What's in a summer scent?

© Takasago

Natalie Le Cann tells us what makes a quintessential summer scent. 

Her all-time classic perfume: Shalimar by Guerlain
Her fave spice: nutmeg
Her fave herb: lemongrass
Natalie wishes she'd created: L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci

What's your idea of a summer scent?
A summer perfume, for me, should evoke holidays - sun, sea, sand, fun and of course freshness. As such, summery perfumes contain exotic fruity and floral notes such as 
tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom and citrus fruit. It has to freshen you up.

Is cologne still cool or has it been overtaken by fresh eaux de toilette?
Eaux de Cologne are definitely thought of as being pretty old-fashioned, but that's only if you take it to mean pure cologne. Nowadays there are loads of new more modern eaux de cologne. Dior Homme Cologne and Chanel's Eau de Cologne are very much a modern take on traditional colognes.

What ingredients do summer perfumes contain?
The main ingredients of an eau de Cologne are all citrus fruits, lemon, orange, bergamot, limette, orange blossom and neroli with a light musky note in the background. Sunny scents get their fragrance from a subtle blend of floral and exotic fruity notes with a touch of vanilla and spices.

What's in this summer in the world of perfume?
Summery perfumes are doing well at the perfume box office at the minute: almost all the major brands are launching more refreshing, summery versions of perfumes that are already on the market.