Gourmand scents are all the rage, and it’s easy to get stuck in a loop of the same viral fragrances that TikTok seems to love. If you want to smell delicious but not like everyone around you, try one of these.
Kajal’s Joorie is probably the most indulgent perfume I’ve ever smelled – at its heart it’s a rose scent, dripping with honey and married with musk, tonka bean, nutmeg, lemon, and more, creating something that’s delectably hypnotizing. Wear this to Thanksgiving dinner and you might get mistaken for one of the fancier desserts. People will not stop telling you you smell amazing.
If you want to smell like Cookie Crisp cereal, but in a chic, French way, you need to get your nose on Lait de Biscuit by Chabaud. Some gourmand scents smell as though they’re inspired by your favorite dessert, while others smell virtually identical. This one is the latter – with notes of caramel and vanilla, it’s true-to-life and an absolute delight to wear (how comforting, to smell like everyone’s favorite treat!).
When I tell you I flew through my sample of Narcotica’s Happy Dust, I am not exaggerating. It’s one of those scents that is just so easy to spritz on when you don’t know what to wear, and it brings a smile to my face every time. The name could not be more fitting; this is a vanilla-forward scent with green matcha absolute, candied golden amber, white musk, and a touch of white flowers. Some vanillas are too sweet, others too boozy – while this one is truly perfect.
Have you ever wanted to smell like the most expensive marshmallow in the world? We’ve all been there. Try Mallow from Sora Dora, a mesmerizing concoction of pink pepper, vanilla sugar, sweet almond, amber musk, and much more. While some gourmands are sweet in that warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven way, this one has a coolness, an icy spun sugar element that reminds me slightly of Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy. This one is perhaps less sweet and slightly more musky, making it an excellent alternative.
I can’t stop talking about Akro’s Bake, another hyperrealistic scent – only this one smells like an exquisite lemon tart with buttery graham cracker crust, dusted with powdered sugar. The notes are simply lemon, vanilla, and praline – sometimes simple is better. Akro’s perfumers are geniuses; they’ve weaved together three basic-sounding notes to create something that smells simultaneously expensive and mouth-watering.
Finally, for something a little different try Nicolai’s Macaron Bourbon, an amber floral that smells like a Parisian pastry shop – with a twist. A rum accord keeps this from getting too toothachingly sweet, but the caramel, tonka bean, and vanilla ensure the gourmand lovers will adore this one. Rose and bitter almond complement the other notes, creating something truly unique. I’ve never smelled anything remotely similar to this, and it changes a lot on the skin as the notes unfold. I highly recommend it if you want something no one around you is wearing.
