September 11, 2025
Gourmand fragrances are having a (very) sweet moment. Think edible-leaning notes—vanilla, caramel, chocolate, coffee, honey—that feel comforting, nostalgic and downright moreish. And whilst they’ve been a part of our lives for a few decades now, we can thank TikTok and Instagram for its current virality, with vanilla and caramel searches surging and creators layering “dessert” accords to amplify their everyday scent. Here’s what you need to know about the biggest fragrance trend of 2025 — and how to make it your own.
Most perfume historians point to Thierry Mugler’s Angel (1992) as the first modern gourmand. If you grew up in this era, you will definitely remember the iconic fragrance which defined a generation. The heady mix of praline, red berries, vanilla and patchouli rewrote the rulebook and launched an entire category, proving that “edible” could be elegant. To this day, it’s still cited as one of the most groundbreaking fragrances of our time. (Here is the identical dupe by Dear August)
In perfumery, gourmand refers to fragrances built around food-adjacent, sweet or dessert-like notes—often vanilla, caramel, chocolate, honey or candy—balanced by woods, musk, amber or patchouli so they feel like perfume, not pastry. They’re sometimes called “olfactory desserts”, and they can be worn by anyone.
So why the comeback, why now? Several factors are at play here: post-lockdown comfort-seeking, TikTok’s scent-layering culture, and a wave of neo-gourmands—less syrupy, more textured, often spiked with woods, smoke or spice. There’s even some thought that it’s link to broader lifestyle shifts, with consumers chasing indulgent scent as a feel-good treat.
The last couple of years have seen the gourmand category explode, but the undeniable note leader is vanilla, in all shapes and forms. Creamy, cosy and endlessly versatile, vanilla is the backbone of many modern gourmand, pairing beautifully with amber, woods and spices. Vanilla has been a mainstay in fragrances for years, but takes centre stage in the current renaissance with it appearing as the heart note in many scents.
Other notable notes in modern takes include caramel: the buttery, golden tones of caramel add warmth and depth to a fragrance, while also playing well with salt, tonka, coffee and soft woods, underpinning that addictive, “one more sniff” quality. And of course, chocolate. From milk-sweet to dark and bitter, chocolate brings depth and a rich opulent quality to a scent. You’ll often find it paired with vanilla, coffee and patchouli, lending richness without needing to be sugary.
Demeter Fragrance Library Birthday Cake: Smells like: your all the joy of a birthday party. Think: warm chocolate cake and fluffy buttercream icing, it’s playful, cosy and perfect for layering with a soft vanilla or a whisper of smoke.
Demeter Fragrance Library Caramel : It is, exactly as you’d imagine: Rich, buttery caramel that wraps you like a cashmere throw. Smooth and deliciously warm without tipping into cloying.
Odesse Vanilla Vanilla Extrait De Parfum: A mouth-watering on-trend combination of Madagascan Vanilla, laced with brown sugar, and creamy Tonka Bean, it is undeniably moreish. One spritz is not enough.
The Perfume Oil Co. Vice: An opulent, unisex vanilla built with tobacco leaf, cacao and tonka bean, cushioned by woody dried fruits. It’s plush and grown-up—think dessert in velvet rather than sugar on frosting.
Demeter Fragrance Library Waffles: Fresh waffles drizzled with maple syrup: sweet, buttery and weekend-breakfast nostalgic. A cute layering option would be to pair it with a coffee note for a brunch-ready twist.
Lollia Wish EDP: A gourmand-floral that is sweet, rather than heady with an undeniably feminine twist. Here, vanilla bean meets sugared pastille and sugar cane and is balanced with jasmine leaves and ylang ylang for a comforting familiarity.
Gourmands blend comfort with complexity; vanilla’s creamy glow, caramel’s warmth, chocolate’s depth but blended with notes that give them modern polish. They’re trending for good reason, and the “neo-gourmand” wave shows no sign of slowing, so the only question is: what’s for dessert?
If this has left you craving more, explore MU’s dedicated Gourmand edit to browse the full smorgasbord.
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