Close your eyes. Now imagine you’re sitting on a sun lounger, on a white sandy beach, with the sound of waves softly crashing in the distance. As you take a deep breathe what can you smell? If your imagination is not quite up to the task it may be time to invest in this summer’s new fragrance category known as solar scents. Designed to smell like sunshine and evoke memories of summer and happy times, it is no surprise the perfume world has seen an increase in popularity for fragrance which give you an uplifting holiday feeling – no passport required.
As someone who believes in the power of scent, and always takes a new perfume on holiday so I can scent my memories, this is right up my street. I’m also not one for a signature scent, although there are benefits to finding “the one”, I believe perfumes should be free-flowing and you should be able to use as many as you like.
The connection between scent and wellbeing could be the reason there has seen such an interest in solar scents according to Alex Oprey, Marketing and E-commerce Director at Miller Harris. “Solar scents often evoke positive and uplifting emotions,” he says tells PS UK. “It taps into the increasing focus we are seeing on well-being and mental health. These scents can offer a sensory escape, transporting you to sunnier shores and carefree vacations, which many people find comforting and rejuvenating.”
But, what do solar scents actually smell like and do you need one? We asked two fragrance experts to explain and I selected some of my favourite perfumes to transport you to a beach bar, sipping your favourite cocktail at sunset in just one spritz.
What Is a Solar Scent?
A solar scent is quite a loose term that refers to fragrance with a “sunshine” feel to it. Whilst solar perfumes aren’t a fragrance family – like woody, floral, amber, and fresh – and it could be argued that these scents could fit into one or two of the traditional groups, these particular scents have an undeniable quality to them that sets them apart. “This isn’t a traditional fragrance family so the definition and notes found within this category can range,” Michelle Feeney, founder of Floral Street tells PS UK. “It can be a fragrance with a bright, sparkling, or luminous character or something that invigorates the senses and brings a sense of joy.”
What Is a Solar Scent Perfume Note?
According to Feeney there are a few different ways to interpret that sunny, exotic “solar” feeling. “Some sure-fire ‘solar’ fragrances include the warmth of jasmine or amber, whereas some lead more with citrusy notes like bergamot, lemon and mandarin. Ingredients like salted musks give a second skin feeling as if you are drying in the sun and a natural coconut gives a rich creamy smell reminiscent of the beach.”
“The notes are often fresh and natural, which align with the broader trend towards a connection with nature and environmental consciousness,” says Oprey.”
As far as I am concerned although these scents contain similar notes, everyone’s memories of holidays will smell different and this is reflected in many solar scents. Some will remind you of your childhood, where as others smell like how you think you should smell on holiday – luxurious and the best version of you. But ultimately they are all joyful scents which smell like sunshine. Which is why it has quickly become one of my favourites scent sets and I can’t imagine wearing anything else throughout the summer months.
Read on to find out why I adore a £10 budget option, which keeps selling out it’s so good, and how one instantly transports me into my favourite memory ever.
Related:
Seven of the Best Solar Scents
marksandspencer.com
Best Budget Solar Scent: M&S Discover Sunset
M&S Discover Sunset (£10)
There are no words for how good this M&S perfume is. I first got a whiff in the high street retailer’s 2024 Beauty Bag and it was love at first sniff. Not only does it do everything you would want for a solar scent, in terms of it making you feel like sunshine, it lasts for hours. Which is very unusual for budget offerings. I’m not surprised this keeps selling out and is currently being sold for twice the RRP on eBay. I’m hoping M&S will meet the demand and add it into the fragrance offering permanently. And if not, I’m happy to start a petition.
esteelauder.co.uk
Best Classic Solar Scent: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess (£58)
It should never be forgotten this was the OG solar scent, before it was even considered a fragrance group. The original summer scent, Bronze Goddess was launched in 2011 and its paved the way for perfumes that smell like summer. I will always appreciate its creamy coconut coupled with fiery amber, which smells like sunscreen mixed with sunshine and your favourite perfume after a long day at the beach.
Getty
Best Value Solar Scent
Beauty Pie Le Smash Santal Perfume (£33 for members/£120 RRP)
Another perfume which keeps selling out, this is honestly worth the Beauty Pie membership on its own. The hint of lavender gives this a slightly different edge to some of the other solar scents, however it still transports you on holiday in just one spritz. It is also worth noting it lasts for hours, as you would expect from a high end eau de parfum.
johnlewis.com
Best Mid Range Solar Scent: Replica Beach Walk
Maisn Margiela Replica Beach Walk (£60)
This was one of the first perfumes I ever used which proved to me that scent could benefit your mental wellbeing. As I inhale I can almost feel my shoulders relax, it smells like hot sand, mixed with a fruity cocktail and instantly transports you on holiday. It is so beautiful I also buy the candle if I ever need to cheering up during the dark winter months.
sephora.co.uk
Best Floral Solar Scent: Floral Street Arizona Bloom
Floral Street Arizona Bloom (£120)
Every time I use this my daughter comes into my room and asks me what I’m spraying. It is light and fresh, yet lingering which makes it such an interesting scent for a perfume. I have to say I have found it quite addictive and have gone through a bottle in a few weeks as it’s given me a much needed boost whilst I long for warmer days ahead.
spacenk.com
Best CleanSolar Scent
Phlur Solar Paint (£99)
The bergamot mixed with musk, neroli, and orange blossom gives this well-rounded scent a truly summer feeling. It smells like sunshine and will cheer you up on even the dreariest of days. This brand is known for its clean scents and if you prefer natural fragrances then this is definitely one to try.
millerharris.com
Best Premium Solar Scent: Miller Harris Lumière Dorée
Miller Harris Lumière Dorée (£100)
Everything about this perfume smells expensive. The only way I can describe it is as the holiday you wish you were on. The orange notes are partnered with neroli, which instantly evokes the images of sitting under a citrus tree in a picturesque greek island or along the Italian coast. If you want to treat yourself and smell like you’ve spent the summer on a yacht, then this is for you.
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Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.
