May is usually when I start thinking about fragrances for the summer. While I think it’s unnecessary to change your perfume with the seasons, there’s something about looking at summer sandals and floaty tea dresses that inspires me to revisit summer favorites and eagerly scout out new releases. Like new fashions, some fragrances are instant favorites and others are sampled and quickly discarded—but I still have fun trying them on!
The women in my family are all perfume obsessed and with Mother’s Day falling on the second Sunday of the month, May is also a great time to shop for perfume. Here is a list of some of my favorites.
Moon Sparkle for Women
Photo courtesy of Escada
Escada launches a limited edition fashion fragrance every year, and Moon Sparkle is their latest offering. Notes are strawberry, blackcurrant, citrus and red apple, sweet pea, freesia, jasmine, rose, raspberry, sandalwood, and amber.
If you’re thinking fruity floral while reading the notes, you’re absolutely right. There continues to be a huge market for the super sweet florals, and this is Escada’s newest variation on the theme.
One of my scent doubles loved it, saying it reminded her of passion fruit, pineapples, and summertime at a tropical beach, and she is Escada’s market: young, fun, and full of life. The fragrance has excellent lasting power and was still going strong on her after four hours.
I, while still fun and full of life, have difficulties with the more intense fruity florals as they invariably give me headaches. Moon Sparkle smelled to me like the pink cotton candy I loved to buy at the summer fair: sweet, colorful, and ultimately headache inducing.
The bottle is a purple drop with a long silver cap. The packaging is delightful, very summer in the 60’s looking.
Eau de Toilette, body lotion, and shower gel, $28–$70. Widely available at department stores, including Macy’s and Sephora.
Light Blue
Photo courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana
Launched in 2001, Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue was an immediate hit and, with good reason, has remained extremely popular. It has top notes of Sicilian citron, granny smith apples, and bluebells. Middle notes are white rose and jasmine, and base notes of amber, musk, and cedar wood.
Light Blue smells wonderful, like a Meyer lemon sorbet: crisp, yet creamy and smooth. Once sprayed on the skin, the citrus combines almost immediately with faint hints of florals, wood, and musk to create a light yet memorable fragrance. Light Blue doesn’t change much on the skin over time, and has excellent staying power. I never feel like it’s intrusive or something I shouldn’t wear to the office, but I can always smell a faint hint of it on me during the day. Be prepared to get compliments when you wear Light Blue, and don’t be surprised if your man borrows it, too: this is a fragrance you can both wear, although D&G also has a men’s version of Light Blue.
My scent double also thinks Light Blue is a winner. She loved the underlying muskiness combined with the florals, and calls it a perfect everyday scent.
The bottle is a lightly frosted rectangle with a light blue cap. A bit uninspired, but not bad.
Eau de Toilette, and other products available $18–$80. Widely available at most department stores, including Bloomingdales.
Parting note: “A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.”—Christian Dior
Never miss a Scents and Scentsibilities column again. Just click on the author’s name at the top of the story, then select “Be notified when writer publishes” at the top of the page. We’ll send you an email as soon as a new column is published.