We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
12 best gourmand perfumes that smell good enough to eat
I never knew I wanted to smell like ice cream... until Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato
“Damn, you smell delectable” – that’s what everyone says when I’m wearing a gourmand perfume. If you’re unfamiliar with the gourmand fragrance category, let me tell ya, you’re in for a sweet treat. These decadent scents contain mouth-watering edible notes – like vanilla, chocolate, honey, and whipped cream, just to name a few – that essentially make you smell like the most amazing dessert ever made.
Sounds incredible, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to smell like cake? Well, there’s a catch, and I won’t sugar-coat it: With so many gourmand perfumes out there, finding the best perfume for you can feel like a long, never-ending process. Lucky for you, gourmand scents happen to be my all-time favourite fragrances, so I took it upon myself to test and sniff over 40 of the yummiest ones to find the best 16 – from Kayali to Sabrina Carpenter to Sol de Janeiro and more. Trust: I've got something for everyone on here, whether you’re all about chocolate or gravitate toward candied citrus. Just take a look at this little sneak peek:
- 1
- 2
Best Gourmand Perfume Overall
Huda Beauty KAYALI Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 Eau de Parfum Intense 100ml
Read review - 3
- 4
- 5
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.
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '71 Fragrance Mist
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 my fave 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?! Caramelised 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.
Key Notes: Caramelized vanilla, sea salt, toasted macadamia nut, white chocolate, tonka bean, coconut blossom
Size: 90ml, 240ml
Glowing customer review: “ Cheirosa '71 has a personality of its own, it’s cozy, warm, comforting, and sweet. I love the amber notes along with the caramelized vanilla. It just goes beautifully!!! I spray this on sometimes after my shower, or before bed, and I can smell it when I wake up!”
Huda Beauty KAYALI Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 Eau de Parfum Intense 100ml
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.
Key Notes: Pistachio gelato, hazelnut, sweet rum, cotton candy, whipped cream, marshmallow
Size: 10ml, 50ml, 100ml
Glowing customer review: “I love this so much I’ve bought it 3x. It smells like sweet vanilla to me. Like vanilla fields from the '90s, it reminds me of home (my mom) and it brings me so much comfort.”
Sabrina Carpenter Sweet Tooth - Eau de Parfum Spray
IDK about you, but I’m thrilled that coquettish trends like flushed cheeks, doll eyes, and glazed lips are having their time in the limelight. The thing is, a perfume is needed to tie the whole aesthetic together (naturally), and this one is the perfect fit. 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 balances the perfume out and prevents it from giving you a sugar-induced stomachache (err... headache).
Key Notes: Sparkling bergamot, candied ginger, chocolate marshmallow, jasmine, coconut milk, madagascar vanilla, cashmere wood, chantilly cream, sugared musks
Size: 30ml, 75ml
Glowing customer review: “Smells so sweet and sugary like a bakery! This definitely lived up to its expectations, and it's a great blind buy.”
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.
Key Notes: Mandarin, bergamot, grapefruit, orange blossom, blackcurrant, raspberry, marshmallow, ambrette, chantilly cream, musk
Size: 30ml, 75ml
Glowing customer review: “I sprayed it on my forearm at Nordstrom while perfume shopping and said oh that’s nice…about 2-3 mins later, baaabbby, I said something smells amazing. I sniffed my arm again and it was me!!! Honey, I bought that bottle with the quickness. I was there to buy Delina and Oriana won!!”
Tom Ford Eau de Parfum Vanilla Sex Tom Ford
Lemme tell ya, there’s nothing boring about Tom Ford's vanilla sex. This sensual fragrance feels glamorous and sophisticated and offers a bit more depth than other gourmand scents. While vanilla is certainly the star of the show (it’s blended with three different types of vanilla, including Ultravanil, a specially designed molecule only found in this very perfume that amplifies the other vanilla notes), I find the bitter almond essence to be just as strong on my skin, making this tincture smell like high-end amaretto.
Key Notes: Vanilla tincture, vanilla absolute, sandalwood
Size: 50ml, 250ml
Glowing customer review: “This perfume is luxurious! From the packaging down to the scent. The scent is warm yet sexy. I love vanilla notes in perfumes and this is the perfect balance of sweet and spice. I will be adding this to my date night fragrance rotation!”
KILIAN PARIS Angel's Share Eau de Parfum 50ml
Deviating from the super-saccharine scents that dominate the gourmand category, Angels’ Share puts a seductive, boozy twist on a classic gourmand. Cinnamon, tonka bean, and cognac captivate from the first spritz, giving the perfume its signature spicy vibe. Yes, the cognac does give it an alcohol-y tinge, though not in a gross way. It smells more like sitting in the poshest speakeasy, sipping a French 75. The beautifully layered perfume warms and softens after a few hours when hints of praline, vanilla, and oak wood take centre stage. My guy friends who aren’t fans of sweet perfumes find this to be completely intoxicating (their words, not mine, lol), so I’m for sure saving it for my next date night.
Key Notes: Cognac, tonka bean, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, oak wood
Size: 50ml, 100ml
Glowing customer review: “Angels' Share is a fall/winter must or even for an evening out - it is boozy and warm in scent. Strong notes of cognac, cinnamon and vanilla - my husband loves the scent and he hates anything that smells "sweet". A little goes a long way. It lasts all day on my skin!”
