How to Choose a Fragrance, Any Time of Year

Just as your wardrobe changes with the seasons, your fragrance may change too. Or, you could be someone who prefers a signature scent to wear every single day. 

If you’re the type to spritz a seasonal fragrance, you might wonder  how to choose a fragrance based on the time of year. Sound like you? Before you start spritzing, let’s get into our top tips.

Why Fragrance Changes with the Weather

There are a few reasons why people like to change their scent each season. The first is, well, their mood changes. When it’s warm in spring and summer, you might want to counter the heat with something fresh and light. When it turns cooler, your tastes may shift to a richer and deeper base with woody or spicy notes. 

That being said, there are practical reasons a fragrance may work better in different seasons, too. For example, the longevity, balance, and throw of the scent (that is, how far away others can smell it) can change depending on the environment. In other words, the best perfume for cold weather may not smell the same in high heat and humidity, while the best perfume for hot weather may be too light when you have on extra layers. But if you like to wear a so-called summery scent in winter, go for it! 

Best Fragrance Notes by Season

Before we dive deep into the ideal fragrances for each season, let’s look at some of the best notes to wear in spring, summer, fall, and winter. And again, you can wear anything you like, anytime you like—these are just guidelines.

• Spring: light fruits, like lychee and dragonfruit, and florals, like jasmine and hibiscus

• Summer: tropical fruits, like coconut, and florals like solar tuberose 

• Autumn: earthy, grounded sandalwood, patchouli, and amber

• Winter: spicy and sweet notes like warm vanilla, tonka bean, and toasted nuts

Now, let’s get into the details for how to choose a perfume for each season, and which Sol de Janeiro perfume mists we recommend.

Spring Scents: Fresh Starts

It’s the season of renewal, making spring absolutely perfect for scents ripe with floral, green, and light citrus notes. But aside from those fresh spring fragrance notes, the best spring perfumes embody a feeling—of walking in a garden, lying in the grass, or simply basking in the sunshine. 

We recommend a spring floral perfume mist like Cheirosa 68, an enchanting fragrance featuring energizing pink dragonfruit, Brazilian jasmine, and sheer vanilla. Or, for something sunny, you can’t go wrong with our iconic Cheirosa 62™. The irresistible scent opens with creamy pistachio, while a hint of salted caramel unites with jasmine petals and vanilla. 

Summer Fragrances: Bright, Bold & Beachy

Hot summer days mean warm, luminous, and tropical fragrances. If you’re looking for the perfect perfume for hot weather, you can’t go wrong with our new Limited Edition Sundays in Rio Perfume Mist. It keeps the weekend vibes flowing with vibrant notes of warm vanilla, pink pepper, and amber musk. 

Another summer fragrance profile we love is coconut. For the full coconut experience, spritz on Limited Edition Cheirosa 39. Back by popular demand, this mouthwatering fragrance opens with whipped coconut cream, while tropical orchid and toasted praline float on a warm vanilla breeze. If you prefer a more juicy tropical scent, Cheirosa 48 is begging to be worn poolside with notes of guava nectar, coconut water, sunlit orchid, and vanilla cloud. 

Autumn Fragrances: Soft & Earthy

Just as you turn to warm comforts this time of year, you can do the same with your scent. As the weather cools, the leaves turn, and layers come back into your wardrobe, consider fall fragrance notes like amber, patchouli, and sandalwood. The best autumn perfumes put you in that fall feeling right away, like Cheirosa 59; this warm woody scent for fall immerses your body and mind with notes of vanilla orchid and sugared violet, while sheer sandalwood mingles with whipped amber.

Another favorite is Cheirosa 76. Intoxicating and velvety, it features black currant, midnight jasmine, and vanilla crème before drying down to a base of amber woods and caramelized patchouli. 

Winter Scents: Rich, Bold & Lasting

Last but not least is winter. Now’s the time to choose rich perfumes for cold weather that lean into deeper base notes that last and last (fortunately, all of our perfume mists are long-lasting winter fragrances, and you can mist them on anytime you like for a refresh). Among the best winter scents is Cheirosa 71, a warm and cozy fragrance that wraps you up in the comfort of caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, and rich tonka bean. 

We also love the elegant scent profile of Cheirosa 40 for soirée season. Sultry and delicate, it features rich Black Amber plum, jasmine blooms, vanilla woods, and warm musk.

How to Build a Seasonal Scent Wardrobe

Half the fun of a scent wardrobe is rotating between seasons. There’s no need to play favorites—you can love them all equally. The key is to find something you want to wear. Pro tip: If you love a limited-edition scent, shop it now. Our limited drops go fast. But our core collection is always here for you. 

If you’re looking for how to choose a signature scent, the same advice rings true. Focus on what you love, and worry about seasonality second. The only rule is there are no rules!

All Sol de Janeiro perfume mists are designed to be layered, mixed and matched, so if you want to transition your scent or make something entirely your own, you can feel free to experiment. Also, try layering with matching body washes and body creams to intensify the scent even more.

Not sure what fragrance feels right for you? Shop our discovery sets to experiment with multiple perfume mists. As a reminder, your scent will transform and adapt with you throughout your day, so see if you like how the top, mid, and base notes evolve with you. 

Need more guidance? Take our Fragrance Finder quiz to narrow down your perfect scent match. We can’t wait for you to find yours.