The Decadent Gourmand Perfumes Dominating the World of Scent (And Taste!)

Do you like sweet treats? Well, we sure do. And with gourmand fragrances dominating the world of scents, imagine your favourite smell (and taste!) of decadent dark chocolate cake, classic vanilla ice cream, or sweet but salty caramel being captured in a bottle to indulge your sweet tooth with those same mouth-watering, comforting notes – and essentially making you smell delicious as well. Though gourmand fragrances commonly include a range of saccharine notes like chocolate, vanilla, caramel, marshmallow, whipped cream, and berries, they have evolved to include more complex and sophisticated notes and ingredients, i.e., cinnamon, honey, nuts, apple, herbs, nutmeg, and croissant among others to balance out the sweetness. Simply put, it’s all ‘sugar, spice, and everything nice’!

Byredo Vanilla Antique (Rs.31,442) and Tom Ford Vanilla Sex EDP (Rs.33,905)

Sure, vanilla accords dominate the gourmand scent spectrum, but their popularity can be attributed to the OG cult fragrance – Guerlain Shalimar followed by the craze of oh-so-sweet scents of the 90s and early naughts. And with the gourmand renaissance, the modern-day vanilla fragrances aren’t like the sickly, sweet scents of the 2000s – rather, they are more well-rounded with warm, woody, and spicy notes to give a more comforting and sensual feeling, besides the usual sweet and playful effect. Like Byredo Vanilla Antique (vanilla with saffron, cloves, and black pepper), By Rosie Jane Dulce (vanilla with chocolate and hinoki woods), and Tom Ford Vanilla Sex (three different notes of vanilla with bitter almond and sandalwood). If you aren’t a vanilla person and would much prefer coffee and chocolate, then embrace the calm of a coffee break with Maison Margiela Replica Coffee Break (coffee and milk with lavender, orange blossom, sandalwood and cedarwood) or get your chocolate cravings sorted with Montale Chocolate Greedy (chocolate truffles, bitter orange, and vanilla) and Maison Tahité Cacao Squared (cacao with cinnamon, vanilla, vetiver, and amber). Oh! And you can even layer them together – after all, coffee and chocolate are a perfect gourmand match of warmth and comfort.

Montale Chocolate Greedy EDP (Rs.10,049) and Maison Tahité Cacao Squared (Rs.9,174)

By Rosie Jane Dulce EDP (Rs.6,697) and Maison Margiela Replica Coffee Break EDT (Rs.13,814)

Profumo di Firenze Fior di Pane EDP (Rs.9,174) and Juliette Has A Gun Mmmm… EDP (Rs.10,200)

Yes, vanilla and chocolate notes are more approachable – but this gourmand comeback isn’t complete without the ‘edible’ dessert-like fragrances, i.e., the scent of bread, bakes, and sweet treats. So, don’t just eat your croissant, gelato, or macaron, douse yourself with the scent of carbs and sugary treats with Profumo di Firenze Fior di Pane (bread, violet, iris, tulip, vanilla, tonka bean, and musk), Snif Crumb Couture (croissant accord with wild berry jam, blackcurrant, toasted vanilla, and tonka bean), Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato (pistachio gelato with hazelnut, sweet rum, whipped cream, marshmallow, and cotton candy), Juliette Has A Gun Mmmm… (raspberry, vanilla, white floral, caramel, and sandalwood), and Le Monde Gourmand Macaron Rosé (rose and Turkish delight). A delectably fragrant blend of nostalgia, comfort, and fun! Not to forget, the cult-favourite Sol de Janeiro fragrances that are as addictive as they are wearable, especially the good-enough-to-eat Cheirosa 62 with pistachio and salted caramel. And well, ‘cheirosa’ does mean to smell delicious in Portuguese.

Le Monde Gourmand Macaron Rosé EDP (Rs.2,093) and Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 EDP (Rs.6,900)

Snif Crumb Couture (Rs.5,442) and Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato (Rs.12,000)

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir EDP (Rs.17,294) and Jo Malone London Vetiver and Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense (Rs. 15,900)

The oh-so-sweet and sensational gourmand blends are complemented by the rich, spicy, or smokey variants, thereby underscoring the versatility of gourmand fragrances. Jo Malone London Vetiver and Golden Vanilla (cardamom, vetiver, and vanilla), Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir (cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, amber, and labdanum), Le Monde Gourmand Pumpkin Crème (pumpkin spice, nutmeg, frothed milk, and sandalwood), Kilian Paris Angels Share (cognac, cinnamon, vanilla, tonka bean, and oak wood), and Penhaligon’s Changing Constance (salted caramel, cardamom, pimento, and tobacco) are few such gourmand perfumes that leave a warm and spicy trail behind. While this cosy and alluring blend of saccharine notes with smokey or spicy accents is undeniably a favourite on the gourmand scene, the fresh and fruity accords too are drawing attention with the addictive and playful decadence of the sweet, juicy and mouth-watering fragrances, such as Phlur Strawberry Letter (strawberry, plum, apple blossom, and earthy woods), Noteworthy No. 057 Sweet Embrace (passionfruit, freesia, jasmine, vanilla, tonka bean), Vilhelm Parfumerie Mango Skin (mango, blackberries, black pepper, jasmine, patchouli, and vanilla), and Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif (lychee, pear, bergamot, rose, vanilla, and musk).

Penhaligon’s Changing Constance EDP (Rs.26,375) and Noteworthy No. 057 Sweet Embrace (Rs.11,302)

Kilian Paris Angels Share EDP (Rs.16,500) and Phlur Strawberry Letter EDP (Rs.8,289)

Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif EDP (Rs.29,400) and Vilhelm Parfumerie Mango Skin (Rs.19,400)

Vanilla or chocolate, lychee or berries, croissant or gelato – you’ll find a gourmand fragrance to complement the delight and decadence of every sweet treat. And yes, which treat do you want to smell (and taste!) like?

All Images Courtesy of Respective Brands

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