August’s fragrance launches capture that curious moment when summer is still in full swing, yet the first signs of autumn are beginning to appear. Bright citrus, sea salt and radiant florals remain, but they are joined by tobacco, dark chocolate, vanilla, amber and woods – notes with a little more warmth.
From Jo Malone London’s interpretation of the Celtic Sea to Tom Ford’s decadent new gourmand and Dior’s celebration of the flower fields of Grasse, these are the new perfumes worth discovering this August.
Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat
There are gourmand fragrances, and then there is Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat. Rich, dark and unapologetically decadent, the new amber gourmand brings together warm tobacco and dark chocolate in a way that feels refined rather than overtly sweet.
At its centre is the exclusive Cocoa Smoke™ accord, created through the co-distillation of slow-roasted tobacco leaves and pure dark chocolate. A trio of chocolate notes builds the fragrance’s sumptuous core, combining Cocoa Smoke™ with Chocolat Noir Grand Cru and creamy cocoa butter absolute.
Orange essence cuts through the richness with a flash of citrus, while Akigalawood™ introduces a woody, spicy quality. Tobacco leaf absolute, patchouli and Ambrofix™ deepen the composition before Peru balsam leaves behind a smooth, balsamic warmth touched with vanilla.
The result is dark, enveloping and almost cognac-like-the kind of fragrance that conjures low lighting, polished wood and something expensive being poured over ice.
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne
Jo Malone London leaves the windswept shoreline behind and plunges directly into the wild waters of the Celtic Sea with Sea Salt & Bergamot, its biggest fragrance launch of the year.
Created by perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui, the fresh woody cologne opens with a bright burst of bergamot before revealing a mineral sea salt heart. Driftwood anchors the fragrance, adding a smooth woody quality that evokes the raw, untamed landscape of the British coast.
Sea Salt & Bergamot sits in the same world as the much-loved Wood Sage & Sea Salt, but the two fragrances capture different moments. Where the original remains on the shore, this new interpretation feels immersed in the water itself—cooler, fresher and more aquatic.
It is an easy fragrance for the final weeks of summer, particularly for anyone who prefers coastal scents that feel clean and mineral rather than overly tropical. Prices begin at £24 for 10ml.
Balenciaga Extraits
Balenciaga is turning up the intensity with three bold fragrance extraits: Vanilla XXL, Pink Oud and Amber Crush. Each takes a familiar perfumery signature and pushes it into richer, more exaggerated territory.
Vanilla XXL moves vanilla away from anything delicate or predictable. Black vanilla is surrounded by musk, cinnamon and rum, creating a deep, spiced sweetness with a darker edge.
Pink Oud places Damask rose absolute against rare Assafi oud. The contrast between luminous rose and powerful oud gives the fragrance both softness and strength, making it floral without losing its intensity.
Amber Crush is warmer and more intoxicating. Plum liqueur brings a dark, juicy sweetness, while sandalwood, incense, spices and amber create a smoky, enveloping finish.
Available from 6 August 2026 exclusively at Selfridges.com
Balmain Beauty Destin de Balmain Parfum
Balmain Beauty turns up the intensity of its debut prestige fragrance with Destin de Balmain Parfum, a richer and more opulent interpretation of the original woody-fruity scent.
Created by perfumer Quentin Bisch, the fragrance opens with naturally sourced strawberry, balancing luscious sweetness with delicate green nuances. Baies rose adds a bright, peppery sparkle before champaca absolute begins to unfold.
Velvety and golden, champaca brings creamy vanilla and apricot-like facets to the heart, softened by a powdery peony accord. Australian sandalwood gives the fragrance its smooth, woody depth, while patchouli, Ambrexolide and roasted tonka absolute create a warm gourmand trail. A final touch of cocoa butter leaves something creamy, sensual and difficult to forget.
Powerful but still unmistakably feminine, Destin de Balmain Parfum takes the playful fruitiness of strawberry somewhere deeper and more polished. It feels confident, warm and golden—the kind of fragrance made for moving into autumn with intention.
Le Sel d’Issey Parfum
Issey Miyake intensifies its exploration of sea and earth with Le Sel d’Issey Parfum, a richer and more concentrated interpretation of its distinctive salty signature.
