Summer Women 2009

The Verdict

Burberry Summer Women 2009 was the house's annual limited-edition summer release, and Mark Buxton crafted something that genuinely captured the feeling of a warm English afternoon. Fruitier and fresher than its predecessor, with litchi, mandarin, and red currant replacing the lighter original formula, this was a seasonal scent that did exactly what it promised. Now discontinued and increasingly scarce, it lives on in the memory of those who wore it and the occasional bottle that surfaces on discount sites.

What It Smells Like

The opening is a fruit basket in the best possible sense. Mandarin Orange and Red Currant arrive bright and tart, joined by the juicy sweetness of Litchi and the slightly winey quality of Grapes. This is not the cloying synthetic fruit of cheaper fragrances -- it reads fresh, crisp, and natural, like an actual summer garden rather than a candy shop.

The heart softens the fruitiness with a gentle floral bouquet. Jasmine and Rose provide classic femininity, while Freesia adds a peppery green freshness and Cyclamen contributes a delicate, slightly cool floral note. Together, they create a bridge between the exuberant fruit opening and the more grounded base, preventing the fragrance from becoming a one-dimensional fruit bomb.

The drydown settles into Musk, Sandalwood, and Cedar, bringing a subtle, clean woodiness that anchors everything. The cedar and sandalwood have an almost soapy quality that rounds the scent off nicely, and the musk provides a gentle warmth. One reviewer described the overall effect as sitting "smoothly on the skin" without ever feeling sticky, even in heat.

When to Wear It

Summer, full stop. The community is emphatic about this: 37% day vs 9% night, making it one of the more seasonally decisive fragrances in the Burberry catalog. This is a daylight scent built for beach trips, garden parties, outdoor markets, and long afternoons. It feels light enough for hot weather without disappearing entirely, though its modest performance means reapplication may be needed on the hottest days.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is the expected compromise of a light summer fragrance. Longevity is rated 3.07 out of 5 on Fragrantica, with sillage at 2.24 out of 4. Real-world experiences vary wildly. One reviewer reported still smelling it after 8-9 hours, calling it "sexy and fresh, not too sweet," while others found it disappeared within a couple of hours. The musk note in the base can also be unpredictable on certain skin chemistries, with one reviewer noting an unpleasant sweaty quality emerging in the late drydown. Three to four sprays is a reasonable starting point, with reapplication as needed.

The Community Says

With 148 community votes and a 3.61 average, Burberry Summer 2009 sits in modestly positive territory. The 18% who love it and 52% who like it appreciate its easy, breezy character, with one fan calling it "one of the best perfumes ever" and others noting it delivers genuine compliments. Buyers who discovered it after discontinuation describe being "over the moon" when finding remaining stock online.

The 28% who disagree find it "falls flat and is very bland," smelling like "lemon and that is about it -- not sweet or woodsy or anything else." Others found the fruitiness too generic or felt the drydown did not live up to the promising opening. The polarization is typical of limited-edition summer releases, which tend to prioritize instant appeal over lasting depth.

Who Should Buy This

If you love bright, fruity-floral summer fragrances and the hunt for discontinued bottles does not put you off, Burberry Summer 2009 is a charming find. The litchi-mandarin-currant opening is genuinely appealing, and the floral heart keeps it from being too casual. At the discount prices remaining bottles now command, it is hard to argue with the value.

Skip it if you expect your summer fragrance to last all day, if you find fruity florals too simple, or if the idea of buying discontinued perfume from secondary markets gives you pause about freshness and authenticity.

The Bottom Line

Burberry Summer Women 2009 captured a specific moment -- that feeling of a perfect summer day when everything is bright, fresh, and effortless. Mark Buxton's composition delivered on the promise of its name without pretending to be more than what it was. Like the season it was designed for, it was beautiful while it lasted.