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Sucre Eau de Parfum 100ml
I’ll admit the first thing that drew me into this perfume was the adorable bottle. I mean, look at it – it resembles a frosted cupcake! If you’re a fan of the OG Viva La Juicy, you’ll be obsessed with this candied flanker. Both fragrances share similar top and middle notes of mandarin, gardenia, and jasmine that give them a bright, ~juicy~, and flirty vibe, but what sets Sucré apart is the yummy dry down. As it settles onto your skin, a decadent mix of almond cream, cocoa bean, whipped cream, and vanilla emerges.
Essentially, it smells like a gourmet birthday cake topped with the most intricate icing art. The only thing that could make it better was if it lasted a bit longer. I recommend grabbing the mini version (which is equally as cute) to stash in your purse for re-ups throughout the day.
Key Notes: Brazilian gardenia, mandarin, red currant, orange flower, jasmine flower, peach nectar, almond cream, cocoa bean, sandalwood, whipped cream, vanilla
Size: 10ml, 50ml, 100ml
Glowing customer review: “I sprayed this on my wrist in the store and immediately knew I had to buy it. It smells so good. It's a sweet smell, but it's also very fresh, which is rare for gourmand fragrances in my opinion. It smells like sweet whipped cream and fresh laundry but in the best way. It's a really unique fragrance but perfect for every day as it's not too heavy or sugary sweet.”
I almost debated excluding Bee from this list in an effort to gatekeep it for myself: It’s my sweet secret for feeling like the most confident, sexy woman in every room. A single spritz (that’s really all you need – this baby is strong!) completely envelops me in a veil of golden honey and spiced rum. It’s the perfect spicy-sweet fusion that is then warmed with vanilla bean and a hint of cocoa. Bee is certainly a commanding scent that garners attention (people always ask me what I’m wearing) and leaves an electrifying sillage trail. It’s one of those fragrances that’s not for the faint of heart, so I recommend saving it for special occasions… or wear it anytime you want to feel like you’re the queen bee, which, for me, is every day, lol.
Key Notes: Dark rum, davana, honey, bran absolute, cinnamon, sandalwood, vanilla bean, cocoa absolute
Size: 10ml, 50ml
Glowing customer review: “This is a hug in the form of a perfume. It smells sweet and boozy with a hint of honey. It’s similar to VS Bare Vanilla but more boozy and refined. The sugar base is almost identical. Definitely a cold weather fragrance.”
Le Monde Gourmand Fraise Fouettée Eau de Parfum
Okay, while sour candy is my all-time guilty pleasure (I’ve eaten four packs of Sour Watermelons in one sitting; RIP my stomach), it was never on my radar to smell like said candy – until Le Mond Gourmand came out with this brand-new, literal mouth-watering fragrance. A little tart and a lotta sweet, this playful perfume melds the scent of ripe, juicy strawberries with velvety vanilla cream and whipped sugar. The longer it wears, the sweeter it becomes. After a few hours, I catch wafts of delightful strawberry shortcake.
Key Notes: Strawberries, vanilla cream, whipped sugar
Size: 30ml
Glowing customer review: "Smells so good and reminds me of a strawberry shortcake doll and also the old lip smackers back in the day"
Please, for all that is good in the world, don’t just bypass Cherry Ambition if cherry-scented things have scarred you in the past (yes, I’m talking about that gross cough syrup you took as a kid). This perfume couldn’t be farther from that medicinal aroma – it smells like walking amongst blooming cherry blossom trees and biting into the ripest fruit right off the branch. A wave of cherries, pink pepper, and mandarin gives this a lively aura from the first mist. Then, it really develops into something more seductive as a mix of saffron, vanilla, and woody notes emerge. The layers are so artfully blended that it feels like two perfumes in one, giving you an ever-changing olfactive experience.
Key Notes: Cherry, pink pepper, mandarin, marshmallow, cherry blossom, osmanthus, orris, saffron, vanilla, amber, musk, frankincense, guaiacwood
Size: 50ml
Glowing customer review: “This starts off a pretty conventional sweet cherry but dries down to a beautiful spicy sweet saffron with a softer, more complex cherry. I LOVE saffron, so this was a welcome change. I actually like this one better than Tom Ford's Lost Cherry.”
Montale Chocolate Greedy Eau de Parfum
If you’ve ever wanted to bathe yourself in chocolate (relatable), Chocolate Greedy is about to become your new favourite perfume. Imagine your favourite restaurant'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!).
Key Notes: Chocolate truffles, bitter orange, vanilla
Size: 50ml, 100ml
Glowing customer review: “The scent is so rich and delicious. I smell like a decadent dessert, and it lingers for hours.”
Dolce & Gabbana Devotion - Eau De Parfum
If deeper, richer gourmands are a bit too cloying for you, let me introduce you to this light and airy erotic masterpiece. (Yes, perfumes can be fresh and sexy… It’s a difficult balance to achieve IMO, but this one def sets the standard.) Devotion features just three notes and reminds me of a grown-up orange creamsicle. It gets its sweetness from candied citrus and orange blossom. These two notes create a crisp, energising opening before smooth vanilla adds depth and the ideal tinge of warmth.
Key Notes: Candied citrus, orange blossom, vanilla
Size: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Glowing Review: “I am SUPER picky when it comes to perfumes, and when I sampled this I knew it’s what I’ve been looking for. A lovely, delicious gourmand without being too sweet or cloying.”
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. 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.
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 favourite!). For this story, she spritzed and sniffed over 40 perfumes to find the 12 most delectable gourmands worthy of a sugar rush.
These perfumes smell expensive but cost a tenner
6 best sage perfumes for an elegant, uplifting scent
The 8 best bergamot perfumes for spring
The 5 spring M&S perfumes that smell really expensive
