This Summer’s Best New Fragrances

Growing up in the early aughts, having a locker stocked full of fruity body mists was all the rage. To this day, whenever I catch a whiff of candied berry, it brings me right back to my small-town high school. 

Fruity fragrances have come a long way from the cloying, saccharine concoctions we liberally misted on back in the Y2K era, but they’re still as popular as ever. From apple to cherry to strawberry, a farmers’ market-worth of fruit-forward notes have been on heavy rotation for the past few seasons. Now that summer is in full swing, I find myself gravitating toward fruity scents again, especially those that feature grounding notes, like musk and sandalwood, to balance out the sweetness. Also in my current scent wardrobe? Clean and crisp takes on beachy scents and fresh-from-the-salon spritzes from some of my favourite haircare brands.

The 7 Virtues Strawberry Jam Eau de Parfum, $127 for 50 mL

With Strawberry Jam, The 7 Virtues’ founder Barbara Stegemann wanted to bottle up childhood nostalgia. “Some of my happiest memories growing up in Nova Scotia come from picking fresh strawberries in the summer,” she says. The scent pairs its juicy red-berry top note with decadent vanilla and earthy pistachio. This is by far the sweetest of the bunch—it smells like strawberry shortcake loaded with whipped cream, or fingers sticky with sun-warmed fruit plucked straight from the field.

Henry Rose Ripe Eau de Parfum, $165 for 50 mL

The ultimate proof that fruit-forward scents can be sophisticated—and downright sultry—this juice is the perfect balance of sweetness and musk. Lychee and watermelon sorbet are paired with cardamom and black pepper and layered with soft florals. The overall vibe is summery, but with an edge that will easily carry it into fall.

Nest New York Watermelon Peony Perfume Oil, $148 for 30 mL

Easy to layer, incredibly moisturizing and surprisingly long-lasting, perfume oils are a summer staple. This blend features notes of watermelon, pear and lemon combined with peony to strike the perfect balance between fruity and floral. It’s carefree and playful—think big slices of cut-up fruit by the pool and a bag of watermelon gummies.

DedCool Mineral Milk Eau de Parfum, $122 for 50 mL

DedCool is best known for its bestselling, skin-like scent, Milk, a warm mix of bergamot, white musk and amber. Mineral Milk takes the OG’s signature amber note and pairs it with golden nectar, lavender, salt and sandalwood for a crisp juice that’s reminiscent of a windy day at the beach. It has a clean, almost laundry-like quality that makes it surprisingly addictive—I find myself reaching for this one over and over again.

Phlur Island Swim Hair & Body Fragrance Mist, $37 for 88 mL

With notes of ocean mist, marine amber, musk and coconut, spritzing on this mist is like diving into cool tropical waters. It’s equal parts aquatic and creamy, with a hint of mood-boosting citrus. If you’re looking for a sun-soaked scent that’s warm but fresh, this is a top contender.

Olaplex Signature Hair & Body Mist, $41 for 80 mL

There’s no better feeling than walking out of the salon with freshly washed, professionally blown-out hair, and this spray is a shortcut to that instant confidence boost. Featuring the brand's signature notes of grapefruit, mint, ginger and sage, the scent is the perfect finishing touch to an Olaplex routine, or it can be sprayed from head-to-toe and worn alone.

Moroccanoil Brumes du Maroc Ambiance de Plage Hair & Body Fragrance Mist, $48 for 100 mL

Moroccanoil’s OG signature scent is as classic as it gets, but the brand has a slew of other fragrances worth spritzing on. Inspired by the beloved Ambiance de Plage bodycare line, this scent combines pineapple, gardenia and coconut in a hair- and skin-friendly mist packed with nourishing argan oil.