Delectable perfumes deserve far more appreciation than they receive. Once dismissed as overly sweet, hyper-feminine, or adolescent, the best gourmand fragrances have since evolved. “The trend began over [two years] ago and we haven’t seen it slow down,” shares Autumne West, Nordstrom’s national beauty director. “We’re also seeing a surge of lavender, which some may view as floral, but it’s also a gourmand when we think of lavender-flavored foods.”
The shift toward more complex scents is evident in the way fragrance houses are reinterpreting gourmand notes. The bestselling perfumes today incorporate unconventional ingredients to create a more nuanced result. Delphine Jelk, Guerlain’s in-house perfumer, attributes this evolution to a growing desire for more refined compositions. “Gourmands have become more elegant and less childish,” Jelk tells Vogue. While vanilla remains a staple, she highlights that “honey, nutty, and milk fragrances” are gaining traction with “mouthwatering fruity notes” are also popular.
Vogue’s Favorite Gourmand Perfumes:
Aymar de Chergé, vice president of marketing for Parfums de Marly and Initio Parfums Privés, confirms that today’s gourmand fragrances are increasingly shifting toward unisex or gender-neutral offerings. He says, “There’s a greater push toward unisex or gender-neutral gourmands, which focus on more universal themes of indulgence and comfort rather than leaning into traditionally feminine or masculine qualities.”
Indulgent, food-inspired fragrances are here to stay. “Gourmands have surged as fragrance lovers are adding more to their personal collections and not just wearing one signature scent,” notes Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. She also attributes their rise to their ability to evoke nostalgia and comfort.
That emotional connection is something Stacey Younge, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Sixth Street Wellness, sees firsthand. She explains that scent plays a powerful role in memory and emotional regulation, which may be why gourmands are resonating so deeply right now. “Familiar scents bring calm and comforting memories,” Young tells Vogue. In particular, she explains that chocolate, vanilla, and coffee notes, in particular, tend to be associated with pleasure, childhood nostalgia, and feelings of safety.
The new era of gourmands celebrate the intricate connection between food, fragrance, and nostalgia in an elevated way. Today’s gourmands aren’t just about vanilla and caramel. They layer richness with complexity, incorporating unexpected elements like saffron, cardamom, ginger, and even smoky or nutty notes to create depth. “Gourmand doesn’t have to be the body spray you wore back in junior high. Now, it’s sophisticated, sexy, and grown up,” West says.
