Summer of 84

Great globular galloping grapefruit! That's what it's all about and it does it SUPERBLY. Smelling this with no background info at all, I wondered "how have they made a grapefruit so realistic and intense and zingy and ... well, GRAPEFRUITY ... but so much sweeter and rounder and more mellow and lasting than other grapefruit scents? There's no oakmoss here to add bottom ... no basil ... no rose ... my nose isn't shrivelling ... what on earth is stretching it out?" Never in my wildest scent nightmares would I have suspected a fruit phobia of mine - MELON*, ackkkk!?!?! is the hero to the rescue but it just WORKS. Works amazingly. (*Melon makes me heave whether it's on a plate or in a scent; calone smells nauseatingly fake to me. ) This grapefruit is absolutely grand: a big zestful, prickly, no-messing-about smack to the face but without the acid sting and puckering you'd get from the real thing. It's sharp but just right to the tolerable limit - and garlanded about with absolutely gorgeous, golden, almost-floral flecks of lemon & bergamot, which don't ever go screechy or fake. Glorious. Water notes, white flowers and musk done with just incredible control to conjure up bright summer skies, sheets flapping in the wind, breeze off a lake - and the art here is just extra astonishing, because cheaper, inferior white flowers or musk are so often just a cliche'd way to eke out citric notes and end up ruining the whole thing. Here it's done right and simply adds up to pure happiness. Undeniably sails close to 'fresh masculine' or 'designer aquatic' in some moments but then always rights itself and carries on being gorgeous. Intensely cheerful, sunny, outdoorsy, brilliantly glinting, shimmering, spanking-fresh scent pictures to lift the spirits. Maybe not the most original scent ever made on the theme, but this is so well done - deserves many stars. I am a moody urban couch potato and this makes me want to go boating and eat icecream on a beach. It has that power of optimism.

When I wear Summer of ’84, I can’t help but laugh at how perfectly it captures a very specific kind of my boyhood body odor. Mind you not the gross kind, but that innocent, sun-soaked, slightly feral smell of being thirteen and outside all day with zero awareness of one’s hygiene. The grapefruit dominate citrus notes hit first, and instead of coming across as bright or zesty, they feel like the sticky film of Fanta orange soda dried on my skin after running around in the midwestern heat. Then this mint drifts in for me, but it isn’t crisp, it smells more like the crushed mint leaves I’d smear between my fingers just to see what they did, mingling with the warm, salty sheen of summer sweat. As it settles, the melon and musk start to bloom, and that’s where the real nostalgia kicks in. The musk brings out this unmistakable skin-like warmth almost like the scent of a feral kid who’s been biking, climbing, rolling around in the grass, and generally avoiding soap. There’s even a faint plasticky undertone, probably from the synthetic musks, that reminds me of the hollow smell of cheap Pony sneakers from Montgomery Wards left in the sun or the vinyl seats of my friend’s parents’ 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire after a long day at the Johnson County public pool. Summer of ’84 doesn’t smell refined. IT SMELLS ALIVE. It smells like scraped knees, dripping Bomb popsicles, sunburned blistered shoulders, and the unapologetic funk of childhood freedom. It’s boyhood body odor dressed up in citrus, mint, melons, and musk. Somehow it works and I love it. Pity we’re entering the fall in southern Arizona. Sleep well, sweat prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest, come late spring I will see thee again.

Anyone who doesn't give this 10/10 is absolutely untrustworthy and you should ignore everything they say about everything forever. I've never smelled anything else quite like Summer of 84, despite being a huge fan of the notes in it. It starts off with this blast of grapefruit and settles into this long lasting, sweet citrus and melon/warm flower fragrance that I just get lost in over and over again. Almost candy like on the long dry down, but not enough to feel juvenile, just impressive. It's completely stunning on its own, and very fun to layer with as well. You can do some amazing combinations with this one. Honestly, this is one of the coolest fragrances I've ever come across, especially after learning about just how volatile and short lasting citrus notes typically are. As far as grapefruit and citrus forward scents go, Summer of 84 is in it's own class. not only has Kerosene unlocked the secret to making those fleeting citrus notes last for hours upon hours, but the transformative and immersive scene that this fragrance paints is unlike many other out there. Another person below mentioned that So84 was getting glazed up online, and yeah, it should be. You need your nose checked if you like citrus fragrances and aren't absolutely in love with this one. Spray it on your clothing to get all day performance.

