Beauty: Gourmand Perfumes Boom: Indulgence and Comfort in a Changing Wellness Era

Why It’s Trending: Edible Elegance Meets New Emotional Needs

• Edible Notes Rising: Gourmand fragrances—those featuring dessert-like scents such as vanilla, caramel, and chocolate—are seeing a predicted search interest surge of over 33% in 2025, and caramel perfumes alone are expected to see a 42% jump in demand.

• Expanded Profiles: In 2025, foodie perfumes branch far beyond traditional sweetness, now including burnt sugar, marshmallow, almond, milky rice accord, and savory or spicy notes like cardamom and saffron. This evolution creates more nuanced, comforting, and “grown-up” interpretations, appealing to a wider and more sophisticated audience.

• Nostalgia and Mood: Gourmand fragrances carry strong nostalgia, evoking comforting memories and warmth. In times of emotional uncertainty or dietary restraint, perfume becomes a substitute for sensory indulgence, offering the pleasure of treat-like aromas without consuming calories.

• Wellness Influence: The rise of appetite-suppressing drugs and moderation-focused lifestyles has led some consumers to seek pleasure in non-food experiences. Perfume fills sensory gaps for those shifting their habits—fragrance routines supporting wellbeing and emotional reset.

• Trend Crossovers: Collaborations between food, beverage, and fragrance brands are multiplying. Examples include bakery-inspired scents, creamy “milk perfumes,” and launches featuring global flavors like matcha, sesame, or pistachio, reflecting both innovation and cultural curiosity.

Consumers are seeking both comfort and creativity in their scent choices, using perfume as an extension of their personal wellness and identity, especially when more traditional indulgences are moderated.

Overview: Comfort, Complexity, and Personal Expression

2025’s fragrance trends are marked by a search for emotional satisfaction and comfort. Fragrance fans are flocking to perfumes with edible or milky notes, which evoke cozy feelings, nostalgia, and even mimic favorite foods and drinks. The trend isn’t just about sweetness—it’s about layered complexity for both everyday and special occasions, combining fruits, spices, woods, and even savory elements for a multi-sensory experience.

Detailed Findings: Data and Developments

• Search interest for “gourmand perfume” is forecast to climb by 33.9% in 2025. Caramel perfumes are predicted to lead the category’s growth, rising over 42% this year.

• Popular profiles include vanilla, caramel, marshmallow, almond, rice/steamed milk, salted caramel, and toasted sugar. But perfume houses are also experimenting with less expected food notes such as guava, mango, cherry, peach, burnt sugar, saffron, cardamom, and even tomato.

• Milky accords and creamy textures are in demand, with “skin-scent but better” fragrances trending strongly. Perfumes with steamed rice and soft lactonic bases provide clean, intimate aromas ideal for daily comfort.

• Dessert-inspired scents and bakery references evoke childhood treats and favorite coffee shop delights. These connections make scents feel both nostalgic and universally appealing.

• The global perfume market is on track to reach $53 billion in 2025. Gourmand and “refined sweet” scents are forecast to drive a significant piece of this growth.

• Collaborative launches are multiplying: Brands like Azha Perfumes offer “Baklava” inspired blends; Claire’s recently released a gourmand collection with scents like Caramel Pistachio Brittle and Strawberry Colada.

Key Success Factors of Gourmand Fragrance Trend: Versatility, Comfort, and Innovation

• Complex Compositions: New blends balance sweetness with savory or spicy notes for sophistication and subtlety.

• Nostalgic Resonance: Evoking memories and emotional warmth appeals across ages and backgrounds.

• Seasonless Appeal: Milky, nutty, and moderate sweetness make these scents wearable beyond just holidays or winter.

• Cultural Curiosity: Inclusion of global culinary accents—like matcha and sesame—broadens market relevance.

• Mood-Boosting Power: Perfumes serve as sensory rituals within self-care, helping consumers regulate emotions and stress.

Key Takeaway: Scent Satisfies Emotional and Sensory Cravings

Gourmand perfumes are thriving because they offer indulgence, comfort, and creativity—meeting the needs of consumers seeking alternatives to food-based treats, as well as those drawn to emotionally resonant rituals.

Main Trend: The Rise of “Edible Elegance” in Fragrance

Perfume is increasingly seen as a source of sensory satisfaction and emotional comfort—whether echoing childhood nostalgia, replacing food treats, or expressing modern wellness values through innovative, complex blends.

Description of the Trend: “Refined Gourmand”—Layered Comfort

2025’s “Refined Gourmand” trend is all about complex, subtle takes on desserts, drinks, and global comfort foods in perfume. This movement uses fragrance to create lasting emotional connections and unique personal signature scents.

Key Characteristics of the Core Trend: Comfort and Complexity

• Edible, layered notes: Caramel, vanilla, almond, rice, spices, and unexpected savory twists.

• Nostalgic and soothing profiles: Fragrance as a tool for emotional reset.

• Modern formulations: Milky and “skin-like” scents for intimacy; alcohol-free and solid options for skin health and portability.

