These Coconut Perfumes Are Like Vacay in a Bottle

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I take pride in always being the best-smelling person in any room—so it’s no wonder I have a fragrance wardrobe of over 125 curated bottles. Some I consider year-rounders, like my favorite expensive perfumes, while others are more seasonal, as I prefer different notes at certain times of year (like vanilla perfumes and other cozy winter fragrances). But with summer around the corner, I'm officially pulling out all of my favorite warm-weather scents, including my fave: coconut perfumes.

Idk about you, but coconut notes in perfumes instantly transport me to tropical beaches, complete with sun-kissed skin and carefree days lying under the warm sun. Combined with creamy vanilla, juicy citrus, or lush green notes, coconut brings a sense of indulgence and escape to every perfume blend. Want in on this scent journey? I've selected the top 12 coconut perfumes just for you, ranging from the perfect daytime coconut scents to budget-friendly options and everything in between. Take a peek and discover your new favorite summer fragrance.

Keep scrolling for all of my top picks, including some of my favorites from brands like Tom Ford, Byredo, Sol De Janeiro, and more.

Eau de Toilette Perfume

Ever hear of those lamps designed to beat seasonal blues? Well, if you’re not into basking in front of bright lights, consider this mood booster in a bottle. With notes of coconut milk, banana, and pineapple—alongside more unexpected hints of plastic and pool water (!!!)—this eau de toilette transports me to a pool deck sipping a pina colada. Some reviewers, however, say that this is akin to glorified sunscreen, and if you aren’t into that smell, this might not be your cup of tea.

• Key notes: Coconut, petitgrain, solar notes, banana, pineapple, musk, bergamot, plastic, pool water, sea salt, fabric

• Size: 1 oz

Glowing customer review: “I wish it came in a bigger size. My coworker said I smell like summer, which is exactly what I was going for!”

Coconut Sun Eau de Parfum

IMO, this is perhaps the purest coconut fragrance on my list. While I typically don't favor coconut as a standalone note, this one blends perfectly with my skin and body chemistry. It’s sweet, but not overly so. I also gotta mention, I love the story behind this woman-owned brand. Following her friend's injury in the army, founder Barb Stegemann vowed to carry forward his mission of peace, leading to the creation of The 7 Virtues and their motto: "Make Perfume Not War."

• Key notes: Coconut, frangipani, vanilla

• Size: 0.34 oz, 1.7 oz

Glowing customer review: “Moral of the story: BEST BLIND PURCHASE EVER. It smells heavenly! I paired it with PHLUR’s Vanilla Skin body mist, and it’s amazing!!! I’m a fan of vanilla and coconut scents and this definitely gives both, it has a slight sunscreen scent but it mixes in perfectly for the best summer beach aesthetic scent! I definitely recommend it!”

Lait de Coco Eau de Parfum

If gourmand perfumes are your jam (hehe), then you’ll love this. Packed with just four sugary, sweet notes—bergamot, coconut, vanilla, and praline—this alluring blend smells like a warm embrace in a bottle. Whether worn alone for a pure coconut scent or layered with fruitier fragrances for a tropical twist (I love Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange with this), it's versatile but still warm and cozy. Countless reviewers have compared it to the fresh scent of their favorite shampoos and conditioners, making it a great way to extend that just-stepped-out-of-the-shower feeling.

• Key notes: Creamy coconut, vanilla, praline, bergamot

• Size: 1, 2.5 oz

Glowing customer review: “Perfect light and fresh fragrance for any time of the year! AMAZING! As far as longevity, it depends how much you put on. I still smell mine on my clothes at the end of the day!”

Moonlight in Heaven Eau de Parfum

If you are looking for a coconut perfume but don’t want to smell like all the other vacay-bound people on your flight, then check out Moonlight in Heaven, which I consider an unsung hero on this list. It's the scent I took with me on a two-week Italian vacation last summer; with prominent notes of lemon, mango, grapefruit, and coconut, it perfectly matched my explorations on the Amalfi Coast.

When I first spray it, I immediately get whiffs of zesty pink pepper that adds a kick to the citrusy notes. As it dries down, the rice note slowly emerges, blending seamlessly with the sweet, creamy coconut. Perhaps I'm projecting, but this scent screams "rich woman yachting for the summer in Italy" (hey, it's good to have aspirations, right?!).

