Aquatic perfumes first gained popularity in the 1990s and maintained a stronghold ever since. Studded with citrus notes and ozonic accords, aquatic perfumes are desirably refreshing and delicate. Aquatic perfumes, alongside timeless florals and powerful orientals, are some of the longest-running popular fragrances. Here are the top ten best-selling aquatic perfumes for women.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue is the most popular aquatic perfume of all time. Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana drew inspiration from their Sicilian heritage to create Light Blue. Calling upon Mediterranean sensuality and carefree femininity, Light Blue celebrates the languid days of summer. Soft fruit-inflected florals recall picturesque countrysides and a vague woody musk base references a dry rocky beachscape. Light Blue is a floral aquatic perfume that whispers with sophistication.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue includes notes of Granny Smith apple, Sicilian cedar, bluebells, jasmine, white rose, bamboo, cedarwood, amber, and musk. Dolce & Gabbana Light blue is available in 0.8 oz, 1.6 oz, and 3.3 oz bottles.

Calvin Klein Eternity

Calvin Klein dominates in popular aquatic perfumes. Every single Calvin Klein fragrance reiterates the signature Calvin Klein aquatic structure. Following suit, Calvin Klein Eternity presents a light-hearted floral perfume. In spite of the white floral core, Eternity perfume side-steps the obligatory musk and cloying nectar notes. Instead, Eternity adopts an abstract ozonic accord which lifts the luminous white lily. A sweet atmospheric layer lends a seaside breeze or an airy spring mood to the perfume.

Calvin Klein Eternity includes notes of freesia, mandarin, sage, muguet, white lily, marigold, narcissus, patchouli, sandalwood, and amber. Calvin Klein Eternity is available in 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz bottles.

Calvin Klein CK One Summer

Calvin Klein CK One Summer is an upbeat revamp of the groundbreaking unisex hit Calvin Klein CK One. The aqueous base of citrus and woods is matched with a dynamic blends of herbs, florals and fruits. Though it sounds like a tropical smorgasbord, CK One Summer is actually refreshing, light and never too sweet. Each year, Calvin Klein releases a new rendition on CK One Summer. But since each new version is only tweaked a touch, you can always count on CK One Summer to smell bright and energetic.

The most recent rendition of Calvin Klein CK One Summer includes notes of watermelon, pear, mandarin, kaffir lime, violet leaves, marigold, verbena, water lily, patchouli, musk, vetiver, and cedar. Calvin Klein CK One Summer is available in a 3.4 oz bottle.

Clinique Happy

Clinique Happy is one of the most memorable floral perfumes from the 1990s. Its citrus-piqued aquatic base made Clinique Happy stand apart from all the rest. Though Clinique Happy’s pyramid boasts a dizzying list of perfume notes, don’t let that confuse you. Happy opens with authentic spritzes straight from the peel of the citrus fruits. The daunting list of florals actually comes across as soft atmosphere of femininity. The dynamic citrus notes enjoy a very long life, while the lingering florals happily lend a touch of softness.

Clinique Happy includes notes of grapefruit, bergamot, mandarin blossom, laurel, boysenberry blossom, orchid, jasmine, tiare, lily, magnolia, and mimosa. Clinique Happy is available in 1 oz, 1.7 oz, and 3.4 oz bottles.

Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey

Pure atmosphere, pure water, pure nature, pure wind. L’Eau D’Issey is one of the most minimalist perfumes from the most minimalist perfume houses. L’Eau D’Issey from Issey Miyake is delicate, atmospheric, and barely there. But there is something that will make you want to smell it over and over again. It’s a soft reminder that you’re wearing something delicious. If your inspired by something so beautiful, yet so transparent, sample the other fragrances from Issey Miyake. Minimalism is this designer’s forte!

L’Eau D’Issey includes notes of lotus, freesia, cyclamen, rose water, carnation, lily, peony, musk, amberseed, tuberose, osmanthus, sandalwood, and cedarwood. L’Eau D’Issey is available in 1.6 oz, 2.5 oz, and 3.4 oz bottles.

