This Juicy Scent Is in All the Best Summer Beauty Products (There, I Said It)

Notes: Mandarin, cassis, magnolia, vanilla, black amber

This isn't your standard citrus scent. It's refined, elegant, and sophisticated, which is why the founder of The 7 Virtues, a clean fragrance brand, describes it as "Italian citrus grove meets French Riviera." At first, it's bright and juicy, like you'd expect a clementine scent to be, but then, you get green, herby notes of citrus leaves, as well as warm vanilla, cassis, and magnolia. Together, the last three notes evoke the warm, Mediterranean sun beating down upon a citrus orchard. I can't stop wearing it, and other people can't stop giving me compliments when I do.

Notes: Neroli, grapefruit, bergamot, moss, orange flower, Earl Grey tea

Imagine you're driving at dusk. You're following a winding, coastal road. The air feels warm as it streams past you from the open window. You feel content and nostalgic. That, to me, is the essence of Henry Rose's Windows Down Eau de Parfum.

Neroli and orange flower notes give it a subtle floral lean, but a burst of grapefruit and bergamot is what makes it a true, albeit soft, citrus scent. Grounding notes of moss and Earl Grey tea give it a soothing, earthy base. It's light, breezy, and fresh—the perfect grown-up citrus scent for a scorching summer day.

Notes: Tangerine, lemon, ginger, apple, jasmine, amber

Phlur's Tangerine Boy Eau de Parfum brings me great joy as a lover of citrus scents, but it's not for the faint of heart or those who are just dipping their toes into this scent category. With notes of tangerine, lemon, and ginger, it's bright, juicy, energetic, and a TRUE citrus scent. I swear it gives me an instant shot of energy whenever I spritz it, which is often. It's deceptively simple yet impactful, and I tend to wear it nonstop in the summer months.

Notes: Mandarin, lime, basil, amberwood

Jo Malone's Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne is the epitome of elegance. The zesty lime and tart mandarin open up the scent, while herby, peppery basil and warm amberwood form the base. It's equal parts fresh and sophisticated, like attending a posh brunch in an English garden.

Notes: Lime, petitgrain, cardamom, coriander, mate, green tea, cedarwood, white musk

This fragrance is vastly underrated IMO. It's delicate, fresh, and zingy thanks to a unique combination of fragrance notes—lime, coriander, cardamom, and green tea. It was inspired by "a nap under the lemon trees" and being "lulled by shadows and the warm Mediterranean wind," and I do, in fact, feel like I'm lounging in the Italian countryside whenever I spritz it.

I know some people are wary of lemon scents, but this one is soft, subtle, and sophisticated, never veering anywhere close to harsh, lemon-scented furniture-polish territory. I'll put it this way: It's like you're catching the scent of nearby lemon trees on a summer breeze rather than sniffing a ripe lemon under fluorescent lights in the grocery store. Catch my drift?

This is one of my favorite cleansers, and it comes courtesy of celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas. Using powerful and antioxidant-rich vitamin C ingredients like açaí and goji berry, it protects and brightens the skin while washing away dirt, oil, and makeup. It also smells incredible. It's bright, fresh, and energizing and does a better job jolting me awake in the morning than any cup of coffee ever could. I genuinely look forward to washing my face.

This face mist is chock-full of vitamin C and purified osmotized water. Spritz it on your skin throughout the day to hydrate dryness, brighten dullness, and protect from environmental aggressors. The fresh orange scent just so happens to be as refreshing to the mind as the formula is to the skin, which is why I like to keep it on my desk for the occasional mid-work pick-me-up.

I know this is expensive, but it's one of the best skincare products I've ever used (yes, really). It's so good it won a Who What Wear 2025 Beauty Award. The peptide and antioxidant-packed formula brightens, firms, and stimulates collagen production within the skin. It's one of those rare, time-reversing skincare products that actually work.

This Korean leave-on mask has a cool, jelly-like texture that feels as calming and cooling as it does hydrating. Melting capsules are suspended throughout the formula that break upon contact with the skin, releasing Korean yuja (or yuzu), vitamin C, and niacinamide. Together, these ingredients brighten dullness and tackle dark spots and discoloration.

Cyklar's Vitamin C Body Oils are a Who What Wear team favorite. Each one of the silky, luxurious formulas is infused with oil-soluble vitamin C, ectoin, and squalane for glow-boosting, barrier-supporting benefits. They also smell incredible. There are multiple scents to choose from, but Naked Neroli features notes of bergamot, mandarin, and lemon leaf.

This fresh-smelling body lotion is loaded with a combination of tranexamic acid and vitamin C. Together, they give sun-damaged skin a boost, brightening it and evening skin tone. Meanwhile, brown algae and hyaluronic acid deliver firming and hydrating benefits. I use this body lotion regularly throughout the summer to keep dark spots and discoloration at bay. It makes my skin look brighter and more even and feel so smooth.

I tried Josie Maran's Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Topless Tangerine at the insistence of a friend, and I'm so glad I did. It's since become one of my summer beauty staples. There's just something about the skin-smoothing, argan oil–infused formula and the rich, whipped texture that I keep coming back to. Although, I think the sunny pixie tangerine and pink grapefruit scent is the real reason I'm so obsessed with it.

A bodywash from the drugstore that gently yet effectively cleans the skin while delivering stable vitamin C? It does exist, and it comes in the form of Naturium's The Brightener Vitamin C Body Wash. With the addition of bioactive fruit acids and enzymes, this formula targets dullness and reveals brighter, smoother skin. And it smells like fresh citrus fruit. And it's only $16… Should I continue?

Here's another drugstore bodywash I love. Saltair's Exotic Pulp Body Wash contains passion fruit oil, camu camu, niacinamide, and ascorbyl glucoside (a stable form of vitamin C) to target dullness, dark spots, and discoloration. Its sunny scent—orange, guava, and driftwood—smells like mouthwatering fruit and never fails to lift my mood. I continuously stock my shower with this, and after some friends came to visit, it was the talk of our group chat for days. Now, they use the bodywash and the matching body lotion.

Aesop's Rind Concentrate Body Balm has an authentic, botanical citrus scent that's simply divine. Think tart pink grapefruit and a spritz of orange rind oil. I toss this travel-size tube in my bag so it's nearby whenever I need to moisturize dry skin, especially the rough, flaky texture of my elbows, knees, and cuticles.

This color-safe shampoo washes away dirt, oil, and product residue from the hair and scalp with a rich, foaming lather. Thanks to a Signature Desert Botanical Blend, it also hydrates, smooths, and boosts shine. Expect a soft and dreamy scent thanks to notes of sparkling orange, orange blossom, and vanilla. I love it (shocker).

Don't forget the matching conditioner for citrus-scented hydration.

A clarifying shampoo can really change the game for the hair and scalp. I'm speaking from experience. Use one about once a week, and it'll remove any product buildup (for me, that's almost always dry shampoo) and help the scalp regulate oil production for less greasy roots. This one gets the job done and leaves behind a calming scent of citrus, yuzu, and warm cedar.

This do-it-all styling cream is suitable for all hair types and textures. Infused with a sophisticated and spa-like citrus scent, it does everything from softening to boosting shine, hydrating, strengthening, and protecting the hair from heat. It also sets and seals the hair for long-lasting styles.