Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
The 13 Best Gourmand Perfumes to Try If You Want to Smell Like Dessert
If you like your scents addictive and sweet, give these a try
What do vanilla, honey, praline, buttercream, and berries have in common? They're not just all ingredients found in a pastry chef's pantry, but also key notes in the most popular perfumes of today that fall under a scent category known as gourmands—that is, fragrances that smell good enough to eat. "Gourmand scents have known consistent popularity since the 1990s due to their sweet, edible notes that evoke comfort and nostalgia," master perfumer Carlos Benaïm tells Bazaar. "Recently, there has been a surge in gourmand scents featuring more diverse and sophisticated food-related notes such as specific fruits like mango and cherry, coffee, and pistachio."
The Best Gourmand Perfumes
The key to a great gourmand is finding the sweet spot, so to speak, between sugary notes and those that add warmth or spice. “To ensure a gourmand scent isn’t too sweet, it's essential to counterbalance it with notes that calm the sweetness: woody, powdery, musky, and spicy notes," Benaïm adds. "These elements add depth and complexity, tempering the sugary aspects of the fragrance."
Ahead, our 13 favorite gourmand scents that blend sultry sophistication with all things sweet.
Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' Afternoon Delight Eau de Toilette
Smells like: eating fresh-baked madeleines in a French coffee shop
Key notes: Madagascar vanilla, madeleine accord, sandalwood
What the expert says: "In Afternoon Delight, I added sandalwood from New Caledonia, along with powdery and elegant notes from ambrette seed and carrot seed, and a spicy touch from angelica. These elements work together to soothe and balance the sweet facets of the madeleine accord, creating a refined addiction," says Benaïm.
Smells like: a scoop of gourmet vanilla ice cream topped with gold flakes
Key notes: vanilla infusion, vanilla caviar, vanilla absolute
What our editors think: "If you love vanilla, look no further. Goddess blends three types of vanilla for a comforting yet sexy scent that is truly a magnet for compliments." —Jenna Rosenstein, beauty director
Smells like: sweet, toasted cherries
Key notes: buttercream, plum butter, ambrox
What our editors think: "I have an avesion to overly-sweet scents, but something about this just speaks to me on a soul-level. There's a juicy quality to the plum note, but the addition of buttercream, sandalwood, and ambrox cuts the sugar so all you're left with is a sultry, skin-like scent." —JR
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold Eau de Parfum
Smells like: spiced vanilla
Key notes: juniper berries, nutmeg, coriander, musks, ambery woods, vanilla
What our editors think: "If you prefer your vanilla grounded by spice or more masculine notes, this is the gourmand scent for you. The balance here is flawless, thanks to ambery woods, coriander, nutmeg, and musk. Plus, the scent lasts quite literally all day." —JR
Smells like: sipping hot chocolate on a Swiss mountainside
Key notes: honey, cocoa, almond, cream, licorice, caramel, vanilla, tonka bean
What our editors think: "At first sniff, it smells exactly like tearing open a pack of marshmallow Swiss Miss. The cocoa and cream notes are delightfully nostalgic and will make your mouth water. But the addition of vanilla and tonka bean help ground all the sweetness, so you'll actually want to wear it on your wrist and neck, and not just sip it from a cup." —JR
Smells like: confidence
Key notes: praline, bergamot, red fruits, patchouli
What our editors think: "This list would be all wrong without Angel on it since this scent invented the category of gourmands as we know it. For over 30 years, Angel has been worn by unapologetically bold women. The notes are a laundry list of sweet stuff—honey, praline, fruits, marshmallow—but the addition of patchouli adds the punch that gives Angel its timeless longevity." —JR
Smells like: compliments from everyone you know
Key notes: lavender blossom, juicy pear, bergamot, crème de coconut, indulgent praline, vanilla orchid, sensual musks, creamy blonde woods
What our editors think: "We anointed Ariana Grande as the last great celebrity perfumer several years back, and that hasn't changed. Cloud is a global phenomenon that has ignited the gourmand category in the mass market. Accessible, delicious, and just so fun to wear, Cloud is a must-have for anyone who loves a sweet and feminine scent." —JR
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 71 Perfume Mist
Smells like: licking icing off a cupcake at a poolside resort
Key notes: caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, tonka bean
What our editors think: "If you want to smell like a baked good from head-to-toe, quite literally, pick up this body mist. It can be applied to hair and all over your body, and the warm vanilla scent is truly addicting. No wonder it's gone viral a hundred times over." —JR
Smells like: Rihanna
Key notes: orange blossom, vanilla absolute, luscious marshmallow
What our editors think: "The internet went wild several years ago after a handful of celebrities mentioned how good Rihanna smells. Sleuths linked her back to this gourmand scent (this was before Fenty eau de parfum was released). Love Don't Be Shy packs a punch in the best way, with vanilla absolute and marshmallow, and is guaranteed to make you the best-smelling person in any room." —JR
Smells like: bubbly cherry soda from an old timey fountain
Key notes: black cherry, tonka bean, almond
What our editors think: "I love everything about this scent, from the cheeky name to the cherries-and-almond blend that holds all the sophistication and sex appeal that you expect from a Tom Ford scent with an added element of fun. It has to be tried to be believed." —JR
Smells like: strawberry jam from a farmer's market
Key notes: strawberry gariguette, cassis leaf, apple blossom
What our editors think: "I sprayed this expecting it to smell like strawberry hard candy, but I was surprised at the sophistication. It's sweet for sure, but the addition of florals gives it a spring-like quality that evokes small batch jam made with love." —JR
Smells like: orange hazenut cake
Key notes: hazelnut, orange blossom, vanilla
What our editors think: "With just three popular and simple notes—hazelnut, orange blossom, and vanilla—this bright gourmand scent lasts all day and all night. It’s easy to wear and easy to love." —JR
Smells like: sipping a piña colada by a Miami poolside
Key notes: pink pineapple, coconut water, sweet amber
What our editors think: "I don't just love this scent because I was born and raised in Miami, though that might have something to do with it. The zippy blend of pink pineapple, coconut water, and lush palm leaves evokes sunbathing poolside and brightens my mood at first spritz." —JR
Why trust Harper’s Bazaar?
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
