Sooo, I Guess People Want to Smell Like a Vegetable Garden Now
Veggie perfume notes—like rhubarb, artichoke, cucumber, and peppers—are growing in popularity. Experts explain why.
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It seems like people can't get enough of gourmand perfumes, Cosmo editors included. A majority of fragrance launches this year have centered around sweet notes, like vanilla, caramel, honey, and whipped cream, just to name a few. However, in an effort to appease those who are tired of smelling like candy—some people do, in fact, get a sugar-induced headache the moment they smell something saccharine—fragrance houses are turning to the garden. Specifically, vegetable gardens.
Rhubarb, tomato, carrot, and cucumber are just four vegetable notes that are ~sprouting~ throughout the perfume industry. And while these were once considered unconventional facets, the crisp, fresh veggies are becoming mainstay ingredients in modern perfumery. "We've seen a noticeable rise in vegetal notes because they tick many boxes for today’s fragrance lovers: They’re unisex, connected to nature, and remarkably versatile," says Isaac Lekach, co-founder & CEO of Flower Shop Perfumes Co. "Some bring crisp freshness, while others offer singular earthiness."
These savory—and sometimes subtly sweet—aromas don't necessarily smell like soup or dirt, though. I urge you to open your mind (and your nose) before writing off vegetable-forward perfumes. "Vegetal perfumes are fresh with texture; they resist the obvious, cut through the noise, and leave a presence that is modern, fluid, and quietly magnetic," explains Romy Kowalewski, founder of perfume brand, 27 87. "Compared to classic fresh scents, they have more shape, more movement, and more presence."
What do vegetable perfumes smell like?
While vegetable perfumes aren't a category on their own, incorporating these notes is uprooting everything you thought you knew about fresh scents. "Vegetal freshness is more nuanced and less predictable than usual fresh scents, like citrus or aquatic notes, for example," says perfumer Suzy Le Helley. "These notes tell a more complex story."
Rather than smelling completely like leafy greens or root veggies, the addition of vegetable facets can add a surprising texture to perfume, making something a little bit earthy, slightly bitter, or even dewy and crisp. "Tomato leaf is green, sharp, and brings a specific crispy start, while fennel is often used for its aromatic anisic facet," explains Le Helley.
Perfumers have also discovered some vibrant pairings through experimentation with vegetable notes. Le Helley says carrot is commonly used with orris, because it adds a smooth earthiness. Lekach adds that cucumber is often featured in aquatic fragrances for "a crisp, fresh lift."
Our garden-fresh vegetable perfume picks
Okay so, now that you're probs ~very intrigued~ by the idea of vegetable perfumes, here are 10 Cosmo-approved scents that are ripe for the picking below. Your tomato girl summer never has to end when you have these fresh perfumes on rotation.
Freshly chopped green bell peppers, a dusting of basil on top of salad, and a sprinkle of coriander and nutmeg. That, in essence, is what this green perfume smells like. Bistro Waters was inspired by the founder of D.S. & Durga's past life in the restaurant business, and it is about as crisp and refreshing as vegetable scents come. It reminds me of walking through a budding herb garden. This scent energizes your senses from the moment you spritz it, and it will leave people asking "what are you wearing?" every time you reach for it.
- Sizes: 3.4 and 1.7 oz
- Key notes: Lime flower water, bell pepper, basil
When I picture the idea of slow-living, this is the perfume that comes to mind. Imagine not having any responsibilities other than tending to your garden. That's the dream! Until it becomes a reality, this citrusy-loamy scent can provide a moment of respite. A mix of fruity notes—green mandarin, grapefruit and blackcurrant—give this a bright opening that then melds into something greener. Tomato leaf makes this reminiscent of freshly cut grass before turning earthy with deep patchouli and a touch of moss.
- Sizes: 3.4, 1, and 0.34 oz
- Key notes: Tomato leaf accord, green mandarin essence, patchouli
Reading the notes in this perfume, you'd think I was listing off everything in my herb garden: We have basil, rosemary, mint, and fennel. Despite the fact that each of these have very distinct aromas, they blend beautifully for a zesty scent that feels like a morning pick-me-up. Soft basil gets a vibrant kick thanks to yuzu and clove. Then, fennel, rosemary, and mint lightly sweeten the scent and give it a licorice-like tinge before settling in a warm woody mix of cedar, vetiver, and amber.
