How to Choose Your Signature Spring Scent
Ah, the essence of spring is upon us. The flowers blooming, the sun shining, the ice thawing. We’re putting our snow blowers, salt, and winter coats away and promptly replacing them with vests and hopefully, t-shirts and flip flops.
The associations between spring and scent run deep. Spring offers us a feeling of new beginnings and we desire perfumes and fragrances that compliment this experience.
So how do we choose our signature spring scent?
Let’s examine some ways to light up spring and all those around us with a beautiful fragrance.
Spring and Notes
In the end, the notes are what combine to create a perfume journey. In fragrances, we find three types of notes and each contributes to spring’s allure.
All of these notes should combine to represent the essence of rejuvention, brightness, and blooming flowers.
By understanding spring notes, you can more easily search and find fragrances that represent your personal spring journey.
Top Notes
These notes are the first ones that pop off. They are the very first impression. The top notes in spring fragrances typically include citrus, green notes, and aquatic notes.
- Citrus fruits like bergamot, lemon, and mandarin are popular.
- Green notes like freshly cut grass, green leaves, and cucumber offer a crisp, clean feel.
- Herbal notes like basil, mint, and tarragon introduce aromatic experiences.
Middle Notes
Once the top notes flutter away, as they always do quickly (that’s their role), in the middle notes begin stabilizing the scent. In the heart of a spring perfume, we find floral and fruity notes that include rose, peony, jasmine, and berries.
- Floral scents are often flowers such as lilacs that have a soft, romantic bouquet appeal.
- Soft fruits such as the peach can add a sweetness that compliments without overpowering.
- Spices like coriander introduce spring warmth.
Base Notes
Base notes—musk, amber, and woody scents — add the final depth and longevity to a fragrance.
- Amber and vanilla can be included in minimal amounts to add a touch of sweetness and warmth, enhancing the overall composition without making it too heavy or wintery.
- Light woods such as cedarwood, sandalwood, and bamboo provide a soft, creamy, or slightly earthy base
5 Spring Fragrances Worth Sampling
Chloé Eau de Parfum by Chloé
- Top Notes: Peony, Lychee, Freesia
- Middle Notes: Rose, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia
- Base Notes: Amber, Virginia Cedar
- Description: Chloé Eau de Parfum is a quintessential floral fragrance that embodies femininity and elegance. The light floral top and heart notes are perfectly balanced with a warm, woody base, making it an ideal scent for spring’s softer, more romantic days.
Daisy by Marc Jacobs
- Top Notes: Strawberry, Violet Leaf, Ruby Red Grapefruit
- Middle Notes: Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine
- Base Notes: Musk, White Woods, Vanilla
- Description: Daisy is a youthful and playful fragrance, with a fresh and woody floral scent. Its light fruity top notes, combined with a floral heart and a comforting base, capture the carefree spirit of spring.
Try a Marc Jacobs Daisy sample
L’Eau d’Issey by Issey Miyake for Women
- Top Notes: Lotus, Melon, Freesia, Rose Water, Rose, Calone, Cyclamen
- Middle Notes: Lily of the Valley, Water Peony, Carnation, Lily
- Base Notes: Musk, Tuberose, Exotic Woods, Osmanthus, Cedar, Sandalwood
- Description: This aquatic floral fragrance is inspired by water and its natural purity. Fresh, elegant, and serene, L’Eau d’Issey combines aquatic and floral notes with a subtle woody base, reflecting the clear waters and blooming flowers of spring.
Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden
- Top Notes: Lemon, Orange, Rhubarb, Peppermint, Bergamot
- Middle Notes: Green Tea, Jasmine, Celery Seeds, Carnation
- Base Notes: Oakmoss, Musk, White Amber
- Description: An uplifting fragrance that blends citrus, green tea, and herbaceous notes for a refreshing and revitalizing scent. Green Tea is perfect for those looking for a light, energizing fragrance that captures the freshness of spring mornings.
Philosykos by Diptyque
- Top Notes: Fig Leaf, Fig
- Middle Notes: Coconut, Green Accords
- Base Notes: Cedar, Woody Notes, Fig Tree
- Description: Philosykos is a unique fragrance that evokes the image of a lush fig grove. Its blend of fig leaf, wood, and green notes creates a rich, earthy scent that’s both warm and fresh, making it a distinctive choice for spring.