I don’t think I’ve had such a moment with perfume since I was in high school and first started wearing it than in the last few years. I’m a light and floral fragrance kinda gal and I have amassed a collection that brings me joy to wear.
When I first started wearing perfume – I distinctly remember that I had ones from Jessica McClintok, Burberry and a beloved one from Anna Sui that I bought on the Champs-Élysées in Paris at one of the very first Sephora stores while on a trip in high school to visit one of my closest friends who grew up in France.
My Favorite Light and Floral Fragrances
Given how much I am enjoying growing my perfume collection these days and how I’ve loved the return to the ritual of wearing a soft spritz every day, I wanted to round up all the favorite light and floral fragrances that adorn my vanity these days. I keep a few of my favorite light and floral fragrances on my vanity that I’m loving of late and then I swap some others in from time to time from my vanity drawer.
I think scent is such a powerful thing and I personally love using it to recall happy memories. One of my most treasured items is the last bottle of my Grandmother’s Chanel No. 5 perfume. If I’m ever missing her, I can smell her and recall all the happy memories with just one whiff.
Nowadays I use fragrance to remember happy memories, special occasions and self expression. I tend to buy perfume mostly when I travel as such.
Lately I have added a few new favorite light and floral fragrances to my regular rotation and am excited to share my updated list with you all.
Byredo Sundazed
This is like if you bottled the perfect summer day. Sun, lemonade, a warm breeze. This citrus forward eau de parfum is truly like a midsummer’s daydream.
This fragrance opens with sunny top notes of mandarin and California lemon combined with neroli and Arabian jasmine at the heart. Cotton candy and musk inject this citrus scent with the endorphin rush of sugar on skin.
Chanel Paris-Biarritz
If I had a signature scent – this would be it but I don’t play favorites when it comes to perfumes too, too much. Except I do wear this the most- ha! It’s all vibes of crisp air and energy of the French Basque coast.
This fragrance is vibrant and delicately fruity. Sicilian mandarin highlights the sparkling radiance of a lily of the valley accord. It’s so light, so wearable and truly just so special.
And now that I have finally made it to Biarritz, this perfume has even more sentimental value.
Chanel Paris-Riveria
I picked up this perfume while in Paris at the Chanel Beauty store in the Marais. It embodies the carefree charm of the French Riviera, where Gabrielle Chanel built her villa, La Pausa.
This fragrance is sweet and tangy yet fresh and joyful. It’s a sunny, summery scent and represents one of my very favorite places in the world to travel to.
Phlur Missing Person
This one is a bit more moody than I usually go for but I am totally hooked. The first day I ever wore this I kept getting compliments on it!
Phlur says this is all about “if nude were a perfume” this would be it. It has a bit of white musk, floral nuances of jasmine and glowing orange blossom, and subtle notes of wood. It is sexy without being overtly overpowering.
Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday
I bought this fragrance in Paris at a favorite store to remind me of a trip that was really special to me. To me, from me, this scent is like a soft summer day if it were mixed with freshly washed sheets.
Lazy Sunday Morning Eau de Toilette aims to capture the feeling of silky skin, crumbled linens and the reassuring scent of clean laundry. Notes of pear, lily of the valley, iris and musk mingle to evoke a sense of ease and time that stands still.
I love that now it will always remind me of a time I listened to my heart.
Maison Margiela Beach Walk
After falling in love with Lazy Sunday, I tried a sample of Beach Walk and then ended up buying a tester so I could travel with it all summer. This is more floral-forward than I would wear for every day but I think it is a great date night fragrance.
This perfume was designed to evoke the memory of a summer day with rays of light, the heat of the sun and the taste of salt and sunscreen while you stroll along the ocean. It has notes of bergamot, ylang-ylang, heliotrope and musk.
Hermès Jour d’Hermès
I’ve been wearing this scent since I visited Bordeaux in May 2016 and stayed at a gorgeous property who had Hermès toiletries featuring the scent. This eau de parfum is luminous and sensuous with sweet peas and gardenia. It’s super feminine and very floral forward without being too strong.
