There’s no better time than summer to try something new in the fragrance department. Although we still have a little time left in spring, that didn’t stop fellow Who What Wear beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock and me from trading what’s on our “must wear” list for the upcoming warmer months.
During one of our chats, McLintock told me about her obsession with clean fragrance brand The 7 Virtues and its suite of dangerously delicious-smelling offerings. If summer had a scented poster child, it would be 7 Virtues. Every scent is warm, airy, juicy, and vibrant in a way that feels perfect to pair with any sunny outdoor gathering.
I’ll even admit that it’s rare I find a clean fragrance brand I truly love. Sometimes, cleaner fragrance options don’t quite have the longevity or projection I’m looking for out of a scent, but these are pure magic. They manage to tick every box. The brand, founded by author and activist Barb Stegemann, sources fair-trade, organic, and sustainably harvested essential oils from regions rebuilding after conflict or natural disasters. There’s a lot of love that goes into each bottle, and the ingredients used are super high quality.
Now that I’ve gotten to know the brand intimately, it’s one of my favorite clean brands on the market. McLintock and I both have a few scents we can’t shut up about, and now, we want to share them with the rest of the world because they’re too good to gatekeep. If you’re looking for a new spring-summer scent, keep scrolling. We’ve shared our thoughts on the best of the best from The 7 Virtues ahead.
The 7 Virtues
Candied Lychee Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Lychee, peony, vanilla
I am a huge sucker for a good gourmand and this particular scent is a treat for the senses. The notes of lychee, peony, and vanilla make such a decadent combo. It’s sweet, juicy, and absolutely perfect for summer. It’s one of the sweetest fragrances I own, but it just strikes the perfect balance between fruity, airy, and sugary. It reminds me a bit of my other all time favorite scent from Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif ($250).
“This perfume is fresh and light-hearted, like the first warm day of spring. With notes of lychee, peony, and vanilla, it’s a true fruity-floral scent. Lychee-lovers will find it refreshing. Unlike other lychee perfumes, this one isn’t powdery or phony-smelling. It smells just like the fleshy fruit.” — McLintock
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Parfums de Marly
Delina Exclusif Parfum 1 Oz.
Key notes: Pear, lychee, grapefruit, rosa damascena, incense, vetiver, vanilla, musk, evernyl
The 7 Virtues
Clementine Dream Eau De Parfum With Vanilla
Key notes: Clementine, magnolia, vanilla
I have a confession to make—I don’t usually like citrus fragrances. No shade to them, of course, but I don’t always see them as fragrances I would wear out and about in my daily life. That is, until I discovered Clementine Dream. This fragrance has just the right amount of zestiness without smelling like an all purpose cleaner if you know what I mean. The notes of magnolia add a sparkling, bubbly quality to it and the vanilla gives it the sweetness that a lot of citrus fragrances miss the mark on, IMO.
“Most citrus scents are one-dimensional, but Clementine Dream is a 360-degree creation. With one spritz, you can detect the green, herby note of citrus leaves, the slightly bitter peel, the juicy fruit, and even the warm sun that drenches the leaves of the tree. It’s complex and sophisticated, or as The 7 Virtues’ founder, Barbara Stegemann puts it, “Italian citrus grove meets French Riviera.” — McLintock
The 7 Virtues
Coconut Sun Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Coconut, frangipani, vanilla, orange flower, jasmine
This is the solar gourmand fragrance for summer. Both McLintock and I agreed that this one of the best the brand offers. It’s a dreamy trip to the Bahamas, bottled. Notes of coconut, frangipani, vanilla, and orange flower give it such a fresh, sweet, and airy scent that I just can’t get enough of. I love fragrances like this for summer, but I’ll be honest, I’ll be wearing this well into fall too just because it’s that good. The brand also partnered with Charity Water on this particular scent to support its sustainable water project in Ethiopia, another huge plus.
“This isn’t only my favorite perfume from The 7 Virtues…this is my favorite summer perfume, period. Notes of coconut water and citrus evoke the scent of sunscreen, sea salt mimics ocean air, and frangipani and vanilla call to mind sun-kissed skin and warm sand. It’s basically a beach day, bottled.” — McLintock
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Vacation
“vacation” by Vacation Eau De Toilette
Key notes: Petitgrain essence, coconut water, coconut milk, bergamot, solar musk, banana, pineapple, sea salt
The 7 Virtues
Amber Vanilla Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Pink pepper, pink carnation, muguet, skin musks, iso E, ambroxan, vanilla
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BYREDO
Vanille Antique Extrait De Parfum 1.6 Oz.
Key notes: Vanilla, cashmere wood, ciste, musk
The 7 Virtues
Santal Vanille Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Coconut milk, cardamom, violet, myrrh, olibanum, cedarwood, vanilla, Kashmir fushion, cocoa absolute, sandalwood
This scent is a bit earthier and woodier, but never so much so that it lacks a hint of sweetness. Those are the best kinds of scents to me. Ones that marry sweeter notes with spicy, earthy, or woody notes with ease. Coconut milk, violet, myrrh, cedarwood, and vanilla give this scent lots of body without being overwhelming. It’s definitely a great scent for summer nights, but I would also wear this during fall and winter too.
“In my opinion, this is the brand’s sultriest and most intimate perfume. It combines notes of alluring vanilla, creamy coconut, warm myrrh, and rich sandalwood, which is why I think it’s well-suited for a steamy date night with your significant other…or whenever you want to wear a warm, lingering scent.” — McLintock
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Marc Jacobs Fragrances
Daisy Eau De Toilette
Key notes: Strawberry, violet leaves, jasmine
The 7 Virtues
Vanilla Woods Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Pear, rose, vanilla, amber, caramel
Warm and sweet gourmands are my favorite kind of fragrances. The combination of notes here is pure perfection—floral notes of rose with juicier top notes of pear make it the perfect scent to wear on a summer vacay. Warmer notes of caramel and amber give it such a pretty, sugary undertone that isn’t too saccharine.
“I think this is the most universally loved scent from The 7 Virtues, based solely on the number of compliments I get when I wear it. A fresh rose note is set in a base of warm, comforting vanilla and amber. It’s lovely on its own, but it provides the best, grounding backdrop for other scents, which is why I tend to combine it with Lotus Pear and Clementine Dream. In my opinion, it’s the most foolproof scent when it comes to layering perfumes. It just doesn’t miss.” — McLintock
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SKYLAR
Nude Skin Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Tiger orchid, warm vanilla, golden amber
The 7 Virtues
Lotus Pear Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Williams Pear, peach, mandarin, upcycled rose, upcycled orange flower, jasmine, lotus flower, gardenia, vanilla, geranium
This fruity-floral scent is an instant mood booster. It has a freshness to it with notes of mandarin, but my favorite are the notes of peach, orange flower, and jasmine which give it a solar quality I just can’t get enough of for the upcoming season.
“The 7 Virtues’ Lotus Pear Eau de Parfum is fresh, clean, and zen-like. It’s the scent I want to wear on a matcha run, in a pilates studio, or to attend a wellness retreat. The top note of Williams Pear is bright and juicy, while the gardenia and lotus flower give it a floral and aquatic lean, respectively. If you like “fresh laundry” scents, you’ll love this one (just as much as I do).” — McLintock
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Jo Malone London
English Pear & Freesia Cologne
Key notes: King William Pear, freesia, patchouli