Everything feels better once spring starts, from my mood to the air tickling my face when I leave the house. Around this time of year, I start to wear all of my happy scents, which are the ones that smell bright, fresh, and make me smile. Winter has its own charms, like warm fires and soft knits, but one of the best things about life is being able to open the window and let in a cool breeze. It’s like stopping to smell the flowers on your block or catching a whiff of the floral notes coming from your loved ones’ pulse points because they have great taste in seasonal scents.
No one can deny the magic of springtime, whether you’re counting down the days until summer days by the pool or (and you’re brave for this) would happily stay winterized all year long. This is the time of year when people are hopeful. Light florals, airy musks, soft citruses, and scents that smell like sun-warmed skin all make you feel like you’re starting over.
I always reach for happy scents when I need a little sunshine or a reminder that warmth can come in many forms. The scents that make sunny days so exciting are soft and fresh or bright and happy. Here are ten of the best happy scents to spray on right now. Then, watch as the scent makes you smile.
Favorites of the Season
These are the scents I go back to when the weather gets a little warmer. It’s a phrase that’s been used too much, but they really are springtime in a bottle for me and many other people.
At Macy’s, Issey Miyake L’eau D’issey Eau de Toilette costs $138. Issey Miyaké wanted to make a scent as clear as spring water, so this one came out in 1992. There were flowers, a waterfall spray, and a springtime forest on the mood board. This makes a lot of sense because the first word that comes to mind when I think of L’eau D’issey is misty. This water scent has a hint of freshly cut lily stems in water that you might find at a florist if you don’t live near a lily pond. It smells clean and musky, too.
Byredo La Tulipe Eau de Parfum costs $235 at Nordstrom. The name La Tulipe, or The Tulip, says a lot about how beautiful it is. That’s how strong the first flowers of the year are. This beautiful scent starts with rhubarb, cyclamen, and freesia notes. The middle note is all tulip, and the base is made up of blonde woods and vetiver.
A New Beginning
I like making New Year’s resolutions, but spring is the best time for a new beginning. These perfumes smell fresh, and they also have that opportunity awaits energy that comes with a new season.
Diptyque Orphéon Eau De Toilette costs $190 at Nordstrom. Orphéon Eau de Toilette starts off very green and citrusy, with hints of green tangerine and fresh Japanese yuzu. When you first put it on, it smells like an aperitif, but then it fades into a blooming floral heart and a vibrant, woody base. The Eau de Parfum version of Orphéon is already a favorite, but this new, lighter version is what I’m going to wear this spring. It was named after the founders’ favorite jazz bar in Paris. The brand says it captures pure energy and balance in every breath.
Santa Ana Wind Eau De Parfum
Discotheque Heathens, Cowboys, and the Santa Ana Wind Eau De Parfum costs $175 at REVOLVE. If you like things a little hotter, give this party in a bottle a spritz. Ultra-cool Discotheque made this aptly named perfume to capture the feel of LA in 1986. Its scents are great for a night out but also good for everyday use. Think of palm trees, a sweet wild breeze, people talking too much, and sandalwood embers in warm amber sunsets.
Let the Sun Shine
Everyone can agree that feeling the sun on your face is nice, especially after feeling it on your legs when you wear shorts for the first time in a few months after only wearing wool pants. These sweet smells are like pure sunshine.
Solar Drip Eau de Parfum
Boy Smells Solar Drip Perfume costs $78 at Sephora. My fiancé said that when I first wore Solar Drip, it made him think of an urban picnic outside. Being outside in a city park is the best thing to do in the spring, especially when the sun comes out again. When I first smelled Solar Drip, I thought it smelled like candy. But there’s a freshness to it that makes it really great. You can smell pomelo mango orange blossom, fresh linen, and solar musk.
Windows Down Eau De Parfum
Rose Henry Eau de Parfum for Windows Down costs $120 at Sephora. Another important thing to do in the spring is to roll down the windows while driving and stick your arm out the window to get some warmth. This new citrus smell is exactly what it says it is. The clean, clear bottle holds bright grapefruit and bergamot notes, as well as a hint of Earl Grey tea.
Great Flowers
We’re not doing anything new here. And why would we? The flowers are doing that for us. We only had to put the seeds in the ground. In this case, the seed is a casual mention to a loved one that you really need a new floral perfume.
Athénas Eau De Parfum
Parfums de Marly Athénaïs Eau de Parfum costs $410 at Nordstrom. Athénaïs has a sweet smell, but it’s not too sweet. Instead, the newest Parfums de Marly scent will help you get used to the season of flowers with a soft gentle breeze. But that doesn’t mean it’s light. This scent has a lot of depth and complexity because it is well blended fragrance.
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Flora Salvaggia Wildflower Eau De Toilette costs $170 at Nordstrom. All of Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria scents make you feel happy and warm, but this one, which is based on a walk through a field of wildflowers, really sets the mood. The light Eau de Toilette has top notes of violet and watermelon, a middle layer of jasmine, wildflower accord, and orange blossom, and a base of white musk and iris.
Put It Forward
Every spring, a really good rainstorm comes and makes everything green. These scents perfectly capture that fresh juicy dewy and ultimately lush feeling.
Xinū Monstera No. 4 costs $240 at xinuperfumes.com. Since my last trip to Mexico City, I’ve been taking care of a sample of XINŪ’s Monstera. I promised that when I got back, there would be a full bottle waiting for me. This scent is said to be astonishingly juicy and lush, like a leaf that has been snapped open and droplets of plant juice have come out. It was inspired by the jungle environment.
Sisley Paris Eau De Campagne costs $130 at sisley-paris.com. Sisley’s famous Eau De Campagne has notes of basil, wild herbs, and lemon. It combines citrus and grassy notes with a chypre base. It was made to symbolize the French art of living with a fresh and invigorating bouquet that inspires a feeling of well being and elegance.
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