Summer Fridays’ First Fragrance Sunlit Vanilla Is Here & It Smells Like Summer in a Bottle

Name: My Review of Summer Fridays Sunlit Vanilla Eau de Parfum
Brand: Summer Fridays
Price: 30 USD

Spoiler: It's oh-so yummy

By Courtney Mason

•

Published Mar 26, 2026

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

Summer Fridays/Shutterstock/PureWow

I may be getting ahead of myself, but so far, 2026 is looking to be a great year for fragrance. Launch after launch, note after note, keeping track of each brand’s early interpretations for spring and summer has become a full-time job. In short, fruity scents are dominating (which we predicted), but gourmands—specifically vanilla scents—unsurprisingly still reign supreme. And Summer Fridays, everyone’s go-to beauty brand for everything ranging from lip balms to eye patches, just launched one of its very own.

Inspired by an “endless summer feeling,” the brand’s first-ever perfume, Sunlit Vanilla is warm, radiant and one of the most talked about releases so far. I tested the fragrance ahead of the launch to get the full scoop of the latest vanilla eau de parfum to hit shelves. Below, find everything you need to know about Summer Fridays’ newest perfume, paired with thoughts from a picky (vanilla) fragrance lover.

Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying? Sign up for our shopping newsletter to uncover our favorite finds.

What Is Summer Fridays Sunlit Vanilla Eau de Parfum?

Fast Facts

Top Note: bergamot
Heart Notes: caramel, coconut
Base Notes: vanilla, creamy musk, tonka bean, amber
Sizes: 0.34 oz, 1.7 oz
Price: $30 - $82

Featuring notes of bergamot, vanilla and caramel, Sunlit Vanilla Eau de Parfum is Summer Fridays’ first mark on the fine fragrance world, reminiscent of indulging in your favorite dessert as you soak up the summer sun. Imagine: creamy vanilla ice cream with ripples of caramel and the toastiest, caramelized crème brûlée. Available in two sizes, 0.34 and 1.7 ounces, its full composition includes notes of coconut, creamy musk, tonka bean and amber.

Out of all the scents out there, you may be thinking, why vanilla? We all know Summer Fridays isn't new to edible gourmands, with their lip balms often taking on explorative scents like decadent hot cocoa or a ripe guava. This time around, the brand is sticking with timelessness, paying homage to its earliest Lip Butter Balm iteration in—you guessed it—vanilla. Read on for my review.

Summer Fridays

My Review of Summer Fridays Sunlit Vanilla Eau de Parfum

What I Like

soft, sweet smelling aroma that isn't overpowering
perfect gourmand scent for warmer seasons
affordable price point
lasts 6+ hours on skin

What I Don't Like

not as long lasting on clothing

Summer Fridays

As a fragrance writer and someone who strives to smell their very best, I’ve tried a lot of vanilla parfums. To be quite frank, there’s no shortage of vanilla perfumes in the market—we’ve even tested a handful ourselves. That said, I was curious how a fragrance from the beloved Summer Fridays would fare, and let me just say, I was pleasantly surprised.

First things first, Sunlit Vanilla is a gourmand made for warmer weather. Personally, I avoid wearing them entirely once the weather feels unbearably hot—unless they’re paired with fresher, more aquatic notes, like Ellis Brooklyn’s mineral- and sea salt-derived Vanilla Salt or DedCool’s nectar-y skin scent Mochi Milk. Sunlit Vanilla sits right in the middle with an opening citrus note of bergamot, grounding those sweeter notes in the rest of the fragrance. As it dries down, you then get the subtle hints of coconut and caramel that don’t smell overly saccharine, but more cozy than anything. I wouldn't mind wearing this one in the heat at all.

Where Sunlit Vanilla really stands out, however, is in the scent’s longevity, which feels miles ahead of other vanilla fragrances. I’ve worn vanilla perfumes that seem to vanish off my skin after an hour or two, whereas I’ll catch a whiff of Sunlit Vanilla six plus hours after applying. Plus, if you’re a fragrance mixer like me, it acts as a great base layer for similar aromas.

Summer Fridays

Bottom Line

Overall, this vanilla eau de parfum is well-rounded, comforting and suitable for any season—which often isn’t the case. Not to mention, its curve-shaped bottle is cute to boot, etched with the brand’s signature stripes. For being priced under $100 ($30 for 10ml, $82 for 50ml), this is a solid option for any budget.

Is Sunlit Vanilla the most groundbreaking fragrance I've ever smelled? No. Have I been spraying it incessantly like it is? Absolutely.

From $30 at Summer Fridays

From $30 at Sephora

Courtney Mason

Editorial Assistant

Writes across several verticals including fashion, beauty, news and entertainment
Over three years of experience in the fashion industry
Studied Fashion Media with a minor in Visuals for Social Media at LIM College

read full bio