Personal fragrance comes in many forms and, for my money, is the final touch on any outfit.

While I’m a firm believer in having a signature scent, I also think the change of season lends itself to switching out your go-to perfume for a fresh musk to match your warmer-weather looks.

Think about it: does it make sense to wear the cozy, woodsy scents of autumn and winter with flowing maxi dresses and matching tropical print sets? No, of course not. Summer is the time to embrace exotic blooms, sunshine-dried laundry, sweet coconuts, and sea salt aromas. Here’s a rundown of potential fragrances to enhance your summer aesthetic.

First, what is your ideal fragrance profile? Some brands will have online quizzes to help you decide on your preferred scent, which conveniently coordinates to one of the products they’d like to sell you. There are also novelty quizzes on BuzzFeed to narrow down your scent profile. These are more fun than accurate.

I think the best way to determine a scent preference is by going out there and using the nostrils the Lord gave you. Hit the perfume aisle, the candle aisle, and even the produce section of the grocery store and start sniffing around.

For summer, the obvious notes are floral-based, like jasmine, rose, and iris. Other plant-based fragrances to consider are pear, raspberry, lemon, and green apple. But summer isn’t just about fruit and floral top notes. You still want depth and maybe a bit of mystery in your summer scent. Don’t shy away from flavors of oud, sage, bergamot, and sandalwood. For something with a bit of spice, also sniff around saffron, pepper, and patchouli.

I was recently stranded at the Denver International Airport waiting on a delayed flight, and took the opportunity to check out the designer scents at the duty-free shop. I wasn’t all that impressed with the Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, or even Chanel #5 colognes. So, don’t think only schmancy, fancy perfumes can meet your fragrance goals, focus on essential aromas and ingredients, instead of names and packaging.

Another great way to explore fragrance is with scent samplers. Jo & Malone, Salt & Stone, and Ministry of Scent offer sample sets to help you explore various aromas to see what resonates with you. You can also mix and match to create different notes that speak to your olfactory preferences. Plus, the clean packaging makes for great gifts.

Speaking of packaging, one thing to consider is the form in which you prefer your scent to be delivered. Spray perfume, scented oil, roll-on fragrance, powders, mists, incense, a mixture of several sources? Does the delivery method even matter?

For some folks, it’s not just scent notes, but also the product type that appeals to their senses. If that is important to you, then once you’ve discovered your preferred fragrance profile, further hone your search by distribution method.

I’m a fan of mixing different scents through different products. Oil on the back of the ears, spray perfume on the decolletage, and an overall body misting.

Speaking of body, where you put your scent contributes to your overall fragrance experience. For the warmer, more humid months, you want to strike a balance between intriguing and refreshing while avoiding a heavy hand with application. Also, be mindful of other products that aren’t the source of your fragrance, but are scented, like body lotion, lipstick, and hair products. It may take some trial and error, but you’ll want to experiment with how your fragrances interact with each other to strike the right chord. Or, better yet, opt for unscented products for summer, so as not to overwhelm your olfactory glands.

Of course, with summer comes sunscreen, and there’s a whole nostalgia-based business on the smell of sunblock. In general, mineral-based sunscreens will not compete with your chosen fragrance. Brands like Paula’s Choice and Coola have an array of sun protection products for body, face, and hair for daily use. For days at the pool, river, lake, or ocean, then go for those classics like Banana Boat and Sun Bun and revel in the coconutty, sea-salty scents from yesteryear.

Next up, occasion-based scents. So far, we’ve been exploring fragrance for the summer months, but aromas can be even more refined by place, time of day, and event, no matter the season. You may already have daily warm-weather eau de toilette as part of your standard morning routine. For special occasions, you may want to amp things up with a more complex perfume.

For casual days, you can just spritz on a combo hair and body mist and call it a day. I’m a big fan of layering scents depending on the occasion.

I like to use eucalyptus and mint body deodorant for my base, then a light oud solid for behind the ears, and finish with a clean perfume to spray, delay, and then walk through.

Date night might find you dabbing some essential oils on your pulse points, like wrists, underside of the elbow, behind the knees, and inside the ankles.

Lastly, washing away the fragrance.

Summertime can come with a lot of smells, both intended and inevitable, thanks to sweat, humidity, air quality, and sun exposure. There are pros and cons as to when to shower/bathe in the summer. I’m a big night-time showerer, but you may find morning showers the best way to beat the heat. Of course, who isn’t into getting clean in the middle of the day after outside work? Regardless of when you get clean, be mindful of the soaps and body washes you’re using. You may not want to trade one scent profile for another at the end of the day. Best to opt for unscented or clean-scented products to wash away dirt, sweat, makeup, sunblock, and perfume for a scentless slate as you start, end, or restart your day.