Le Bron James can’t take the ‘heat’ of New York City… Nor can the Amtrak commuters who waited for hours during yesterday's commuting delays.
Summer in any City overpowers your senses. Especially your sense of smell. Heat intensifies the reek of burning asphalt, uncollected garbage, doggie poo, and too many subway/metro riders who obviously never heard of deodorant. I would sooner lie out on “tar beach” wearing flannel pajamas, than wear a heavy, heady perfume outdoors, during the hot days of summer.
CaFleureBon offers some great tips on how to wear summer scents when the temperature rises.
Don't wear body creams in extreme heat, as you already have enough moisture on your skin from humidity & perspiration. If you feel you must wear some sort of moisturizer, switch to a lighter form, like a lotion, gel, dry oil mist, or liquid talc. We love Comptoir Sud Pacifique – Silky Dry Oil. Miri Manoi and oils of Vanilla, Papaya and Passion Fruit leaves an non-greasy veil of tropical scent that absorbs instantaneously. www.auseliebezumduft.com
DO change your fragrance with the season, your heavy or lush winter scent will overpower in the heat and may become cloying or overly sweet. What can be more apropos on a steamy day than Satellite Paris – 40 a l’ombre Eau de Parfum, (translation: 60 degrees in the shade). It is a light and sparkly scent, zesty with orange, lemon and grapefruit grounded in musk and patchouli. www.beautyhabit.com
DON'T spray fragrance onto sunburned or irritated skin. However, if you feel hot and sticky, Santa Maria Novella’s Aqua di Erba, is a fresh herb and water tonic and a true multi-tasker. Spritz it all over your linens, in the air (disinfectant on subways anyone?) and your body. Use it in the rinse cycle of your washing machine and used in your bath to calm irritated skin. This refreshing, alcohol free splash is an amazing natural way to reduce perspiration, tone the skin and feel fresh and invigorated. Apply liberally all over the body (even under the arms). www.lafcony.com
Do wear body oils, solid fragrances, or some of the summer fragrances specially formulated without alcohol as they will not be as heavy in the heat. A solid fragrance that doesn’t smell like candle wax is hard to come by, which is why we adore Julie Eliot’s In Fiore’s Bois D’ete, What can we say? The packaging is gorgeous. The gold toned compact nestled in a velvet pouch is so elegant. The base of jojoba oil and honey scented beeswax is amazingly light on the skin…and long lasting. Bois d’ete has bergamot and lemon notes, but the vetiver gives it a deep green nuance. www.infiore.com
Do switch to eau de toilette because that will not be as heavy or overpowering as a parfum or eau de parfums. Editor's fave: Beth Terry knows summertime…we cannot stop raving about Creative Universe Vita, comprised of rare teas, plum, blackcurrant, lily of the valley, and citrus. Yes, we are on our second bottle and we are quite worried because Beth is moving on to pursue other opportunites. For now grab two or three while they last www.luckyscent.com .
Editor's Fave: From Neil Morris Fragrances, I adore Midnite flowers from the Vault collection. Neil was inspired by a night walk at Hawaiian beaches and the exotic scent of Hawaiian flowers. How could I not? Neil knows me since 2006 and my predilection for sweet orange, green tea, dark amber and patchouli notes in my personal scents. One of the few florals I wear; the pikake is an aphrodisiac… perhaps not the wisest choice for the subway. www.neilmorrisfragrances.com
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DON'T wear fragrance to the beach, hiking, or to a picnic. You'll attract mosquitoes, flies & bugs like crazy! Instead, use a perfumed soap, or bath gel when you wash in the morning. Most of it will rinse off, but you'll retain a very slight scent that YOU will know is there. One of our faves is Geo F. Trumper's triple milled bath soap in Extracts of Lime , which is billed 'for gentlemen', but trust me ladies , buy one for him and one for you.
https://minnewyork.com/extract-of-limes-soaps-collection.html
DO cool off “indoors” with fresh smelling room sprays and diffusers that evoke wind swept beaches. If the smell of a cooling ocean breeze is what you crave as the thermostat climbs, Linari’s luxe home diffuser or room spray in Oceano, captures the scent of the sea. Available at www.minnewyork.com https://minnewyork.com/home-interior/linari-oceano-fragrance-diffuser.html
– Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief