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From buttercream to caramel, 'scent snacking' is the new gourmand fragrance trend to try
These 'good enough to eat' perfumes are huge - Sabrina Carpenter is a fan, too
Caramel, hot chocolate, a squirt of whipped cream and a scatter of toasted marshmallows… not the latest Starbucks order but the hottest item on the perfume trend menu. A new wave of good-enough-to-eat fragrance notes has served up a ‘scent snacking’ trend, where our favourite treats are inspiring the latest deliciously grown-up gourmands.
There’s obviously a huge appetite for pudding perfumes, too. Sales of these not-so-guilty pleasures are hitting the sweet spot with shoppers, with sales rising by 77% last year alone, according to industry magazine Perfumer & Flavorist.
‘Scent snacking is a definite trend, and fragrances with honey, vanilla, caramel, chocolate and coffee are on the increase,’ says Lorna McKay, co-founder of The Perfume Society. Of course, gourmands have been around forever, but this is a new sweet spot, she notes. ‘Gourmand fragrances used to be predominantly sicklier, but they are now adding woods, fruits and spices, making the overall smell more sophisticated.
Before we dive in deeper, let’s be clear on one thing. We’re speaking about ‘scent snacking’ from the perspective of perfume indulgers, not people who would ever advocate using fragrance in lieu of food. That’s very much edging towards disordered eating, and makes us feel extremely queasy indeed.
That said, it’s undeniable that we are living in the era of GLP medications, and that raises an interesting thought. ‘We know that gourmand perfumes give us a dopamine boost,’ notes Lorna. ‘And anecdotally, everyone I speak to who is taking GLP meds says they are spraying more of these gourmand, edible scents. They are getting that feel-good hit but without triggering cravings that might interfere with their diet.’
In other words, when meds have switched off ‘food hunger’, people may find they can enjoy these decadent perfumes in a way they wouldn’t before. (Should we resist a pun about Eau-zempic?)
7 Virtues founder Barb Stegemann adds that gourmands fire up our pleasure spots in another way too, drawing on the power of nostalgia. ‘Young people have always loved gourmands (remember the Strawberry Shortcake doll?),’ she says. ‘Younger people are buying perfume more than ever, and with older generations feeling that same pull of nostalgia, it’s created the ultimate fragrance moment.’
'Add in the Ozempic effect and people want to smell food. It’s comforting,’ she says. 'But the key is nuance. Gourmands must still be a true fragrance, not a cloying scratch and sniff sticker. That’s why our Buttercream Haze, with its blend of lemon zest, whipped vanilla, maple crème, and fluffy pancake accord balanced by fall notes of musk and sandalwood, became our largest perfume launch in our history.’
Fancy a bite of the trend? Here are the latest and loveliest gourmand perfumes, tried and tested by the GH team.
The best new 'scent snacking' gourmand perfumes
The 7 Virtues Buttercream Haze Eau de Parfum
You can't go wrong with a good vanilla scent — now pour buttercream icing, maple caramel crème and tonka bean into the mixing bowl, and you get this decadent fragrance. Slice of cake, anyone?
For a gourmand that blends pudding-inspired notes with warm, earthy undertones, try Rare Beauty’s debut perfume. This is a gourmand that feels grown-up, opening with pistachio, creamy caramel and vanilla before drying down to sandalwood. For extra gourmand points, apply the matching Amber Vanilla layering balm underneath.
Ellis Brooklyn Queens Caramel Eau De Parfum
For the ultimate sweet treat, indulge in Queens Caramel, a decadent blend of caramel, maple sugar, pink salt and white chocolate. Yes — it's as mouth-watering as it sounds.
Lancôme La Vie est Belle Vanille Nude Eau de Parfum
Lancôme La Vie est Belle Vanille Nude Eau de Parfum
Distinctly feminine, gourmand, and a touch musky, La Vie est Belle Vanille is Lancôme's first ever musky vanilla — and it's a standout. Devour notes of glazed vanilla and fluffy coconut accord, balanced by florals and creamy musks.
Sharing the same warm base notes as the cult classic Glossier You, Rêve offers a dreamy, gourmand upgrade. Rich buttercream meets plum butter, toasted almond and creamy sandalwood to create a scent that’s equally lush and warm — a true winter gourmand.