A refreshing class of ice cold water that has been steeped in slices of grapefruit and sweet melon. The glass of water tastes like heaven as the hot summers sun beats down on you. Life is good. This opening of bright, sparkly, and tart grapefruit with nostalgic, smooth, and sweet melon... this fucks so hard. As it dries, the other citrus' join in and support the grapefruit as the aquatic notes begin to come, made crisp and cool by the citrus. This is super refreshing and probably one of my favorite citrus fragrances. And while I think this is fairly unique, it is so amazingly mass appealing. Usually a house does warm weather focused frags better or cold weather focuses frags better, but John does both amazing. Will be a full bottle purchase soon for the summer. 9/10 Fantastic projection and performance for a citrus forward fragrance. PS. Oil content this is very very heavy! Wouldn't spray this on lightly colored clothing as it might stain. Song vibe - Doin' Time by Sublime EDIT: I have since bought a bottle as I just kept craving it. Without a doubt one of, if not my favorite citrus fragrance. Also, while it may not scream, this lasts an easy 12-14 hours on my skin where I’m still registering it. Truly the most underrated Kerosene. 10/10.

Rating: ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ (8/10) Summer of ’84 by Kerosene is a nostalgic, sun-soaked fragrance that perfectly captures the carefree spirit of endless summer days. It opens with bright, juicy citrus notes that instantly evoke the warmth of sun rays and the buzz of youthful energy. The scent feels both fresh and vibrant, with a playful brightness that’s uplifting without being overpowering. At its heart, you’ll find subtle green and aromatic notes that add depth and a touch of complexity, reminiscent of freshly cut grass or leafy hedgerows under the summer sun. This adds a natural, slightly herbal edge that balances the initial citrus burst beautifully. The drydown is warm and smooth, anchored by soft woods and a gentle musky base that adds a comforting, skin-like finish. This creates a lovely balance between freshness and warmth, making it suitable for both day and evening wear during the warmer months. Longevity is solid, lasting around 6–7 hours, and projection is moderate, creating a pleasant scent bubble that invites compliments without overwhelming. If you enjoy fragrances like Byredo Sundazed or Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, but want something with a slightly more vintage, sun-drenched vibe, Summer of ’84 is a beautiful choice.

This perfume was such a surprise for me - I went into a local niche perfume shop (Merz Apothecary for those in Chicago, online shop is Smallflower) and was looking for a new birthday scent for the year. I tend to gravitate to musky and aquatic scent profiles (favorite notes: iris, violet, marine accords, amber, coconut, musk) so I was looking for something different to distinguish the year. This was the first scent I tried and was so wow'ed by the opening grapefruit punch. I ended up purchasing a different fragrance, but that was in my top two. I left the store but took the blotter with this scent on it and after 20 min of walking around unable to stop smelling the blotter I went right back to the store to purchase a full bottle. The sharp citrus lasts for me about 2 hours from the initial dry down; it then tones itself into a citrus skin scent with a lower sillage for the rest of the wear. I can still smell this at 7-8 hours of wear so I consider that pretty great.

After sampling the discovery set, I picked a few out I liked including this one. I quite enjoyed Unknown Pleasures and Black Vines as well. I have a few fragrances with openings of grapefruit, but this one blew me away with its super fresh sweet blast in the beginning. This was one of the main reasons I purchased a full bottle. Granted, the opening doesn't last forever, but calms down and lingers on throughout. Its drydown does remind me a little bit of light blue forever but they are different. In the hotter weather I enjoy wearing this one. It's a fresh clean citrus with a bit of sweetness and a nice clean musk. I would recommend sampling if you're into grapefruit fragrances. This is a good one.😁

This stuff is FRESH and TANGY! It smells like squeezing orange and grapefruit with juices flying everywhere. Juicy, tart, and energizing! It smells and feels acidic like a real orange and grapefruit. I asked my sister and she says it smells like a cold glass of orange juice, I agree! The citruses go away after 2 hours, then settles into dewy melons and white floral hints, still retaining a fresh, watery, and ozonic nature. Totally unisex. By far one of the brightest citruses I’ve smelt that’s surprisingly not in a cologne/toilette concentration. This also lasts over a day. Impressive!! WARNING THO! It stains light fabrics, it stained my sample vial, and even my laptop stylus LOL. So be careful.

April 30, 2023. Instant like. Right away you get a very realistic grapefruit. Especially on a hot day like today it really comes through. It's very refreshing and so far it’s lasted about two hours with no problems or dwindling. Base notes softens it up with some white flora and musk. Overall it is a clean citrus. Perfect for the spring and summer. Yes there are numerous fragrances that fall under the citrus category, but I feel like this one is different simply because of the grapefruit. I have yet to come across grapefruit forward blends that smell realistic and natural. Especially for the price. It's energizing, uplifting, balanced and fun to wear. Checks all the boxes.

