The air is crisper, and the leaves are turning stunning shades of blood orange, prompting us to opt for the scenic route even amid rush hour traffic. Yes, autumn is here, and with that comes perhaps the biggest blessing the fall season bestows upon us: Gourmand scents.
Gourmand scents are marked by their delectability and dessert-like notes, including caramel, cinnamon and, perhaps most iconically, vanilla.
So, where spring and summer have citrus and lemongrass scents, fall and winter wrap us in the cozy embrace of candied almonds, spiced cinnamon and sugared milks.
As we grapple with these alarmingly warm winters and a rapidly approaching holiday season, we’ve accumulated a few of the best gourmand seasons to take you through the start of the new year and beyond for every price point.
Standout notes: Cognac, Tonka Bean and Oakwood
Perhaps one of the most intoxicating scents on the market, Kilian Angel’s Share is a boozy scent that opens with notes of cognac but wears down to a cinnamon-like warmth. If you want to smell like a spiced apple pie, then Kilian Angels’ Share is a must.
Standout notes: Icy Pear, Sugared Almond and Vanilla
One of Burberry’s warmest offerings, Burberry Brit is another spicy scent interlocked with sugared almond and intense vanilla notes.
Despite being dessert in a bottle, this fragrance also has sensual floral notes, so it’s a well-rounded scent perfect for those who can’t let go of petal-infused scent profiles.
Standout notes: Cappuccino, Pure Vanilla and Caramelized Cedar
If you are looking for a breezier vanilla scent, Vanilla Sky from Skylar is the perfect scent.
The base is supported by caramelized cedarwood, perfectly replicating the warmth of a vanilla ice cream cone on a sunny day, hence the name Vanilla Sky.
Standout notes: Vanilla Orchids, Tonka Absolute and Amber Woods
She’s warm, she’s spicy, and she’s totally viral. Seriously, Kayali Vanilla 28 is probably one of the heaviest hitters in the boxing ring of viral TikTok scents.
A vanilla scent with a musky base and hints of amber, patchouli and wood, it’s no secret this has become the internet’s favorite scent.
Standout notes: Tahitian Vanilla, Cane Sugar and Almond Milk
Fragrance oils are great for layering but can also hold their own as a stand-alone scent. This vanilla fragrance oil from Nemat is the perfect example.
This ultra-sweet scent is so quintessentially vanilla that it’s the perfect entry-level scent for those looking to dip their toes into the world of gourmand scents without going full-on dessert buffet. We get it; decadent scents can be a lot sometimes.
Standout notes: Toffee, Caramel and Dates
Body sprays are also a great way to test the waters of food-inspired scents. They’re fragrant but not overpowering and another great way to layer vanilla scents. As the name suggests, this fragrance is heavily reminiscent of dates, toffee and caramel.
Love Island: USA star Leah Kateb swears by the scent, so it’s often sold out, but it’s currently available for pre-order.
Standout notes: Vanilla Bean, Vanilla Orchid and Coconut
Another quality fragrance oil, this oil is warm and spicy.
Vanilla Bean steals the show, but coconut and vanilla orchid are undoubtedly doing their job as supporting characters.
