Our beauty director adores these 12 summer perfumes 2026 and thinks you will too
Looking for a fresh new scent? You’ve come to the right place. From notes of butternut squash (yes, really) to chilli, these are the summer perfumes 2026 that our reviewer rates
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Now is the best time to treat yourself to a new summer perfume. For one thing, the scents that feel right when you’re bundled up against the cold just don’t hit the same when the sun’s out. Your skin’s warmer, the air’s different, and suddenly you want something lighter and fresher.
But it’s not just about practicality. Perfume is one of the quickest routes to a feeling. Maybe you’re after something that transports you straight to the Californian coast or the warm souk of Marrakesh. Or perhaps you simply want to spritz something on and instantly feel like you’re on holiday, even if you’re just nipping to the shops.
This season’s crop of new summer perfumes 2026 gives you plenty to work with. There are scents that recall a summer garden, summer rain and even one inspired by a surprising vegetable. And there’s the one I discovered because someone in my Greek holiday resort was wearing it last week and I just had to ask her what it was.
12 of the best summer perfumes 2026
The fiery one
All the Akro fragrances are spectacular. No surprise really, as the brand was created by perfumer extraordinaire, Olivier Cresp, the nose behind Thierry Mugler Angel and Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. This one is based around the ‘heat cycle’ of a chilli. As soon as you spray it, you get a rush of energy which then warms up and envelops you, but when it settles, it actually smells quite light and fresh, and not that spicy.
Buy NowThe unisex one
Jil Sander Olfactory Series 1 Salt EDP, £190
German luxury fashion brand Jil Sander is known for a very minimalist and chic aesthetic, and that ethos underpins the new collection of six unisex fragrances. They are all based around a single fragrance note, including vanilla, mahogany and lily, but the one that really stood out for me is Salt. You might expect it to feel slightly cold and bitter, but it’s been blended with cardamom and lavender, which gives it a richness with a hint of floral coming through. I keep having to retrieve my bottle from my husband’s side of the bathroom.
Buy NowThe new modern classic
Estée Lauder Glimmer EDP, £95 for 50ml
Estée Lauder is really stepping up its game this year, showcasing its innovation in a crowded market where newer brands shout louder. First, there was the reformulation of their iconic Double Wear Foundation, which we put to the test. Now, there’s this new fragrance; a gorgeous, modern take on an amber floral. Glimmer is the perfect name because when you spray it, there’s a lightness like sun shimmering on the sea’s surface. When it settles, there’s a warmth that lingers but isn’t overpowering. If you haven’t considered an Estée Lauder perfume for a while, it’s time for a rethink.
Buy NowThe surprising vegetable one
Jo Malone London Velvety Butternut Cologne, £59 for 30ml
You might assume that a perfume based around butternut squash would smell quite earthy and heavy, but this is quite the opposite. Part of a vegetable collection (there’s a beetroot and a carrot blossom cologne, plus various tomato leaf options), it has been blended with ginger and patchouli which gives it a zing. It’s also surprisingly sweet, recalling soft marshmallows. So for anyone fond of an American pumpkin pie, this is for you.
Buy NowThe eco one
Uni Water-Based Perfume Rain, £72 for 50ml
Uni is an Australian ‘face-grade’ bodycare brand, which means it uses the kind of ingredients you’re familiar with from facial skincare. It’s also focused on the impact beauty products has on the ocean, so all the packaging is refillable and infinitely recyclable, plus the ingredients are reef-safe. Rain contains zero alcohol and skincare ingredients to hydrate the skin as you spray it. The scent is meant to emulate petrichor – it totally hits the mark.
The one that smells like the Mediterranean
Moroccanoil Lumiere Du Jour EDP, £76 for 100ml
I’m always surprised more hair brands don’t make fragrances, as they know how to make an enticing scent. Moroccanoil has done it, with this new addition inspired by Mediterranean dawns. And it really does smell like all the best bits of summer holidays in a bottle. There’s a fresh green element from fig leaf, the softness of jasmine and orange flower and then a sensual element from white amber, musk and blonde wood. One that’ll get you a lot of comments when you wear it.
Buy NowThe one that’s totally unique
Nishane Thorns Become Roses EDP, £195 for 50ml
This is one of the most interesting scents I have sniffed in a long time. I tend to avoid anything that has ‘rose’ in the title because it reminds me of Turkish delight, which I can’t stand. But this is an utter joy. There is rose but it’s paired with lychee, raspberry, saffron, violet leaf, amber and sandalwood. And this heady mix makes it much more rounded. It’s a bit green and fruity without being too sweet. Well worth hunting down.
Buy NowThe one that’s great for travel
Jo Loves Rose & Dates Paintbrush Gel, £40
Trust Jo Malone, a woman who has always been one step ahead in the fragrance game, to not only come up with this unique delivery mechanism but to also create another standout scent. It’s a blend of rose (this one also smells nothing like Turkish delight) and dates, inspired by the vibrancy and warmth of Marrakesh. It’s a gel texture that you paint on the skin and it lingers just as well as traditional liquid fragrance. It’s sophisticated and indulgent so is perfect for a glamorous summer night out.
Buy NowThe one that smells like a summer garden
Beauty Pie Stole The Morning EDP, £35 for members £59 for non-members
If you love the smell of the outdoors in summer, Beauty Pie has bottled it for you with this affordable scent. It has a light floral layer with jasmine, lavender and violet, and fruitiness from pear and rhubarb, but it’s given a grassy and woody grounding with notes of moss and musk. It’s quite delicious.
Buy NowThe one like a summer cocktail
DS & Durga Rose Pacifica EDP, £155 for 50ml
When a lady wafted past me on holiday recently, I had to stop her to ask what perfume she was wearing because it was so beautiful. It was this. DS & Durga is a cool NYC fragrance house, and each of their scents tells a unique story in a fresh, evocative way. This is inspired by the Californian rose and it’s much fresher, fruitier and gentle than many other rose scents.
Buy NowThe sexy one
All Saints Sacred Sands, £40 for 30ml
If hot summer nights are what you crave, then this scent will take you there. Inspired by the warm heat of endless desert landscapes, there’s incense, patchouli, vanilla and amber which gives it an immediate sultriness and sexiness. It’s a unisex fragrance and on the heavier side, so definitely one for a glamorous night out.
Buy NowThe one to make you happy
Fine Scents Joie De Sannes, £180 for 60ml
Fine Scents may not be on your radar yet. It is a new British fragrance house that wants to capture moments of joy in bottles. This is inspired by that perfect moment of the day on holiday: when the sun is setting, a drink has been poured, and time is drifting away with friends and family. It’s fruity, with notes of grapefruit, cassis and grapes, but a little bit floral too. Light, ultra feminine, pretty and a delight to wear.
Buy Now
