Strawberry Perfumes Are Trending For Spring/Summer 2025, but Will They Sour Quickly?

Fruity fragrances are nothing new. I spend more time than I'd like to admit wandering Sephora's perfume aisles, where I always find a wide range of fruity scents packed with notes like citrus, pear, apple, and cherry. Even though there's no shortage of fruit-forward options, I noticed strawberry notes were difficult to come by...until recently.

All of a sudden fresh strawberry scents have been appearing left and right—by my tally five have launched so far this year—and it seems like the berry has become the bonafide 'it girl' of the perfume world. What gives?

"Strawberry is having a total renaissance in fragrance," says Gustavo Romero, founder of the Fragrance Alliance Network. "We’re in this wave of nostalgic, playful beauty—think TikTok’s obsession with coquette aesthetics and the collective craving for dopamine-inducing scents after years of minimalist 'clean girl' perfumes. Strawberry fits right in. It's fun, recognizable, and instantly mood-boosting," explains Romero.

Why have strawberry perfumes gained popularity?

Strawberry scents have technically been around for years. I even grew up dousing myself in a candied strawberry mist from Bath & Body Works. That said, perfumers have finally found a way to make strawberry smell greener, juicier, and more life-like, which gives the note newfound sophistication. The process hasn't been simple or straightforward, mainly because strawberries don't produce essential oil. "Perfumers have to build their scent profile using a cocktail of aroma molecules," explains Romero, and he says there's a very fine line between producing the scent of vine-ripe berries versus a scratch-and-sniff strawberry sticker.

When I spoke with Phlur's creative director, Chriselle Lim, at the launch of Strawberry Letter last year, she told me the perfume took years to develop due to the berry's finicky nature. "Strawberry is a beautiful, vibrant note, but it can be tricky to get just right," she says. "It has a natural tartness that can lean too sharp or sour if it’s not balanced properly. The key is in the layering, you have to pair strawberry notes with ones that enhance the fruit's juiciness without overpowering it."

Romero emphasizes the fact that it's not just a matter of engineering the perfect strawberry note. "If you don’t balance the tartness with something creamy or warm, it can lean sharp or sour," he says. "On top of that, strawberry is volatile—it smells juicy and delicious at first, but it can fade quickly on the skin if other ingredients do not support it."

And now that perfumers have started to master that delicate balancing act, we're seeing more strawberry scents that are bright and airy, as well as some that are jammy and rich rather than perfumes that are nothing more than syrupy sweet.

What do strawberry scents smell like on skin?

"Strawberry notes are often sweet and colorful on the skin, reminiscent of a natural strawberry," says dsm-firmenich perfumer Berenice Watteau. "Some can have a jam-like and appetizing effect, while others could be a bit fresher and slightly tart, like an apple." It all depends on your body chemistry—remember, all scents will smell a little different on everyone—as well as the other notes that make up the finished perfume.

"When mixed with vanilla, strawberry becomes creamy, sensual, and totally addictive," explains Watteau. "As for florals, strawberry can either amplify the flower's natural sweetness or add a touch of bright, fruity color to the overall scent." Strawberry can even take on a more sultry identity when paired with warm woods or spices, like oud and pink pepper.

The best strawberry perfumes:

Research shows that people continue to look for fragrances that feel nostalgic, comforting, and joyful. "Humans are naturally drawn to scents that make them feel good, and strawberry, with its inherent sweetness and joy-evoking qualities, perfectly fits that role," says Watteau.

Lucky for you, the best strawberry perfumes are ripe for the picking just in time for spring. Whether you want to smell like a blooming strawberry field or a succulent strawberry shortcake, you'll find your perfect strawberry match below.