Kenzo L’Eau Pour Kenzo

Kenzo is a poetic designer, and Kenzo perfumes are painterly. With wide watercolor swatches an entire feeling, scene, or moment is depicted by Kenzo’s fragrances in an instant. Kenzo Flower paints an olfactive image of a beautiful flower, Kenzo Amour glows with sunshine warmth, and Kenzo Jungle moves with loudness and dynamism. L’Eau Par Kenzo is Kenzo’s interpretation of water—cleansing, replenishing, refreshing, beautiful, and timeless. Opening with cucumbers and herbs and finishing with light lilies and vanilla, L’Eau Par Kenzo is an ambient aquatic.

Kenzo L’Eau Par Kenzo includes notes of frosty water mint, water lily, paradise seeds, blue cedar, and an infusion of vanilla pods. Kenzo L’Eau Par Kenzo is available in 1 oz, 1.7 oz, and 3.4 oz bottles.

Lancôme Ô de Lancôme

This mysterious aquatic floral smells unlike any modern aquatic perfume. Ô de Lancôme, a chypre perfume, was created as a light alternative to the powdered aldehyde-filled florals. Just as Ô de Lancôme stood out 40 years ago, it still stands out today. With the added twist of citrus fruits, Ô de Lancôme boasts a zing that is missing from other 1960s perfumes. With a velvety base of oakmoss, Ô de Lancôme features confidence that many modern aquatic perfumes lack. With a triad of herbs, flowers and oakmoss, the chypre structure makes Ô de Lancôme dry and elegant.

Lancôme Ô de Lancôme includes notes of bergamot, lemon, tangerine, basil, rosemary, coriander, honeysuckle, jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver, oakmoss, and labdanum. Ô de Lancôme is available in 2.5 oz and 4.4 oz bottles.

Hermes Eau de Merveilles

Beachy and light, Hermes Eau de Merveilles is a celebration. Revelling in the sun and sand, Eau des Merveilles focuses on the dry character of aquatic perfumes. Ocean minerals, dry peppery woods, dusty earth notes from the sand stand in the forefront of this perfume. Like all Hermes fragrance, Eau de Merveilles reveals the untapped beauty of natural ingredients. Eau de Merveilles is a stand out aquatic perfume—classy and refined.

Hermes Eau de Merveilles includes notes of vetiver, oak, cedar, ambergris, lemon, orange, elemi, and pink pepper. Hermes Eau de Merveilles is available in 1 oz, 1.7 oz, and 3.3 oz bottles.

DKNY Be Delicious

DKNY Be Delicious opens with irresistible crunchy notes of cucumber and grapefruit. This water-like accord makes the heart notes sing like the first juicy bites of an apple.  The authentic apple sweetness is enhanced by the blossom aroma. At first spray, Be Delicious is as refreshing as any other aquatic perfume. The fruit notes are tangy enough to make your mouth pucker. Once the perfume settles, the light citrus-floral accord is reminiscent of popular aquatic perfumes.

DKNY Be Delicious includes notes of grapefruit, cucumber, magnolia, apple, tuberose, white muguet, rose, violet, white amber, and woods. DKNY Be Delicious is available in 1 oz, 1.7 oz, and 3.4 oz bottles.

Burberry Beat

Hailing from the lighter end of the floral aquatic spectrum, Burberry Beat opens with a citrus note that is bright and airy. Veering far away from any sweet notes, the neutral notes of cardamom and pink peppercorn make Burberry Beat soft and feminine. Tea-inflected notes of iris and bluebell lend to the atmospheric quality of this perfume. Overall, Burberry Beat feels dreamy, light, and wispy. The experience is like transparent fog lifting off a spring carpet of forest flowers. Burberry Beat is a refreshing reinvention of the aquatic floral.

