Sugar, Spice And Everything Nice: Our Favourite Gourmand Scents

Whether it is the sweet smell of vanilla, the rich aroma of chocolate or the nutty essence of almonds, every gourmand scent invokes certain emotions within us and takes us back in time.

Gourmand is French for ‘person who loves good food and drink’. Gourmand scents, therefore, are perfumes that consist mainly of synthetic edible notes, like vanilla, honey or chocolate.

“Gourmand scents have a distinctive, distinguishable flavour, which makes them popular compared to other fragrances,” Vidushi Vijayvergiya, co-founder of Issak Perfumes, says, “ Every spice or ingredient has its intrinsic flavour and does not dominate the other ingredients. Instead, they all form a uniform collaboration to unleash a new scent, just as we combine ingredients to form a dish.”

Gourmand scents usually feature non-edible notes as the base notes to balance it out. You can also achieve this by layering your favourite ‘foodie fragrance’ with a non-gourmand one.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind. “Fruity fragrances go well with woody and Spicy notes. Nutty fragrances and chocolate notes can be paired with woody notes for a mature feel or floral notes to curate a refreshing scent. Hence, if you are someone who loves to experiment, gourmand scents are your take,” says Vidushi.

Best Gourmand Scents To Try

We’ve rounded up some of our favourite gourmand scents for you to pick from…

Fruity, Citrusy Scents

Tom Ford Private Blend Lost Cherry Eau De Parfum Spray

Combined with the top notes of black cherry, cherry liqueur, and bitter almonds and infused with the extracts of griotte syrup, Turkish rose, jasmine and Sambac, this fragrance can serve as a great pick for someone looking for a fragrance with a balanced mix of floral and fruity notes. (Buy it here)

Vilhelm Parfumerie Room Service EDP

Victoria Beckham's favourite scent contains a delectable blend of citrusy fruit essences, bamboo, violet, and black amber. It's neither too heavy nor delicate and goes well for all occasions and gifting. It leaves behind an alluring, earthy sillage of musk, sandalwood and amber and can be a great pick during the warmer months. (Buy it here)

Kayali Eden Juicy Apple 01 Eau De Parfum

A few spritzes of the Kayali Juicy Apple EDP spray release the scent of granny smith apples and berries combined with the floral notes of vanilla flower, raspberry blossom and jasmine. It embodies flavours of woody, floral and citrusy scents. It is delicate yet strong without being too overwhelming. (Buy it here)

Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Eau De Toilette

The Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio EDT spray combines top notes of Bergamot, Neroli and Green tangerine fused with the smell of sea Notes, Jasmine, Calone, Rosemary, Peach, Freesia, Hyacinth, Cyclamen, Violet, Coriander and leave behind a sillage of White Musk, Cedar, Oakmoss, Patchouli and Amber. (Buy it here)

Versace Bright Crystal Absolu Eau De Parfum

The Versace Bright Crystal EDP spray has the top notes of yuzu, pomegranate and accords of ice, combined with the middle notes of raspberry, lotus, peony and magnolia. A perfect indulgence for lovers of fruity and floral scents. (Buy it here)

Honey Scents

Montale Honey Aoud For Men And Women EDP

The Montale Honey Oud EDP contains a blend of honey, cinnamon, amber, oud, leather and patchouli. The earthy notes of vanilla, amber and musk combined with the floral scent of Madagascar vanilla lend this fragrance a strong and subtle feel. (Buy it here)

Floris LondonHoney Oud Eau de Parfum

If you are a fan of the Turkish delicacy Baklava, then the Floris London EDP spray will surely appeal to you, as the dessert inspired the perfume's curation. The scent welcomes the wearer with notes of honey and amber fused with the softness of oudh obtained from environmentally certified agarwood. The heart notes consist of floral notes of rose and patchouli, which lend the woody fragrance a sensual and delicate touch. (Buy it here)

AmouroudMiel Sauvage

The Amouroud Miel Sauvage EDP spray opens with refreshing notes of Mandarin Orange, citrus accord, black gardenia, and Sicilian Bergamot. The core notes consist of jasmine De Grasse, ylang-ylang, lotus and black orchid and settle down to a woody base of sandalwood, incense and vanilla. (Buy it here)

For Nutty Fragrances

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Eau de Parfum

The earthy, rich and nutty aroma of almonds and coconut combines with the delicate fragrances of vanilla, heliotrope and musk to release a warm and seductive fragrance that is a treat to the senses. (Buy it here)

Gucci Mémoire D’Une Odeur Eau De Parfum

This one has been described as a scent with no definite gender or time. The Gucci Memoir D-une Odeur EDP spray is another scent that represents a uniform blend of earthy and floral fragrances. Enriched with the scents of chamomile, bitter almond, jasmine, sandalwood, cedar and vanilla, this woody yet floral scent is one scent that perfectly balances floral and woody notes. (Buy it here)

For Spicy scents

Isak in the Woods

Formulated with the musky scent of amber, the floral essence of jasmine and the herby aroma of Tonka bean, the Issak in the Woods fragrance is one scent that embodies style, sophistication, elegance and subtlety.  It also contains the herbaceous scent of oakmoss and settles down to a sillage of sandalwood that lends gravity to the overall fragrance. (Buy it here)

Forest Essentials Intense Perfume Kesari - Oudh, Saffron & Lime

This perfume from Forest Essentials features the woody scent of Oudh, accompanied by the refreshing scent of lime and the therapeutic essence of organic saffron. Moreover, it is enriched with Aloe Vera to prevent your skin from flaking and drying. The best part- it is made with the natural process of ayurvedic fermentation and is devoid of artificial additives like alcohol, and colours. (Buy it here)

For Chocolate-Based Scents

Unique Luxury Chocolate Makes Me Happy Extrait De Parfum

Infused with the essences of cacao pod, dark chocolate, lavender, mandarin orange & grapefruit, the Unique Luxury EDP spray is for all those who love the delectable union of fruits and chocolate. The best part- it leaves behind a creamy scent of caramel and coffee which represents luxury and comfort and makes it a versatile and luxurious addition to your perfume collection. (Buy it here)

Perris Monte Carlo Cacao Azteque Unisex Eau de Parfum

The sweet and spicy essences of black pepper, pink pepper, and cardamoms combined with the earthy aroma of cocoa pods make this scent versatile. The heart notes consist of flowery essences of Tuberose, Pitospurom and Orchids, accompanied by the earthy notes of cacao pod, sandalwood and musk. (Buy it here)

For Coffee and Tea-Based Scents

Tom Ford Cafe Rose Eau De Parfum For Women

Lovers of coffee should consider adding to your wishlist the Tom Ford Cafe Rose EDP spray. It is enriched with the top notes of Turkish rose and black coffee, followed by the scents of Bulgarian rose, ylang-ylang, patchouli, cardamom, and coriander. The fragrance settles down to an earthy base of frankincense and sandalwood. (Buy it here)

Miller Harris Tea Tonique Eau de Parfum

The scent of green tea is infused with the floral scent of jasmine and Italian Bergamot and the earthy scent of nutmeg to curate the Miller Harris Tea Tonique EDP. Moreover, it contains a fusion of Earl Grey, iced jasmine and black tea combined with the smokey notes of birch. (Buy it here)