Elyse Hauser
As many perfume-lovers might already know, scent is the sense most closely linked to memory and emotion. Selecting a new fragrance is the perfect way to connect with positive spring memories and get in the mood for a season of fun and renewal.
Spring already has a lot going for it. In fact, it might be the season that almost everyone looks forward to the most. Even snow-lovers are usually ready for the longer, warmer days by the time they arrive. Switching to a new scent can offer you a new perspective, just in time for the seasonal shift—a sort of emotional spring cleaning, if you will.
But which scents sync best with the onset of spring? We’ve got some inspiration to get you started!
What Makes a Good Spring Scent?
In spring, you want to wear scents that play nicely with the warming air. During the cooler nights, heavier winter scents might still work well. As the days get hotter, though, those heavy fragrances can become too overpowering. Here are some things to look for in a scent that will be light enough for spring.
Green and Grassy
One of the first signs of spring is the eruption of new grass shoots from the dead winter ground. A grassy, green note can also make a beautiful spring fragrance.
The scent of fresh grass in your perfume might even bring back warm springtime memories and put you in the perfect post-winter mood.
Fresh Herbs
Spring is also the time of restoring gardens to their formal glory. Certain herbs thrive in this season, before summer arrives and makes everything too hot.
Herbs can add a beautiful, earthy complexity to your springtime perfume. Look for notes like chamomile, mint, or basil.
For another take on the spring garden theme, try vegetable notes, like cucumber.
Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking
In a memorable scene from The Devil Wears Prada, judgy magazine editor Miranda Priestly delivers the iconic and sarcastic line, “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.”
While wearing a floral scent in spring is hardly innovative, it’s never a bad choice, either. After all, blooming flowers are one of the best things about spring, and floral perfumes will never go out of style.
Try to choose a scent with the flower that speaks to you most, like rose, jasmine, lavender, orange blossom, or a mix.
Musk for Sensuality
All the green and floral notes can make spring perfumes feel particularly fresh and innocent. If you want something with a bit more depth, look for a scent with some musk notes.
Musk doesn’t have to be heavy or overpowering. Many of today’s scents use a sheer, light musk that works well with spring’s lighter, fresher notes.
If you want to take things a bit further, though, you can also explore more animalic notes beyond musk, like ambrox. These ingredients add an earthy, natural depth that’s perfect for spring.
The Best Fragrance Formulas for Spring
In spring, you want to look for lighter fragrance formulas, as heat makes perfume smell stronger. This is also a great time to reach for travel-friendly application methods, since you’ll probably be spending more time outdoors and on the go.
Try some of the products below to get the most out of your spring scents:
- Hair perfume: This is one of those products that doesn’t need to exist, but it does. You might actually find it more useful than you think. It’s great for delivering a light dose of scent that suits spring’s warmth. Plus, hair perfume is often cheaper than a standard formula, so you can pick up a bottle of your beloved scent for less.
- Body mist: This is another excellent way to keep your spring scent light enough so it doesn’t overpower. These less-concentrated formulas also tend to be inexpensive, so you can toss one in your spring travel bag without stressing about losing it.
- Crayons and liquid balms: Some brands have started experimenting with more innovative perfume formulas lately, like Chanel’s Crayons de Parfum and Le Labo’s Liquid Balm. These products are fun, different, and travel-friendly, making them ideal for spring’s time of renewal and change.
You should always wear the scent that appeals to you the most, even if it’s not traditionally for spring. Because fragrance is tied so closely to memory, the one that resonates most with you often has more to do with your personal experiences than with the time of year.
However, shopping for a new seasonal fragrance is fun, and it’s a great way to find out what’s out there. Happy shopping, and happy spring!
