Capturing the familiar vanilla softness of buttercream and the delicate, buttery warmth of freshly-baked croissants, these patisserie perfumes are so elegant and moreish - ideal for autum/winter wear but equally, anytime you need a dose of sweetness.
While very much a timeless olfactory genre, with well-loved blends claiming spots among the best long-lasting perfumes, gourmands are having a real moment this year. So far, we've seen everything from creamy coffee perfumes to rich almond and pistachio scents top the 2025 perfume trends, proving just how versatile and nuanced these sorts of sweet and edible fragrances can be. You can find very sultry, heady options that are perfect for evenings out, or more delicate perfumes that smell like pastries. The latter of which coaxes us in time and time again, much like the warm, alluring waft of a bakery or artisan cafe.
So, if you want to smell like a literal baked good, be it a flaky almond croissant or a dainty madeleine, these are the patisserie-inspired fragrances we recommend...
9 patisserie perfumes to douse you in delectable sweetness this season
While gourmands can sometimes get a bad rap for being overpowering or headache-inducing, there are many sweet fragrances out there that are anything but. In fact, we can think of nine that are both incredibly chic and varied, offering notes of peach and cherry, as well as the more classic sweet aromas of vanilla, caramel and tonka bean.
These nine blends span both well-known and more niche brands, but boast edible notes that will transport you to your favourite Parisian patisserie, or leave you smelling like your go-to cafe order.
RRP: from £62 for 30ml | Notes: Almond essence, angelica root essence, Madeleine Accord, carrot heart, ambrette absolute, sandalwood, Madagascar Vanilla Pod and musks.
"Before having the pleasure of sniffing this perfume, I probably would have told you that sweet and very realistic pastry perfumes weren't really my thing," says Digital Beauty Writer Naomi Jamieson. "Afternoon Delight truly subverted my expectations - it is beautifully delicate and smells just like freshly-baked madeleines in the chicest way. The almond and vanilla notes really linger on my skin, but so do those cosy hints of sandalwood and musk. It's warm and cosy, offering just enough sweetness to earn me compliments for smelling delicious but not so sweet that it gives me a headache.
Who should buy it: lovers of madeleines and those seeking a very soft and warming pastry scent.
RRP: £85 for 50ml | Notes: Buttercream, vanilla, maple, caramel and tonka bean
Digital Beauty Editor, Fiona McKim, describes this scent as "caramel, close to burning," noting that there's a smokiness to it that adds an extra layer of warmth and richness. Naomi agrees, though adds that she detects a definite vanilla-Christmas cookie feel to the blend, no doubt thanks to its opening notes of buttercream and vanilla. Thus, we think this perfume is perfect for winter wear and especially around Christmas time. Though if you're a fan of very sugary-sweet, caramel fragrances, you'll love this for everyday too.
Who should buy it: fans of Christmas cookie candles and those who love caramel-flavoured everything.
RRP: £24 for 90ml | Notes: Caramelised vanilla, sea salt, toasted macadamia nut, white chocolate, tonka bean and coconut blossom.
Ranked among the best Sol De Janeiro sprays, Cheriosa '71 is all sweetness and caramel. It's definitely one for gourmand fans, as there's a lot of edible notes in there - from caramelised vanilla to white chocolate - but it's also a great option for layering. You can pair it with a vanilla perfume or with more of a warm, woody blend to add an air of deliciousness and double up on cosiness.
Who should buy it: those seeking a layerable patisserie scent, as well as Sol de Janeiro fans on the lookout for an autumn/winter signature.
RRP: £140 for 100ml | Notes: Warm Marshmallow, toasted sesame, mahogany wood, tonka bean, cold milk accord and benzoin
Commodity's popular Milk scent, as the name would suggest, is a perfect example of a milk perfume. It's creamy and incredibly interesting, as it really develops and evolves while you wear it - transforming from milky sweetness to nutty and rich. "There's a skin-like quality to it, which I love, brought about by notes of benzoin and mahogany woods," says Naomi, "it's warm and sweet, as well as possessing a soft, almost coolness to it, thanks to those lactonic hints." It's definitely one to try if you're new to gourmands or find the genre a little intimidating. It's also a great unisex scent.
Who should buy it: those seeking a very modern and nuanced signature that lends itself perfectly to every season and occasion.
RRP: £128 for 100ml | Notes: Ginger, roasted hazelnut and tonka bean.