There's nothing I can say that previous reviewers haven't already said. The most realistic grapefruit accord I've ever smelled! Someone said this is liquid sunshine in a bottle, and that's the most apt description I've found and agree with wholeheartedly. I think any perfumer looking to create a quintessential summer fragrance is trying to bottle sunshine one way or another, and mission accomplished here. The most easy-going fragrance I've tried. I get the feeling this was created as an expression of simpler, carefree times and that's exactly what this stuff is: simple and carefree.

I love grapefruit. It's one of my favorite things in the summer. I love an aperol spritz, campari, and my favorite drink is a Paloma made with mezcal, grapefruit soda and lime. Summer of 84 is one of my absolutely favorite summer scents. If you are a grapefruit enthusist you owe it to yourself to sample. I will say it last decently but nothing like Followed or Sweetly Known or Follow. But I think it's pretty hard to get long lasting citruses. This is a summer scent but it's also very lively. I've been known to wear it when I need a little perking up. It's perfectly unisex.

I received a sample of this when I bought Follow by Kerosene and ordered it the same day! I love it! The fresh cut pink grapefruit opening sprayed on in morning wakes me up! It is a great fresh scent on my skin lasting all day and isn’t cloying in our Arizona desert 90 degree weather right now. I know it has other ingredients but grapefruit dominates on my skin staying strong which I love! As it dries down I do notice a little saltiness but this is my favorite citrus perfume. When I need an energy boost this is the fragrance I wear. I highly recommend it!

On my skin, I get a photorealistic grapefruit (and lemon) bomb with some minty facets as it dries down. In the dry down I get this synthetic melon accord that reminds me of shampoo or melon candy. On paper I got grapefruit with a sweaty musk. Longevity is great for a fresh scent, I spayed it at around 2-3 pm and can still smell it clearly and it’s 11:45 pm. As for projection, it projects really well for a citrus/fresh scent. Edit: After wearing this for the third time, it kind of smells like a pool and a bathroom being masked by the smell of citrus.

i love this perfume so much. initial spray is super citrus, like a blast of grapefruit juice and rind. it smells like you’ve just tore apart a fresh grapefruit with your hands. once it settles, you get a soft, pillowy white floral with just a hint of musk and melon. clean, fresh, and doesn’t smell too “perfumey” , which i enjoy. feels like a pleasantly sunburnt back against crisp air conditioned sheets. or a 102 degree day at the pool with an orange popsicle melting down your hand. or visiting southern california in late august. summer in a bottle.

Love this fragrance, but there are a few disclaimers. Everyone's skin is different, but what I will say is that this is the most photorealistic grapefruit fragrance I've ever smelled initially smells like the juice of a grapefruit, but then the rind it's so interesting, and I love grapefruit. On the dry down and smelling the fragrance, there are some nuances where the melon and aquatic notes can be detected, but the grapefruit dominates. Be careful spraying on clothes because it will stain, but very much enjoy this fragrance.

Absolute grapefruit bomb in a bottle. I personally love this fragrance and can appreciate the linear experience in wearing it. The sharp bitter grapefruit is extremely uplifting in the hotter climates. If you're looking for something complex, Summer of 84 is not that but the quality is superb. Also worth mentioning this is one of the top citrus performers that I have tried and owned, which is rare amongst citrus fragrances as many of you know. Pretty loud fragrance, gets me 7-8 hours.

This shit is awesome! Hyper-realistic, mouth watering, citrus opening. To me it has a hint of ginger and is done in a similar way to Virbrato or Tygar; but dare I say even better. I know have all three and it’s a toss up which is better. There is a slight aquatic feel to this fragrance, but nothing that should be off putting. It projects and lasts forever, especially for a summer freshie type. The citrus stays through the dry down. I don’t have a single complaint. Rating 9/10.

Walking back to your beachfront chair, the golden grains of sand stick noisomely to your wet legs. You prop open your umbrella and recline, sitting back as you wrap yourself in a towel. You reach over and grab a grapefruit soda, the sweat from the can cooling down your hands. You take a sip as the breeze from the ocean blows an empty orange popsicle wrapper off the chair next to you. This fragrance is bright, and the citrus is very realistic. 8.6/10

Wow, this has one of the best openings out of pretty much anything in my collection. Amazing blast of sharp (In a good way) grapefruit with an intoxicating melon and aquatic background. After one sniff of a sample, I knew I had to buy a bottle before it was gone forever. It's so unique and long lasting as well. It just has this alluring quality to it that makes you keep smelling it over and over. This is citrus done right. Love it.

THE juiciest citrus fragrance on the market, at least to my nose, and what a beauty it is. Summer of 84 opens up with a bright, zesty grapefruit and citrus opening and keeps that throughout its entire lifespan. The fragrance is fairly linear which some may not care for, but I don’t even mind when it smells this good. Not the longest lasting at about ~6 hours, but it’s so refreshing and invigorating that I don’t mind. 9/10.