Light Perfumes Are My Beauty Editor Go-To for Summer Fragrance Layering

Can I interest you in some fruity, citrus scents?

Woman with bows in her hair posing with face away from the camera.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There's a time and place for an intense, heavy perfume like Valentino's Donna Born in Roma or Tom Ford's Fucking Fabulous. They make a statement the second I enter a room and radiate overwhelming power and confidence. But I prefer to wear one of the best light perfumes for the day-to-day, island getaways, or cozy days spent at home.

Light perfumes are generally fresh or watery and may include seasonal notes like coconut or rose; occasionally, there's citrus, orange blossom, and white musk in the mix, too, says perfume expert, historian, and author of The Story of Perfume Élisabeth de Feydeau.

Mostly, I try to avoid opulent and dense elements such as tuberose, spicy rose, oud, sandalwood, and animal notes. But there's always an exception to the rule. Some of the best light fragrances, like Phlur's Missing Person and Diptyque's L'Eau Papier, know how to use these “heavy” ingredients to their advantage.

There's something for everyone in the light perfume world. While fragrance is incredibly personal, I've taken the liberty of rounding up my favorite lightest, brightest perfumes on the market.

Best Light Perfumes

Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM — Best Light Fragrances

Audrey Noble's pick for best light fragrance overall.

(Image credit: Audrey Noble)

Ariel Baker testing Missing Person perfume.

Ariel Baker testing Missing Person perfume.

(Image credit: Ariel Baker)

Ariel Baker testing L'eau Papier perfume.

Ariel Baker testing L'eau Papier perfume.

(Image credit: Ariel Baker)

Ariel Baker testing 11 11 Vanilla Sky perfume.

Ariel Baker testing 11 11 Vanilla Sky perfume.

(Image credit: Ariel Baker)

Ariel Baker testing Fueguia 1833 Muskara Phero J perfume.

Ariel Baker testing Fueguia 1833 Muskara Phero J perfume.

(Image credit: Ariel Baker)

Other Light Fragrances I Love

Ellis Brooklyn Miami Nectar — Best Light Fragrance

Audrey Noble's pick for best gourmand light perfume.

(Image credit: Audrey Noble)

Chanel Eau Tendre — Best Light Fragrance

Audrey Noble's pick for best fresh light perfume.

(Image credit: Audrey Noble)

Dolce. & Gabbana Velvet Infusion — Best Light Fragrance

Audrey Noble's pick for best citrus light fragrance.

(Image credit: Audrey Noble)

Vilhelm Parfumerie Sparkling Jo — Best Light Perfume

Audrey Noble's pick for best wood light perfume.

(Image credit: Audrey Noble)

How Long do Light Perfumes Last?

De Feydeau admits that light perfumes don't always linger as long as heavy options like musk and oud. "They are not made to last and persist," she says. "They have raw materials in their composition that are ethereal and airy, therefore volatile."

That being said, if you're opting for a light fragrance, stow a travel-sized bottle in your bag to reapply throughout the day. You can also spray your hair and clothing, where the fragrance will linger longer than it might on your skin.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

How We Tested

To compile this list of the best light fragrances, we scoured the internet and combed through countless customer reviews to find the top-rated options on the market. We also asked the Marie Claire team to share their holy grail picks and asked independent and staff testers to try a mix of cult favorites and new launches.

For each light fragrance we tested, we assessed the fragrance's notes, how long it lasts, and its overall scent as the day went on.

Meet the Expert

Élisabeth de Feydeau
Élisabeth de Feydeau

Élisabeth de Feydeau is a French historian and writer who specializes in perfume. A recipient of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award, she is renowned in her field, having taught at the Versailles "School of Fragrances" and worked with the likes of Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Guerlain, and more. She has also written books about fragrance, the most recent of which is The Story of Perfume.

Audrey Noble
Contributing Beauty Writer

Audrey Noble is a freelance beauty editor and writer with 10 years of experience in the industry. Previous to going freelance, she has held editorial positions at Vanity Fair, Allure, and Refinery29. Now, along with Marie Claire, she regularly contributes to Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, and more. 

In her spare time, she is either catching every Lakers game on TV (time difference be damned) or binging the latest season of Love Island (both UK and US). 

With contributions from