Summer is officially here, which means it's also officially time to upgrade your seasonal fragrance rotation.
So, Business Insider spoke with three professional perfumers about which scents they're loving for summer 2026 and why.
From refreshing aquatic scents to bright yuzu and citrus, here's what they said about what will be trending this season.
Freshen things up with aquatic fragrances.
Hot, steamy summers call for light, crisp, and airy fragrances — and aquatic scents fit that bill perfectly, according to Bryson Ammons, New York City-based perfumer and founder of The Alloy Studio.
"People are going to be seeking refreshment more than anything," he said.
In the perfume aisle, look for scents that have water, marine, or aqueous profiles. One of Ammons' recommendations is D.S. & Durga's Steamed Rainbow, with notes of red mandarin, orange, green cedar, blue almond flower, and vapors. "It literally smells like a water park to me," he added.
Another scent that embodies this vibe is the ETHERNET Eau de Parfum from indie perfume brand M.HAINEY, which Ammons said "smells like the rolling green hills of the Windows XP background."
Lightweight and airy, it features notes like freshly cut grass, orange blossom, and pear.
Rose is making a comeback.
Just like fashion, perfume trends are cyclical. Rose is a popular scent that recirculates every few years — and this summer, it's back, said Darryl Do, New York-based senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrances & Flavors.
However, he predicts that perfumers may lean away from a traditional tea rose scent and into something more modern.
One fresh rose fragrance he recommends for summer is the Chloé Eau de Parfum with Rose & Amber. It's a light, easily wearable scent with hints of peony, lychee, and freesia.
Teddy Haugen, perfumer, creative director, and cofounder of House of Cosmo, and founder of Teddy The Perfumer, also recommends Diptyque's Eau Rose Eau de Parfum, which boasts notes of rose, chamomile, and — interestingly — artichoke.
Want something a bit more woodsy? Ammons' tried-and-true is Aesop's Rozu Eau De Parfum, featuring notes of rose, bergamot, shiso, pink pepper, ylang ylang, jasmine, sandalwood, and patchouli.
Brighten up your fragrance wardrobe with yuzu.
One scent Do has been noticing a lot of already this summer is yuzu, a yellow-green citrus fruit native to East Asia.
In an ever-saturated market, perfumers are constantly looking to expand the citrus category with different scent profiles. "Bergamot is pretty much in everything, but yuzu seems slightly more exotic," Do said.
And expanding your summer fragrance wardrobe doesn't have to break the bank. An affordable yuzu perfume Do enjoys for the warmer months is Solinotes' Yuzu Eau de Parfum.
Fresh, bright, and fruity, this French-based scent combines the energetic profile of yuzu with a mix of other citrus notes. Pro tip: It can be worn completely on its own or layered with another one of your favorite scents.
Don't be afraid to embrace a bit of spice.
Although summer is typically associated with lighter, airier scents, Ammons likes to break the mold with unexpected, spicier fragrances.
One perfume he's been reaching for as the temperature heats up is Anti Parfum's Bast, a scent heavily inspired by the aromas of ancient Egypt.
Boasting warm notes of frankincense, cardamom, Greek saffron, myrrh, and amber, it's an incense-adjacent fragrance that will certainly turn heads.
Gourmands are likely to lean tropical this season.
It's no secret that gourmands have been big in the perfume world over the past couple of years, and that trend is continuing into the summertime.
Haugen predicts gourmands will veer into more tropical territory, though, with perfumers gravitating toward scents like pineapple, papaya, guava, and lychee.
His advice? When browsing summer perfumes, look for tropical notes paired with light florals like rose. "Looking for those kinds of exotic fruits … combined with nice florals can do a lot of heavy lifting in hot weather, because they just feel really fun and energetic," he said.
Musky, milky scents will continue to be popular.
Along with gourmands, perfumers have also been leaning into lactonic notes, or milky, creamy scents. Interest in lactonic notes will likely continue through the summer months.
One fragrance Haugen loves that encapsulates this milky vibe is Room 1015's Sonic Flower, a musky floral rounded out with notes of pink pepper, jasmine petals, cashmere woods, and skin musks.
Prefer something with a bit more mineral? Haugen recommends Arquiste's Sydney Rock Pool — reminiscent of how your skin smells after a beach trip — which also has hints of tropical notes like creamy coconut.
Read next
Zoë Hecht is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor who enjoys writing about beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and pop culture. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University, where she received her B.A. in English. Other than Business Insider, her work can be found on Bustle, Teen Vogue, Women’s Health, and more. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, sipping coffee, and scrolling through Pinterest.
