Don't get me wrong, I live and breathe for a good gourmand fragrance, but I often find that I'm not a fan of fragrances that are overly saccharine. You can then imagine my surprise when I gravitated toward Sabrina Carpenter's newly released fragrance Sweet Tooth: Caramel Dream ($30)—upon hearing the name, you'd think it's a fragrance exclusively for the youngins, but think again. This scent may have some seriously sweet notes (delicious dark chocolate bean, caramelized amber, and vanilla), but it's actually so elevated. I'm not mad at the uptick in this trend—many brands are creating dessert-inspired fragrances lately and they're really taking the time to give them a sophisticated edge. Needless to say, if you haven't entered your gourmand era quite yet, now may be the time to start.
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Key notes: Sugared lemon, orange zest, almond milk, freesia, orange blossom, tiger orchid, dark chocolate bean, vanilla, sandalwood, caramelized amber, patchouli, musk
The additional notes of orange blossom, tiger orchid, and sandalwood stand out to me here. Sandalwood really grounds the fragrance and gives it a woodier aroma. It keeps it from teetering on candy-level sweet and makes it feel more wearable for a variety of gourmand-lovers. It's also worth mentioning that this is a new rendition of Carpenter's previous hit fragrance Sweet Tooth. The original Sweet Tooth really packs a punch in the sugar department so Caramel Dream might be the way to go if you're like me and prefer more of a subtly sweet fragrance. I also have to take a second to acknowledge the $30 price tag. A quality perfume under $50? Run, don't walk! Even if this particular dessert fragrance doesn't catch your fancy, keep scrolling. More of our favorites are below.
More Dessert-Inspired Fragrances We Love
Key notes: Marshmallow, candied ginger, chocolate, bergamot, madagascar vanilla, coconut milk, jasmine, whipped cream, sugar, musk, cashmere wood
Carpenter's OG version of Sweet Tooth features notes of marshmallow, coconut milk, whipped cream, and you guessed it, sugar. It's a true gourmand and the candy wrapper-inspired bottle is really doing it for me.
Key notes: Sparkling green mandarin, cardamom, jasmine super infusion, sandalwood, hazelnut, chocolate milk accord
Cacharel's Yes I Am Delicious is another fragrance that took me by surprise. The notes of hazelnut and chocolate milk accord are subtle, but definitely there. It smells so warm and comforting whenever I give it a spritz.
Key notes: Dark cherry flavor, osmanthus absolute, cyproil.
This rich, smokier take on an otherwise sweet note is everything.
Key notes: Pistachio.
This fragrance is definitely sweet for a D.S.
Durga offering and it highlights one star note—pistachio. The brand even emphasizes the play on pistachio as a sweet, dessert note here.
Key notes: White musks, benzoin, caramel accord
For those who like a muskier-sweet flavor, Prada Candy is your match.
Key notes: Pear, orris, marshmallow
The name says it all here. Ellis Brooklyn's Sweet mixes juicy notes of pear with marshmallow and orris for a fresher take on a gourmand.
Key notes: Freesia, plum, amber, cashmere woods, Madagascar vanilla beans, cistus oil
Who What Wear beauty editor Katie Berohn loves this Byredo scent. It's smoky, warm, and has some sweeter notes, but doesn't fully smell like a gourmand. It's great for those who love a bit more of an edgy, mysterious scent.
Key notes: Black currant, juicy plum, marshmallow, fresh peony, sandalwood, black amber, vanilla
Grande's newest offering doesn't have a shortage of dessert-like notes. Plum, black currant, marshmallow, and vanilla blend beautifully with headier notes of black amber.
Key notes: Pistachio, jasmine petals, salted caramel
Wish you could bottle the scent of your Brazilian Bum Bum Cream? Well, you can! Sol de Janeiro created this sweet and salty offering since the fans demanded it. It has notes of pistachio, jasmine petals, and salted caramel.