Byredo Gypsy Water
I bought this perfume in Paris at the French brand’s Rue Saint Honore outpost after I smelled a friend wearing it and asked her about it one too many times. It is such a unique and memorable fragrance.
It’s woody and yet floral thanks to its notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper berries.
Byredo Blanche
Such a lovely and simple yet complex daytime perfume. Its top notes are white rose and pink pepper and the base is blonde woods and musk so it’s so crisp and yet floral.
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne
This light and floral fragrance makes me think of an early spring day with a little light rain. It embodies just ripe pears with white freesias and it is mellowed out by amber, patchouli and woods.
Santa Maria Novella Angeli Di Firenze Eau De Cologne
I bought this in Paris earlier this year to mark an important occasion to me. I had always heard so many wonderful things about this brand that was started by friars in Florence.
The Angeli di Firenze fragrance is a bouquet of sweet and fruity notes and has a lovely origin story. It was created in 2006 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Florence flood. It is dedicated to “The Mud Angels” – youth from all over the world who flocked to Florence after the devastating flood of November 4, 1966 to save the heart and history of the city.
Once you know that it is a nice story to remember about the good of humanity as you wear the fragrance I think.
Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb
This has been a summer go-to for me for years on and off. It’s one I reach for when in a mood for summer parties and gatherings.
Vanilla, jasmine and rose make this a bold but lasting perfume. Iconic in the world of fragrance for good reason.
Byredo Casablanca Lily
This newer purchase perfume is for when I am feeling bold. It’s an extract that captures the intense fragrances that appear after the sun goes down inspired by the Moroccan city.
The top notes are wild gardenia and black plum and the base is woodsy with a touch of honey. It’s intense but alluring.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724 Eau de Parfum
While the cult-favorite Baccart perfume by Maison Francis Kurkdjian isn’t for me, this 724 eau de parfum is right up my alley. It’s one of those fragrances you smell and can’t quite put your finger on why you love it so much but you can’t wait for the next time to wear it.
I bought it in Paris while researching a great personalized souvenir idea. I had the bottle engraved with the word rêverie to remember an important year for my travel atelier, En Route to Rêverie.
It’s a light and floral fragrance yet musky yet not overpowering. It’s truly such a good one.
. . .
And if you’re up for trying something totally different than a more floral fragrance, I cannot recommend the Byredo Rein de Nuit fragrance enough. It is now my go-to evening fragrance. This perfume is so sexy. It features warm and spicy extrait de parfum that captures the scent of flowers after nightfall and it is so special.
I bought it in Paris as well after using a tester for a few days and being unable to get it off my mind. I think it is such a unique perfume and so perfect for nights out on the town.
If you don’t already have a nighttime fragrance, I can’t recommend one enough. Find one you love and make it your signature scent for evenings! This one is truly so amazing and always ensures compliments.
I’d love to know – do you have a signature scent? Or several favorite perfumes? What are they? Leave in the Comments below! I’d especially love to hear from others who gravitate towards light and floral fragrances.
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I love Chanel Chance eau fraiche for summer- always get compliments.
I usually have two seasonal fragrances : Paris Paris, the eau de Chanel for Spring/ summer season. I really love it as it is mainly rose scented (I am rose everything lover), giving that touch of Parisian lightness and recklessness. My winter fragrance is Chanel 22 (which is actually an improved version of Chanel number 5), I know it’s not your favorite but it reflects to me a scent of of the French elegance and refinement.
Another fragrance I deeply cherish is Avec Amour of Violette_FR ( musky and vétiver scents) , this one is very personal perfume since it reminds me a childhood friend’s scent.
My signature scent is Rose de Grasse by Aerin!
I need to try this one! I used to have an AERIN one I loved – need to revisit the brand!
My spring/summer perfume is Still life in Rio by Olfactive Studios. Had it for years and love it. The notes are Yuzu, ginger, mint, lemon and mandarin. It is fresh, sparkling and brings me joy. I live in a northern country, love winter and snow so this is sort of the opposite, but maybe that is why I love it! ??