If you want to be complimented on how you smell, wearing a gourmand fragrance is almost a guaranteed way to make that happen. The tastiest family of scents, gourmands are indulgent and sweet, capturing the essence of warmth and nostalgia — which also makes them favorites for the fall and winter months.
According to Yvan Jacqueline, president of the Americas at luxury fragrance house Parfums de Marly, there’s a practical reason for this, too. “Sweeter, warmer, flavor-forward ingredients carry a greater density on the skin and tend to cut through colder weather better,” he explains. They’re like a cozy sweater for the senses, offering a comforting respite from the season’s chill.
The experts we spoke to aslo highlighted the fragrance category’s strong emotional pull. As Janiece Trizzino, vice president of innovation and physical product at Scentbird, aptly puts it, “Gourmand scents have traditionally been thought of as comforting and familiar because they can often invoke nostalgia and remind us of our childhood.”
Jacquline expresses a similar sentiment. “The gourmand olfactory family connects strongly with memory as this time of year as we gather with family and friends and reap the harvest where foods with sweeter and heavier ingredients such as pies, breads, cookies, etc., are served and shared.”
What is a gourmand scent?
The mere waft of a delicious gourmand fragrance has the power to transport us back to cherished moments, evoking memories of homemade sweets and shared family gatherings. That’s because gourmand fragrances are centered around edible notes. “In the gourmand family, one can typically find notes like vanilla, caramel, honey, chocolate, toffee, candy floss, almonds, coffee, various baked goods, and certain fruits like berries or ripe fruits,” explains Harry Kabadaian, co-founder of Perfame.
But for those who don’t want something as sugary, Kabadaian says that there are other options: “Some non-sweet gourmand notes include toasted bread, nuts (like hazelnut or almond), spices (like cardamom or saffron), certain grains and even some boozy notes like whiskey or rum.”
So, as the leaves turn and the temperatures drop, discover the best gourmand fragrances that are sure to make you say “yum.”
Let's start with a classic — Terrizino and Kabadaian both called out this trailblazing gourmand scent that remains a hit today. "I am probably going to show my age by listing this one, but you gotta give up to the OG of the gourmand family, the one that started it all and quite literally invented a new olfactive category," she says.
"It's rich, sensual and has an almost magnetic allure that makes it a standout," Kabadaian says. As Terrizino sums it up, "The patchouli, the praline, perfectly balanced with hints of citrus and fruits... it is just *chef’s kiss*"
"The highlight of bourbon vanilla in the heart of Althaïr makes it a true standout," explains Jacqueline. "This fragrance is a full focus around vanilla, with this ingredient living throughout the entire composition, from start to finish. Adding the top note of bergamot provides freshness and wearability coupled with a praline base, [creating] a duality of a gourmand freshness that is incredibly difficult to accomplish."
"I want to start a slow clap when I smell this scent," Trizzino says of this uniquely sweet and nutty fragrance. "First, the smell of pistachios reminds me of my grandfather because it was his favorite ice cream flavor and has since become mine. So smelling this takes me back to my childhood, sitting on my grandpa's lap at his lake house, eating ice cream together — and all was right in the world."
"I love this scent because it is the perfect balance of dark and sultry decadence paired with sweet and juicy fruit notes," says Trizzino. "For me, it is sweet — but not too sweet... and not juvenile sweet either. It smells like a grown-ass woman. It features notes of luscious strawberry, vanilla orchid, jasmine and golden rum — superb!"
Guerlain has several rich, gourmand fragrances in its L'Art & La Matière collection. Kabadaian is partial to the unisex fragrance Tonka Impériale, which he describes as "elegant and cozy, reminiscent of a warm, inviting library," due to its showcase of "the warmth of tonka bean, balanced with notes of almond, tobacco and honey." And if you're looking for those last two without going as woody, the new Tobacco Honey is fragrantly indulgent.
While pricey, Guerlain's complimentary engraving and other personalizations on the bottle make it a stunning and special gift (for yourself or someone to impress).
"Breaking away from the typical gourmand, this one blends the richness of coffee with the floral elegance of tuberose," Kabadaian says. "It's an unexpected pairing but offers a fresh, slightly bitter, yet floral profile that's enchanting."
Smoky, smooth, and seductive, this genderless fragrance brings the heat with a touch of cinnamon and apple, fire-cured Kentucky tobacco and bourbon vanilla. It's been a go-to of mine as the climate dips into sweater weather.
Named after the trendy New York City neighborhood, Bond No. 9's Tribeca gives me $8 latte vibes — it's rich yet soft, with notes of caramel, vanilla and hazelnut. As it dries down, sweet jasmine brings a floral touch. Some compare it to the warmth and versatility of Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540, but I find Tribeca to be a bit more delicious.
Another scent I love on its own or layered, The Architects Club is brighter and spicier than other vanilla fragrances. It opens with gin-like juniper berry; progresses to pink peppercorn, cardamom and coriander; and finishes with notes of oak, cedar and wood from Paraguay, all with vanilla absolute shining through.
"One of our bestsellers, inspired by Lost Cherry by Tom Ford, is all about candy-like cherry with bitter almond and cherry liqueur, which opens into rich indulgence with a heart of sour cherry, plum, Turkish rose and jasmine sambac with a gourmand base of tonka bean, vanilla, cinnamon with sandalwood, cedar and patchouli. This is a must-have for men and women," Kabadaian says.
A lighter but still on-the-nose (pun intended) gourmand, Coffee Break captures the warmth of a freshly brewed cup of joe balanced with light milk mousse accord, vanilla and lavender. I personally love it as a layering scent in the fall since the slightly floral finish opens up the fragrance to other olfactive categories.
An amber gourmand with juicy apple notes and a touch of vanilla, this warm and fruity perfume leans into fall vibes, recalling crisp fall days spent apple picking and sipping on cider.
Candied citrus and orange blossom bring a zesty tone to this bright gourmand, while vanilla keeps it sweet. It's a good option for those who don't want a dark, moody vanilla and who appreciate sugary notes.
Another option for coffee lovers, Kabadaian recommends this scent for men and women. "This epicurean delight is inspired by Intense Cafe by Montale and features floral top notes with a heart of freshly brewed coffee, followed by creamy vanilla and a memorable base of musk and amber," he says.
Confectionary scents can easily veer too saccharine, but Snif knows how to juxtapose the sweet notes with something unexpected. Warm and alluring, this cocoa-forward fragrance combines chocolate, vanilla, sandalwood and sage. And if you're a fan of pastries, there's also a croissant-inspired perfume on the brand's "secret" menu that's surprisingly good.
Cherry, saffron and vanilla are the star notes of this warm and juicy scent. The burst of the fruit settles into the vanilla, with sandalwood and upcycled cognac adding a touch of spiciness.