The Great Fragrance Swap: It's Out With Heavy Winter Perfumes And In With The Light And Bright Variety

Spring is the perfect time to reassess your perfume options. Detox your collection of dark, wintry scents and invest in lighter sun-friendly options.

With spring upon us, the days getting longer and the mornings lighter, I’m inspired to start things anew. I’m spring-cleaning my house, detoxing my wardrobe and upgrading my fragrance for the coming season.

Feeling similarly motivated by the blue skies? Pack away your headier fragrances somewhere dark, where they can bide their time until next year, and invest in lighter, fruiter and punchier scents instead. Below are a few of my springtime favourites and you’ll feel joyous wearing any of them in the sunshine.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua I honestly didn’t think there could be a better summer scent than the original Tom Ford Neroli Portofino – I’ve even worn it in Portofino and felt pretty special about it – but the new Neroli Portofino Acqua is shaping up to be a firm summer-time favourite too. It’s bright, bubbly and fresh with bundles of citrus.

Calvin Klein CK2 If my nineties had a scent it was of Calvin Klein CK1 (intermingled with a touch of Tommy Girl). Everyone wore CK1; we considered it a grown-up scent and it was to be my first encounter with a unisex perfume. Fast forward a couple of decades and the new Calvin Klein CK2 is having a similar impact. There aren’t many scents that both women and men would be comfortable wearing but this is certainly one of them. If you haven’t snuck to Boots for a sampling yet expect citrus, wasabi, vetiver and sandalwood. Just add sunshine.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae Another citrus composition but in Aqua Vitae everything is softened with Brazilian tonka bean and vanilla. This is your citrus scent for grownups.

Byredo Gypsy Water Gypsy Water is a winner all year round but especially so when the sun is out. It’s gutsy with bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper but there’s a smooth undercurrent of amber, vanilla and sandalwood to round things out. If you buy one thing in the next month we urge you to make it this – you’ll never regret it.

Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir If citrus notes aren’t your thing Pomegranate Noir should fulfill all of your fruity needs. Vibrant and juicy pomegranate, raspberry and plum are accented with a dose of pink pepper, woods and Casablanca Lily.