• Key notes: Grapefruit, mango, roasted tonka beans, Coconut

• Size: 1.7 oz

Glowing customer review: “Using this perfume makes me feel very posh and lush. I feel rich and luxurious. It’s very fresh at first, you smell the mango and milkiness, but there’s woodsy notes that last a bit longer. It’s a sweet but fresh fragrance that you literally cannot find anywhere else. It’s the bomb dot com.”

Cloud Eau De Parfum

Okay, gotta be honest, I straight-up ignored all the hype surrounding this perfume for YEARS because its packaging did not fit the aesthetic of my other luxury perfumes. Plus, I was convinced it was just another overhyped celeb scent (Sry, Ari 😳). But after hearing so many first-hand glowing reviews from friends and colleagues, I finally made a trip to the store specifically to test it out (like, earlier today), and wow, I cannot stop smelling my wrists. TBH, I think it's a pretty comparable Baccarat Rouge 540 dupe, but with a lighter creamier undertone (thanks to the coconut, praline, and vanilla orchid). And dare I say, I like it better?!

• Key notes: Vanilla, coconut, lavender, pear, bergamot, praline, vanilla orchid, musk

• Size: 1, 1.7, 3.4 oz

Glowing customer review: “This smells so good, it's sweet and kinda coconutty but not obnoxious like thank you, next!”

Philosykos Eau de Toilette

Picture this: One spray, and bam, you’re in a lush green garden or a quaint greenhouse, surrounded by all that earthy goodness. That's how Philosykos smells. But the dry-down is where the magic happens. Suddenly, this creamy, delicious coconut note kicks in, like a refreshing glass of smooth coconut milk. Whenever I need an instant pick-me-up, I reach for this perfume; every inhale is like a mini vacation. Not-so-breaking-news: My bottle is practically empty.

• Key notes: Fig tree, coconut, cedar, green notes

• Size: 1.7, 2.5, 3.4 oz

Glowing customer review: “I received a sample of this in my advent calendar and was so impressed. I never wear perfume, but there's something about this fragrance that changed my mind. There's a hint of coconut there that seals the deal for me. Not so much that it smells like you're wearing sunscreen. Just the right touch.”

Replica Beach Walk Eau de Toilette

Let me tell you, the hype surrounding this scent is completely justified! I don't think any fragrance has ever embodied its name as perfectly as this one does: It's pure nostalgia in a bottle. Imagine a picture-perfect beach day in August, with a gentle breeze that carries hints of sunscreen combined with the salty ocean air. With notes like bergamot, coconut milk, and musk, it veers more fresh and green than sickly-sweet.

The bottle has a permanent spot in my toiletry bag, since it's my favorite fragrance to carry with me on all my summer getaways. Fair warning: As an eau de toilette, this fragrance has moderate longevity on the skin. However, you can extend its wear time by spritzing a bit onto your clothing, as fabric tends to retain the scent longer.

• Key notes: Bergamot, heliotrope, coconut milk

• Size: 0.34, 1, 3.4 oz

Glowing customer review: “This smells exactly like a picturesque walk on the beach. It truly does smell like warm, salty skin, and light and refreshingly sweet coconut water."

Rio Radiance Hair and Body Fragrance Mist

If you want to extend your beach day (sans the heat and sand), spritz on some of this body spray. With notes of coconut milk and sand (yup, sand!), it's beachy and tropical without smelling too much like sunscreen, IMO. It's a body mist instead of an EDP, so it wears off faster than a rich, full-bodied perfume would; however, I get about six hours of this scent when I spray it all over my clothes and on top of Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum cream. The sweet, almond scent of the Bum Bum cream mixes with the already creamy vanilla, making it extra delectable.

• Key notes: Solar tuberose, coconut milk, and creamy vanilla

• Size: 3.04 oz, 8.1 oz

Glowing customer review: “The perfect summer scent. It’s sweet like pineapple but also smells like sunscreen in the best way. I’ve purchased three so far and I love it.”

Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum

A much more modest and sophisticated take on a coconut perfume would be this one from Tom Ford’s private blend collection. I’m not quite sure if it’s the pistachio or just the overall blend of notes—this one is really layered with 'em—but all that really stands out to me is a nutty, semi-sweet coconut aroma. The dry-down is fairly subtle and sticks close to the skin, which makes it really nice for a more professional setting. This is my go-to in-office scent to wear during the summer months!

FWIW, beauty editor Beth Gillette is obsessed with the body oil version of this perfume. "It lasts so much longer on my skin, surprisingly, and is way easier to travel with," she says.

