It can often feel like scents act as instant mood-lifters, and with so much turmoil woven into everyday life, we find ourselves relying on them more than ever to comfort us or help take us back to a specific memory or place. And as time passes, they can help us celebrate seasonal shifts, like the transition from an often gloomy winter to the vibrant, hopeful feeling that comes with spring. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful spring fragrances — and so many new ones — available to help us get in the mood for and embrace the season.
We sometimes feel like Goldilocks when it comes to picking a new signature scent. One might be too fruity. One might not be musky enough. One might have an overwhelming mix of notes you’ve never heard before. But in the end, there is always one that will fit you just right. In fact, that perfect scent might be something you already know and love, just with a slight twist, like Tom Ford Electric Cherry or Ellis Brookyn Florist.
And because we’re so ready for fresh starts whenever the opportunity presents itself, there are plenty of completely new fragrances to help us feel like spring is truly the time for renewal it always promises to be. Scents like Ourside Dusk and Perfumehead Cosmic Cowboy offer an opportunity to revisit the past or reimagine who you are.
To help you narrow down some of your options and make it less overwhelming, we’ve pulled the best perfumes of the spring so far, including picks from new brands like Elorea, Kayali, and Diptyque. You can thank us later.
There’s technically no need to reinvent the wheel, but isn’t it fun when someone does? Ellis Brooklyn’s Florist is a spring floral (groundbreaking, we know) featuring some classic blooming notes — tuberose, gardenia, and jasmine — that are elevated by bright citrus punches and grounded by an earthy sandalwood and cedar base. Honeysuckle fans, this eau de parfum’s for you.
If you like smelling even sweeter than your favorite dessert, look no further than Kayali’s Yum Pistachio Gelato. The ingredient list is chock-full of gourmand fragrance staples like rum, cardamom, and tonka bean, plus some unique olfactory delicacies like ice cream, cotton candy, and whipped cream. After a spritz of this decadent and creamy perfume, the only thing that’ll smell better than the cake on its way to the table is you.
Ourside is a Bronx-based, Black-owned fragrance brand whose nostalgic, midnight jasmine-inspired scents immediately caught our attention here at Allure. Dusk Eau de Parfum’s fresh grapefruit, fig, and bergamot top notes come first, then it settles into its earthy musk, cedarwood, and patchouli base. If staring at the stars while laying on a bed of dewy grass could be bottled and sold, it would be Dusk.