New Perfumes Hit Stores for Summer: 5 Scents to Try Today

By Alix Turoff

Research shows that scent is the strongest sense tied to memory and who here doesn’t want people to remember us in a good way? To ensure this, picking the right fragrance is just as important as picking the right pair of shoes, maybe even more so! So, to help you stay fresh and memorable all summer long, we’ve compiled a guide to 5 of summer’s hottest scents!

Baby Phat Dare Me Eau de Toilette Perume Spray, $28 for 1 oz. at Kohls.com
This fragrance is not made for the meek. Spray it on and be prepared to make a statement. The sweet and flirty scent is the perfect complement to a body conscious dress and a pair of killer heels. Like designer Kimora Lee Simmons, the wearer of Baby Phat Dare Me exudes confidence, independence and has girl power written all over her. Now that’s a good look for summer.

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Ann Taylor Chic Spray, $45 for 1.7 oz, $65 for 3.4 oz. at anntaylor.com
Following the aesthetic overhaul of the Ann Taylor brand, this newly released fragrance is perfect for the conservative but always chic woman. The scent is not overpowering, which makes it the perfect choice for a hot summer day. The lavender notes are the most obvious but they are complemented by mandarin, violet, verbena, white tea, liquid honey and just the right hint of musk. We also went wild for the leopard print bottle–tres chic!

Pure DKNY, 1.7 oz for $80 at puredkny.com
If you’re looking to “go pure” this summer, Donna Karan’s new fragrance “Pure DKNY” is just what you’re looking for. The environmentally conscious floral fragrance combines notes of vanilla, petal accord, lotus, rose, jasmine, freesia, orchid, white amber and sandalwood. After we basked in the sweet and feminine scent, we decided to feed and water our “plant-in-a-can” that came with the perfume. The Pure DKNY campaign promotes caring for the environment and the little growing plant on our desk reminds us to take care of our planet.

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Soap & Paper Factory Lavender Solid Perfume, $18 at soapandpaperfactory.com
The zen-like packaging of this eco-friendly perfume is great to toss in your bag and apply to your pulse points (inside of the wrists, elbows, back of the knees, neck, under the jaw) when you find yourself in need of a little pick me up. The solid perfume made of pure jojoba and beeswax comes in a little container that could easily be mistaken for lip gloss. With no parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals, you can feel good about putting this on your skin and the oily base made this light summer smell last for hours!

Jo Malone Lotus Blossom & Water Lily Cologne, $55 for 30 ml, $100 for 100 ml at jomalone.com
Jo Malone’s new set is a take on the Japanese ceremony Kohdo, a spiritual experience that evokes feelings of calm, purity and enlightenment. The scent is airy and floral with a touch of musk. The perfume is not too heavy and the mixture of ingredients sets it apart from the typical floral making it more earthy. This is the perfect fragrance to spritz on a summer morning and again in the afternoon as we found the scent to be even better layered.

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