The Best Mouth-Watering Gourmand Fragrances To Try Right Now

Food, smell, and memory are each uniquely intertwined with one another. As John S. Allen wrote in "The Omnivorous Mind," which discusses the role food plays in our lives, "The taste, smell, and texture of food can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back memories not just of eating food itself but also of place and setting." Perhaps this is why gourmand perfumes, which are perfumes made with edible ingredients or ingredients that smell like foods, can be so powerful both to wear and to smell. 

Gourmand perfumes are made for those who love food, and for those who love to revel in their senses. According to Eater, new technologies mean that chemists and perfumers are able to capture the scents of various food items for use in fragrances, unlocking what are, in essence, entirely new recipes for perfumes with never-before-used ingredients. While traditional gourmand scents include ingredients such as vanilla, coffee, almonds, caramel, and chocolate — and many gourmand perfumes still include such ingredients as their base notes — fragrances with unique scents and accords now abound. And the simple fact is, food makes most of us pretty happy. In fact, there is a reason why we find the gourmand scent of vanilla so attractive: it has been shown to relieve stress. 

Here are some of the most intriguing, mouth-watering gourmand scents out there. 

Another colorful cult classic from DS & DURGA is "Bistro Waters," an evocative scent that embodies both gourmet and gourmand to the utmost. The fragrance was, in fact, created as an homage to a bygone era of fine dining. According to co-creator David Seth, "This is a snapshot of a 90s-00s NY Bistro when tourists ordered peartinis, veggies got fancy, & people wore fresh aquatic fumes." 

DS sets the scene: "It's electric: yelling orders, laughter, oft sh*tty music your lame boss makes you listen to on repeat, crazy line cooks, drinking, first dates, possibilities, old friends. The world outside is cut off by the bistro's walls. Inside, we escape or go inwards to experience the scene, the aroma, the food."

"Bistro Waters" features highly unique notes. Its top notes include lime flower water, coriander seed, and pear. Its heart notes include mandarin, bell peppers, and pea flowers. And its base notes include basil, nutmeg, and moss water. "Bistro Waters" is an exclusive scent, retailing at $190 for 50 milliliters. 

A dupe of Viktor & Rolf's "Flowerbomb," which retails at $129 for 50 milliliters, this $29 scent from Dossier, "Gourmand White Flowers," pairs delicate white flowers with gourmand caramel and vanilla notes. This fragrance includes base notes of musk, caramel, vanilla, and patchouli. 

Its heart notes include white flowers, orchid, and rose invoke a sophisticated floral arrangement. And its top notes of green tea, berries, freesia, and bergamot add a light, but not less sumptuous, complement to the sweet scent. 

Another tempting gourmand scent is "Lost Cherry" by Tom Ford. Invoking fresh black cherries in the summer and the gentle sweetness of almonds, this scent embodies a complex gourmand without the sugary notes of vanilla or caramel. Complemented by notes of Turkish rose and jasmine sambac, "Lost Cherry" is an unforgettable addition to your scent repertoire. Tom Ford writes of the fragrance, "Like the plump fruit waiting to be eaten, Lost Cherry is powerful and insatiable. Notes of cherry liqueur and a touch of bitter almond drip into its heart, glossing it with a candy-like gleam."

The scent is expensive, to say the least: it retails on Sephora at $395 for 50 milliliters. But not to worry! Tom Ford also sells a travel-sized bottle of 10 milliliters for $80. 

And, if you're looking for a dupe, "Tart Deco" by Snif hits many of the same notes, including cherries, rose, and jasmine, at $65 for 30 milliliters. 

For the gourmand purist, "Dirty Vanilla" by Heretic will certainly win your favor. With notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and a hint of coriander, this scent is perfect to wear on its own, or to be layered with others. While some may complain of vanilla scents that come across "too sweet," this scent does not have that effect. One reviewer wrote, "I really LOVE this scent! As others have mentioned, it's definitely a 'dirty,' earthy vanilla. Not at all sweet. I find it extremely sexy and mysterious. It's a great unisex fragrance." O

ther reviewers mentioned that the lastingness of the perfume seems to be short — perhaps due to the fact that the perfume is not made with any synthetic ingredients. But for this reason, you won't need to worry about spritzing yourself, again! The perfume retails for $165 for 50 milliliters or $65 for 15 milliliters at Sephora. 

Consider the red apple. Bright, simple, seductive, and juicy as can be. Kilian pairs apple with the sweet depth of brandy to produce this beautiful gourmand perfume. With notes of apple brandy, bergamot, and cardamom, you may want to lavish in this sweet and spicy perfume. 

But should you be looking for a dupe of "Apple Brandy On The Rocks" by Kilian, which retails at $230 for 50 milliliters, this version from Amore Parfums retails at $25.99 for 30 milliliters and is inspired by the original scent. 

For a one-of-a-kind gourmand experience, Idôle Nectar is a fascinating scent that will have you entranced. With its base of bourbon vanilla, and top notes of rose soufflé, this perfume sounds like it could be delicious dessert at your favorite restaurant. But its unexpected heart note — of popcorn accord — really piques our olfactory interest. 

Per reviewers on Ulta, this scent is quite strong and vanilla-forward, and one review describes it as more of a mature scent. Overall, more than 2,000 reviewers give this perfume 5 stars. It retails at $118 for about 50 milliliters.