Perfumer Quentin Bisch builds the fragrance around a vivid salt accord, laminaria algae and oakmoss, creating a clean mineral freshness reminiscent of a brisk sea breeze. Saffron shifts the composition into warmer territory, adding a supple, leathery depth, while patchouli brings structure and intensity. A glowing amber accord settles across the skin for a lasting, resonant finish.
Fresh yet grounded, Le Sel d’Issey Parfum captures the tension between cool marine notes and the warmth of sun-soaked earth, making it a natural bridge between the final days of summer and the beginning of autumn.
Dior Jasmin des Anges Esprit de Parfum
Francis Kurkdjian revisits Jasmin des Anges for the latest addition to Dior’s Les Esprits de Parfum collection, transforming the luminous original into something far more concentrated and sensual.
The fragrance is inspired by the final moments of a summer day in Grasse, when the sun begins to set but the heat remains suspended in the air. At this time, Jasmine Grandiflorum becomes especially heady, releasing syrupy, almost apricot-like facets.
In Jasmin des Anges Esprit de Parfum, that jasmine is pushed into richer territory. Sweet strawberry and juicy peach add a compote-like fruitiness, capturing the feeling of flowers and fruit warmed beneath the sun.
This is not a light, freshly picked jasmine. It is jasmine at its most languorous and intoxicating—radiant, ripe and intensified by the lingering heat of a late Mediterranean summer.
Rare Beauty Rare Beginnings Eau de Parfum
Release date: 7 August 2026, exclusively at Sephora and sephora.co.uk
Rare Beauty enters a new chapter with Rare Beginnings Eau de Parfum, a bright fruity floral inspired by the possibility held within every new moment.
The fragrance opens with juicy pear nectar before blooming into a floral heart of gardenia and jasmine. As it settles, warm vanilla bean wraps the composition in a creamy sweetness that promises to linger on the skin for up to 12 hours. Fresh and radiant at first, it gradually becomes softer, sweeter and more comforting.
Rare Beginnings can also be personalised using two new Fragrance Layering Balms. Fruity Pear amplifies its fresh, juicy side, while Sweet Marshmallow adds a creamier and more alluring layer.
Like the original Rare Eau de Parfum, the bottle was developed with certified hand therapists and packaging engineers. Its ergonomic design makes dispensing the fragrance more comfortable for those with dexterity issues, bringing Rare Beauty’s inclusive approach into its growing fragrance collection.
Rare Beginnings Eau de Parfum is priced at £72, with the miniature available for £29. The Fruity Pear and Sweet Marshmallow Fragrance Layering Balms are £18 each.
Miss Dior Essence
Miss Dior Essence draws upon one of the House’s most personal stories: the life of Catherine Dior, Christian Dior’s beloved sister, whose strength, commitments and connection to the flower fields of Provence have long shaped the spirit of Miss Dior.
The fragrance is a creamy chypre built around a bouquet of roses, with Grasse Centifolia rose absolute from Dior’s partner estates at its heart. Gourmand notes of vanilla and almond soften the floral composition, while supple woods give it structure and depth.
The almond and vanilla bring an almost comforting creaminess, but the rose prevents the fragrance from becoming overly sweet. Instead, Miss Dior Essence feels romantic with substance—a modern expression of a fragrance that has always balanced youthfulness with strength of character.
Its connection to Grasse is particularly meaningful. Both the Château de la Colle Noire and Catherine Dior’s nearby Naÿssès estate continue to cultivate the Centifolia roses that sit at the heart of Dior perfumery, allowing the history of Miss Dior to live on through the flowers themselves.
ROJA Serenity Blend
Tea continues to emerge as one of perfumery’s most interesting notes, offering freshness without sharpness and warmth without heaviness. ROJA Serenity Blend explores its quieter, more comforting side.
Chamomile, magnolia and tea create the fragrance’s soothing opening, while maté and black tea add gentle warmth and depth. Soft citrus and luminous florals lift the composition, preventing its gourmand character from becoming overly dense.
The result captures the feeling of a freshly poured cup of tea: calming, familiar and quietly luxurious. It is a fragrance designed to feel grounding rather than attention-seeking, reflecting the growing appetite for scents that complement slower, more mindful rituals.
Soft, sophisticated and understated, ROJA Serenity Blend is the ideal choice for those who want their fragrance to create a mood rather than dominate a room.
