The smells of summer, perfumery version

Hey, it smells like summer! Whether we spend it in the mountains or on the beach, in the city or in the countryside, we all have an olfactory memory that reminds us of these good summer times . Since we're not sure we'll be able to escape for a few days this summer, we'll explain how perfumers recreate 3 scents that will take you on a journey just by closing your eyes .

The Mediterranean

Admit it, you didn’t see that one coming! And yet, this very characteristic olfactory atmosphere of the Mediterranean has very often been transcribed in perfumes.

Both fresh and floral, marine and fruity, it is composed of all the smells that you can find on the coast: bergamot, lemon, neroli, mandarin but also jasmine, fig tree, sometimes even associated with marine notes. A combo that has become a universal symbol in perfumery thanks to the influence of Italian perfumers, who launched this olfactory fashion which subsequently became a world reference .

Hello bella!

The best

Who spends a summer without sunscreen ? We could wear it just for its smell of white flowers, monoi and sometimes coconut. In perfumery we call this type of solar notes benzylated notes . Moreover, we owe the association of this type of note with sun cream to the famous perfumer Jean Patou who, following the democratization of tanning in the 1920s, marketed Chaldée oil [pronounced Kaldée]: "the first sun oil which protects the epidermis and reduces sunburn. Come on, let's head to the beach.

Plou

In perfume, the smell of the sea is transcribed thanks to marine notes . These are notes that smell of iodine, sand, sea air and sometimes watermelon! Yes, yes, you read that right! In fact, most marine notes in perfumery have a water fruit aspect, such as melon or watermelon. Don't worry, this fruity facet is not obvious in perfumes since it is associated with other raw materials! Moreover, it is only since the 90s that marine notes have become all the rage in perfumes - and more particularly men's. Indeed, while the 80s were marked by powerful and dense perfumes such as Poison or Loulou, in the 90s we wanted change, new freshness! Perfumers therefore take inspiration from the sea and use synthetic and natural materials : seaweed absolute, blue cypress, calone... combined with green or fresh notes such as citrus fruits, they will inevitably remind you of sea air! ⁠

And at Bastille?

We too wanted to give a nod to summer with our Un Deux Trois Soleil perfume. Its notes of neroli and almond evoke sunscreen, while the vanilla base is a nod to the ice cream enjoyed after leaving the beach. In short, enough to make you travel lightly...

Photos: Jules Theret, Mademoiselle-Voyage