Everything feels better in the spring, from my mood to the air that tickles my face when I leave the house. I start to wear all of my happy scents around this time of year. These are the scents that smell bright and bright and fresh and always make me smile. Winter has its own charms, like crackling fires and warm knits, but opening the window to let in a cool breeze is one of the best things in life. It’s like stopping to smell the flowers on your block or smelling 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 spring, whether you’re counting down the days until summer days by the pool or (and you’re brave for this) would be happy to stay winterised all year. This is the time of year when people are people are hopeful. Light florals, airy musks, soft citruses, and scents that smell like skin warmed by the sun all make you feel like you’re starting over.
When I need a little sunshine or a reminder that warmth can come in many forms, I always reach for happy scents. They smell fresh and clean or bright and happy, and they make the start of sunny days so exciting. Here are 10 of the best happy scents to spray right now. Then, watch as the scent makes you smile.
Favourites by Season
These are the scents I go back to when the weather gets a little bit warm. A lot of people say this, but they really are “springtime in a bottle” for me and a lot of other people.
Issey Miyaké wanted to make a scent “as clear as spring water,” so this one came out in 1992. The mood board had a waterfall spray, flowers, and a springtime forest. This makes a lot of sense because the first word that comes to mind when I think of L’eau D’issey is “misty.” You might find this aquatic scent at the local florist if you don’t live near a lilypond. It smells like freshly cut lily stems in water. It smells clean and musky, too.
La Tulipe Eau De Parfum
The name La Tulipe, or The Tulip, says a lot about how beautiful it is. That’s how strong the first flowers of the season are. This beauty starts with notes of rhubarb, cyclamen, and freesia. 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 when I really feel like starting over. These perfumes smell fresh, but they also have that same “opportunity awaits” energy that comes with a new season.
Orphéon Eau de Toilette starts off very green and citrussy, with hints of green tangerine and fresh Japanese yuzu. It has an aperitif quality that fades into a blooming floral heart and a vibrant, woody base. The Eau de Parfum version of Orphéon is already a hit, but this new, lighter version is what I’m going to wear this spring. It’s named after the founders of Diptyque’s favourite jazz club in Paris. The brand says it “captures pure energy and balance in every breath,” which is how I’m trying to get through the season.
If you like things a little spicier, this party-in-a-bottle (and party-of-a-bottle) is for you. Or, you could use it as the start of a whole new thing. Ultra-cool Discotheque made this aptly named perfume to capture the spirit of LA in 1986. Its scents are perfect for a night out but also great for everyday use. Picture palm trees, a wild sweet breeze, people talking too much, and “sandalwood embers in warm amber sunsets.” The snow is gone, people. Does anyone want to go on the road?
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 trousers. These happy smells are like sunshine. Go away, SAD.
My fiancé said that Solar Drip made me look like I was going to a “urban picnic.” How perfect is that? Spending time in a city park is the best thing to do in the spring, and I’d like to do it all the time, especially when the sun comes out again. When I first smelt Solar Drip, I thought of candy, but there’s a freshness to it that balances things out and makes it really great (solar?). You can smell pomelo, mango, orange blossom, fresh linen, and solar musk.
Windows Down Eau De Parfum with Grapefruit and Bergamot
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. That’s exactly what this new citrus scent is all about. You could also say it’s a tea scent. The clean, clear bottle has zesty notes of bright grapefruit and bergamot, as well as a hint of Earl Grey tea. Yes, I have sunshine even when it’s cloudy. You can find it in my fragrance cabinet if you need some.
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. (The seed, in this situation, is a casual mention to a loved one that you really, really need a new floral perfume.)
There’s certainly an undeniable sweetness to Athénaïs (it’s an amber floral scent, after all), but it’s not at all saccharine. Instead, the newest Parfums de Marly offering will allow you to settle into the season of florals on a gentle, mellow breeze. That doesn’t mean it’s light, though. This is a full-bodied scent, expertly blended and nuanced because of it. I couldn’t love her more, and would like some roses in the exact color of her bottle, please and thank you.
Aqua Allegoria Flora Salvaggia Wildflower Eau De Toilette
All of Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria scents scream happiness and warmth, but this one—inspired by a walk through a field of wildflowers—really sets the scene. Soft, fruity, and floral, the gentle 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. That light purple bottle is also perfectly pastel.
Plant It Forward
Every spring, a really good rainstorm comes around and turns the world green. These fragrances encapsulate that fresh, juicy, dewy, and ultimately lush vibe perfectly.
I’ve been nursing a sample of XINŪ’s Monstera since my last trip to Mexico City. I made a promise that when I returned, a full bottle would be waiting for me. Inspired by the jungle, this fragrance is described as “astonishingly juicy and lush, like a leaf that has been snapped open, allowing droplets of the plant juice to seep out.”
Now, let’s head to Paris. Rich in notes of basil, wild herbs, and lemon, Sisley’s iconic Eau De Campagne marries citrus and grassy notes with a chypre base and was made to “symbolize the French art of living” with a “fresh and invigorating bouquet that inspires a feeling of well-being and elegance.” Printemps! Je t’aime.
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