Burberry Beat includes notes of bergamot, cardamom, pink pepper, Ceylon tea, iris, bluebell, white musk, vetiver, and cedarwood. Burberry Beat is available in 1 oz, 1.7 oz, and 2.5 oz bottles.

Instead of following the ambitious pyramids guided by consumer demands, instead of contributing to the market-saturation of similar smelling fragrances, and instead of playing up overuse of common notes, few perfume houses have released perfumes that honor a simple singular note. These perfumes humbly present a path towards the root of perfumery. These perfumes explore the basic components that are the original building blocks of our complex modern perfumes.

So in lieu of expounding, contracting, confounding and abstracting a rose note, for example, these perfumes allow that singular natural note to sing and be celebrated. The effect is light and simple. And not to mention, the pay-off is great since these perfumes can easily stand the test of timelessness. So throw off the layers of complexity and join the celebration of minimalism!

D&G Anthology Series

After a near decade-long success of the ephemeral Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Dolce  & Gabbana have released another series of simple scents through their youthful streetwise label D&G. Behold, this astounding unisex fragrance set,  D&G Fragrance Anthology. Each fragrance is light and fresh. Each, so simply constructed. Each, so youthful. If this sounds like you’re cup of tea, or rather bottle of perfume, read on to find out about the star notes in each fragrance. Le Bateleur 1 is filled with sporty citrus notes,  L’Imperatrice 3 features grapefruit-edged melon. L’Amoreux 6 concentrates on a gorgeous cedar note. La Roue de la Fortune 10 is centered around a sugar-filled flower—tuberose. And La Lune 18 is all about a clean and simple lily.

Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose

If D&G’s youthful take on simplicity doesn’t tickle your fancy, perhaps a Jean-Claude Ellena construction will wow the contemporary minimalist in you. Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose is the latest addition to Ellena’s widely respected oeuvre of fragrances. This beautiful Hermes perfume is filled with grapefruit, orange, rose, green rhubarb, and vetiver. But the overall experience is a dry, zesty copy of a freshly peeled grapefruit. A clean, fresh rose note softly haloes the grapefruit, preventing it from becoming too desolate. This simple masterpiece, long-lasting and realistic, is a laudable addition to the celebrated Hermes perfume line.

Acqua di Parma Magnolia Nobile

Following on the heels of Iris Nobile, Acqua di Parma worked to create another hit using the theme of simplicity. Acqua di Parma Magnolia Nobile presents a magnolia, broad and true. The notes include bergamot, lemon, citron, green notes, magnolia, jasmine, rose, tuberose, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli and vanilla. But don’t let the extensive pyramid deter you from sampling this simple floral symphony. The hesperidic citrus opening truly blends with the magnolia notes, making it feel fresh and green. The additional floral notes simply broaden the star magnolia note, while the woody base adds some real-life dimensionality to this flowering tree.

Prada Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger

Well recognized in the fashion world as a practitioner of elegant minimalism, Prada is also a veteran in the department of simple perfumes. Prada Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger delivers exactly what is promises. This Prada perfume features notes of mandarin blossoms, neroli, orange blossoms—which are flowers from various orange-like citrus plants. The accompanying notes are jasmine, tuberose and petit grain. All in all, this perfume wafts like an blossoming orange grove in the summer. Filling the air with soft citrus scents and recollections of woody notes, this perfume presents a simple song.   

Creed Sublime Vanilla

Creed, the ambitious perfume house, lends an expert voice on the minimalist perfume trend. Long known for creating complex symphonies, Creed offers an uncharacteristically linear perfume Creed Sublime Vanilla. Those who love vanilla straight from the pod will find solace in this stunning perfume. This Creed perfume includes notes of Tahitian vanilla, Bourbon vanilla, tonka bean, lemon, bergamot, and musk. The vanilla initially peaks with softly rounded citrus notes. In the dry down, the vanilla’s depth is enhanced by the creamy notes of tonka bean and musk. This comforting scent will truly inspire any vanilla-purist.