Anything Tom Ford seems to incite a frenzy, whether it’s an online-only fashion show or a bronzer. (Case in point: I stockpiled 5—yes, 5—of his limited edition Lip & Cheek Stains a few years ago. I have 1 left.) His summer “Soleil” collections are one of the most anticipated launches of the entire year (my palette from 2015 is still going strong), and the standout of 2016 has been the Soleil Blanc fragrance.
Soleil Blanc smells like a sexy beach… Think white florals mixed with sandalwood, amber and coconut. The Tom Ford artists at my local Neiman Marcus are very generous with the fragrance samples, so I got a good amount of it a few months ago. I absolutely loved it at first, but found that it doesn’t have the staying power of some of Ford’s other scents (I also have Neroli Portofino, Santal Blush and Noir de Noir). Available in an eau de parfum or a shimmery body oil, the LEAST this scent will set you back is $98 (for the oil) and the smallest perfume is $220.
If this is well beyond your budget for a summer scent, Maison Margiela’s “Replica” Beach Walk is so, so similar you might not even know the difference—and you can get a travel-size rollerball for $25 or a full-size for $125.
And if you want to spend even less than that, try Smell Bent’s St. Tropez Dispenser. I got a sample of this in one of my Olfactif boxes last year and ordered a full-size bottle right away. It’s a bit stronger and perhaps a bit less “refined” than the others, but it has the summer/sunscreen/sandy beach thing going on in a big way. At $7 for a sample, $20 for a roll-on and $50 for a full-size, this is the least expensive way to ensure an endless summer…
