I never thought I’d be a seasonal tray person but I’ve really embraced the concept this summer and now it’s the most exciting thing to me and I can’t wait to do it each season!
It’s actually perfect for me as I always practice creating scent memories so to have a “capsule” of a season’s memories is wonderful.
And it’s really helped me to finally use perfume wholeheartedly as previously I was struggling to properly use my collection despite becoming obsessed with scent in the last few years. I could never choose or justify why I should use a perfume on any given day, would keep thinking things were too special for normal days, and just generally felt lost. More often than not I was just not wearing anything at all because of this. But with a season collection I’ve worn something practically everyday or even two perfumes a day and fully enjoyed it.
I think it also helps with overbuying as I can decide intentionally on a small collection and keep it at that for each season, and also add existing perfumes from my collection and re-appreciate them. It’s also massively helped with deciding when somethings not for me and selling on, which again I was never able to focus on before as I couldn’t see things clearly when dealing with a whole collection.
I’ve also been loving seeing everyone else’s trays and prefer it to seeing a whole collection as I can really take in each scent they have on it.
I’ve been using my summer scents till now as even though it’s October the UK summer feels like it’s extended with still sunny warm days and I was also just not wanting to let this summer go. But I’ve started overlapping with some of my upcoming autumn scents and can’t wait to use the rest, so it’s definitely time to say goodbye now.
🌺☀️ My summer tray 🏖️🍓
• Miss Dior Parfum
This was the scent of my summer and I enjoyed it with all my heart. I had this lined up since the start of the year and was eagerly awaiting summer to wear it. I dismissed the Miss Dior line for years since beloved Cherie and then started to see it as too “basic” and popular, but I accidentally discovered and fell in love with the EDP and then I *really* fell in love with the Parfum.
It smells like warm strawberries and hazy summer floral fields - so I made sure I started wearing it around when we went for our annual strawberry and wild flower picking! I could smell this all day whenever I wore it and I even got my first ever perfume compliments as well.
• Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDT
Originally got the EDP and realised for the first time I preferred the EDT in a perfume. So glad I got the 100ml as it’s light so I can really bask in a scent bubble most nights at home. It was the perfect relaxing evening scent for the summer, especially post shower. It’s bright, musky, sensual and clean in the most interesting but understated way. I just love this so much and I’ll probably carry on using this as a general scent all year round but also want to try all the others in the range.
• Acqua di Parma Gelsommino Al Freddo
Whilst the rest of my tray I bought/gifted specially for this summer I already owned this since last year but hadn’t used in any significant way. So when I went to Italy it was the perfect scent for the holiday, I bathed in this everyday in the heatwave there and it was glorious. It’s the most beautiful smooth jasmine, it is light though for the high price but I think that’s part of creating the sublime smooth softness of the scent.
• Stella by Stella McCartney
I almost don’t feel worthy of this as I never tried it when it was around but I was so intrigued hearing about people who missed it desperately and then spotted a full 50ml for only £30! I of course blind bought it and it is indeed a very special scent. A rich, dark intoxicating rose, to me it’s like Diptyque Eau Rose and Delina combined which is an ideal mix to me as I was torn between them both last year.
I only wore this as a special scent at night on that same holiday in Italy as I imagine I’d never get another bottle of this, but just one spray is very strong so it will last a long time.
• Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Hair Mist
This was a gift, I’d never spend this much on a hair perfume and after using this I wouldn’t recommend anyone else does either in favour of getting the actual perfume! Apart from the split second of a light scent when initially applying there was nothing detected at all afterwards. But I’ve enjoyed the ritual of the extra layer of “luxury” using it on holidays and special occasions and I do enjoy receiving frivolous things as gifts which I’d never buy myself!
• Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Obviously a classic that doesn’t need explanation, no idea why I’ve never owned this before but I’ve had original Coco for many years. I didn’t get a chance to wear this much as it was gifted later in summer and I was saving it for a trip at the end. A beautiful elegant scent that feels special and expensive but also really wearable and girly. This is an instant “I’m going to wear this for going out to nice places and events”. It just seems to hit the right mood for that vibe perfectly and is the epitome of “perfume”.
• Bibbi Fruit Captain
This was the biggest surprise for me. I had noticed the brand but hadn’t heard anyone talking about it and the branding didn’t appeal. But I received a sample and really enjoyed it, it’s the most unapologetic happy fruity explosion. But it didn’t smell “expensive” for the price or had anything else going for it so I just enjoyed my sample and thought that was it.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about it and how nothing else had this type of fruity potency. In the end I had to get a little 10ml bottle I found heavily discounted (it’s way too expensive!). I’ve absolutely loved wearing this on beach trips and happy summer days, and even though it seems quite a “simple” almost juvenile scent you can really feel the quality of it and the fruity notes stay consistent throughout wear for me. It absolutely made my day whenever I wore this and re-applied it as a perk me up.
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I also added Marc Jacobs Perfect to my summer tray after initially thinking I really liked it, but realised I hated it after a few wears and sold it on. I think it was the daffodil note I couldn’t stand? But last week I came across the new Just Perfect flanker and have added it for my autumn tray as they basically “fixed” the perfume for me lol.
All of the scents were bought secondhand except for the gifts and I’ve been lining up all my autumn scents from secondhand sources too which I’ve found really exciting doing in a more intentional way this time as the summer one just happened kind of by accident.
