Fresh Air, But Make It Fragrance
Spring is the season of airing things out, swapping wool for linen, and rethinking what you actually want to smell like when the sun’s out. This lineup is for the fresh-air chasers, the spritz-happy optimists, and the scent snobs who want light and clean—but with range. From creamy florals (yes, really) to juicy musks and garden greens that don’t smell like wellness clichés, here are six fragrances that feel like main character energy on a breezy day.
Portofino ’97 by Victoria Beckham Beauty
A woodsy floral dream with real staying power, Portofino ’97 opens with bergamot and black pepper before taking a slightly sultry turn with geranium, amber, and vetiver. There’s also a creamy white floral tucked in the middle—and while I usually steer clear of anything that even mildly evokes “musk and milk,” this one is soft, refined, and as pulled-together as VB’s airport outfits. It smells like a villa weekend with linen separates and no emails. Bonus: it lasts all day, and actually gets better as it wears.
50ml / $200 or 100ml / $290 at bluemercury.com
11 11 by Lake & Skye
Minimalist, but make it joyful. 11 11 is that just-showered, sunny-morning kind of scent—musk and ozone with a whiff of laundry in a good way. It’s like wearing a cloud that’s been to therapy. Nothing competes, nothing clings, and yet somehow everyone wants to know what you’re wearing. This is the easiest fragrance to reach for when you want to smell clean without giving sterile.
50ml / $98 at lakeandskye.com (use code BART15 for 15% off)
Jake’s House by Henry Rose
This one smells like someone freshly out of the shower, in a white T-shirt, holding a glass of iced water—with a moisturizer habit and a decent 401(k). His name may or may not be Jake. Neroli and jasmine do the heavy lifting, but a hint of honey and clean musk keep things smooth and grown. It’s approachable, polished, and genuinely comforting—if comfort showed up with glowing skin and great references.
50ml / $140 at credobeauty.com
Cortile Dolce by Jordan Samuel Skin
This is the scent equivalent of reading a classic novel on a sun-dappled terrace before heading to dinner somewhere worth dressing up for. Cortile Dolce opens with neroli and lime leaf, light and joyful without veering too citrusy. The drydown—soft woods, white musk—is intimate, low-key elegant, and totally in character for Jordan Samuel’s skincare-adjacent sensibility. It’s fragrance for people who hate when fragrance tries too hard.
50ml / $130 at jordansamuelskin.com (try code OMGBART for 15% off)
Vert Désir by Veronique Gabai
If a morning walk through a perfect garden had a signature scent, this would be it. Vert Désir is green in the best possible way—minty, citrusy, a little herbal, a little mysterious. There’s lemon, absinthe, and a soft woody base that keeps everything from floating off into spa diffuser territory. This is refreshingly elegant, genderless, and far too chic to ever shout.
85ml / $260 at dermstore.com (try code OMGBART for 15% off)
Life of the Party by 5 Sens
This one is a wild card in the best way. Life of the Party bursts open with juicy red currant and immediately channels the lovechild of Montale Fruits of the Musk and Votivo’s Red Currant candle. There’s a shadow of something creamy and woodsy underneath, but the top stays loud (in a carefree way). 5 Sens feels like the cool, younger sibling who borrows your clothes and always makes them look better. The longevity isn’t award-winning—I’ve stayed at parties longer—but it’s a total blast to reapply.
30ml / $65 or 10ml travel spray / $29 at sephora.com
Posts You Should Check Out
Jones Road Shower Fragrance Review
D.S. & Durga Murder Mystery Layering Set
