- Gourmands are evolving: Sweet scents are getting darker, nuttier, boozier, and more complex, with vanilla stepping back in favor of browned, bitter, and lactonic notes.
- Fruits and caffeine are getting bolder: Expect hyper-realistic fruits and coffee- and tea-inspired scents (matcha, espresso, hojicha) that feel richer, sexier, and more dimensional.
- Soft power fragrances are rising: Woody, musky, and oud-based scents will wear closer to the skin, offering quiet luxury and intimacy instead of loud, overpowering projection.
We're finishing up what was undeniably the year of perfume. The fragrance industry ballooned—it was actually the fastest growing beauty sector, FYI—and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, 2026 is set to usher in thousands—yes, thousands—of new fragrance launches that will inspire more inventive scent combinations. But overall, what can we expect next year to smell like?
The biggest 2026 perfume trends will be full of reinvention, according to the three fragrance experts I spoke with. "We'll see ideas and notes that refuse to disappear, that keep shifting shape, that our noses keep returning to even when we think we've moved on," says perfume expert Gustavo Romero, founder of the Fragrance Alliance Network.
Think: Gourmands like you've never smelled before, fruits that amp up sex appeal, perfumes reminiscent of your favorite coffee shop, and much more. Keep reading to find the five fragrance trends that will dominate 2026, and discover scents that will have you smelling like the latest it-girl.
1. A New Gourmand Era
I know a lot of people who are staunch gourmand haters, but the scent category is shifting in a way that will convert any and everyone who has turned their noses up to confectionery fragrances. TL;DR: Vanilla is leaving center stage. "Sweetness is no longer the end goal," says Romero. "Edible notes feel cooked, browned, or aged, often cut with bitterness, alcohol, or dryness. Gourmand elements are becoming structural rather than comforting," he says.
Expect to see more lactonic, nutty, bitter, and maybe even some savory notes. "These accords showcase new ways of creating delectable, edible, and irresistible signatures," says perfumer Christina Christie. Milky notes started to grow in popularity this year because they add a soft, creamy texture, and a nuanced sweetness that feels like a cozy hug. Scents like Phlur Heavy Cream and Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Milk walked so the fragrances of 2026 can run.
Nutty notes—including almond, pistachio, and hazelnut—are also changing gourmands in an exciting way. "These add texture, warmth, and richness, elevating fragrances with deeper complexity," adds Christie. From experience (I do smell perfume for a living), I've found that nuts have an interesting ability to boost the seductiveness of certain scents. The bitter almond accord in Tom Ford Vanilla Sex gives it an arousing aura, while a blend of heady spices, pistachio, and tobacco in Penhaligon's Fortuitous Finley creates a hypnotic effect.
Oh, and boozy notes are entering the gourmand chat. Prepare for dramatic and indulgent rum-drenched aromas, smooth whiskey potions, and bourbon vanilla spritzers. (That last one is the main way you'll experience vanilla in 2026). If this side of the trend piques your interest, stock up on Kilian Paris Angels' Share Paradis, or, for a more affordable option, Indira Cognac Vanilla.
2. Deeper, Headier, and More Realistic Fruits
Fruits are getting juicer, darker, and more visceral. Spritzing a fruit-forward scent will be comparable to taking a big ol' bite of the real thing. "The fruity fragrances we'll see in 2026 will be highly textured, hyper-realistic, full, juicy, and multidimensional," explains Christie.
It will also be more common to see more robust fruity accords, including plums, passionfruit, pomegranates, and even bananas, in the heart and base of fragrances, rather than just at the top. "Fruit notes are no longer just bright openings meant to charm and vanish," says Romero. "They’ve become more deliberate, more tactile. Fruits are pushed to their edges; either ripe to the point of excess or pulled back into something sharper. Comfort is still there, but it’s complicated—pleasure with a little resistance."
