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Insight of the Day: What is a gourmand fragrance? Explaining the tempting scent trend

Writer's picture: InsightTrendsWorldInsightTrendsWorld

Detailed Findings:

  • Gourmand fragrances, featuring edible notes like vanilla, chocolate, caramel, coffee, honey, and fruits, are a major trend.

  • Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat Rouge, Sabrina Carpenter's cherry scent, and Glossier's You Rêve are examples of popular gourmand fragrances.

  • Gourmand notes can be sweet, watery, bitter, powdery, or sour.

  • Recent launches include nutty, spiced, and liquor-like gourmand accords.

  • The trend is driven by a desire for joy, comfort, nostalgia (90s resurgence), and the demystification of fragrance through familiar food-like scents.

  • Luxury and niche brands are creating elevated and sophisticated gourmand fragrances.

  • Layering gourmand scents can create personalized and complex fragrances.

  • Vanilla is a popular and nuanced gourmand note, with both sweet and leathery facets.

  • Vanilla fragrances are customer favorites, with specific recommendations from MECCA.

Key Takeaway:

Gourmand fragrances, with their delicious and comforting edible notes, are a dominant trend in perfumery, driven by a desire for joy, nostalgia, and accessible scent experiences, with luxury brands offering sophisticated interpretations of these delectable scents.

Main Trend:

The Rise of the Gourmand Fragrance

Description of the Trend:

This trend highlights the increasing popularity of perfumes that feature edible notes, reminiscent of desserts, fruits, and other culinary delights. These fragrances are moving beyond simple sweetness to incorporate a wider range of gourmand accords, including spices, nuts, and even savory notes. The trend is driven by a desire for comfort, nostalgia, and a more accessible entry point into the world of perfumery.

Consumer Motivation:

  • Joy and Comfort: Gourmand scents evoke feelings of happiness, warmth, and comfort, similar to enjoying a favorite food.

  • Nostalgia:  These scents can trigger nostalgic memories of childhood treats or comforting experiences.

  • Accessibility:  Familiar food-like notes make fragrance less intimidating and easier to understand.

  • Self-Expression:  Choosing a specific gourmand scent allows for a unique form of self-expression.

  • Indulgence:  Gourmand fragrances offer a sense of luxury and indulgence without the calories.

What is Driving the Trend:

  • 90s Nostalgia:  The resurgence of 90s trends in fashion and beauty, including the return of gourmand fragrances popular during that era.

  • Desire for Comfort and Joy:  In a stressful world, consumers are seeking out products that provide comfort and evoke positive emotions.

  • Accessibility of Scent:  Familiar food-like notes make fragrance more approachable and less intimidating for some consumers.

  • Innovation in Perfumery:  Perfumers are creating more complex and sophisticated gourmand fragrances that go beyond simple sweetness.

  • Social Media Influence:  Fragrance trends are often amplified and spread through social media platforms.

Motivation Beyond the Trend:

A desire for sensory pleasure, emotional connection, and a sense of familiarity and comfort in a fragrance. Consumers are looking for scents that evoke positive feelings and memories, and gourmand fragrances offer a direct route to these emotions through their association with enjoyable food experiences.

Who are the People the Article is Referring To:

Consumers interested in fragrance, particularly those drawn to sweet, comforting, and food-inspired scents. It also refers to fragrance experts, perfumers, and retailers.

Description of Consumers the Product or Service the Article is Referring to and What is Their Age:

  • Demographics:  A wide range of consumers, but with a particular appeal to millennials and Gen Z who are driving the resurgence of 90s trends and are open to exploring new fragrance categories.

  • Psychographics:  Individuals who enjoy sensory experiences, are drawn to comforting and nostalgic scents, and may find traditional perfumes intimidating. They appreciate the accessibility and familiarity of gourmand notes. They seek joy and self-expression through fragrance.

  • Age:  All age groups, but particularly millennials (born 1981-1996) and Gen Z (born 1997-2012).

Conclusions:

The gourmand fragrance trend is a significant force in the perfume industry, offering a wide range of scents that appeal to consumers' desire for comfort, joy, and nostalgia. Luxury and niche brands are elevating these fragrances with sophisticated compositions and unique interpretations of edible notes.

Implications for Brands:

  • Innovation:  Develop new and unique gourmand fragrances that go beyond simple sweetness.

  • Storytelling:  Create compelling narratives around gourmand scents, connecting them to memories and emotions.

  • Accessibility:  Offer a range of gourmand options at different price points to cater to a wider audience.

  • Education:  Help consumers understand the nuances of gourmand notes and how to choose a fragrance that suits them.

  • Layering:  Promote the concept of layering gourmand scents to create personalized fragrances.

Implications for Society:

  • Increased acceptance and appreciation for a wider range of fragrance categories.

  • Potential blurring of lines between the culinary and fragrance worlds.

  • Greater emphasis on the emotional and sensory aspects of fragrance.

Implications for Consumers:

  • More choices in the fragrance market, with a wider range of gourmand options.

