In Brussels, summer has decisively arrived. It’s been exceptionally warm for a week, with temperatures rising over 30 degrees Celsius today. The perfect time, then, to take a look at the summer perfumes I’m currently loving. As always, this is not a complete list of everything I’ve been wearing and will wear, but it covers most of my favourites.

1. Chanel Paris-Deauville. I’m far from thinking that in the heat, one should only wear light colognes and fresh perfumes, but it is certainly good to have something in this category on hand. Deauville isn’t the crispest cologne ever, but I find it incredibly wearable. I have already written about it here, so take a look if you’re curious.

2. Chanel Cristalle. Cristalle is one of my all-time favourite Chanel scents: I wear it year round, but it’s excellent for summer. To me, it is very similar to Deauville, although sparklier and cooler. So if you cannot get Deauville where you are or it turns too sweet on you, take special note.

3. Frederic Malle Carnal Flower Hair Mist. White floral notes bloom in the heat. Depending on your preferences, this is either fantastic or terrifying. Carnal Flower is universally thought to be one of the best tuberose perfumes ever created, but it’s not for the timid. The hair mist version is lighter, so can be a great option if you love the scent, but find it a bit much in the middle of the summer.

4. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil. Another one that isn’t a proper perfume, but I make the rules here. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess is one of the most popular summer perfumes of all time, with its tropical flowers, coconut and hint of sunscreen. I love it, but my bottle seems to be in Tallinn. As an alternative, I’ve been wearing this Tom Ford oil that has a similar vibe. I could not bring myself to buy the perfume itself, as it’s about five times more expensive than Bronze Goddess and not necessarily better. Is the oil worth the money? Not sure. Still, it’s nice work if you can get it.

5. Serge Lutens Sarrasins. If Soleil Blanc is great for pretending you are on the beach and Carnal Flower is good for scorching days in the office, Sarrasins is the white floral (in this case jasmine) for the evenings. I do of course wear it during the day as well, as it’s gorgeous, but I can think of very few perfumes that would be better for a balmy night. The inky colour is also fitting. I’ve got a full review here.

6. Masque Milano Times Square. There are evenings and there are evenings. If yours involve sticky nightclubs, short skirts, cigarettes, sex and strawberry shampoo, I suggest checking out Times Square. It is not a perfume for everyone and I am surprised that it is, in fact, a perfume for me. It’s sweeter than what I usually like and has an animalic touch, often something that doesn’t work for me. But I find Times Square addictive and just on the right amount of sinful.

7. Jo Malone French Lime Blossom. I love contrasts and this Jo Malone cologne is pretty much the opposite of Times Square. There is nothing dark or dangerous about it; you could – justifiably – say it’s rather boring. But one is not necessarily in the mood for questionable adventures every day, one might instead want to wear a gingham dress and smell fresh as a daisy. Or linden trees. This is a clean, wholesome, slightly powdery scent that makes me think of just-ironed laundry. (I’ve also been enjoying Jo Malone’s Jasmine Sambac & Marigold, an approachable summer jasmine, but I only have a sample of it.)

8. The Different Company Aurore Nomade. Every summer, I return to Philosykos for a fig fix and I will wear it this year as well. I have, however, added another fruity perfume to my arsenal, TDC’s Aurore Nomade. While Philosykos is very much about a Mediterranean summer, Aurore Nomade is tropical, with a surprising and surprisingly wonderful banana note. It is a happy and carefree scent, but more sophisticated and complex than the banana would lead you to believe. As is usual for the nose Bertrand Duchaoufour, the list of notes is long and strange, ranging from star fruit and sea to geranium, ylang ylang and rum. I recommend sniffing it even if it’s not your thing.

What are you wearing this summer? Any new launches that have caught your nose?