Summer in the UAE? 7 long-lasting perfumes made for the heat

If only choosing a summer perfume was as simple as sniffing and saying, ‘It smells good.’ It’s a mistake that most of us often make, and when I say most of us, I mean me. But, it’s a hard learning that when it comes to summer, a fragrance isn’t enough: You need the right one.

Otherwise, even all the perfumes of Arabia might not help—as Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth dramatically found out.

So what really works? And why does just a fragrant perfume not enough for the UAE summers? Well, we spoke to a few experts, who had a lot to say on the subject.

Shaneela Qamar, author of the book The Fragrance: The History of Perfume in Arabian History and a perfume connoisseur breaks it down for us. “Summer perfumes are usually categorised by those that are light, refreshing, cooling in temperatures, and those that have an airy, light sillage,” she says. It doesn’t overwhelm the people around you. “These types of fragrances are clean, bright and uplifting for not just the mood of the wearer, but to those around them.”

So what makes a summer scent stand out? Bright, fresh, sparkling and volatile. And that’s where citrus fragrances come in. “Citrus fragrances by nature are volatile, as they evaporate quickly, giving off a temporary, but refreshing burst. It’s associated with cleanliness, outdoors, where people most of their time during the summer months,” explains Qamar. Such summery fragrances tend to include the notes of pineapples, green apple, bergamot, orange, grapefruit and mandarin, apart from lemon.

Even peony, lotus flower, musk, lychee and iris are good choices for the summer. If you need some examples of what kind of perfumes are good for women: Qamar has some suggestions for you too. Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin, Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche and Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine, which is a unisex scent.

And what about men? Well, the best fragrances to use during the summertime in the UAE, are those that contain notes of bergamot, neroli, lemon, mint, aquatic notes and green tea.  These are also light, refreshing and cooling,” adds Qamar. “Examples of these for men, include Tom Ford Neroli Portofino and Acqua di Gio Homme Cologne.  Light musk fragrances, which evoke the lightness of clean linen and cottons are recommended, such as Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis,” she says. For instance, Abu Dhabi-based Kritika Mehra vouches for her eternal companion, Versace Bright Crystal. It feels good, light, and oh, so comforting.

Summer breezes in a bottle, anyone?

When it comes to summer in the UAE, a little fruitiness never hurts. In fact, most people want a whole fruit basket in a bottle.

Jimmy Chacko, who founded Hekayat Attar, a perfumery house that is now a thriving fragrance business in other countries too, including US, Canada and the Middle East, explains further, what he has seen from sales. “People choose fruity freshness. They love those fresh-note fragrances, and that’s what many big brands sell in the summers,” he says. He notes that citrus, fruity, and floral blends are particularly popular during the summer months. One such example from his collection 'Gigglepuff', features top notes like Italian lemon, coconut, and grapefruit, with soft layers of Bourbon vanilla, peach, gardenia, and jasmine, finishing on a base of caramel, vanilla bean, and musk.

Goodness, how do perfumes just sound so delicious. And that’s not all, there are pineapple perfumes too, that sell like hot cakes.

And hold up, don’t rule out gourmand perfumes, as Chacko emphasises. It’s a big market, even though it’s commonly believed that it isn’t a good option for summer due to its heaviness. A little trick and tweak is required there as Qamar explains: Go for light gourmand notes, such as matcha tea, ginger and white chocolate. One example would be  Louis Vuitton’s Imagination, with its black tea and ginger. 

What you shouldn’t usually try:  Heavy ambers and oud fragrances are not the best, especially during the UAE summers and those gourmands also which are heavy should be avoided.  It turns clawing, overpowering to the wearer and those around him. Not even coffee, keep that to your morning ritual. “These can feel sticky and turn sour on the body and can be nauseating,” explains Qamar.