Fragrance is deeply personal. In general, what smells good to one person might smell entirely different to someone else. (Thanks, pheromones!) I’m a major fragrance person, and I’m constantly churning through my massive collection of the best perfumes, and there are some notes that I don’t like on myself but love on others.
There is one fragrance note that I think works for nearly everyone, though, and that’s salt. If you think about it, it makes sense—our bodies have naturally occurring salts in them. Salty notes in perfume just help you get that certain je ne sais quoi. People will tell you that you smell good, but they won’t quite be able to land on why. Whether it's a luxury scent or an affordable fragrance, these perfumes give your skin a certain creamy, oceanic scent that’s hard to resist. Keep reading for some of the most intoxicating salty scents out there to try this spring and summer.
The Best Salty Fragrances, Tried & Tested
- Best Overall: Ellis Brooklyn Salt, £126
- Best Fresh Perfume: Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt, £122
- Best Floral Perfume: Lancôme Idôle Aura, £92
- Best Luxury Perfume: Dior Eden-Roc, £255
- Best Summer Perfume: Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, £222
1. Ellis Brooklyn Salt
Key notes: Ylang-ylang, Tahitian tiare, ambergris
As the name might clue you in on, this Ellis Brooklyn fragrance depicts salty skin at the beach. You know the feeling of frothy waves washing over your toes on a sunny day? This is that, bottled. "I would describe it as a skin scent. You know when you're on holiday, and you have to run across the boardwalk after a day on the beach because it's too hot beneath your feet? That's what this fragrance smells like to me," says deputy beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.
2. Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
This Jo Malone perfume might be the antithesis of a warm, tropical day at the beach—instead, picture brisk, seaside air sweeping through cliffs. Herbal, earthy, and woodsy notes render this fragrance an electric, invigorating breath of fresh air. I'm yet to meet anyone who doesn't love it.
3. Lancôme Idôle Aura
Key notes: Isparta, centifolia roses, white jasmine, bergamot, salted vanilla
While it's floral on the nose, this fragrance weaves in salty notes by way of salted vanilla. It's like eating a macaron in a blossoming garden. Trust me, the compliments will be out of this world.
4. Dior Eden-Roc
Key notes: Sea salt, citrus, minerals, jasmine, mastic, pine tree, labdanum
This is one of the most luxurious salty perfumes on the market. If you were able to smell underwater, this is what plunging into the ocean in the South of France would smell like. Well done, Dior.
5. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc
Key notes: Coco de mere, ylang ylang, jasmine, tuberose
One spritz of this fragrance transports you to a remote private island, surrounded by sun-dappled waters. In fact, in her review of Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, Lindsay said that it brings out her "yacht-party, island-hopping alter ego."
6. Floral Street Arizona Bloom
Key notes: Balinese coconut, Madagascan black pepper, oak moss, salted musks, jasmine petals, fig leaves, cashmere woods
This scent captures the essence of placid water at dawn. It's refreshing and airy, making it the perfect subtle scent. "I reach for this scent every summer without fail," says Lindsay. "The only way to describe it is like a holiday in a bottle. Creamy coconut gives it that fresh opening, whilst jasmine and salted musks add a richer, captivating edge."
7. Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk
Key notes: Bergamot, heliotrope, coconut milk
The ideal end to every long beach day is a sunset walk along the shore. This Maison Margiela Replica fragrance captures that perfectly, evoking the feeling of dusty golden rays bouncing off the water. As it is an eau de toilette, it feels beautifully light on the skin.
8. Diptyque Do Son
Key notes: Tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, marine accord
This unique Diptyque scent is bright, fresh, and airy. It's like lying down in a tuberose field and looking up at the sky. Honestly, just one spritz of this puts a smile on my face, and who doesn't want that?
9. Orebella Salted Muse
Key notes: Sea salt accord, pink pepper, olive tree accord, fig, lavender, cedarwood, sandalwood, amber
When I smell this Orebella fragrance, I'm immediately transported to a serene summer evening. It's woody and aquatic with a sea salt accord, but has a warming undertone thanks to notes of lavender. What's more, all Orebella perfumes are alcohol-free and contain essential oils and skin-loving ingredients to add a beautiful sheen to the skin, so it's perfect for pairing with your favourite summer dress.
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