Raise your hand if you’re getting just a little tired of the pistachio craze. From desserts to body mists, this nutty note has exploded everywhere—and even luxury chocolatiers are cashing in (hello, £10-Dubai chocolate bars).
We might not know exactly how the pistachio phenomenon took off, but we do know where it started. Sol de Janeiro’s addictive salted caramel and pistachio scent launched in 2020, just before the pandemic—and a few years on, everyone either owns it or has a dupe.
Don’t believe us? Just walk into any beauty department or grocery chain and you’ll find at least one imitation of the iconic mist.
But now, with summer fast approaching and warmer days lifting our moods (and blessing our skin), it’s the perfect time to swap out the rich, nutty notes for something fresher and fruitier.
Pistachio may not be going anywhere just yet—but for some of us, the obsession has run its course. So, what’s next? Luckily, there are plenty of options. Our team has rounded up the top 10 summer body mists to try now.
10 summer mists that aren’t all about pistachio
1. Floral Street Wonderland Peony Perfume Mist (125ml)
Fragrance Notes: Peony, Pink berries, Violet, Cedarwood
Price: £14.00
Buy from Sephora UK
Our review: This doesn’t feel like a body mist but rather a proper, well-crafted perfume that just happens to come in mist form. Wonderland Peony is slightly whimsica: juicy pink berries, soft florals, a hint of violet sherbet with the cedar keeping it grounded. It smells like what you’d wear to brunch in a silky wrap dress, when you want to smell expensive but still low-key. It’s light, pretty, and you’ll reach for it a lot more than you think.
2. Caudalie Soleil des Vignes Fresh Fragrance (50ml)
Fragrance notes: Orange Blossom, Coconut, Jasmine, Vanilla
Price: £31
Buy from Caudalie UK
Our review: Soleil des Vignes smells like golden hour on a French beach and captures the warmth of sun-kissed skin and the glow of late afternoon light. The scent opens with a radiant burst of orange blossom that is bright and uplifting, followed by a wave of creamy coconut, delicate jasmine, and a gentle vanilla dry-down. It’s effortlessly elegant and not overpowering – a refined take on summer that steers clear of beachy clichés.
3. Scentology Orchard Fruits & Freesia Body Mist (200ml)
Fragrance notes: Orchard fruits, Freesia
Price: £7.99
Buy it here
Our review: If you’ve ever wandered through a summer market at golden hour — apples stacked high, cut fruit glistening under the sun — this is that moment, in a bottle. It’s got that clean, watery fruit note, lifted by a fresh floral whisper of freesia. It’s breezy and ideal for those who hate anything too “perfume-y.” Think linen shirts, iced elderflower spritz, skin still warm from the sun. It wears like a mood: low-key, clean, and just the right amount of flirtatious.
4. Hawaiian Tropic Summer Dreams Body Mist (250ml)
Fragrance notes: Passionflower, Mango, Musk
Price: £8.80
Buy it here
Our review: Hawaiian Tropic really said: let’s bottle the feeling of a beach holiday in 2004 — but make it modern. There’s a nostalgic hit to this one — the kind of scent that reminds you of tanning oil and poolside fruit platters — but it’s been reworked with a grown-up touch of musk that gives it some polish. Mango and passionflower lead the way (yes, it’s juicy), but that clean, creamy dry-down makes it wearable even away from the beach.
5. So…? Rio Samba Body Mist (200ml)
Fragrance notes: Coconut, Vanilla, Melon
Price: £6.99
Buy it here
Our review:
Dreaming of a caipirinha in Copacabana Beach but haven’t booked the flight yet? For £7, this mist might be the next best thing. Bright, juicy melon gives it a fresh kick, while classic coconut notes add that unmistakable tropical warmth (because what’s summer without coconut, really?). It captures the effortless, sun-soaked spirit of Brazil without feeling fake or syrupy.
6. Rituals The Ritual of Karma Hair & Body Mist (50ml)
Fragrance notes: Lotus flower, White tea
Price: £24
Buy from Rituals
Our review: Fresh, watery, floral – this is the definition of soft and clean. The lotus doesn’t come across too floral or heady; it’s more of a gentle floral haze. The white tea gives it that breezy, spa-fresh effect. There’s no sweetness here, which makes it ideal for layering over body lotion or using in your hair. Alcohol-free, subtle, and very much in the quiet luxury scent category. It’s discreet but considered.
7. Victoria’s Secret Bare Vanilla Sol Body Mist (250ml)
Fragrance notes: Vanilla, Pomelo
Price: £14.99
Buy from Victoria’s Secret
Our review: This is less dessert-y than the original Bare Vanilla — the pomelo gives it a soft citrus edge that brightens the vanilla without turning it sour. It’s still warm and cozy, but slightly lighter and fresher. Not beachy in the tropical sense, but it does have that bare-shoulders-after-sundown vibe. Softens quickly on skin, with the vanilla staying close and musky. If you want a warm-weather vanilla that won’t melt your face off, this is worth a look.
