Summer Fridays Just Launched its First Fragrance. But is it Worth the Splurge?
Main image – Courtesy of writer
When I say Summer Fridays, it’s much more likely that a little (now very recognisable) tube of lip balm comes to mind than a fragrance.
You could be forgiven – after all one is sold every two seconds, catapulting Summer Fridays to become one of Sephora’s biggest success stories.
Perhaps then, riding that high, it makes sense that the brand would make the foray into scent – an industry set to boom to over $64 billion in 2026. Its debut fragrance? Sunlit Vanilla (£76 for 50ml from Cult Beauty UK /$82 from Summer Fridays US). And I have some thoughts.
They say having a signature fragrance is chic. Personally, I find the concept far too constraining and, dare I say, a little boring. Scent, to me, is mood; ergo, it fluctuates. Some days, I want to embrace a musky scent over energising citrus notes. Other mornings, I feel drawn to the comfort of gourmand fragrances, which leads us neatly to Sunlit Vanilla. Discovering it idly in a Space NK, I spritzed with little expectation; the name seemed to say it all. What caught me off guard, however, was a sweet fragrance with genuine depth.
The fragrance details
Conceptualised on the sunny shores of California – home to Summer Fridays – it makes sense that the brand’s first eau de parfum would aim to evoke feelings of “an endless summer all year long”.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Within it, you’ll find notes of bergamot, caramel, vanilla (of course), coconut, amber and tonka bean. Sunlit Vanilla arrives in two sizes: slim 50ml and 10ml bottles that feel well suited to life in a handbag, fitting for a brand that defines itself as “primed to be used on the go”.
- Top note: Bergamot
- Heart notes: Caramel, coconut
- Base notes: Vanilla, creamy musk, tonka bean, amber
My first impressions
From the name alone, I assumed this would be another youthfully geared, overly sweet vanilla scent. What I got instead was a surprisingly complex gourmand. Yes, it’s reminiscent of the perfumes I wore as a teenager (which felt impossibly grown-up at the time), but more like their older, chicer sister.
The fragrance opens with sweetness, but without feeling artificial, before settling into a smoky musk that allows it to transition seamlessly from morning to night. It’s comforting without feeling cloying, youthful without being boxed into that identity. “Sweet but sexy” were, I believe, the first words I used to describe Sunlit Vanilla.
Wear time
Perfumes notoriously fail to last on my skin; however, with Sunlit Vanilla, I was pleasantly surprised. After spraying it at my desk at 11am, I could still smell it while closing up shop for the day at 6pm – so at least seven hours in the bank there.
The scent itself didn’t transform dramatically over time, though it did evolve slightly into a softer almond note.
Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
Taking a look at user reviews on Cult Beauty, it appears shoppers agree that this scent never drifts too sweet. One shared, “A very warm vanilla scent that’s not too overpoweringly sweet. It lasts for hours, and I’ve been given compliments when wearing it,” while another added, “Summer Fridays did great with this one – can’t wait to spritz during my next holiday.”
Some users, however, expected more from Summer Fridays, with comments like, “I have many fragrances in my collection that smell similar,” and “Nice but not earth-shattering.”
Value for money
I noticed quite a few shoppers praising the scent while also questioning whether it justified the £76/$82 full-size price tag (or just under half that for the mini), and I can’t help but agree.
As with all good yet expensive beauty products, if you can and want to – go for it. But I’d be remiss to say you couldn’t find a similar beachy scent for less. Saltair or PHLUR body mists would be a good place to start, though they don’t necessarily offer the same staying power as this eau de parfum.
The takeaway
Overall, I think Sunlit Vanilla by Summer Fridays marks an exciting new chapter for a brand currently riding both a viral and retail high. I’m intrigued to see whether it expands the fragrance range at any point, and I’d certainly be keen to spritz anything new it releases.
While I do find myself regularly reaching for – and receiving compliments on – this particular scent, I don’t believe it’s an absolute necessity. Still, as with all beauty products, sometimes it’s simply nice to have nice things. And this is a scent that’s very nice indeed.
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