Don't be fooled, budget-friendly gourmands can be deliciously indulgent too. Zara's marshmallow glow blends the juciness of raspberry coulis with whipped musks.
Kayali Oudgasm Chocolate Oud - 11 Eau De Parfum
Got a sweet tooth for chocolate? Fold it into your fragrance rotation with Kayali. Indulge in a boozy note of spiced rum, a sugary hint of caramel apple, before it melts into an addictive base of chocolate oud and dark cocoa. Smells good enough to eat.
Phlur Vanilla Skin Eau de Parfum
A cosy vanilla scent, featuring sandalwood, pink pepper and a dash of sugar. Equally sweet and woody, it's a gourmand scent that will slip effortlessly into your daily beauty routine.
Le Monde Gourmand Fraise Fouettée Eau de Parfum
Ooh la la — Le Monde Gourmand's first-ever strawberry scent is every bit as sweet as you'd expect. A fruity cocktail of strawberry, orange and banana meets mouth-watering notes of soft butter, whipped sugar and vanilla cream. A true treat.
Sabrina Carpenter Me Espresso Eau De Parfum
She may be 'Short 'n Sweet', but she also has a sweet tooth for gourmand perfumes. The most recent addition to Sabrina Carpenter's fragrance line is an irresistible espresso fragrance, sweetened with notes of cocoa powder, caramel drizzle and whipped cream.
KAYALI Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81 Eau de Parfum Intense
What can we tell you that the fragrance name doesn't? Kayali scents are never sparing with vanilla and this is no exception, blending the brand's signature note into a truly indulgent feast. With fluffy pink marshmallow, juicy strawberry and creamy coconut in the recipe, this is a truly decadent pudding perfume.
Do you love the ‘gourmands for grown-ups’ trend in high-end fragrance, but find the triple-digit price tag adds a bitter note? Try Lush's affordable option which blends butterscotch with sunny citrus, and is already a huge word-of-mouth hit.
Another creamy gourmand for the vanilla lovers — this one finishes with a standout note of sticky crème brûlée (Do we need say more?). Its sweetness is beautifully balanced by a dash of jasmine, white amber and woody musk. Yum.
NEST New York Crème De Clementine Eau de Parfum
For something with equal sweetness and zest, spritz on Nest’s Crème de Clementine. A burst of bright clementine zest pairs beautifully with whipped vanilla crème, serving up an uplifting fragrance.
Mugler Angel Stellar Eau de Parfum
A contemporary, gourmand update to Mugler's beloved Angel. Take in the trending gourmand note of salty pistachio, infused with powdery bourbon vanilla for a hint of booze, balanced by woody accords and amber.
Victoria Beckham 21:50 Rêverie EDP
This isn’t just any gourmand; this is a Victoria Beckham gourmand, with poshest (sorry) plum bringing a juicy tartness to silky, creamy vanilla pods. If you want your foodie fragrance to be as classy as it is comforting, this is the one for you.
It seems impossible to think that strawberry liquor and condensed milk (yes, condensed milk) could create a sophisticated scent, and yet… LBTY Vine Thief is as beautiful as the print that encases it. Powdery orris root, cashmere notes and just a hint of leather help keep this vanilla-based scent balanced.
Donna Karan Cashmere & Palo Santo EDP
Softest peach is served up with lashings of vanilla bean in Donna Karan’s new Cashmere Collection Cashmere & Palo Santo EDP (welcome back, old friend; we loved Cashmere Mist the first time around), made extra cosy thanks to warm woods that give it a ‘wintry stroll in Central Park’ mood.
Dolce & Gabbana Devotion Eau de Parfum Intense
For those who prefer their pudding with a bit of bite, notes of hazelnut top Dolce & Gabbana Devotion Intense EDP, a new iteration of the scent that combines this rich nuttiness with a shamelessly indulgent vanilla base. At the risk of confusing the metaphor, we like to think of it as the Sophia Loren of pudding perfumes: voluptuous, Italian and incredibly glamorous.
Mythically inspired Creed Delphinus EDP, on the other hand, continues the theme of nuttiness but with milky almonds alongside a powdery floral heart to complement its dreamy vanilla base.
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