Smells like summer (From Dudley News)

Smells like summer

7:00am Saturday 12th May 2012 in NewsXtra

Replace your signature fragrance with a summer scent. Lisa Haynes reveals this season's hottest limited editions.

After non-stop April showers and floods, we've never needed a taste of summer like we do now.

Thankfully a spritz of fragrance can be evocative of blue skies, white beaches and frothy oceans, whatever the weather outside.

So take full advantage of the scent-switching season.

Just as our clothing layers become lighter, so too should our fragrance - think eau de toilette or eau fraiche. Even long-established classic scents like Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein and Issey Miyake lighten up for the sunshine season with refreshing alternatives.

"Wintery perfumes tend to be spicier, heavier and more complex than summer fragrances so by the time the sunshine hits, people are usually ready for a change," explains John Stephen, head perfumer of The Cotswold Perfumery.

"You wouldn't walk down the beach in a pair of sheepskin boots and, similarly, a strong sandalwood, cashmere wood or black pepper may be too heady and a touch out of place for the summer months."

Tempted by a new dressing table addition? Be quick as these sunny scents are limited editions with bottles diminishing faster than barbecue sausages on a scorching hot day.

Put your heavy parfum on vacation and spritz your way into summer mode.

Drenched delight Marc Jacobs Splash has gone tropical with three scents to transport you to an island oasis. The colourful designer cubes are available in Rain (think tropical Monsoons); Kumquat (fizzy and refreshing) or Hibiscus (a sultry, fruity floral).

:: Marc Jacobs Splash Tropical Collection EDT, £29 each for 100ml (0800 652 7661) Riviera chic You can always rely on Dolce&Gabbana for some Italian escapism. Light Blue has been given a summer vacation makeover with Dreaming in Portofino. Expect a chypre floral scent with lashings of sensual femininity.

:: Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue Dreaming in Portofino EDT, from £32 (nationwide) Ray of sunshine Paul Smith's Sunshine beaming sunset bottle should brighten your day with its vibrant pink and yellow hues. The fruity floral is a zesty bouquet, opening with grapefruit, bergamot and juicy peach and fading into a floral heart and woody base.

:: Paul Smith Sunshine EDT, £31 for 100ml (Boots) One summer It's the fragrance you and your man can pack in the suitcase to save on excess baggage. The unisex ck one Summer captures a splash of cool refreshment on a hot day at the beach with a blend of cucumber, water lotus and driftwood.

:: ck one Summer EDT, £29 for 100ml (0800 083 6310) Halcyon days Celebrating the best of 20 years of summer fragrances, Escada marks this season with three re-released favourites. Rockin' Rio, Sexy Graffiti and Island Kiss encapsulate fun times in Rio de Janeiro, New York and the Caribbean Islands.

:: Escada Summer Limited Editions EDT, from £19.99 for 30ml (www.theperfumeshop.com) Beach babe Estee Lauder's much-loved Bronze Goddess returns to bask on the summer shelves but this year it has a seductive sister. Inspired by the Isle of Capri, this scent is an alluring citrus floral blend with cassis, mandarin and lemon leaves.

:: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Capri Eau Fraiche, £40 for 100ml (0870 034 2566/www.esteelauder.co.uk) Jungle fever Dubbed 'the urban jungle', Jean Paul Gaultier invites us to revel in the warmth of a botanical world. There's a summer twist on the original Classique with additional notes of rose and orange blossom, whilst a tropical print drapes the curvy bottle.

:: Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Summer EDT, £39.50 for 100ml (House of Fraser) Ocean fresh Dive into Pacific paradise with Davidoff Cool Water's summer edition for women. This fruity floral opens with mint leaves to give the fragrance a blast of feminine freshness.

:: Davidoff Cool Water Woman Pure Pacific EDT, £32 for 100ml (Boots) Glow getter The Body Shop's perfumers have worked their summer magic on three of their best-selling fragrances for a sunny twist. Meet Love Etc Sun Kiss, Dreams Unlimited Sun Fresh and White Musk Sun Glow, all capture the essence of our favourite summer feelings.

:: The Body Shop Summer Fragrance Collection EDT, £15 each for 50ml (www.thebodyshop.co.uk) Oasis retreat The bottle's palm leaves alone are enough to send you into holiday heaven. Sparkling and crisp, Issey Miyake's L'Eau d'Issey Summer fragrance is a summer twist on the original with additional notes of rose and pear water.

:: L'Eau d'Issey Summer EDT, £39.50 for 100ml (House of Fraser) Summer serenity Whether your summer romance is fleeting or true love, set the tone with the romantic Eternity Summer. The fresh floral fruity scent opens with Japanese pear martini accord whilst the heart is surrounded by white peony petals.

:: Calvin Klein Eternity Summer EDP, £33 for 100ml (0800 083 6310) Sunny disposition Diane Von Furstenberg set her designs on a sun-filled lighter interpretation of her original fragrance. Sunny Diane is holiday-style playful with notes of mandarin, sea breeze and frangipani flower.

:: Sunny Diane EDT, £39.50 for 100ml (Debenhams) Tried & tested Nail the summer mood with uplifting yellow. Our testers try sunny colours on their talons: :: MUA Love Hearts Nail Varnish in U & I yellow, £2 (Superdrug) A gorgeous golden yellow colour that sets off a summer tan a treat. Sadly the consistency is too thick meaning it was tricky to get a smooth and sunny finish.

2/5 :: Mavala Delicious collection in Lemon Cream, £4.30 (John Lewis/Debenhams) This pale yellow shade looks deliciously like lemon curd. With subtle glitzy speckles, it brushes on easily and lasts up to a week. Best suited to olive or fair skin tones.

3/5 :: Avon Nailwear Pro in Lemon Sugar, £6 (www.avonshop.co.uk) If the name alone doesn't get your mouth watering, the juicy colour will. Creamy, bright and lemon zesty, after two coats the eye-popping colour really put a spring in my step.

4/5 Buy it now No excuses for unkempt eyebrows. Brow guru Shavata has teamed up with Fashion Targets Breast Cancer to create a monochromatic range of tweezers, £9.95, and matching compact mirror, £12.95. Each product carries a 30% donation to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Available for a limited time at www.shavata.co.uk Beauty bulletin :: Looks to dye for You can't beat a celebrity muse when it comes to hair colour and it seems Cheryl Cole is top of the crops this summer. A third (33%) of British women want to mirror the signature brunette locks of the singer, according to new research by hair colour company, Natur Vital Coloursafe. Sienna Miller is the leading blonde (15%) while Florence Welch (6%) topped the favoured red head colour.

:: Recessionista alert Head to Saks for a good hair (and purse) day. A 3-for-2 promotion is available on all hair and beauty treatments nationwide from May 1 to June 12. The salon is celebrating womankind with its Three Saks Women campaign. Hair and scalp care treatments start at £10, with facials priced from £25. With the cheapest treatment free, its the perfect excuse for a girly day out.