Body Mists Are Back. And Actually Good This Time.
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I’m old enough to remember whenBath & Body Worksfirst opened in my local mall in 1990. I was 10, just starting to get interested in beauty, and its body mists (then called Body Splashes) quickly became tween and teen status symbols. I can still remember the scent ofCucumber Melonand Sun-Ripened Raspberry. By college, my roommates and I had graduated to Victoria’s Secret, spritzing onLove SpellorPear Glacébefore heading out for the night.
Eventually, body mists disappeared from my routine. As I got more into fragrances, I gravitated toward niche perfumes with more concentrated formulas and stopped wearing mists altogether.
Then, while reporting mydrugstore-fragrance storylast month, I found myself sniffing my way through the fragrance aisle at Target and realized something had changed. The new generation of body mists feel far more sophisticated than the one- or two-note formulas I remember. Around the same time, I noticed prestige brands like Byredo, Phlur, and Valentino launching body and hair mists of their own.
As I tested them, I found that while they’re still lighter than aneau de toiletteorparfum, many lingered on my skin longer than the first-generation body mists I grew up with. They’re also ideal for summer. When it’s hot and humid, I don’t always want to wear heavy perfume. A lighter veil of fragrance feels just right.
I liked them enough to add a few to my rotation. Here are the body mists I’m loving this summer.
Updated on August 7, 2026
The summer of body mists continues. I added a few new scents that recently launched from By Rosie Jane, Tocca, and Marc Jacobs.
Lightly peppered
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This is the Target hair-and-body mist that inspired this story. Based on the playful packaging, I expected something overly sweet, but it surprised me with a much more sophisticated scent profile. Pink pepper, iris, jasmine, amber, and woods create a warm, slightlypowdery fragrancethat smells far more expensive than its price tag.
Soft and tropical
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I also tested this for thedrugstore fragrance storyand have had it in my scent rotation ever since. It’s tropical without veering into sunscreen territory. Juicy fruit notes are balanced by creamy sandalwood ones. I’ve found sandalwood tends to help fragrances linger on my skin longer than you’d expect from a body mist.
Sweet and nutty
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I knew body mists had officially made a comeback when luxury brands started releasing them. Valentino launched four versions this summer in a perfumelike glass bottle, and Salty Pistachio is the standout. Bright bergamot keeps it fresh, while whipped cream andpistachioadd a creamy richness without becoming cloying. I usually avoidgourmandfragrances, but I’ve learned I actually like them in a lighter body-mist format.
Papaya creamsicle
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The colorful bottles look like cutesy popsicles, but the fragrance inside feels surprisingly grown up. Papaya, pineapple, and mango are softened by coconut cream, jasmine,vanilla, tonka bean, and sandalwood, creating a creamy tropical scent rather than an overlyfruityone. It also contains HydroCrown, a moisturizing ingredient derived from upcycled pineapples that helps hydrate skin so the fragrance lasts longer.
Clean skin
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Byredo recently translated several of its signature fragrances into body mists, and Mojave Ghost is the one I’m drawn to most. It’s soft and airy, what I’d call a true skin scent — a delicate blend of florals and woods that smells clean, not overpowering. It’s the kind of fragrance people would notice only when they’re close enough for a hug.
Salt and pepper
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If you like apeppery fragrance, you’ll like this. On first whiff, I thought the pepper was a bit too strong, but because it’s in the top note it settles down pretty quickly and mixes with soft lily of the valley, coconut milk, vanilla musk, and sandalwood. It smells like your skin after a long day at thebeach, salty and warm and still touched by the faint aroma of sunscreen.
Vanilla ice cream
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This new launch, inspired by the brand’s best-selling perfumeDulce, has notes of caramel, vanilla, almond, bourbon, and butterscotch. It sounds like it would be saccharine sweet, but I find it light, refreshing, and delicious in a really sophisticated way.
Mediterranean summer
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Tocca just entered the body-mist category with a collection of four beautiful scents. My favorite of the bunch is Sea Salt with sparkling Italian mandarin, sea salt, fresh ginger, and a woodsy, musky base. It’s fresh, slightly zesty, and warm. I can’t stop sniffing my skin.
Tropical cocktail
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The Marc Jacobs Daisy line now includes four summery body mists. Tropical Glow is like the trendy craft cocktail at a upscale beach club — a mix of fruity pineapple pulp, sophisticated jasmine, and creamy macadamia.
More scents we like
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