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As a lover of all things beauty, fragrances are a weakness of mine, and I tend to rotate through my extensive lineup depending on my mood. During the cooler months, I gravitate towards headier aromas of rose, sandalwood, and vetiver but when it’s warm outside, all I want is something light and ethereal. Enter the scent lineup—and more specifically, the spray lotion—by Riddle.
We like
- Lightweight and absorbs easily
- Can be layered with matching products
- Stylish glass packaging
We don't like
- It’s too large for your carry-on bag
- Wish it came with an option for refills
Born on the Beach
Founded in Venice Beach, California in 2013 by Chelsea Voge, Riddle has been quietly gaining popularity thanks to its line of light yet luxurious fragrances popular with celebs like Kristen Bell, Molly Sims, and Shawn Mendes. They’re a stark contrast from the bolder fragrances of Byredo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, or Frederic Malle—brands I also happen to love, but have a tendency to be…a lot, even when applied sparingly.
There are seven signature scents, beginning with the “Original,” a subtle blend of amber and musk. “Santal” is spicy and woody with hints of cardamom and sandalwood, “Poppy” is light and citrusy with orange blossom and rose, “Ex” is deep and green with notes of moss and musk, “Sphinx” is a woodsy blend of musk and sandalwood, “Voyeur” is a cozy blend of vanilla and amber. For summer in particular, “Muse” is a perfectly beachy mix of coconut, peony, and bergamot.
Because I’m weirdly afraid of being caught with ashy knees or elbows, I’m obsessed with lotions—I religiously apply some sort of moisturizer after showering and any time I’m about to leave the house. While I tend to use thicker balms for my driest areas, sometimes a heavier lotion is simply too much for the rest of my skin. Enter The Milky Spray Lotion ($44), a perfect combination of nourishing moisturizer and fragrance. It’s a lightweight spray lotion, whose ingredients include aloe, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil. The fine mist can be spritzed all over, and gently rubbed in, leaving my skin soft and delicately scented, without being greasy.
The “Muse” spray lotion I have honestly smells like a day at the beach—the notes of coconut remind me of tanning lotion and sunshine, subtle but fresh floral notes also bring me back to the flower leis I grew up with as a kid in Honolulu. I recently tucked this into my overnight bag on a trip and found it to be an excellent after-sun moisturizer.
One thing to note is that the spray lotion only comes in the 4-ounce size (120 ml), just a little over the TSA-approved limit for liquids in your carry on. That’s not entirely a dealbreaker, just something to consider as you think about packing this for a vacation.
Selecting Your Scent
Since it can be incredibly difficult to choose a scent by its description alone, you can opt to pick up The Sample Kit ($40). It includes seven one-milliliter roll-on bottles, one for each of the brand’s signature fragrances so you can test out how each scent wears with your own skin. This kit also comes with a $10 code, sent via email, to use towards a full-size bottle if you find a particular one that you love. I’ve been wanting to order another spray lotion, and am using the sample kit to decide on which one I need next—I’m leaning towards the Original, which gives a “your skin’s scent, but better” vibe.
The spray lotion is available in all seven of the brand’s signature fragrances as well as a limited-run for summer that gets released around Memorial Day. And if the spray lotion has you wanting to stock up on other matching products, like body oils, candles, and gift sets.
I’m not sure how they did it, but it’s like Riddle has managed to pack the vibe of California beach life into these little bottles. While the last warm days of summer fade into autumn, this deliciously luxe spray lotion (and honestly, the entire scent collection) will have you remembering sunnier months even when you’re swaddled in a puffy jacket and Uggs this winter.
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