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Summer often brings with it an intense feeling of renewal. Maybe you’re looking forward to a big wardrobe change, or maybe you see it as the best time to change your haircut. But if you’re anything like Mona Kattan — its founder perfume brand, Kayali — the warmer season always calls for one thing: a new fragrance.
The comfortable “skin scents” and rich vanilla scents that dominated past seasons are about to give way to fragrances filled to the brim with aquatic notes (sea salt and fresh air) and splashes of nostalgia (bubblegum and marshmallows). Luckily, there’s something for everyone.
So if you’re looking to switch up your signature scent or want something fresh and airy ahead of brighter days, here are seven fragrance trends you’ll want to know about, courtesy of Kattan.
Polarizing Violet
From Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noir Roseto Parfums de Marly’s Delina, rose has been the dominant note in many TikTok-viral perfumes of late, but there is something equally romantic that dominates the perfume world. Enter: violet.
“Like rose, people either love or hate violet,” says Kattan, “and every time I hear that someone hates it, I see it as a challenge to incorporate it into my fragrances.” Violet boasts the same sweet powderiness as rose, but with a green, grassy element that makes it much less aromatic in comparison. In other words, it’s the floral for people who think they hate florals. With this in mind, violet leaves appear as the top note in the new Kayali Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar, along with rich vanilla cream, musky jasmine and warm sandalwood. Think of this as a sweet fragrance for adults.
Are you interested? Also try Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mistwith candied violet, juicy plum and warm amber, Victoria Beckham Suite 302 Eau de Parfumwith violet, rose and tobacco leaves and, if you have more to spend, Frédéric Malle Acne Studios Par Frédéric Mallewith rose, violet and vanilla.
Head-turning spice
If your scent is gone by noon, it just needs a little spice. “In the Arab world, we infuse perfumes with so many spices,” says Kattan, who is based in Dubai. “Think about it,” he continues. “When you open a spice cabinet, you are [immediately confronted with a wall of] smell. Spices are so understated and give the fragrance so much character, not to mention better performance and longevity.”
Silo—when a scent lingers in the air—tends to be stronger when the base contains a spice or two, Kattan adds. If you prefer fresher scents, she suggests looking for pink pepper scents, which you can find at Kayali’s Sweet Diamond Pink Pepperand citrus cardamom (found in Byredo’s Eyes Closed and Le Labo’s Santal 33). If you’re looking for the warmth that surrounds you, Kattan suggests smelling earthy saffron in particular. Considered one of the most expensive spices in the world, saffron is infused into most Kayali’s Oudgasm Collectionas well as the new Creed Queen of Silk Eau de Parfumalong with vanilla morris and heady tuberose (so unique and long-lasting that leaving TikTokers speechless.)
Also try The Cosmic Power of Charlotte Tilbury — an infallible potion of black pepper, cloves and cinnamon oil. If you have a budget, it should be Zara Moonlight Whisperwith cardamom and pistachio.
“Destination” fragrances.
Also referred to as “sunny” fragrances, “destination” fragrances evoke the essence of sun-kissed skin: musky and salty with a generous texture of coconut sunscreen (always with SPF 50). If you don’t have a vacation planned this year, it’s the next best thing. “Traveling through fragrance is really special – it transports you somewhere else,” says Kattan. Take her Utopia Vanilla Coco Eau de Parfum Intense, for example, which she was working on in her basement during the lockdown. “It’s sea salt and sunshine in a bottle,” he says.
Phlur Solar Power Eau de Parfum, features sea salt as well as “solar” musk and orange blossom. Also try recently TikTok-viral Perfume, Zara Hibiscus with orange orchid, tangerine and vanilla and the favorite R29, Floral Street Arizona Bloom Eau de Parfum, with salted musk and coconut. All fragrances are genderless, but with its watery, salty notes, this fragrance is incredibly fluid, says Kattan, who adds that it’s the ultimate layering partner. “Scoring something [sweet] like Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar over perfumes with mineral quality dyeing. It’s like a perfume party.”
“Complex” perfumes
“I love complex fragrances and I’m obsessed with anything that has a lot of contrast. it gives an aromatic essence,” says Kattan. That’s why you’ll often see her mixing the most unlikely notes. I think so rum with bubblegum, smoke with oud and peach with cocoa. There is a method to this kind of mixology, according to Kattan. “The more complex a fragrance is, the better it will last,” he says.
Vyrao Witchy Woo Eau de Parfumis particularly complex, with a megamix of rose, cinnamon, black pepper and musk, as it is Narciso Rodriguez Musc Nude Eau de Parfum, with sharp pink pepper and creamy Tonka bean, boasting vanilla notes. For something truly unique, give it a try Bibbi Swimming Pool Eau de Parfum, with ginger, basil and wet grass. If you’d rather spend less, it should be & Other Stories Act 1, Scene 3 Eau de Toilettewith tart pomegranate and intense leather.
“If it doesn’t make sense, I like it, and in fragrance, that’s the most important thing,” says Kattan. With that in mind, she likes to break the rules when it comes to layering as well. “If your fragrance is ‘popular’ but you want to smell unique, I always say screw the rules,” says Kattan. “This is the only time to be carefree and explore.” She likes to mix Kayali Eden Sparkling Lychee Eau de Parfum, with the screams of the brand. Try it Oudgasm Cafe Oudthe Oudgasm Rose Oud. But really, anything goes.
Strategic spraying
The neck and wrists are the most common places to spray perfume, but in the summer, your fragrance will likely have to contend with sweat, sunscreen, and chlorine, which can affect how your fragrance smells. – not to mention how long it lasts. That’s where strategic spraying comes in. “Leather is volatile and everyone’s skin is different, so if you want a true reflection of the fragrance, it’s much better to spray it on your clothes,” says Kattan. Even more superior? Work it into your hair, which tends to carry the scent much more than the skin, Kattan adds. If you prefer the way your perfume smells on your skin, just make sure it’s well moisturized for an extra layer of longevity, Kattan advises. Try a light unscented lotion that won’t clash with what you’re wearing, like Naturium Bio-Lipid Body Lotionthe Nécessaire The Body Lotion.
Child’s toy
“Sometimes you just want to spray something that makes you feel like a kid for a little while,” Kattan says of the influx of nostalgic notes flooding perfumery ahead of summer—namely, sweets. Take marshmallow, which includes Kayali Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar and Yum Pistachio Gelato Eau de Parfumas Sabrina Carpenter Sweet Tooth Eau de Parfum Spray. Then there is Akro Bake Eau de Parfumthat smells like birthday cake, and Phlur’s Strawberry Letter Eau de Parfum — reminiscent of strawberry picking. It dries down to something cozy and warm thanks to vanilla tonka bean and candied amber. Also try Marc Jacobs Daisy Popwith juicy fruits and vanilla.
Boozy Notes
Alcoholic notes are important in perfumery, suggests Kattan, especially like rum, a generous glug of which contains Candied Patchouli Vanilla Royale by Kayali and Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar: “The rum really helps stimulate the top [notes] and push the vanilla,” says Kattan, essentially giving your fragrance a long shelf life. Kayali isn’t the only brand playing mixologist. With juniper oil, Charlotte Tilbury More Sexreminiscent of a gin cocktail, while Phlur Tangerine Boy Eau de Parfumit’s as fresh as an aperol spritz.
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