One perfume that both Romero and Christie think is leading the fruity charge is Maison Crivelli Oud Maracuja. "Passionfruit in this scent is pushed to its limits; acidic, tropical, almost bruised; then restrained by woods and oud, turning fruit into tension rather than charm," says Romero. And while it might be difficult to envision a banana perfume that doesn't smell artificial, one whiff of 27 87 Hakuna Matata will make you believe you picked a banana directly from the tree. Commodity Ice(d) is a brand new take on mango—it's actually a frozen mango note, so there's a cooled effect, with spearmint and eucalyptus adding a snow-capped vibe to an otherwise tropical scent.
3. Caffeinated Kicks
I spent a majority of 2025 searching for the perfect coffee scent not knowing I'd have to wait a liiiiitle bit longer to find it. Christie says that the fragrances of 2026 will be ~very~ caffeinated, with notes of matcha, chamomile, hojicha, mate, and espresso.
"The rise of specialty tea and beverage culture, amplified by social media, has brought these aromas into the mainstream," Christie shares. "Tea notes also expand the gourmand territory, offering comfort while adding a new kind of warmth and nuanced complexity to fragrances."
The fascination with tea scents, in particular, is amplified by people wanting to experience faraway destinations, explains Julia Buonanno-Godec, senior marketing manager at DSM-Firmenich. "Fragrance compositions are increasingly drawing inspiration from regions like the Middle East, China, and India—bringing some teas and spices into the global spotlight."
If you're a matcha fanatic, you'll probs fall in love with Kayali Freedom Musk Matcha or Obvious Milk & Matcha. For those who prefer a strong cup of joe, Ledda 8 Cafe Josephine or YSL Black Opium will def wake you up.
4. Softer Impact Scents
Raise your hand if you were negatively impacted by a seriously strong beast mode fragrance in 2025 (🙋🏼). Good news: Softer, more personal scents are making a comeback in 2026... with a twist. They'll still include notoriously strong notes—like oud, dry woods, deep musks, and amber—just in a different composition. "These aren’t the loud, declarative bases of the past, but quieter, more intimate structures; scents that sit close to the body, that feel lived in rather than announced," says Romero. "They create a foundation that lets bolder ideas feel intentional instead of overwhelming."
LBTY Oud Ianth is a wonderful example of this trend. The unique scent beautifully blends oud, leather, and patchouli with delicate florals like violets and mimosa, and a dash of bergamot. Similarly, Lore Somewhere But Nowhere is wood-heavy, but it has a mysterious ambiance and lies softly on skin, thanks to the additions of black tea and vanilla. Be prepared for plenty more launches that propel strong, overwhelming scents into their soft girl era.
5. Wood for All
Buonanno-Godec says woody notes will be everywhere in 2026—and not just in cologne. "People are drawn to woody scents because they feel natural, confident, and composed," she says. "They wear close to the skin, evolve beautifully, and give off that quiet luxury energy." Essentially, if you want to smell wealthy, spritz something woody.
Wood notes are extremely diverse. Take sandalwood, for example: This soft, creamy aroma feels comforting and lies very close to skin. On the flip side, vetiver leans smoky, and patchouli has an earthy richness. Cedar smells crisp, like a vast forest.
Regardless of the type of wood, woody scents tend to be rich and statement-making, perfect for nights out and special occasions. One of my favorites is Dancing Scorched Woods, a smoldering blend of vetiver, cedar, sandalwood, and patchouli that gets a sweet boozy tinge from dark rum and sugar. Jo Malone English Oak & Hazelnut is a bit more refined with cedar, oak, and a dash of hazelnut.
Meet the experts:
- Gustavo Romero is a professional perfumer with the Team of Two Perfumers and founder of Fragrance Alliance Network.
- Christina Christie is a senior perfumer of fine fragrance at Givaudan.
- Julia Buonanno-Godec is the senior marketing manager at DSM-Firmenich.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including reviewing every Sol de Janeiro perfume, and examining the orris perfume trend. For this story, she spoke with three perfume experts to discover what fragrance trends will dominate 2026.
