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The Best Gourmand Perfumes Smell Like Pancakes, Ice Cream, and Berries—According to Cosmo Editors, That Is
Kinda wanna take a bite.
The fastest-growing category of fragrance right now is gourmand perfumes, aka scents that smell edible and mouth-watering. Think vanilla, chocolate, honey, whipped cream, strawberry perfumes—anything that makes you think "mhm, yum" when you smell it. For me, it's easily the most-complimented fragrance category, whether it's a first-date perfume or just my day-to-day scent.
But some sweet perfumes can go sickly sweet and too intense, so it can take some trial and error to find the right one for your tastes. I've sniffed more than a hundred gourmand perfumes this year alone. Wondering which ones are worth it? I narrowed down my top nine, from syrupy pancake-like scents to soft and creamy vanillas. Here's a quick peek at my favorites before I get into my reviews:
Our top picks for gourmand perfumes in 2025:
Who is the sweetest of them all? You, ofc, when you wear any of the following gourmand perfumes. Spritzing any of these will give you the most amazing sugar rush of your life, trust.
Pros
- Fantastic for layering since it adds a light sweetness to everything
- A creamy, milky vanilla that isn't too syrupy
Cons
- Some might find it too "one note" for wear on its own
One Cosmo editor says: "This is actually one of my most complimented perfumes. It gives me that Rihanna effect—everyone I cross paths with can't get enough of my scent.In fact, the first day I wore it, a cab driver immediately asked for the link so he could buy it for his sister—low key wish I had told him to wait until Prime Day while it's 20 percent off right now, lol."—SAMANTHA OLSON, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Bergamot, white musk, amber |
| Sizes available | 0.5 and 1.7 oz |
Pros
- Quite literally smells like pancakes coated in maple syrup
- Really cozy and lovely for fall and winter
Cons
- Not for those who don't want a photo-realistic food scent
One Cosmo editor says: "I finally got the chance to sniff all of BORNTOSTANDOUT's unique fragrance assortment on a trip to Seoul this fall, and this was easily the most standout sweet scent. I had to come home with a mini size. It's so yummy and truly smells like scarfing down pancakes—but, like, at 2 a.m. with all of your friends after a night out. It's kinda sexy in that way."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Pink pepper, rum, coffee resinoid, maple syrup, soft suede, vanilla, sandalwood, benzoin |
| Sizes available | 1.7 oz |
Pros
- A light take on a sweet perfume
- One of the least expensive perfumes on this list
Cons
- Bottle is a bit bulky and can be hard to spritz (but cute!)
One Cosmo editor says: "Sometimes I wanna smell sweet but not too sweet, and that's when I turn to Mod Vanilla. It's subtle but still makes me smell creamy and warm. The mix of vanilla, praline, musk, and plum are perfectly blended—it opens and dries down with a light scent. I love wearing this one to bed with super-soft cotton PJs."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Musk, plum, pink freesia, praline, orris root, vanilla, cacao butter |
| Sizes available | 0.33, 1, and 3.4 fl oz |
Pros
- Tonka bean helps round out all the sweet notes
- Not artificial smelling (which is surprising for such a realistic foodlike scent)
Cons
- I wish it lasted a little longer on my skin :(
One Cosmo editor says: "I already cannot wait to douse myself in this hyper-sweet scent during the holidays. It's a cozy mix of ultra-sweet notes, like buttercream and caramel, along with woodsy tonka bean—it smells like a fluffy cake."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Buttercream, vanilla, maple, caramel, tonka bean |
| Sizes available | 0.34 and 1.7 fl oz |
Pros
- Lasts for 8 to 10 hours on skin
- I love how the whipped cream note adds a fluffy, creaminess to this scent
Cons
- Some people think it smells soapy
One Cosmo editor says: "I feel like a kid in a candy shop every time I spritz on this sweet, viral perfume from Kayali. It smells like every sugary treat imaginable (be warned you will get a sugar rush—in the best way possible). Nutty pistachio gelato, hazelnut, and warm rum burst through at the first spray. Once it dries down, whipped cream, marshmallows, and cotton candy make an appearance. I know it sounds like a sugar-induced coma, but even with the countless candied notes this scent maintains a lightness that’s so soft and will score you infinite compliments."—MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR
| Notes | Pistachio gelato, hazelnut, sweet rum, cotton candy, whipped cream, marshmallow |
| Sizes available | 0.33, 1.7, and 3.4 fl oz |
Pros
- Smells like a birthday cake (complimentary)
- A lot more well-rounded and smooth than you'd expect for the price
- Most affordable perfume on this list
Cons
- Might be a bit too sugary for some
One Cosmo editor says: "Sabrina Carpenter is the queen of girly fashions, so it makes sense that her perfume is sweeter than sugar and affordable for all the girlies to try. Housed in the pink chocolate bottle (which, btw, is sooo adorable) is an enchanting blend of candied ginger, chocolate marshmallow, vanilla, and chantilly cream. A bright tinge of sparkling bergamot and warm cashmere balance the perfume out and prevent it from giving you a sugar-induced stomachache (err... headache)."—MH
