Remember when "gourmand" perfume meant a cloud of candy-sweet body spray and the sugary shops at the mall? Two decades ago, a tutti-frutti scent trail was practically a badge of popularity.
Thankfully, our taste in fragrance has grown up right alongside us. Today's gourmand perfumes are far more sophisticated: they still lean into memory and nostalgia, but through richer, more surprising compositions. They feel familiar and unusual at the same time, which is exactly why they're so easy to fall for.
And the new generation of gourmand scents no longer stops at vanilla, caramel or chocolate. The latest launches layer unexpected salty or green notes over sweet foundations — and that twist makes them so much more interesting and full of character.
From velvety butternut accords to tomato-inspired blends, we've rounded up the food-inspired perfumes that are pushing the gourmand trend to a whole new level.
BornToStandOut Dirty Rice Eau de Parfum
Dirty Rice is one of the most exciting new-wave gourmand scents out there. It pairs the creamy, faintly milky character of steamed rice with soft musk and warm woody notes — evoking both the comforting mood of freshly cooked rice and the smell of clean skin. It's an unusual yet very wearable perfume that puts comfort front and center.
Jo Malone London Velvety Butternut Cologne
This one reveals the surprisingly elegant side of roasted butternut squash. Its velvety, gently sweet vegetal notes are rounded out by soft woods and spice, so the overall effect feels refined and warm rather than foodie. It's like the mood of a sun-drenched afternoon captured in a bottle.
Abel Miami Split Eau de Parfum
Miami Split is a modern take on a tropical dessert. The meeting of lime, fruity notes and creamy vanilla is playful and polished all at once, while natural ingredients keep it feeling fresh. It's a bright, summery fragrance that brings back the memory of an ice cream on the beach.
Maison Margiela From the Garden
This fragrance smells like strolling through a vegetable garden on a summer afternoon. Alongside the green freshness of tomato leaf, sunny fruity notes appear, making it surprisingly soft and lovable.
If you love scents that transport you somewhere specific, this is the kind of perfume that keeps a whole memory alive on your skin.
DedCool Mochi Milk
Mochi Milk is one of the loveliest examples of the milky gourmand trend. Soft, creamy and airy, it feels like a freshly made Japanese mochi dessert meeting a cashmere sweater. It isn't overly sweet — it's soothing and intimate instead, making it a perfect pick for anyone who loves understated, skin-close scents.
D.S. & Durga Coriander Eau de Parfum
Coriander proves that a gourmand-inspired perfume doesn't have to be sugary at all. The green, aromatic and slightly citrusy character of coriander gives the scent its freshness, while its spicy depth makes it stand out. Modern, energetic and completely different from what most people expect from a food-inspired fragrance.
Demeter Tomato
Demeter Tomato conjures up the feeling of a summer vegetable garden. Instead of focusing on the fruity side of tomato, it highlights the fresh smell of green stems, leaves and sun-warmed plants. It's nostalgic and unexpected all at once, especially for anyone drawn to nature-inspired perfumes.
Etat Libre d'Orange Like This
Like This is one of the best-known pumpkin fragrances around. Sweet pumpkin is accompanied by ginger, mandarin and aromatic spices, so the scent feels warm, cozy and refined. It isn't a dessert perfume — it captures the mood of a snug autumn evening, when the kitchen fills with the smell of spices and roasted vegetables.
Imaginary Authors A Whiff of Waffle Cone
If you've ever walked past an artisan ice cream shop and caught the sweet, toasted scent of freshly baked cones, A Whiff of Waffle Cone recreates exactly that moment. The perfume centers on the crisp waffle cone, made even more lifelike by vanilla, caramel and gently smoky notes.
Although it sounds like a dessert scent at first, it never turns too sugary or childish. The toasted, lightly caramelized accords give it depth — nostalgic, playful and surprisingly sophisticated all at once.
What exactly is a gourmand perfume?
A gourmand perfume is one built around edible, dessert-like or food-inspired notes such as vanilla, caramel or chocolate. The new generation goes further, adding salty, green and savory accords for more character.
Are new gourmand scents too sweet?
Not necessarily. Many of the latest launches, like Coriander or Demeter Tomato, lean green, spicy or savory rather than sugary, so they feel fresh and refined instead of candy-like.
Which gourmand perfumes work best in summer?
Bright, fresh blends like Abel Miami Split, with its lime and creamy vanilla, or the garden-inspired From the Garden and Demeter Tomato feel especially at home in warm weather.
Do gourmand perfumes only smell like desserts?
No. As these scents show, gourmand can mean anything from steamed rice and roasted butternut to tomato leaf and coriander — savory and green notes now play just as big a role as sweet ones.
