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7 fresh eau de toilette perfumes for a lightweight, long-lasting scent during a heatwave — all for under £20
Humidity is no match for these clean, airy blends
IMO, British summers have their pros and cons. In the former camp, you’ve got longer, livelier evenings, a crisp pint in your favourite beer garden and picky bits under the gleaming sun. In the latter? Relentless sweating, a weird sense of stickiness wherever you go and a hellish commute, to top it off.
Given that this week’s heatwave has treated us to all of the above, at Cosmo Beauty, we’ve had to rethink our daily routines. With temperatures exceeding 35 degrees in London, our go-to summer fragrances run the risk of feeling heavy, cloying and offending fellow tube passengers and colleagues throughout the day.
Enter: eau de toilettes. Known for being lighter, subtler and more wearable than your average eau de parfum, EDTs are typically composed with 5-10% perfume oil, compared to the 15-20% you’ll find in an EDP. Not only are they ideal for everyday wear, but modern offerings are also longer-lasting than ever (read: they’re more than a match for sweat), so we’ve been smelling fresh, clean and put-together from morning through to post-work drinks. Not to brag.
Along with lightweight formulas come a range of notes – from dainty white florals and cosy, intimate skin scents to gently energising citrus and herbaceous blends. But don’t panic. You won’t need to splurge on a whole new fragrance wardrobe, and reserve it for the height of summer; some of our all-time favourites will get you change from a £20 note.
Ahead, find seven of the freshest, airiest eau de toilettes for summer 2026. Compliments are (almost) guaranteed!
H&M Beauty Hopeful Romantic Eau de Toilette
H&M Beauty Hopeful Romantic Eau de Toilette
If you don't know H&M fragrances, get to know (preferably soon; their incredibly affordable bestsellers are often out of stock). One whiff of Hopeful Romantic (my personal favourite) and you'll see why. This fruity floral blend is as uplifting as it is understated, so anyone who walks by will enjoy delicate hints of pear, orange blossom and amber. TLDR: The quality completely belies the price.
Key notes: Pear, bergamot, orange blossom, patchouli, vanilla
M&S Discover Intense Sea Salt & Neroli Eau de Toilette
M&S Discover Intense Sea Salt & Neroli Eau de Toilette
Also in the top tier of high-street fragrances is (naturally) M&S. Not only have many of the scents from the Discover range been compared to designer fragrances, but the lasting power is also impressive. A few spritzes of this musk-meets-aquatic combo (thanks to sea salt, neroli and mandarin) will survive hours in the heat. And since you get 100ml for just £12, you're free to apply liberally without it feeling overpowering.
Key notes: Sea salt, neroli, mandarin, musk
Venetian-born fragrance brand Monotheme is now stocked at M&S, and we're thankful. Yes, this blend of vibrant pomegranate and playful peach over a warm amber base immediately feels like summer in a bottle, but for just £20, it's sweeter still. Call it a grown-up, inoffensive way of wearing juicy scents.
Key notes: Blackcurrant, ruby pomegranate, momo peach, amber, musk
The Body Shop White Musk Eau De Toilette
The Body Shop White Musk Eau De Toilette
The Body Shop's iconic White Musk feels bright and luminous at first spray, then settles beautifully into a skin-hugging veil of gentle, clean powdery-ness. It's equal parts intimate, comforting and quiet, which feels more than welcome when all of your other senses are in overdrive on TFL's Central line.
Key notes: Ylang ylang, lily, white musk
The White Company Lime & Bay Eau de Toilette Rollerball
The White Company Lime & Bay Eau de Toilette Rollerball
If you're after a seriously expensive-smelling scent, look no further than the Lime & Bay EDT from The White Company. Crisp lime and zesty orange band together with blossom to create a lush, garden-inspired fragrance that's easier than anything to reapply while on the move. Simply dab the rollerball onto your pulse points, et voila.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette Pen Spray
Marc Jacobs sees a rollerball and raises you a pen spray. The famous Daisy perfume (a radiant, ultra-feminine take on berry, gardenia and white woods) is made even chicer and more lovable in this nifty little travel size. Spritz sparingly; it can linger for up to six hours.
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette
No conversation about summer fragrances is complete until Bronze Goddess gets a mention. Arguably the skin scent of all skin scents, it fuses creamy coconut milk and sandalwood with fresh bergamot and lavender. The result feels sophisticated in a pared-back way, but still joyful enough to set the tone for summer.
Beauty Assistant Urmi works across Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Red and Prima.
She fell into the world of beauty following a Masters in Magazine Journalism, and has been knee-deep in maximalist makeup, seasonal nail trends, and skincare myth-busting ever since. Both in and outside the office, she is best recognised by her signature red hair and elaborate set of acrylics.
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