| Notes | Sparkling bergamot, candied ginger, chocolate marshmallow, jasmine, coconut milk, madagascar vanilla, cashmere wood, chantilly cream, sugared musks |
| Sizes available | 2.5, 1, and 0.5 oz |
Pros
- Fruity notes help balance the sweetness
- Not *too* intensely sweet
- Major longevity (lasts up to 12 hours on skin)
Cons
- Might be too strong for sensitive noses
One Cosmo editor says: "Oriana starts off with a burst of nature’s candy: An array of fruity notes including mandarin, bergamot, grapefruit, blackcurrants, and raspberries offer a lot of brightness before marshmallow and chantilly cream peek through to give the scent a creamy undertone. Between the sugary juice inside, opulent bottle, and French inspiration, I can’t help but imagine that this would’ve been Marie Antoinette’s signature scent. (She was a fan of the sweeter things in life after all!) While it doesn't resemble cake (Antoinette’s fave treat, duh), Oriana still carries a dessert-y essence that reminds me of those delicious little fruit tarts you’d spot in a French patisserie."—MH
| Notes | Mandarin, bergamot, grapefruit, orange blossom, blackcurrant, raspberry, marshmallow, ambrette, chantilly cream, musk |
| Sizes available | 2.5 and 1 oz |
Pros
- Lasts a really long time for a body mist (around six to eight hours)
- I love the syrupy caramel, vanilla, and nutty notes
Cons
- Buttery notes can come off popcorn-y to some noses (although, I love it)
One Cosmo editor says: "Sol de Janeiro excels at crafting tropical-inspired gourmand fragrances (truly you can’t go wrong with any of them). However, Cheirosa ‘71 is by far the best per my testing of legit every single one of their scents. I mean, who wouldn’t want to smell like a sexy, spicy cookie?! Caramelized vanilla has a more complex aroma than regular old vanilla, and when mixed with toasted macadamia nut, white chocolate, and tonka bean, it forms a warm, rich, dreamy mist that lasts all day—something that isn’t super common for fragrance mists."—MH
| Notes | Caramelized vanilla, sea salt, toasted macadamia nut, white chocolate, tonka bean, coconut blossom |
| Sizes available | 3 oz |
Pros
- Mix of chocolate and orange notes is fantastic for fall and winter
- Beautifully layered scent that's blended but still lets you pick up on the mix of notes
Cons
- Some testers wished it had better longevity for the price
One Cosmo editor says: "If you’ve ever wanted to bath yourself in chocolate (relatable), Chocolate Greedy is about to become your new favorite perfume. Imagine your favorite steakhouse’s seven-layer chocolate cake — this is pretty much that dessert in perfume form. The indulgent potion contains layers upon layers of cocoa, as well as hints of rich ganache and gourmet truffles. Once it dries down, an undertone of bitter orange and vanilla cuts through the intense chocolate to add a refreshing zing. Be warned: Anyone who smells this will instantly crave chocolate (and tbh, maybe you!)."—MH
| Notes | Chocolate truffles, bitter orange, vanilla |
| Sizes available | 3.4 oz |
How to choose the best gourmand perfume for you:
Think about the notes.
Sure, gourmand scents are inherently sweet, but that doesn’t mean they all smell like straight up sugar. This fragrance family runs the gamut of saccharine notes—vanilla, chocolate, marshmallow, and whipped cream are some of the most common. However, complex gourmands can also feature hints of candied fruit, nuts, honey, cotton candy, caramel, cinnamon, and in some cases, croissant accords (I’m looking at you, Snif Crumb Couture). Pretty much any sweet note you imagine could be included in a gourmand perfume.
With the ~endless~ options, you’ll want to think about which ones appeal to you the most. If you’re after a major sugar fix, you’ll probably like some of the more robust sweet scents that incorporate a myriad of vanilla, chantilly cream, and maybe even chocolate, like Sabrina Carpenter’s Sweet Tooth Eau de Parfum. On the flip side, if heavier scents give you a headache, opt for something that gets its sweet disposition from fruits, like Noteworthy 057 Sweet Escape.
Choose a size that works for you.
Are you on the hunt for your next signature scent or do you like to swap out your fragrances depending on the season and your mood? For those in the first boat, I always think it’s best to buy the largest size available. Firstly, because it will last you a long time, and you’ll also get the most for your money. That said, if you’re a serial scent switcher, opt for a smaller size so you can get a feel for the scent (remember, perfume can go bad after a period of time, so you wouldn’t want your purchase to go to waste if you don’t plan on wearing it super often). Plus, smaller sizes are easier to pack in your carry-on for weekend getaways and longer trips too.
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including reviewing every Maison Margiela Replica perfume and finding the most spot-on Baccarat Rouge 540 dupes. She’s an authority in all beauty categories, but an expert when it comes to fragrance—her scent wardrobe is ever-expanding and she regularly rotates through a collection of over 20 perfumes (including a bunch of the options in this article…gourmand scents are her favorite!). For this story, she spritzed and sniffed over 40 perfumes to find the 16 most delectable gourmands worthy of a sugar rush.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing fragrance stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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