Nothing says summer more clearly than a scent that reminds you of a good holiday, writes Phyl Clarke
Thank goodness it's the end of June: school is over and in most minds summer officially starts tomorrow. Usually I'd be heading off on my holidays today, but this year, I'm trying to eek it out by going away a week later than usual.
When I arrive in the west, I'll try not to be too jealous when I hear other holidaymakers who are "down until September" and be grateful for my three weeks of escape with nothing to worry about except which mountain to look at today. Last year it was a week before I ventured to the top of the (very small) village.
It's a good time to take a break from make-up. My kit will be stripped down to the bare essentials, to give skin, hair and body products a good testing, so more of that in the coming weeks.
The one essential is fragrance, and nothing says "summer" more clearly than seeking out a scent for the season, so here are some suggestions for a holiday in a bottle.
Uber-cool designer Marc Jacobs has a scent solution for every holiday occasion. Splash Summer Collection is a trio of scents that are light enough to "splash" all over - choose from Cucumber, Orange or Rain (that must be the Irish choice then), priced at €60.
Beach Fragrance from Bobbi Brown is a light scent that evokes sand between your toes with delicious smelling neroli, €37.50.
Summer for Women by Burberry is a limited-edition, lighter version of the original classic fragrance. A citrus floral, which is lovely and fresh, with a hint of vanilla and water lilies. €45. For one summer only.
Clarins is giving us the sun in bottle form with its new Sunshine fragrance. This is an uplifting scent with a base of patchouli for the hippy in you.
Tom Ford has done it again for Estée Lauder with Azurée Soleil skin scent, which is reminiscent of balmy summer nights in a beautiful, vintage-inspired bottle. That man has a lot of style. From €45.
Chance Eau Fraîche is a modern sophisticated scent, perfect for a fresh, feminine feel, with the cachet of having a Chanel bottle on your holiday dressing table. From €51.
Acqua di Parma's Blu Mediterraneo is not new, but worth a mention for its gorgeous notes of mandarin & bergamot. Crisp, but not cloying, a classic summer fragrance. From €49.
If you are heading overseas, the top seller at Dublin Airport duty free is DKNY Summer in her iconic cityscape-shaped bottle for €33.20.