Is there any scent that screams ‘summer!’ more than the smell of sunscreen?
When the days get colder and summer feels like a distant memory, detecting the scent of sunscreen is sure to bring on a nostalgic feeling, and with sunscreen-scented perfumes you can really immerse in that summertime nostalgia.
But while the floral and sweet scent of sunscreen is undeniably appealing, is it possible to find perfume that smells like suntan lotion?
As far as perfume scents go, this one is hard to come by.
Well, we’ve found three of the best perfumes that have strong fruity and floral scents that are not just reminiscent of summer, but sunscreen too!
What Does Sunscreen-Scented Perfume Even Smell Like?
Sunscreen has a distinctive scent that everyone loves and perfumes inspired by sunscreen have that familiar tanning oil smell.
As you would expect, sunscreen-scented perfume is ideal for the summer, especially when you’re going on vacation, or even just heading to the beach for the day!
OUR TOP PICK
As the name suggests, Bobbi Brown Beach Eau De Parfum will take you straight to the beach with one spritz!
Your senses are sure to be invigorated by this fresh, beachy scent. The perfume comes in a light bottle, and the fragrance itself has an undeniable sunscreen scent.
The beautiful bottle is nice and compact at 50ml and can hold around 1.7 oz of the fragrance.
The bottle has a transparent, champagne tint, and the liquid itself is also transparent and light. It will look great on any vanity table or in any bathroom cabinet!
Let’s delve a bit deeper into the scent. Of course, it has a strong sunscreen scent with a top note of sand jasmine, that gives it an overtone of florals.
You may notice these floral notes first, and it’s incredible how these floral top notes can recall the smell of the beach, but that is because there are aquatic notes too.
The longer you wear your perfume, the more the middle notes of sea spray will start to shine. Sea spray is a combination of ozonic florals, mandarin, and earthy notes.
This is an undeniable ocean scent that will take you back to days spent on the beach!
Then as your day winds down, you’ll start to notice the citrusy, mandarin notes.
Mandarin is often used in perfumes that have floral and fruity notes, spicing up an otherwise understated fragrance.
What we really love about this fragrance is how long-lasting it is. It will certainly survive a day on the beach!
As it is an Eau de Parfum, it will last for as long as 8 hours, so you can enjoy the scent all day while you’re out and about.
However, we do recommend using this fragrance sparingly, and topping it up a little every couple of hours.
If you’re a fan of that sunscreen scent and want a perfume that will take you back to carefree summer days, then this is the fragrance for you!
The mixture of floral overtones and gentle marine notes is a winning combination.
EDITORS CHOICE
Tom Ford Eau De Soleil Blanc is another perfume sure to transport you to the beach.
Tom Ford is one of the most well-known perfume brands ever, and when we heard that they were releasing a perfume that smells like sunscreen we were absolutely intrigued and couldn’t wait to try it!
As always, the bottle is extremely elegant. It’s completely white, with the name of the fragrance emblazoned in a golden square.
It also has a big top and will look glamorous and beautiful on any vanity table.
But what about the scent? This specialty scent has predominantly floral and Oriental notes.
You’ll immediately get bergamot, bitter orange, and petitgrain in the top notes, which gives the perfume a citrusy and floral vibe, with just a slight herbaceous hint.
There is also, however, a secret ingredient in this fragrance, and that’s caraway.
This is a spice with a similar flavor and smell to coriander and anise. This makes for one dynamic scent that really elevates this perfume.
You may also get hints of pistachio and pink pepper. These unique fragrances naturally give a hint of nuttiness to this strong fragrance.
You may also notice citron elements, and also notes of jasmine and Tunisian orange blossom.
When the perfume fades you’ll also get an unmistakably Tonka bean scent that has herbaceous, spicy and woody notes.
Finally, you’ll get a note of benzoin. This is a sweet scent that rounds off a perfume perfectly. You may also get hints of tuberose, which is a calming and soothing floral scent.
There is no denying that this fragrance has a tanning oil scent, and it lasts for around 6 hours.
We don’t recommend wearing it on days when you will be out and about for a long time.
However, if you’re heading to a party or even heading to work, it’s an ideal time to spritz some Tom Ford Eau De Soleil Blanc.
This powerful perfume has a hint of exotic essences and tropical fruits, and if you want to keep that signature summer smell without slathering on the sunscreen, then this is the perfume for you.
Plus, it comes in a gorgeous bottle and adds a touch of elegance to your vanity table.
BEST VALUE
Demeter is known for their unorthodox scents in neat, utilitarian bottles, and their Suntan Lotion Cologne is no exception.
As soon as we heard about it, we knew we must give it a try!
As we just alluded to, Demeter is known for their simple, understated bottle designs. It’s a slender, transparent bottle with a metal cap.
The Suntan Lotion Cologne has 4 fluid ounces or 93.56 grams of cologne spray.
If you like unfussy cologne bottles, then this fragrance is the one for you. It’s certain to blend in well to any vanity table.
However, where Demeter shines is in their unusual, effective scents, and this is no exception.
You’ll be hit with powerful floral notes when the bottle is opened, such as orange blossom and rose.
The orange blossom gives the fragrance a bright and gentle citrus aroma.
The centre notes are sweet and moreish, hitting you with musk and vetiver. The vetiver is by far the most intriguing ingredient.
You won’t be able to get enough of this scent, and it takes the fragrance to a whole other level. You’ll also find a hint of soap in the center notes too.
As this fragrance is made to be reminiscent of suntan lotion, it mainly has a soapy and slightly aquatic scent.
This may be off-putting to some, but remember this is the foundation for a fragrance that truly smells like suntan lotion.
As the fragrance fades and your day winds down, you’ll get notes of Virginian cedar. This is a herbaceous as well as woody scent that is sure to enliven your senses.
The sunscreen this fragrance most resembles is Coppertone sun lotion. It has a coconut inspired scent that isn’t too tropical and is sure to transport you to childhood vacations.
Remember to keep in mind that this fragrance is a cologne rather than a perfume, so it will last for a maximum of just 4 hours.
But this shouldn’t be a problem for most wearers, especially if you like to take your fragrance with you to touch up during the day.
Because the Demeter Suntan Lotion Cologne Spray has a very strong sunscreen scent and is very reminiscent of a famous sun lotion, it may not be for everyone.
But if you truly want to smell like suntan lotion without having to actually apply it, this could be the perfect fragrance for you.
Final Thoughts
While a lot of fragrances have scents evocative of summer, not many can capture that quintessential summer scent - sunscreen.
Plus, when you do find sunscreen inspired fragrances it can be hard to know which ones actually achieve this, but we believe these are the best three.
These fragrances make use of strong floral notes, as well as earthy bottom notes to really make sure the smell of sunscreen comes through.
They achieve this without having any lingering chemical smell!
Bobbi Brown’s Beach Eau De Parfum is the pick of the bunch, but for a powerful sunscreen scent we would recommend Demeter Suntan Lotion Cologne, as it has quite a concentrated sunscreen scent.
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