The Best Gourmand Perfumes, Editor-Approved
Words by Amelia Bell & Maya Avram
If a sweet treat was a fragrance, it would be a gourmand perfume. Evoking the sensations of delicious food and desserts, these scents capture enticing aromas like that of a Parisian bakery, spun sugar at the fairground and even the smell of ground coffee at your local café... Making them utterly irresistible. However, gone are the days of the sweet, verging-on sickly perfumes of old; the latest concoctions are sophisticated with just the right amount of sweetness. And while they’re still reminiscent of some of your favourite treats, they’re a little more refined than their previous counterparts.
What is a gourmand fragrance?
A late addition to the olfactory family tree, a gourmand fragrance is one of a particularly moreish nature. Featuring edible, dessert-like notes such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate, praline, coffee and marshmallow, gourmand scents evoke both warmth and nostalgia.
The niche category was made famous by Mugler’s Angel, a ‘90s icon that still epitomises the sweet genre to this day, thanks to its distinct melody of tonka bean, chocolate and sweet honey notes.
“Gourmand fragrances are essentially an overdose of sugary notes,” agrees Jerome Epinette, perfumer for Floral Street. “They’ve become more and more present in modern scents where these edible notes offer an alternative to classic sweetness,” he adds. Gourmands can be made up of a variety of notes. “Essentially anything that delights the senses with sweet, sugary, creamy accents in addition to maltol/ethyl maltol (cotton candy), which can include caramel, chocolate, milk, praline, coffee, toffee, almonds, bubblegum and of course vanilla,” shares Epinette.
Discover the new and cult gourmand scents to add to your wishlist.
11 Best Gourmand Perfumes to Try Now
Maison Margiela Coffee Break Eau de Toilette
Best Light Gourmand Perfume
Concocted to perk up the senses, Maison Margiela’s Coffee Break perfume is both enveloping and light. Notes of Arabica beans and soft milk mousse conjure up an image of a leisurely morning coffee break, while spearmint and lavender essence deliver an energising freshness.
Tom Ford Vanilla Sex Eau de Parfum
Best Vanilla Gourmand Perfume
There is nothing ordinary about this vanilla scent from Tom Ford, a brand known for its irreverent approach to beauty. Combining the signature vanilla tincture India note with sandalwood and jasmine, the finished perfume is guaranteed to hit all senses.
Penhaligon’s Fortuitous Finley Eau de Parfum
Best Nostalgic Gourmand Perfume
Evoking a quintessentially English scene, Penhaligon’s Fortuitous Finley perfume is described as a ‘stable fragrance for a wild horse.’ It offers a refined, sophisticated take on gourmand scents, thanks to it balancing of salted pistachios and violet with rich leather and maté, which, together tell a tale of innocence and compulsion.
Prada Beauty Candy Eau de Parfum
Best Sweet Gourmand Perfume
Building upon Prada’s exploration of femininity and sophistication, the Candy eau de parfum employs vanilla, caramel and white musk notes to embody the layered nature of the Prada woman: free-spirited and always true to herself. The result is a subtly sweet fragrance, perfect for warm summer nights.
Paco Rabanne Million Gold For Her Eau de Parfum
Best Floral Gourmand Perfume
No one makes a grand entrance quite like Paco Rabanne – particularly if they’re wearing this daring scent. Embodying femininity and indulgence, the fragrance features an exquisite symphony of white flowers, sparkling rose and mineral musk, which together create an opulent and captivating profile.
Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum
Best Woody Gourmand Perfume
Concocted with Burberry’s signature trio of vanilla, the Goddess perfume tells a story of confidence and self-discovery. Enriched with luminous lavender and the rich sweetness of caviar, its well-rounded finish is undeniable.
Armani Sì Passione Red Musk Eau de Parfum
Best Summer Gourmand Perfume
Intuitive and alluring, Armani’s Sì Passione Red Musk eau de parfum embodies the spirit of summer. Inspired by the energy of a woman who dances to the beat of her own drum, This fruity fragrance is built around luminous, soft musk, and combined with vibrant strawberry extract. Rose and vanilla notes round this one off with a succulent finish.
Ormonde Jayne Montabaco Rio Eau de Parfum
Best Tropical Gourmand Perfume
Enter a holiday headspace with an easy spritz of Ormonde Jayne’s Montabaco Rio scent. Boasting a mix of sun-ripened wild fruits, zesty pineapple and sweet mango, this fragrance is a lively ode to vitality, balanced with a grounding combination of moss, amber, vanilla and suede that lend it great finesse.
Kilian Smoking Hot Eau de Parfum
Best Smokey Gourmand Perfume
Vehemently provocative, Smoking Hot from Kilian puts an enticing spin on traditional olfactory notes, which lends the fragrance an irresistible appeal. Evoking nightlife and hedonism, the scent opens with a forbidden Apple hookah flavour, combined with notes of fire-cured Kentucky tobacco and bourbon vanilla, making it one you will never forget.
Kylie Cosmetics Cosmic by Kylie Jenner 2.0 Eau de Parfum
Best Daytime Gourmand Perfume
Drawing upon the success of the first iteration, Kylie Jenner 2.0 offers a fresh floral take on the popular fragrance. Evoking the feeling of a crisp summer morning, it opens with notes of pear, vanilla orchid and lavender, which are then anchored by a warm amber base.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Kurky Eau de Parfum
Best Tutti-Frutti Gourmand Perfume
Kurky – named after perfumer Francis Kurkdjian’s childhood moniker – is a child’s gourmand dream reimagined for grown ups. Its combination of white musks and tutti-frutti notes adds a touch of charm and nostalgia, while vanilla and sandalwood lend it a smooth, calming finish that proves you can have it all.
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