Summer is the season for sun-drenched gatherings, laughter with friends, and sipping something cool and delicious in the garden. But why should your glass have all the fun? This summer, let your fragrance be as refreshing and playful as your favourite cocktail. We’ve matched five fabulous perfumes to refreshing summer drinks, so you can spritz and sip your way through every party with style and flair.
Picture yourself at a garden soirée, the clink of ice in your glass and the scent of something wonderful on your skin. Here are our top picks for matching perfumes to drinks – each one as vibrant and irresistible as the cocktail it’s inspired by (which we’ve also provided links to recipes for). Cheers!
A classic G&T calls for Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling – a fragrance that fizzes with the energy of London in the roaring twenties. It opens with a sparkling hit of juniper berries, instantly conjuring the crispness of a freshly poured gin and tonic. As you linger, spicy cardamom and black pepper swirl through the air, like laughter in a secret speakeasy. The base – a delicious blend of brown sugar, black cherry and vetiver – leaves a sweetly sophisticated trail, perfect for those who love a dash of nostalgia with their evening tipple.
£175 for 100ml eau de toilette penhaligons.com
If a piña colada is your summer drink of choice, you’ll adore Kajal Aican. This scent bursts open with juicy pineapple, as if you’re sipping a cocktail straight from the fruit itself. Bergamot and apple add a zesty twist, while jasmine and ylang ylang bring a sun-drenched floral heart. The base of vanilla and musk is as smooth as a lazy afternoon, making this fragrance the ultimate choice for anyone who dreams of tropical escapes and poolside parties.
£191 for 100ml eau de parfum kajalperfumes.com
Fancy something truly indulgent? We’re LOVING the sound of this Bakewell Tart-ini, and it’s perfectly paired with EAU.MG Frangi Frenzy. Imagine biting into a sweet – yet tart – cherry and almond tart, the scent of rose absolute weaving through the air. A hint of bitter liquorice keeps things interesting, while creamy musk, woody patchouli and tonka linger like the last crumbs of dessert. This gourmand delight is for those who believe every party needs a little treat.
£95 for 50ml extrait de parfum in the Shop
For lovers of sangria, 4160Tuesdays Take Me to the River is a must. This fragrance captures the easygoing spirit of summer with a burst of ripe berries and citrus, just like the first sip of a perfectly chilled sangria. As it settles, a rich red wine and rum accord emerges, mingling with subtle spices and woods. It’s the scent of lazy afternoons, laughter, and stories shared as the sun goes down.
£100 for 50ml eau de parfum in the Shop
And if nothing says summer quite like a mojito, reach for Diptyque Eau de Menthe. This scent is as invigorating as freshly crushed mint leaves, cooled with a breeze of nutmeg and a whisper of sweetness. Geranium and patchouli add an earthy depth, grounding the fragrance like the muddled herbs at the bottom of your glass. It’s pure refreshment in a bottle – the perfect companion for sunlit patios and long, balmy evenings.
£160 for 75ml eau de parfum diptyque.com
So, whether you’re mixing up cocktails or simply want to capture the spirit of summer, these perfume and drink pairings are sure to make every party a little more fabulous. Here’s to a season of spritzing and sipping: hoorah!
Written by Suzy Nightingale
Peach schnapps with lychee and crystalised rose petals? Lalique‘s Rêve d’Infini sees us sipping iced martinis in a fabulous Art-Nouveau hotel. Love a drop of rum? Swashbuckler’s should head for the exotic Atkinsons Pirates Grand Reserve, while those more clasically inclined may wish to wear a Chambord and Champagne-like mix in Vince Camuto‘s Amore. Explore all of these (and many more) in this unashamedly decadent Discovery Box…
Many perfume-lovers seem to share a love for gin – perhaps it’s the wonderful array of botanicals that are now being used to infuse various small-batch brands, so reminiscent of the way fragrances are made? For fellow gin-lovers, this is now an absolute classic – a crisply refined cocktail on a pleasingly debauched base of black cherry, soft leather, crytalised brown sugar and exotic amber. To be splashed with abandon and relished at leisure.
Visiting the Kilchoman distillery on their beautiful remote island inspired a scent that captures not only the rich flavours of the golden liquor, but hints of hedgerows and the windswept, rugged mosslands for which they’re famed. Galbanum brings to mind bright yellow gorse flowers, bergamot and orris mirror the citrus-floral notes found in the whiskey itself, while a cade oil and patchouli create a peaty accord that’s reassuringly (and literally) grounding.
Thirst-qunching Watermelons with the freshness of green mandarin, notes of green tea and cooling vetiver; Blood Oranges bursting with vibrant, long-lasting citrus, and Framboise Noire succulent with black raspberries and ripe forest berries with a deep undertone like that of an ultra-smooth red wine… Fruit punch, claret, gourmand liqours, watermelon martinis? Allow yourself to be utterly transported by all in this deliciously curated collection.
