I really tried not to let the recent heat wave cramp my style. I commuted to the office and back, took my weekly walk to the bakery for a loaf of bread, went out for a happy hour date with a new acquaintance, attended a friend’s multi-sensory event at Olfactory Art Keller. I carried along a bottle of water and a hand fan and some baby wipes for surreptitious touch-ups on steamy subway platforms.

I still felt pretty gross.

One more thing that helped a bit, though: a tight rotation of perfumes that helped me imagine myself as someone who was able to remain crisp and pulled-together, even though sweat was soaking through my dress and my focus was wavering. One of these is a mainstay in my collection and the others are more recent “discoveries.”

What have you been wearing if you’ve been coping with uncomfortably warm weather?

I purchased my first bottle of Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau in the summer of 2003 and I’ve worn it every summer (and other times of year) since then. (Happy 20th Anniversary to us!) Tart black currant, leafy green vines, freshly cut rosebuds; always appropriate, never “too much.” Robin reviewed it for Now Smell This back in the early days of blogging; see here.

In recent years, Jo Malone’s seasonal limited editions have often seemed more interesting than their core line-up. Jo Malone Tangy Rhubarb Cologne was my favorite from their 2021 “Marmalade Collection” and I wrote a review of it that summer for Now Smell This. It’s cheerfully fruity not not overly sweet. Plus, I love the bottle, a twist on vintage James Keiller marmalade jars.

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz truly offers a fragrance for every season, and DSH Rosé (2022) is a flirty interpretation of rosé wine, with a slightly astringent opening and a softer, floral-fruity heart. I finished a 10 ml spray and ordered a full-size bottle immediately. I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed it, but Robin announced it on NST here.

Nomenclature Minted was launched in 2022 as part of the brand’s “Modern Eclectics” collection. Fragrances don’t get much more refreshing than this airy concoction of mint tea and jasmine; it’s really an ideal pick for a 100-degree day. I reviewed Minted last year for Now Smell This and I’m still enjoying my little bottle of it.

Lastly, I can recommend a new release: ERIS Delta of Venus, a guava-centered perfume inspired by the Garden of Eden as well as the writings of Anaïs Nin. I’ve been spritzing my sample of this sneakily erotic scent over the past few hazy days and I’m hoping to review it for NST in the current week. Stay tuned!