot or wasabi? Trizzino finds these intriguing notes "genuinely fascinating," referring to them as "unusual botanicals that sound like they shouldn't work but absolutely do on skin." The best part? When someone inquires about your fragrance—because they undoubtedly will when you smell that good—you can enjoy their reaction when you say something like, "Oh, this? It's a butternut squash perfume."

      Abel

      Miami Split Eau De Parfum

      Jo Malone London

      Veggies Cologne Trio Gift Set

      Paco Rabanne

      Crazy Me EDP Spray

      Multisensory Scents

      Take it from Trizzino: "Fragrance is now more than just something you wear. It's becoming something you experience." While we’ve only begun to explore the possibilities, she cites brands like Bleu Nour and Øthers that create a 360-degree scent experience. For instance, Bleu Nour translates each of its scents into colors, inspired by the founder's synesthesia, while each bottle at Øthers includes six months of access to its meditation app (though currently, the brand is only available in the U