8. The Body Shop Zesty Lime Blossom Face & Body Mist (100ml)
Fragrance notes: Lime Blossom, Neroli, Citrus
Price: £14.99
Buy it here
Our review: Crisp, citrusy, and genuinely zesty — this one lives up to the name. But it’s not a sharp lime. It’s lime softened with blossom, given a bit of neroli sparkle, like the aftertaste of a really good margarita. Spray it on and you feel like you’ve just stepped out of a rooftop yoga class in Lisbon, skin dewy and glowing. It’s the most refreshing mist on this list, and perfect if you want something bright and clean without going full “lemon cleaner.”
9. NEST New York Santa Barbara Strawberry Perfume Oil Body Mist 125ml
Fragrance notes: Wild strawberry, pink peony, solar woods
Price: £39
Buy from Cult Beauty
Our review: If Wimbledon had a signature scent, this could be it: an ode to strawberries that feels as quintessentially summer as strawberries and cream in July. Santa Barbara Strawberry opens with a burst of berries, with pink peony bringing floral-fresh brightness and solar woods for gentle warmth. It’s playful and elegant all at once. Slightly pricier than the others, but if you like your strawberries with a side of champagne and Centre Court views, this one’s calling.
10. & Other Stories Sardonyx Fire Body Mist (100ml)
Fragrance notes: Guava, Pink Freesia, Black Amber, Vanilla
Price: £14.00
Buy from & Other Stories
Our review: Sardonyx Fire walks the line between fruity and sultry — the guava gives it a soft, juicy brightness up top, but the amber and vanilla give it shape and staying power. It settles into skin beautifully, and unlike a lot of budget body mists, it doesn’t vanish in an hour. Think of it as a soft-fruity, warm-skin scent with just enough depth to wear after dark.
How to choose your summer body mist
Choosing a summer body mist is about capturing a feeling. The version of you who stays out past golden hour, takes the long way home, or books the last-minute flight. Summer fragrances should feel effortless and lived-in, most certainly not overpowering. So where do you start?
1. Think seasonally but don’t default to coconut
Yes, coconut’s a classic. But there’s a whole universe beyond it. Watermelon, neroli, melon, lime blossom, salt – these notes can evoke summer in ways that feel brighter, fresher, and slightly less predictable. Look for anything labeled “aqua,” “citrus,” or “solar” for instant summer lift.
2. Choose textures, not just notes
A good body mist isn’t just about what it smells like – it’s about how it smells. Do you want something dewy and clean (think white tea or aloe), or something soft and clingy that melds into skin (vanilla, amber, musk)? Spray it once and wait a few minutes. Does it bloom or disappear? That’s your texture test.
3. Layer like a stylist, not a perfumer
Layer your mist over a scented body oil, or mix it with your hair perfume to create your own signature scent. Citrus with wood, florals with musk — it doesn’t have to match perfectly. The goal is cohesion, not coordination.
4. Go with your gut (and your mood)
The best mists aren’t always the “best” mists – they’re the ones you’ll actually use. So go with your gut – maybe you’re into fresh laundry florals, or maybe you want to smell like a mango mojito. There’s no rulebook here. Try them on skin, not paper. Spray them at night, not just at 10 a.m, to find the one that fits how you want to feel.
5. Consider how you wear it
Do you want a mist you can drown in post-swim, or something you can discreetly top up between meetings? Lighter mists are perfect for hair and clothes. Richer ones might be best pulsed on collarbones and wrists. Either way: reapply generously.
Body mists vs perfumes: what’s better for summer?
Believe it or not – mists and perfumes are different (it’s not just the price!). Here’s how they differ:
Concentration and longevity
Perfumes (or eau de parfum and eau de toilette) contain a much higher concentration of fragrance oils (typically 10–20%) which means they last longer on the skin and develop in complex layers over time. Body mists, on the other hand, usually contain only 1–3% fragrance oils, making them far lighter and more fleeting.
Sillage (how far the scent travels)
Perfumes tend to project further and linger for hours. Body mists stay closer to the skin – which can be ideal in the heat, where strong scents can feel overpowering or clash with sunscreen, sweat, and body chemistry.
Texture and wearability
Body mists often double as cooling skin refreshers, thanks to their water or alcohol base. Some (like oil-based mists) add hydration and cling to skin slightly longer than traditional alcohol-based sprays. Perfumes are more focused on scent longevity and are applied more sparingly, typically to pulse points.
Cost and reapplication
Mists are almost always more affordable, and because they’re lighter, they invite generous application. You can spritz them all over your clothes, hair, and skin, and reapply as needed throughout the day. Perfume is a more considered wear, often used in smaller amounts and reserved for when you want lasting impact.
So, which is better for summer?
If you’re looking for something fresh, fuss-free, and reapplicable that won’t overwhelm in the heat, body mists are a go-to. But if you want lasting power, complexity, or a signature scent that carries you into the evening, perfume still wins. You don’t have to choose one or the other — layering a body mist and perfume in the same scent family can give you both lift and longevity, especially in summer when skin chemistry changes.