19 Truly Perfect Scents That Were Practically Made to Be Worn Poolside

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(Image credit: @carodaur)

Now that we’re in the throes of summer, I’m having a bit of an identity crisis about my signature scent. I love warm, sugary fragrances so much that I wear them 365 days a year. But the 90-degree weather in L.A. has me second-guessing my go-to scents. While I have become adventurous in my year of discovering new perfumes, I’m still a gourmand gal at heart. Still, I’m starting to crave lighter scents, especially with swimming pool hangs and beach days in full swing. A brief, seasonal pivot from my gourmand ways might just be necessary. 

I decided to embark on a quest to find a new poolside-friendly summer scent and visit the Maison Henry Jacques in Beverly Hills, also known as the mecca of luxury fragrances. The boutique opened in 2021 and is the first location for Henry Jacques in the U.S. It feels like an entirely different world when you step inside, as it is made to look like a 19th-century French apartment. There, I had a one-on-one fragrance consultation unlike anything I’ve experienced. Anyone who is fragrance-obsessed must plan a visit to the boutique when in L.A. It is heaven.

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(Image credit: @marielodiandreakos)

I smelled an array of fragrances while at Maison Henry Jacques, most of which came from Les Classiques, a collection of 50 signature scents. But it was the In All Intimacy collection, a collaboration with Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria Perello, that I found to be perfect for summer. 

Rafael was reportedly inspired by the Mediterranean when creating his two fragrances. One is a lighter scent designed for when he plays tennis. It consists of coriander, thyme, violet, lavender, lemon, and artemisia. The other is his personal scent and has notes of bergamot, jasmine flower, lilac, and rose.

Maria’s fragrance has violet, orange blossom, bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood, and white musk.

I also sought the guidance of a couple of fragrance experts. When I asked Clara Molloy, co-founder of Memo Paris, what to look for, she said it all depends on how you want to feel when by the pool or on the beach. "There are no rules; perfume is a matter of freedom to be matched to your desires of the moment. Whether you're with your family, as a couple, alone or joining friends, planning to have lunch or go for a swim, wearing a dress, a sarong, a hat, jewelry, and so on, it can change your perfume mood," she said. "If you're there mainly to enjoy the water, you may prefer fresh, soft, light scents."

I also wanted advice from Marisa Auciello, senior vice president at Europerfumes. She had me envisioning myself as the queen of pool parties (even though I don't know how to swim) while wanting to plan some epic date nights with my husband. This would require two types of summer fragrances, which sounds great to me! Ahead, see her recommendations for poolside fragrances and a few favorites from me!

The Absolute Best Perfumes to Wear Poolside

Up next, I Spent 3 Hour Topless in the Sun and Didn't Get Burned—My 3 Secret Weapons

Marie Lodi
Freelance Beauty and Fashion Writer/Editor

Marie has covered beauty, fashion, and lifestyle for almost 15 years. She contributes to the beauty section here at Who What Wear. Previously, she was the Looks Editor for Bust Magazine, built the beauty vertical at HelloGiggles as its beauty editor, and was a founding staff writer at Rookie mag, giving fashion advice to teens. Her bylines have appeared in The Cut, Allure, Glamour, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She was born and raised in Southern California and is based in L.A. Marie is a self-proclaimed costume design nerd and a co-host of Makeover Montage, a podcast about fashion in film and costume design. You'll see her writing about her beauty obsessions: red lipstick, winged eyeliner, pink hair, nail art, and skincare for people over 40. When she's not working, she's playing with her dog, Gnocchi, and writing her style newsletter, Overdressed.