These Honey Perfumes Embody a Sunday Morning at the Farmers Market

Fragrance notes: Mandarin, manuka honey, vanilla bean

This, my friends, is the ideal honey perfume, at least in my opinion. It’s soft, dreamy, and sunlit, with notes of sparkling mandarin, golden manuka honey, and warm vanilla bean. A sneaky hint of lavender centers me with zen-like peace, while sandalwood offers an opportunity for earthy grounding. This fresh, luminous, and “dipped in honey” scent evokes “quiet moments” and “slow transformation.” I’m drawn to it over and over again as the temperature rises and the days ripen.

Fragrance notes: Peach, rose, honey

At first, this perfume appears to be a simple and innocent concoction. Let it linger, though, and something sophisticated, sultry, and alluring takes center stage. The fruit notes, like peach and black currant, hit first, but blooming rose and intoxicating jasmine are close behind (and receive top billing, as far as I’m concerned). Lastly, warm honey and vanilla add depth. I speak from experience when I say this floral fragrance is almost irresistible.

Fragrance notes: Cassis, acacia honey, peach

Jo Malone is the purveyor of some of the best soft, fresh scents on the market, and this one is no exception. It starts with the scent of a “ripe peach plucked from a market stall in the early morning sun.” Then, the cassis, honey, and delicate spring flowers shine through. It’s playful yet elegant, and fresh yet expensive-smelling. If you’re looking for a perfume that’s seasonally relevant and highly sophisticated, this is it.

Fragrance notes: Dark rum, davana, honey, bran absolute, cinnamon, sandalwood, vanilla bean, cocoa absolute, musk

This perfume is what happens when you set out to create the perfect sultry-gourmand scent, and you ultimately succeed. With notes of dark rum, cinnamon, and cocoa absolute, it’s rich, sweet, and seductive, like a honey-soaked dessert.

Fragrance notes: Wildflower honey

Hair perfumes are the perfect opportunity to A) layer scents for optimum projection and longevity, and B) refresh your hair in-between washes. This is my honey-infused pick. When I say “honey-infused,” I really mean it. The formula contains Mirsalehi honey to maintain moisture. There’s also argan oil for extra hydration and shine. Meanwhile, it will perfume your hair with a soft, light, and breezy scent. I think one reviewer put it best when they said it smells like “a princess in a flower field.”

Fragrance notes: Honey, opoponax, cinnamon, iris accord

Leave it to Diptyque to create a honey perfume that’s sweet, sensual, and lingers long into the evening hours. The genderless elixir was inspired by a specific memory of Yves Coueslant (one of the brand’s founders). It evokes an “ocean liner bound for Saigon,” on which “women in evening gowns linger on the bridge, cigarette holders in their hands.” As such, it’s warm, powdery, and smoky-sweet. It might not be for everyone, but when you love it, you love it.

Fragrance notes: Plum,gardenia, carnation,Indian tuberose, rosewood,honey accord

I was introduced to Byredo’s Casablanca Lily by my friend Erin Jahns, who is Who What Wear’s beauty director. She counts it among her most treasured perfumes, and I can see why. Part of the brand’s highly concentrated Night Veils collection, it evokes mystery, sensuality, and nocturnal beauty. Its notes of plum, gardenia, carnation, Indian tuberose, rosewood, and honey “gradually unveil themselves like petals unfolding in the stillness of night.” It’s a sweet and sultry elixir that will have heads turning as you walk by.

Fragrance notes: Orange blossom, neroli nectar, jasmine, marigold, cardamom, date syrup, amber, sandalwood, manuka honey

I love perfumes that transport me to a time or place, whether real or imagined. Oui the People’s Souk Honey Eau de Parfum is exactly that. Inspired by an unfolding journey through the souks of Morocco, it’s sweet and luminous, with uncommon notes ranging from bittersweet to syrupy. It’s basically the scent of golden hour, bottled.

Fragrance notes: Pear, strawberry, bergamot, jasmine, rose buds, honey

The original Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Parfum is iconic, but this one just might take its spot in my spring/summer fragrance wardrobe. Why? It’s slightly deeper, richer, and warmer, which is my scent sweet spot. Fruity notes of pear and strawberry effortlessly meld into flowery jasmine and rose buds. Lastly, earthy notes of honey, moss, and musk lend it a natural freshness. As the brand puts it, it evokes “the feeling of biting into a juicy strawberry on a warm spring day.”