• Fruit reinvention: Cherry, peach, strawberry paired with musk and woods for depth.

• Inclusive and unisex: Gender-neutral marketing and creations expand the audience.

Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend: Indulgence Meets Wellness

• Appetite-suppressing drugs reshape consumption: Perfume replaces some sensory pleasures lost to dietary changes.

• “Refined gourmand” marked as hero category for summer 2025: Editors and buyers note increased market impact and diversity in launches.

• Bakery-inspired and culturally global scents multiply: Reflecting consumer curiosity for new experiences.

• Nostalgia drives connection: Childhood treats and coffee shop references feature strongly in launches.

• Social media amplifies the movement: PerfumeTok and Instagram push consumer experimentation and discovery.

What Is Consumer Motivation: Seeking Scent as Self-Care

• Comfort without calories: Fragrance acts as an indulgent treat without dietary impact.

• Nostalgia and mood elevation: Scents help regulate emotions and evoke positive memories.

• Personal and cultural exploration: Perfume offers new ways to connect with heritage, travel, and curiosity.

• Intimacy and self-expression: Innovative blends allow users to define a personal sensory signature.

• Seasonless and practical luxury: The right scent soothes or energizes, fitting changing routines.

Motivation Beyond the Trend: Emotional Needs and Lifestyle Shifts

• Desire for creative indulgence: Consumers want new feeling experiences, not just consumption.

• Self-care focus: Scent routines anchor daily wellness and stress management.

• Value in quality and innovation: Demand for sophisticated, lasting perfumes reflects thoughtful consumption.

• Balancing wellness and pleasure: Fragrance becomes a healthy, “guilt-free” ritual.

• Community and sharing: Scent discussions create online and IRL connection.

Descriptions of Consumers: Comfort-Seekers and Sensory Curators

Consumer Summary:Perfume lovers, wellness adopters, and those adjusting eating habits through drugs or lifestyle. Highly engaged online, seeking both comfort and creative identity in new fragrance releases. Young adults, millennials, and scent enthusiasts of all ages.

• Who are they? Comfort-driven, emotionally aware, value creativity and nostalgia.

• What is their age? 18–55+, with strong market share in millennials and Gen Z.

• What is their gender? Broad and inclusive; gourmand scents especially popular in unisex launches.

• What is their income? Ranges from entry-level to luxury; buy into daily ritual and quality.

• What is their lifestyle? Wellness-conscious, digitally native, craving novelty and emotional satisfaction.

How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior: Treats Without Eating

• Perfume spend rises as treat substitutes for many consumers.

• Emotion and nostalgia drive purchases over status.

• Experimental blends gain traction—male and female shoppers seek new sensory territory.

• Perfume routine becomes vital self-care and social conversation starter.

Implications Across the Ecosystem: Indulgence, Innovation, and Expression

For Consumers: Offers new ways to satisfy emotional and sensory needs—without remorse.For Brands: Launches benefit from blending nostalgia, innovation, and wellness cues as key marketing touchpoints.For Retailers: Fragrance sampling, scent events, and food/culture collaborations capture new segments and boost engagement.

Strategic Forecast: Perfume as the New Comfort Ritual

• Complexity, innovation, and seasonless launches will dominate the gourmand category.

• Brands will invest in collaborations with food and beverage for new experiences.

• Scent routines will anchor self-care and mood management.

• Social platforms and samplers will accelerate discovery and creative community building.

• Fragrance will become more inclusive and representative of varied emotional needs.

Areas of Innovation: Scent-Fueled Self-Care

• Bakery-Inspired Perfumes: From croissant to baklava—comfort and nostalgia in a bottle.

• Milky and Creamy Accords: Steamed rice and milk scents respond to the desire for minimalism and intimacy.

• Complex Gourmand Blends: Adding savory and spicy twists for sophisticated profiles.

• Skin-Scent Innovations: Alcohol-free, solid, and “your-skin-but-better” approaches for intimate wear.

• Fruit & Nut Renaissance: New combinations bring freshness and grown-up complexity.

Summary of Trends:

Core Consumer Trend:Emotion-Driven Indulgence—Perfume as a comforting treat and creative outlet.

Core Social Trend:Nostalgic Comfort—Fragrances evoke positive memories and soothe during uncertain times.

Core Strategy:Complexity and Personalization—Brands fuel emotion and novelty with layered, diverse scent launches.

Core Industry Trend:Collaborative Innovation—Food, wellness, and beauty brands drive trend with bakery and global-inspired blends.

Core Consumer Motivation:Wellness Meets Treats—Consumers balance self-care with sensory pleasure, finding new comfort in scent.

Final Thought: Perfume Is the New Indulgence

In 2025, fragrance answers both emotional and sensory cravings—toast, caramel, cherry, or pistachio offer comfort, wellness, and playful self-expression as a welcome alternative to food-based treats. Brands and consumers alike are building new rituals rooted in creativity, nostalgia, and thoughtful indulgence.

 Source: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/beauty/rise-in-foodie-perfumes-may-be-linked-to-weight-loss-drugs/