KEY POINTS:
Summer should smell crisp, light and watery. If you're still loading up on heady oriental scents you should stop right away. It's the olfactory equivalent of running around in black opaque tights mid-summer.
1 Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey
$187 for 75ml eau de parfum
This is a classic
summer fragrance. That's because of the lotus, freesia, cyclamen, peonies, carnation, white lilies and an undercurrent of musk. It's an absolute stunner that endures because it seems so uncomplicated, even with its complex ingredients list. You'll want to wear this year-round and the bottle's refillable.
From selected department stores and pharmacies.
2 Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise Blue
$135 for 50ml eau de parfum
This is about as close as you're going to get to a "blue sky meeting the endless blue ocean" at the perfume counter. Grapefruit, tangerine, bergamot, vanilla, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, neroli and lavender all contribute to this tropical island getaway. Most impressive of all though is the belle de nuit, a flower that releases its scent in the evening.
From selected department stores and pharmacies.
3 DKNY Be Delicious Shine Eau de Parfum
$110 for 50ml eau de parfum
By its own admission, this is a flirty number. You get the idea from the silver and green apple bottle that this perfume has a real sense of fun and lust for life about it. Apple, cucumber, grapefruit, violet, sandalwood and white amber gives this its upbeat personality.
The 50ml is available from Farmers. The 100ml ($148) is available from selected pharmacies from February 8.
4 Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin Cologne
$98 for 30ml
Citrus and summer are natural bedfellows. This features lime, but not just any old limes. No, these are "reminiscent of the scent of limes carried on a Caribbean Sea breeze". Cut it off with the peppery note of basil and white thyme and you've got one well-built fragrance. Exquisite.
From Jo Malone Chancery.
5 Michael Kors Island Capri
$145 for 50ml eau de parfum
This fashion designer knows a thing or two about Capri and how it smells. It's his favourite getaway. Inspired by Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly and Jackie Onassis tripping around the jetset island barefoot, he came up with a fresh, chic "vacation in a bottle". It's a floral infusion of basil, bergamot, violet de Parma, fig, jasmine and white moss and it sparkles.
From selected department stores and pharmacies from February.