• Key notes: Coco de mer, ylang ylang, cardamom, pistachio

• Size: 0.3 oz, 1 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz

Glowing customer review: “This is an absolutely gorgeous, refreshing, classy summer fragrance that lasts like perfumes of old. On my skin, it's undoubtedly tuberose, which I adore. I usually don't like tuberose with sweet coconut, but, in this case, it really, really works. The coconut is only slightly sweet. This coconut is not coconut-cream-pie or Paletas de Coco. I keep finding myself experiencing memories of Hawaii, and I realize it's from this fragrance affecting my subconscious imaginings.”

Velvet Haze Eau de Parfum

I’ve been having a bit of a love affair with Byredo fragrances since their flagship store landed in New York City in 2015, and have racked up quite a few of their bottles over the years. I’m serious when I say I get compliments every time I wear one of my Byredo scents—and this musky coconut and patchouli fragrance is no exception. Think of a more elevated version of Estee Lauder’s 2010 Bronze Goddess (which I wore the heck out of over a decade ago). Fair warning: I do sometimes carry a tester-size vial of this in my purse, because it needs to be reapplied after about three to four hours.

• Key notes: Coconut water, ambrette, patchouli leaves, cotton musks, wild musk

• Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz

Glowing customer review: “Such a lovely scent! This is something I never knew I needed. It's like a white v neck t-shirt, something that's always so comfortable and goes well anywhere, at any time. As soon as I sprayed it on my skin, it felt sooo lovely, sweet, and so cozy, something I have never felt from any other fragrances. It just made me smile right away.”

Flowerbomb Tiger Lily Eau de Parfum

This perfume just screams hot to me, like the perfect date night perfume. So it came as no surprise when I realized that Emily Ratajkowski is the face for this new version of Flowerbomb. While it definitely leans feminine with its warm tropical and candy-like sweetness, I discovered its universal appeal firsthand in a packed elevator, when a random guy broke the awkward silence with a compliment on my “damn good” scent.

• Key notes: Coconut milk, tiger lily, mango

• Size: 0.34 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz

Glowing customer review: “I am OBSESSED with this scent! I’m a lover of the OG Flowerbomb. I think the OG will be my winter scent and this will be my summer scent. It’s a warm, tropical scent. Not like coconut sunscreen or anything. I feel like if you’ve ever been to Hawaii, the scent is a spot on description of this.”

Solar Daydream Eau de Toilette

Philosophy scents are celebrated for their understated charm, speaking softly rather than shouting. And while sometimes it’s nice to draw attention from everybody in the room, there are other times you just want to wear something for yourself. At just over 4 ounces, this pear, jasmine, and coconut milk perfume gives you complete control on how loud you want to be. Personally, I prefer to use this as a "no-fragrance" fragrance (see what I did there? 😉). One to two spritzes in the morning provides just enough to pique my senses, but by the afternoon I’m left with a clean canvas if I’m looking to rock something else.

• Key notes: Coconut milk, pear, jasmine, saltwater accord

• Size: 4 oz

Glowing customer review: “My favorite subtle clean girl perfume. My skin, but better!”

How to choose the best coconut perfume for you:

Decide your vibe.

When it comes to coconut perfumes, they almost all guarantee a bit of escapism. Whether you're taken to the Italian countryside or an all-inclusive getaway on a tropical island, they all evoke joy with a side of piña colada. But everybody is different and scents are subjective.

If you love the smell of traditional sunscreens, then go for something like Replica Beach Walk or Vacation EDT with extra notes like banana, orange blossom, and bergamot. But if you're into more tropical or aquatic coconut perfumes, try something like Kilian Moonlight in Heaven or Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Tiger Lily, which mix coconut with tropical fruits like mango and grapefruit.

Consider the intensity.

Not all perfumes are made equal. There are eau de parfums (EDP), eau de toilettes (EDT), and body mists. An EDP is more concentrated and will last longer on the skin than either an EDT and a body mist, which is why an EDP can sometimes have a stronger sillage (AKA a fragrance trail) than an EDT as well. Several coconut perfumes on this list come in both EDP and EDT, allowing you to decide what strength scent you wanna try.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Dana Parra is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories for titles including Women’s Health, Seventeen, and Best Products. She is a true beauty enthusiast and loves to share her knowledge on the latest and greatest when it comes to beauty, however, perfume is Dana’s Roman Empire. She has over 125 perfumes in her closet and is constantly on the hunt for intoxicating blends. For this story, she tested over 30 perfumes in order to curate a selection of the top 12 quintessential coconut scents. Each scent on this list was worn for at least one full day to get the complete experience and performance (many, however, have been favorites for years).

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