If you're in the market for a festive fragrance, particulary one that smells like gingerbread, Jo Malone's Ginger Biscuit is a must sniff. Beauty eComm Editor, Aleesha Badkar, describes it as 'soft, pillowy gingerbread,' noting that it's soft, not sharp but features a touch of sweetness, making it ideal for those who want a bakery-like blend but aren't keen on traditional goumand fragrances. It's woody and warm - great as both a festive gift or as a wintery signature to wear throughout party season.
Who should buy it: those wanting an almost edible scent that isn't too sweet.
RRP: from £97 for 50ml | Notes: Lemon heart, bergamot, neroli, torched meringue, orange flower, jasmine, sandalwood, bitter almond, white musk and vanilla bean
If you're a fan of meringue, this citrusy number needs to be on your radar. It blends tangy notes of lemon and bergamot with warming hints of almond, white musks and vanilla, as well as a toasted meringue accord that adds a rich sweetness. It's light and fresh, exactly what you would hope from a citrus gourmand. As for the inspiration behind the blend, the brand, Nette NYC, describes it as smelling like crisp white sheets, lemon groves at sunrise and "a Parisian patisserie," so essentially, this scent couldn't be more perfect for those wanting to smell delicious.
Who should buy it: Fans of citrus scents and those looking for a more modern, fresh take on a gourmand.
RRP: £305 for 100ml | Notes: Strawberry, pistachio, tonka absolute, vanilla, sesame, benzoin and modern woods
With both pistachio and strawberry perfumes proving so popular this year, Sweet Enigma is a great option for those wanting to invest in both a chic and trendy scent. It opens with a burst of candied strawberry; it's fresh and sweet, but quickly, those creamier vanilla hints make themselves known. Unlike some fruity perfumes, there's a complexity to this blend, with notes of sesame and woods adding a very interesting warmth and richness to it that seems to shimmer beneath that sugared strawberry.
Who should buy it: those wanting a luxe fruity fragrance or fans of candy-like blends
RRP: from £70 for 50ml | Notes: buttercream, plum butter, toasted almond, iris, white sandalwood, ambrox and ambrette
Speaking of fruity gourmands, Glossier's You Rêve is a lovely iteration of one. It blends sweet notes of buttercream and rich, toasted almond with plum and a warm, musky base of white sandalwood and ambrox. The plum gives this scent such a unique character; there's also a delicate powderiness to it, thanks to hints of iris. Like Glossier's original You, this variation is described as a 'skin-scent enhancer,' meaning it can smell slightly different on everyone and builds upon your natural scent. This perfume, therefore, hangs quite close to you, making it a great option for those who avoid strong scents or find most gourmands overpowering.
Who should buy it: Lovers of plums and subtle skin scents
RRP: from £175 for 30ml | Notes: bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nympheal, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix and musk
Like strawberry, peach perfumes have also been in high demand this year, and Parfums de Marly's Valaya scent is a beautiful example of one. Unlike some of the blends on this list, Valaya is more like the scent you'd imagine wearing into a chic Parisian patisserie, though it does still boast a delectable sweetness. As Naomi puts it, "Valaya is all softness and musk. It smells like the soft, fuzzy skin of a peach and boasts both juicy sweetness and a cosy warmth. The peach notes definitely bring to mind thoughts of fruity pastries sprinkled in powdered sugar, but its blend of woody florals makes this fragrance so versatile and effortless to wear."
Who should buy it: those seeking a modern perfume that blends sweetness with warm florals
What makes a 'patisserie' perfume?
Essentially, any fragrance that smells reminiscent of pastries to you. This could be anything from a cherry perfume with hints of vanilla, let's say, that smells like a freshly-baked cherry tart, or an almond-centric blend that mirrors marzipan treats or the soft, nutty scent of almond-covered croissants.
It's up to your interpretation, but there are, of course, more photo-realistic scents out there, which have been inspired by or specifically formulated to smell like a dessert or bakery buy. Maison Margiela's Afternoon Delight, for instance, was inspired by 'warm vanilla madeleines' and, much like the brand's iconic By The Fireside fragrance, which tops our list of best fireside perfumes, captures exactly that within its notes.
What notes should you look for?
If you're wanting to buy a perfume online or just want to know what notes tend to give an edible quality, we've rounded up a list to keep in mind - most of which feature in the scents above:
- Vanilla
- Tonka bean
- Caramel
- Almond
- Milk/lactonic notes
- Honey
- Coffee
- Cherry
- Prailine
- Chocolate