- Sizes: 3.3 and 1.6 oz
- Key notes: Basil, rosemary, fennel
If you want to slowly dabble with vegetable scents, Cactus Abduction is a great place to start. This botanical scent hits a lot of bases: It has a sparkling opening with swirled citrus facets that transforms into something a little bit more bitey, smokey, and mysterious. Green pepper adds a crisp tinge while prickly pear provides a lush juiciness. The woody dry down, which features notes of vetiver and patchouli, feels grounding—like you can handle anything that's thrown your way.
- Sizes: 1.7 and 0.5 oz
- Key notes: Bitter orange, green pepper, prickly pear
Rhubarb is one of those vegetal scents that leans more fruity. It smells like a blend of extra tangy citrus and berries, and it's not uncommon for it to be paired with those notes too. And in this pick from Prada, rhubarb is the star. But it also fuses green mandarin to create an aroma that's a little tart and sweet, while the musky dry down provides an ethereal airiness. To me, it's the scent of a Scandinavian summer, bottled. (P.S. It even won a Cosmo Holy Grail Award!)
- Sizes: 3.4 and 0.34 oz
- Key notes: Green mandarin, rhubarb, white musks
Like Lekach mentioned above, you'll often find hints of cucumber in marine-inspired fragrances. Frederic Malle gives us a new way to enjoy cucumber with this subtle floral creation. A spa day for your nose, En Passant interweaves dewy lilacs with refreshing cucumber and light musks. One whiff will transport you to your own secret garden.
- Sizes: 3.4 and 1.7 oz
- Key notes: Lilac, cucumber, white musks
Feelin' spicy? Spritz this fiery perfume. Drawing inspiration from a mythical Asian deity, Nagar Min challenges your ideas of what perfume should smell like. What do I mean? Well, this isn't your standard department store find—you get a full-on sensorial experience from the first sniff. An initial kick of chili and Sichuan pepper tickles your nose. From there, this becomes velvety smooth with rosewood and labdanum and settles in a rich haze of deep smoky oud.
- Sizes: 1.7 and 0.06 oz
- Key notes: Sichuan pepper, rosewood, dark oud
Cinnamon, cardamom, and carrot sound like the ingredients for carrot cake. They also happen to be key notes in this underrated scent from Byredo. "This is subtle and rarely discussed, but it's beautifully crafted," says Lekach. I have to agree. This intriguing perfume feels cozy, warm, and indulgent without venturing into sickly sweet territory. I constantly reach for it once the temperature starts to drop. Where most vegetable-forward scents have an airy lightness that make them ideal for summer, this one was made for the fall and winter months.
- Sizes: 3.4 and 1.7 oz
- Key notes: Cinnamon, carrot, orris butter
This rose perfume has an earthy little secret: It's mixed with an artichoke note. Yes, seriously. The slightly salty artichoke accord adds a unique garden-fresh quality to the classic floral scent. A dash of another unexpected note (lychee!) gives this a fruity burst. The end result? A tantalizing potion that truly stands out in a sea of rose perfumes.
- Sizes: 3.4 and 1.7 oz
- Key notes: Rose, artichoke, lychee
You might not think you want to smell like beets... I didn't, until I misted this single-note cologne. Beetroot has a surprisingly layered scent profile, and Demeter captures it perfectly. This scent transforms from an earthy, damp soil aroma into mouth-watering, pulled-fresh-from-the-ground beets with a juicy, slightly sweet undertone. Wearing this on its own certainly makes a statement, but it also layers surprisingly well with chocolate perfumes.
- Sizes: 3.4 and 1 oz
- Key notes: Beetroot
Meet the experts:
- Isaac Lekach is the co-founder & CEO of Flower Shop Perfumes Co. who created the viral Cirque du Soleil perfume.
- Romy Kowalewski is a fragrance expert and founder of 27 87.
- Suzy Le Helley is a professional perfumer who has crafted scents for brands like Frederic Malle, Dries Van Noten, and Zara.
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Mary Honkus is a beauty contributor for Cosmopolitan with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a deep dive into the 8-step fragrance routine trend, and a full explainer on the most expensive note in perfumery. She is an authority in all beauty categories, but has a sweet spot for fragrance with a collection of over 300 scents. After noticing an influx of vegetable forward scents, she sought out the best garden-inspired scents and consulted with experts to break down the trend.
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