Step into a year where vanilla gelatos, caramel drizzles, and chai lattes make a sweet statement in the fragrance sphere. Gourmand perfumes have taken center stage, with Chanel’s head perfumer Olivier Polge revealing to Bustle that this category is the fastest-growing in the industry. The numbers speak for themselves, with Spate reporting a 137% increase in searches for “gourmand scents” year-over-year since 2024.
Celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande have found success with their delectable fragrance offerings, while TikTok has fallen in love with Lush’s Sticky Dates scent. The rise in gourmand scents may also coincide with the increased use of semaglutide, which intensifies our senses of smell.
According to Iggywoo founder Richard Saint-Ford, gourmand perfumes resonate with us on a neurological level, triggering our brain’s reward system with sweet, edible notes. These scents offer the pleasure of anticipation without the calories, making them an instant hit.
As gourmands continue to gain popularity, a new era of post-gourmand scents emerges. These fragrances, like caramel with deep wood or roasted pistachio with spicy notes, provide a sophisticated twist on traditional sweet scents.
“Textural vanillas,” creamy and mineral-like rather than sugary, are at the forefront of this post-gourmand movement. Rare Beauty’s Eau de Parfum offers a balanced blend of vanilla, sandalwood, and caramel for a sophisticated take on a classic.
In the world of post-gourmand perfumes, nutty scents are also making waves. Perfumers are experimenting with roasted, creamy nutty notes paired with unexpected twists like jasmine and lily to create balanced and intriguing fragrances.
Amber scents are getting an airy and milky makeover in the post-gourmand landscape. Perfumes like Phlur’s Afterglow body mist feature bright citrus and apricot top notes that transition into a cozy sandalwood and ambrette base, adding a fresh take to the traditional velvety amber scents.
For those craving a bit of spice, post-gourmand perfumes are turning up the heat with notes of Sichuan and chili pepper, cherry blossom, and dark oud. These scents embrace diverse cultural influences, offering a unique olfactory journey beyond the conventional.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.