  • Greater accessibility to the world of perfumery through familiar food-like notes.

  • Opportunities to explore new and unique scent experiences.

  • Ability to use fragrance for comfort and joy.

Implication for Future:

The gourmand fragrance trend is likely to continue to evolve, with perfumers exploring new and unexpected edible notes and creating increasingly sophisticated compositions. We can expect to see more innovative gourmand scents that push the boundaries of the category and appeal to a wider range of consumers.

Consumer Trend (Detailed Description):

The core consumer trend is The Search for Sensory Pleasure and Emotional Connection Through Fragrance. Consumers are increasingly seeking out scents that evoke positive emotions, trigger pleasant memories, and provide a sense of comfort and joy. Gourmand fragrances, with their familiar and delectable notes, are particularly well-suited to meet this need, offering a direct route to sensory pleasure and emotional connection.

Consumer Sub-Trend (Detailed Description):

A significant sub-trend is the Embrace of Nostalgia and Familiarity in Scent. Consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are drawn to fragrances that remind them of their childhood or other positive experiences. Gourmand notes, with their association with familiar treats and comforting foods, tap into this desire for nostalgia and create a sense of comfort and security.

Big Social Trend (Detailed Description):

The overarching social trend is the Prioritization of Joy, Comfort, and Self-Care. In a world that can often feel stressful and uncertain, consumers are increasingly seeking out products and experiences that provide comfort, joy, and a sense of well-being. Gourmand fragrances, with their ability to evoke positive emotions and memories, align perfectly with this broader trend.

Local Trend (Detailed Description):

The article highlights the popularity of certain gourmand fragrances at MECCA, a leading beauty retailer in Australia and New Zealand. This suggests a strong local interest in these types of scents within the Australasian market.

Worldwide Social Trend (Detailed Description):

A relevant worldwide social trend is the Globalization of Food Trends and Flavors. As culinary trends and ingredients become more globally accessible, they are also influencing other industries, including perfumery. This has led to the incorporation of a wider range of edible notes into fragrances, reflecting the increasingly diverse and interconnected nature of global food culture.

Name of the Big Trend Implied by Article:

The Delicious Revolution in Fragrance

Name of Big Social Trend Implied by Article:

The Global Pursuit of Happiness and Well-being

Social Drive (Detailed Description):

The social drive behind these trends is a desire for Emotional Well-being, Sensory Gratification, and Authentic Self-Expression. Consumers are seeking out products and experiences that make them feel good, both emotionally and physically. They want to connect with their senses, express their individuality, and find joy in the everyday. Gourmand fragrances, with their ability to evoke positive emotions and memories, offer a powerful way to fulfill these desires.

Learnings for Companies to Use in 2025:

  • Gourmand fragrances are a major trend driven by a desire for comfort, joy, and nostalgia.

  • Consumers are seeking both familiar and innovative gourmand scents.

  • Luxury and niche brands are elevating gourmand fragrances with sophisticated compositions.

  • Vanilla is a key gourmand note with diverse facets.

  • Layering gourmand scents is a popular way to create personalized fragrances.

Strategy Recommendations for Companies to Follow in 2025:

  1. Develop innovative and sophisticated gourmand fragrances that go beyond simple sweetness.

  2. Explore a wide range of edible notes, including fruits, spices, nuts, and savory accords.

  3. Create compelling narratives around gourmand scents, connecting them to memories, emotions, and experiences.

  4. Offer a range of gourmand options at different price points to cater to a wider audience.

  5. Educate consumers about the nuances of gourmand notes and how to choose a fragrance that suits them.

  6. Promote the concept of layering gourmand scents to create personalized fragrances.

  7. Highlight the craftsmanship and artistry behind luxury and niche gourmand fragrances.

  8. Leverage the nostalgia factor by creating scents that evoke positive memories and familiar comforts.

Final Sentence (Key Concept) Describing Main Trend from Article):

The gourmand fragrance trend is flourishing as consumers seek out delectable scents that offer comfort, joy, and a sense of nostalgia, with both familiar and innovative edible notes being crafted into increasingly sophisticated and tempting perfumes.

What Brands & Companies Should Do in 2025 to Benefit from the Trend and How to Do It:

In 2025, fragrance brands and companies should embrace the gourmand trend by developing innovative, sophisticated, and emotionally resonant fragrances that feature a wide range of edible notes, while also educating consumers about the nuances of these scents and promoting the art of fragrance layering. They can achieve this by investing in creative perfumery, exploring new and unexpected gourmand accords, crafting compelling brand stories, and offering a diverse range of options at various price points to cater to the growing demand for delectable and comforting scent experiences. They should focus on creating an experience.

Final Note:

By implementing these strategies, fragrance brands can successfully capitalize on the gourmand fragrance trend. They can connect with consumers who are seeking sensory pleasure, emotional connection, and a sense of joy and comfort through scent. They can be a part of the growing movement towards finding happiness and well-being in everyday experiences, where fragrance plays a powerful role in shaping mood, evoking memories, and expressing individuality. They can make scents that bring happiness.

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