This “Tomboy” Fragrance Smells Like Sunshine

Tocca's latest perfume, Simone, is branded as a tomboy fragrance. Let's get this out of the way: As someone who has smelled my fair share of self-identified tomboys, this is just not what they smell like. (Of course, that's my experience; there might be a tomboy out there whose fragrance, like this one, has middle notes of tropical frangipani flower — maybe I just haven't met her yet!) This perfume does, however, smell like pure sunshine.

It's a super-summery fragrance that somehow resists the season's olfactory clichés. There's something salty and beachy to it, but it's crisp and bright instead of flowery or coconut-y. It smells like how the setting sun feels — with citrusy top notes balanced by woodsy, amber base notes.

This fragrance does incorporate scents traditionally found in men's aftershave, but it has a very feminine vibe to it despite those layers. I'm all about fragrances that don't rely on pre-determined notes to communicate femininity, and Simone is incredibly creative and refreshing. Tomboy or not, it's earned a permanent place on my dresser.

Tocca Simone, $68, available at Sephora.