In the summertime, it's natural to crave softer and sunnier scents - the sort you can live in and bear, even in the heat. Coconut perfumes offer exactly that, with creamy, radiant blends that evoke a sense of beachy bliss and memories of endless blue skies.
Some notes are just so intrinsically linked to a specific season, and in our minds, what smoky wood notes are to winter, coconut is to summer. Perhaps it's because so many suncreams boast the note, not to mention all the ice creams and cocktails that celebrate the flavour. Whatever it is, whenever we smell that softly sweet, nutty and milky aroma of a coconut, a wave of nostalgia hits and our minds are instantly transported to sunnier scenes. Its creaminess is what lends so many solar perfumes their distinctly radiant and sunkissed quality.
So, if you're looking for a new summer fragrance or just aren't a fan of floral and fruit notes and want to try something more in line with a milk perfume or gourmand, these coconutty scents are the way to go.
6 coconut perfumes that radiate summer with every spritz
RRP: from £74 for 50ml | Notes: Balinese coconut, Madagascan black pepper, oak moss, salted musks, jasmine petals, fig leaves and cashmere woods
For those who want a perfume that smells like sun cream, Floral Street's Arizona is the one I would recommend. It's smooth and salty, with notes of coconut layered over black pepper, musks, jasmine and cosy cashmere woods. It smells exactly like sun-warmed, suncream-covered skin, with a splash of sea water. A beautifully radiant and lightweight scent that just oozes summer in every respect.
RRP: from £62 for 30ml | Notes: Bergamot, pink pepper, lemon, ylang ylang, coconut milk, heliotrope, musks, cedarwood and benzoin
Like Arizona Bloom, there's such a beachy, sunkissed quality to this Replica perfume. The very purpose of this scent is to evoke memories of a stroll along the coast, and it does so perfectly by marrying sparkling bursts of citrus with creamy coconut milk, powdery heliotrope, musks and warm woods. It's soft and intimate, a skin-scent with a summery, slightly aquatic twist.
RRP: from £145 for 30ml | Notes: Bergamot, cardamom oil, pistachio, ylang-ylang, benzoin and Coco de Mer
Boasting hints of Coco de Mer (a seed from the same family as coconuts that grows on rare palm trees), pistachio, cardamom, ylang-ylang and benzoin, this Tom Ford blend is a favourite among those seeking a creamy, summery scent. It's rich, creamy and sensual, expertly crafted to capture the smell of sun and sea, with a warm and premium twist.
RRP: from £26 for 88ml | Notes: tiare blossoms, salty air, bergamot, coconut milk, pink pepper and sandalwood
For a versatile and lightweight option, this Phlur body and hair mist is a lovely choice and example of a coconut perfume. Aptly named Beach Skin, this scent is musky, creamy and warm, with salty notes meeting citrus, florals and, of course, a deliciously sweet trail of coconut. It's sexy and radiant, exactly what one might want for a relaxed and sun-soaked holiday scent, though it's also great for everyday wear - and for layering too, like the best Sol de Janeiro scents.
RRP: from £8 for 30ml | Notes: orange, coconut, vanilla and amber
M&S' perfumes are beloved for the luxe-smelling blends at budget-friendly prices, and White Coconut is no exception. Unlike some of the creamier blends in this round-up, it's fresher, with hints of citrus offering a brighter edge to those soft coconut and vanilla notes. As you wear it, though, that orangey opening peels back slightly to reveal warm amber. It's lovely and lightweight, ideal if you're looking for an easy signature to wear all day, every day - even once summer comes to an end.
RRP: £28 for 30ml | Notes: bergamot, coconut and vanilla praline
The milky look of this perfume really speaks to what awaits within - it's sheer, creamy and deliciously sweet, though not in the slightest bit sickly. There's a silky and light lactonic quality to it - truly like a splash of coconut milk on your skin - with soft hints of vanilla prailline and fresh bergamot. It's suncreamy, but in a very sheer and delicate way - a lovely scent for those who don't like heavy, overpowering fragrances and fans of layering. It is very subtle, though, so bear that in mind if you were hoping for a very long-lasting perfume - instead, consider Arizona Bloom.
Spanning premium, designer blends to popular, tried-and-tested high-street finds, there's a coconutty perfume for every budget and scent taste. But if none quite strike the right notes with you, may we also suggest pistachio perfumes, or perhaps a lightweight, airy perfume - if you're just seeking something easy, clean and crowd-pleasing.
What do coconut perfumes smell like
It depends slightly on what it's blended with, but on the whole, coconut fragrances are creamy, warm and sweet. Coconut essentially smells as it tastes: sweet, milky and a little nutty, and it lends a lovely solar-sort of quality and richness to perfumes. It's a very popular note in tropical and summer-leaning scents, as well as milk and gourmand perfumes.
