You know what goes really well with a Caesar salad, fries, and a cold, crispy Diet Coke? A cola fragrance. Stay with me here: One of summer’s hottest fragrance trends right now is cola perfumes, which are inspired by the nostalgic scent of soda. With notes of vanilla, citrus, caramel, and more, they fall into the gourmand category but aren’t all alike. They’re “playful, nostalgic gourmands that balance sparkling freshness with comforting sweetness,” says Carine Certain Boin, senior perfumer at Givaudan. There’s been a bit of a soda renaissance lately, from trends like Diet Coke nails to the rise of probiotic and good-for-you sodas, so while it may seem like cola fragrances came out of left field, it’s kinda unsurprising that we want to bring the good vibes to our perfume bottles, TBH.
Cola perfumes are a fun trend, yes, but they also deliver a sophisticated and maybe even unexpected experience. Rather than smelling like a straightforward vanilla gourmand or like you spilled soda on yourself, they have a depth to them that makes wearing them a journey in fragrance: “There has been so much appetite for edible, dessert-like, and drink-inspired fragrances, but cola feels a little more unexpected than another vanilla or caramel scent,” says Jeniece Trizzino, vice president of innovation and physical product development at Scentbird and Drift. “It has sweetness, but it also has fizz, spice, and brightness, which makes it feel more dynamic. It can be playful and nostalgic without feeling overly juvenile.”
Wanna get in on the trend? Here’s everything to know about cola perfumes, and the ones Cosmo editors recommend trying first.
What are cola perfumes?
Cola perfumes are the latest version of a gourmand. As gourmands continue to evolve and elevate, these cola scents are layered and don’t always smell just like your fave sugary drink. “The accord is built around fizzy citrus notes, warm spices, and a caramelized sweetness that instantly feels familiar,” says Boin.
They naturally sit right at the intersection of fresh and gourmand, explains Trizzino. Think of them this way: “Some cola scents feel bright and carbonated, almost like opening a cold can of soda,” she says. “Others feel sweeter and more syrupy, closer to cola candy, cola syrup, or a dessert-like gourmand.”
Cola perfumes can smell really grown up, too, if you reach for one with specific notes. “When the spiced, woody, or ambery facets are emphasized, the scent can feel less like a soft drink and more like a cocktail-inspired fragrance,” adds Trizzino.
What do cola perfumes smell like?
We all know that all-too-familiar scent and taste of a freshly opened can of soda. But how does that translate into a perfume on your skin? Well, as with any other fragrance, it’s created with multiple notes. Look for notes like these when shopping for a cola perfume.
Then, the sweet scent that makes cola perfumes smell syrupy and more gourmand: This “usually comes from vanilla, caramel, tonka bean, brown sugar, benzoin, amber, or marshmallow,” says Trizzino.
Finally, you need the spiced side, which Trizzino says is “really important” to get the cola effect. Look for notes like “cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, rum, woods, tobacco, or resins,” she says, which “can give the fragrance more depth and make it feel warmer or more grown-up.”
Why are cola perfumes trending?
Nostalgia is winning big right now, and that’s a major factor for cola perfume. “Cola is a very familiar scent memory for a lot of people,” says Trizzino. “It can bring up memories of movie theaters, diners, candy, summer, childhood, or going out with friends. That makes it emotionally easy to connect with, even if the idea of a cola perfume sounds surprising at first.”
It also is a modern gourmand as we continue moving away from the traditional, super-sweet options. It’s a whole new way to wear fragrance and is warm-weather friendly (read: you can wear a cola perfume all throughout these summer heat waves). “The sparkling citrus notes feel refreshing and wearable for summer, while the spices, amber nuances, and sweetness add sophistication and depth,” says Boin. “It brings excitement to the gourmand category while remaining playful and easy to wear.”
Cola perfumes also fit in really well with another big trend right now, which is fragrance layering. Watched The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives lately and noticed them sipping on dirty sodas from Swig? Then you’ll love this one: “Pairing it with creamy gourmand notes creates a ‘dirty soda’ effect,” says Boin. “For instance, vanilla naturally enhances the sweetness, while cherry notes create a classic cherry cola twist.” Beyond pairing your cola perfume with a vanilla one, Boin also likes dark fruits like black cherry for a “richer and more intense interpretation.” She notes that cola perfumes also layer well with woody amber notes for “complexity and sophistication” and musks for “a softer, more enveloping effect.”
If you want your cola perfume to go bold, “boozy notes, warm spices, or even leather can create a daring and unexpected contrast,” says Boin. “Citrus notes amplify the sparkling, crisp character of the cola accord, while other fruits such as cassis or apple introduce additional facets and are a bit more unexpected.”
Cola perfumes Cosmo editors love:
BORNTOSTANDOUT Cola Addict Eau de Parfum
BORNTOSTANDOUT Cola Addict Eau de Parfum
| Key Notes | Cola, rum, lime, cinnamon bark |
This fragrance recreates the thrill of cracking open an ice-cold cola, pairing sparkling lime, cola, and cinnamon with boozy rum before drying down into an addictive vanilla moment. Despite the vanilla, it’s not overly gourmand—you get sophisticated yet playful sweetness with plenty of sparkle and just enough spice.
Snif Soda Snob Eau de Toilette
| Key Notes | Fizzy lime, cinnamon, secret cola accord, jasmine, caramel, vanilla |
Like the first sip of a soda with just the right amount of fizz (you know how good that is), Snif’s Soda Snob starts out slightly peppery and becomes more creamy and smooth over time. The bright opening is thanks to fizzy lime, cinnamon and the brand’s signature cola accord, and jasmine, caramel, and vanilla turn it creamy and reminiscent of a root beer float.
Viktor&Rolf Bonbon Cola Fizz Eau de Parfum
Viktor&Rolf Bonbon Cola Fizz Eau de Parfum
| Key Notes | Cola, lemon, white musk |
Wanna capture that carefree summer-y feeling of enjoying a soda by the pool? This perfume from Viktor&Rolf has managed to do it for you. The gourmand yet citrus scent has a vibrant scent thanks to notes of fresh cola, zesty lemon, and soft white musk. Plus, it plays well with others: Layer it with a sweeter gourmand to really lean into that sweet treat feeling.
Kilian Born To Be Unforgettable Eau de Parfum
Kilian Born To Be Unforgettable Eau de Parfum
| Key Notes | Cola accord, cinnamon, cedarwood |
You know that tingling feeling you get in your nose and mouth when you sip an extra carbonated soda? This fresh fragrance creates that in perfume form. It straddles the line between spicy and gourmand with the help of bright lime, followed up with a realistic cola accord fizz made with warm cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg before settling into a smooth cedarwood base.
Oakcha Colaroma Extrait de Parfum
| Key Notes | Orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg |
Skip the diet soda and go all in on that sweet, syrupy goodness: This woody gourmand fragrance starts out fresh with orange and sparkling ginger yet lingers with a more gourmand moment thanks to base notes of vetiver and amber. BTW, as an extrait de parfum, it’s designed to last longer than other fragrances out there.
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Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmo who covers all things beauty, including fragrance. For this story, she interviewed fragrance experts to learn about all things cola perfumes and smelled several bottles to find the best of the best in soda-inspired fragrances.
Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.
