Edible aromas have been dominating the perfume realm in the last few years, blurring the lines between gastronomy and beauty with gourmand scents. According to American trend tracker, the growth of “foodie” scents shows no signs of slowing down, with searches for gourmand fragrances growing 58.3% year after year. The unique category is characterised by an array of notes that mimic the aroma of edible items — typically using notes like vanilla, caramel, coffee, chocolate and a variety of fruits.
What is the Appeal of Gourmand Fragrances?
The french term “Gourmand” translates to “fond of eating”, however these aromas are not solely intended to please one’s olfactory senses but can also evoke other sensory experiences like emotions and memories. Therein lies the allure of gourmand scents in its ability to trigger to emotional and nostalgic feelings. As evidenced by neuroscience studies, the olfactory senses are most collected to emotional recollection. Hence, many fragrance houses utilise ambiguous yet somewhat poetic perfume names to market the product as an experience rather than just a scent. Given that smell is closely linked to memory, the inclusion of gourmand notes that mimic a sense of sweetness, comfort and indulgence typically evokes positive memories which most definitely contributes to their growing appeal.
A Brief History of Gourmand Scents
While gourmand fragrances have been around since the late 19th and 20th century. The most well-known of the time was the creation of “Jicky” by Jacques Guerlain in 1889 which featured prominent vanilla notes at a time where floral scents were most dominant and notes were not typically synthetic. Most notably, the gourmand category got its big break, thanks to the success of Mugler’s Angel fragrance in 1992, deviating and overpowering the conventional “clean” scents. Since then, brands have followed suit in innovating synthetic scent notes and releasing increasingly creative gourmand fragrances to replicate the multi-dimensional experience of edible aromas. That being said, LUXUO has curated a list of 2024-released gourmand scents to amplify one’s olfactory experience.
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1. Tom Ford “Vanille Fatale”
Tom Ford’s 2024 “Vanilla Fatale” is a revised version of their 2017 release complete with packaging and scent adjustments. The brand describes the unisex fragrance as “a quest for vanilla without hesitation”, focusing on the less explored, more seductive side of the classic vanilla scent. The sweet note is further enhanced with bitter, woodier notes like suede, tobacco and coffee, but well-balanced with lighter scents like coriander and saffron for pops of brightness. Vanille Fatale is intended to emulate an enchanting and deep aura, reminiscent of a movie scene, with a fragrance that is undeniably gourmand yet not overly sweet.
2. Killian Paris “Born to be Unforgettable”
French perfumery Killian Paris is best known for formulating some of the most unique and unexpected fragrances in the market, and the 2024 release “Born to be Unforgettable” is no different. As expected in the fragrance name, this scent makes a strong first impression — one that aims to mimic the first sip of a sparking glass of cola. At first whiff, the scent reveals the drink’s signature notes with blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, along with a kick of lime for freshness. The fragrance is crafted along with base notes of cedar wood and vanilla to add sophistication and longevity to the product.
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3. Maison Margiela Replica “Afternoon Delight”
Maison Margiela Replica’s newest fragrance “Afternoon Delight” aims to capture moments of self-indulgence, by “transporting you to a Parisian café where the uplifting aroma of warm madeleines fills the air”. A sense of comfort and warmth is evoked with delectable top and middle notes of Madagascan vanilla, cookies, bitter almond and whipped cream to mimic the scent of the classic French confectionary. Madagascan vanilla is also present in the base notes, accompanied and contrasted with sandalwood and musk to mimic the sophistication of the Parisian atmosphere.
4. Phlur “Vanilla Skin”
Phlur is one of the most popular fragrance brands amongst the Gen Z and Millenial generations, well-known for captivating narratives designed to resonate and appeal to this audience. The brand’s viral phenomenon status came as a result 2022 fragrance “Missing Person” — formulated to evoke the lingering scent of a “missing person”. This was an instant hit for the younger digital audience with whom the emotional narrative resonated with the most. “Vanilla Skin” followed, in-keeping with the theme of evoking nostalgia. The creamy, sweet and comforting scent, was modelled as a modern, more grown-up version of sweet-smelling body sprays many had used as preteens. Featuring sweet notes of vanilla, sugar and apple and balanced out by notes of pink pepper and sandalwood to achieve a more mature aroma.
5. Amouge “Love Delight”
Amouge’s newly released “Love Delight” encapsulates the olfactory experience of delectable delights along with delicate florals to add a feminine touch. Presented as an “invite to savour every moment of indulgence”, the scent is packed full of warm spicy aromas like ginger and cinnamon in top notes and vanilla and cocoa in the base notes. The candied notes are balanced out with a top note of Mandarin orange and middle floral middle notes of jasmine and rose to emulate a scent of sweet femininity.
6. BORNTOSTANDOUT “Drunk Maple”
Made by popular Korean brand BORNTOSTANDOUT, this fragrance embodies the elements of an “unforgettable night” — intended to replicate the feelings of fun, warmth and the “treat yourself” attitude. The element of night is expressed through top notes of rum, davana and pink pepper, depicting “candlelights flickering and velvet drapes” as described by the brand. Sweetness is added to the mix with notes of syrup, maple, suede, coffee and vanilla to embrace indulgence.
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7. D.S & Durga “Pistachio”
New York fragrance brand D.S & Durga took on a straight-forward approach with this scent, bearing no intention to present a narrative and purely aiming to replicate the “fun of a pistachio”. While in the last few years, many seem to gravitate to “storytelling” fragrances, this 2022-released product had proven to be resounding success. The popularity of the scent prompted a relaunch of the fragrance in 2024 as a new addition to the brand’s permanent collection. This fragrance is undeniably gourmand with pistachio present in top, middle and base notes, along with other edible aromas like cardamom and almond notes. The indulgent sweetness of the scent is slightly toned down by a base note of patchouli.
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