Our favourite new-season fragrances.

Just as certain fabrics weigh too heavy in high heat, so too do smells. “A typical English summer tends to bring this very muggy heat, which makes scents smell stronger,” says Mr James Craven, fragrance archivist at London perfume boutique Les Senteurs. “If cold, dry weather tends to shrink scent, then warm, damp weather makes it swell.” Which, he adds, means it’s essential to sniff out exactly the right notes to ensure you don’t spend the next three months losing friends and alienating people.

From refreshing citrus accords to adventurous fougères, here are five scents worth a spritz this summer.

TOM FORD BEAUTY NEROLI PORTOFINO EAU DE PARFUM – NEROLI, BERGAMOT & LEMON, 100ML

No matter how searing the heat, many of us still have to wear suits throughout the summer (at least, if we want to stay on friendly terms with the boss). But the right scent can help you feel, and smell, clean no matter what the work day (and office dress code) throws at you.

“Go for a citrus fragrance, something with grapefruit, bitter orange, lemon or neroli,” says Mr Craven. “Because it’s light, clean and crisp, it works well in an office environment where there are many people of different tastes who might also be hot and het-up.”

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino – a blend of neroli, orange, lemon and bergamot, inspired by the Italian Riviera – is just right for the job, combining citrus notes with the greenness of lavender and warmth of amber for a pleasing scent that sits lightly on the skin.

SISLEY – PARIS Soir D’Orient Eau De Parfum – Bergamot, Galbanum & Saffron, 100ml

According to Mr Craven, the cooler night air is the perfect partner for headier scents such as oriental florals and leather-based fragrances. “You can, if it is to your taste, get away with wearing something deeper, darker and smokier at this time of day, and it’ll last longer than citrus scents too,” he says.

A dab of Sisley – Paris Soir D’Orient on your pulse points guarantees a seductive effect on a summer night. Opening with floral notes of bergamot, Turkish rose and Iranian galbanum, this rich, mellifluous scent gently reveals a spicy base of patchouli, sandalwood and saffron. Not one for wallflowers.

LABORATORY PERFUMES No. 002 Gorse Eau De Toilette, 100ml

Summer is a fitting time to take advantage of the transportive power of scent, says Mr Craven. “Fragrances with notes derived from plants grown in hot and tropical climates are instantly connotative of summer,” he says.

Laboratory Perfumes No. 002 Gorse, an irrepressibly summery mix of citrus, coconut and cardamom, is your olfactory ticket to exotic destinations. Although blended to evoke the gorse-lined driveways of Provence, this sweet scent can take you on a whistlestop tour of more tropical climes, too. Handy, if you’re running low on annual leave.

LE LABO Thé Noir 29 Perfume Oil, 30ml

“Tea-based fragrances are a good fit for summer,” says Mr Craven. “As a fragrance ingredient, tea is natural and balancing, and conjures up the refreshment you might get from a cup of the drink itself.”

Intrigued? Tap this tonic’s restorative properties with Le Labo Thé Noir 29, a paraben-free perfume oil that features fig, cedarwood, vetiver and, of course, revivifying black tea.

MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN Masculin Pluriel Eau De Toilette – Lavender Absolute & Leather, 70ml

“If you’re holidaying abroad, try pushing the boundaries with your scent,” says Mr Craven. “You’ll be in a place where you’re not entirely familiar with smells in the air, so try getting out of your comfort zone with something like a fougère that features lavender, maybe herbs and a woody base such as cedarwood or sandalwood.”

This leathery fougère (a fragrance characterised by its herbaceous and woody scent), from Paris nose Mr Francis Kurkdjian, is the perfect travel companion. “Less is always more,” says Mr Craven. “So no more than a couple of sprays.”

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