What Are Gourmand Perfumes? Fragrance Experts Share the Mood Boosting Benefits of Wearing a Scent
Learn all you need to know the perfume trend and how wearing a gourmand scent can enhance your mood
The latest buzz in the fragrance world is perfect for anyone that considers themself a foodie. Enter: Gourmand perfumes. These perfumes smell good enough to eat and range from sweet to savory to fruity and even herbaceous aromas.To learn more about gourmand scents, we turned to fragrance experts. Read on for everything you need to know about gourmand perfumes and how to select the one best for you.
What are gourmand perfumes?
“Gourmand fragrances are perfumes that reference food notes,” says Bee Shapiro, Founder of Ellis Brooklyn. “Typical gourmand fragrances usually have sweet notes like vanilla, sweet fruits, chocolate and other decadent, dessert-like notes.”
And while gourmand perfumes used to just meet sweet, sugary notes, the category has expanded. Jeriel Sydney, Fragrance Expert and Co-Founder of Fablerune says gourmand aromas are “a common discussion in my household — as a scent maker married to a 2 Michelin star pastry chef, we frequently disagree on fragrance notes and whether or not they are ‘gourmand’ scents. For a chef, a gourmand in fragrance means cardamom, tonka, strawberry, rum, cinnamon. For me as a perfumer, gourmand can be fleur de sel, tomato, carrot, herbs, citrus peel. The scent category has grown from cloying apple pie to sophisticated mushroom, pistachio, or truffle.”
Sydney also points out that there are so many ways the culinary industry and the perfume world intersect. “Ninety five percent of what we perceive as taste is in fact smell. So if a brillant chef has a proper nose he can create the intellectual and magical dining experience just on scent alone. As a perfumer opening up the door to synthetic and natural gourmand fragrances, we have the capacity to create complex, heady and nostalgic experiences that can develop and create an infatuation within the olfactory system.” All in all, gourmand fragrances really do touch the senses and can even help satisfy a sweet tooth through smell alone.
Why are gourmand perfumes so popular?
While this trend in fragrance might seem new, Ines Guien, Vice President of Operations at Dossier, notes that gourmand scents have been around for centuries.“The concept of gourmand fragrances can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when visionary perfumers began experimenting with edible notes such as vanilla, cocoa, and caramel,” she says. “These ingredients brought a new dimension to perfumery, infusing scents with a comforting and deliciously sweet allure that resonates with the senses on a deeply indulgent level.”
But why are these scents seeing a resurgence now? Consumers are increasingly seeking scents that resonate with their moods, emotions, and personal style, says Guien. “As people expand their fragrance wardrobes, they gravitate toward perfumes that not only complement their outfits but also evoke specific feelings — happiness, comfort, and even a sense of nostalgia,” she explains. “Gourmand fragrances, with their sweet, dessert-like notes, effortlessly serve this purpose, often evoking a sense of joy and indulgence.”
Further, Sydney notes that, “as a culture we are moving away from ‘gendering’ things that are inherently genderless, which is a big reason that gourmand fragrances are on the rise. The idea that vanilla is inherently feminine is outdated. Now we are simply expressing a preference that is irrelevant to gender, perfume is an expressive outlet for the wearer, they imbue their meaning onto the fragrance and its composition.”
The benefits of gourmand perfumes
Gourmand perfumes boost your mood
“Gourmand fragrances have a unique ability to enhance mood by engaging not just our sense of smell, but also by creating powerful emotional connections,” says Guien. “Whether it’s the smell of freshly baked pastries or the creamy richness of vanilla, these fragrances have the power to make you feel more content, relaxed, and joyful, providing an instant mood lift whenever you wear them.”
Gourmand perfumes bring back memories
“These scents often evoke memories of joyful moments and celebrations, as many of the notes — like vanilla, chocolate, and caramel—are associated with comforting and indulgent treats,” notes Guien. “The smell of something sweet and familiar can trigger a sense of nostalgia, bringing back fond memories that can instantly uplift your spirits.”
Gourmand perfumes are comforting
Sydney says that a gourmand scent is “healing, and a homecoming. It can create a space that is soothing and warm.”
How to pick a gourmand scent
“The first question would be how literal do you want to be? There are fragrances now that literally smell like a dessert,” says Shapiro. After that, she suggests thinking about what kind of fragrance notes you favor like nutty, fruity and so on. “That can help narrow things down.”
Sydney agrees and adds that “perfume should become a part of you. Your perfume should integrate into you.” To do so, she recommends looking for a fragrance that gives you a sensation. “That’s why sweeter gourmand notes sell so easily, they intrinsically have a nostalgic quality, they are familiar, comfortable, attractive.”
“Additionally, keep an open mind and be willing to experiment with unexpected combinations,” advises Guien. “You might discover that a note you’re not particularly fond of in food, like caramel or pistachio, becomes surprisingly appealing when blended into a fragrance. The key is to enjoy the process and allow your senses to guide you to a gourmand scent that feels uniquely yours.”
See more fragrances we love:
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