2025 Fragrance Trends: Indulge Your Senses with These Bold New Scents!
In the ever-evolving realm of fragrance, some brands are daring to step beyond the conventional gourmand territory, and the horizon for 2025 looks tantalizingly diverse. The trend? A booming passion for edible notes that transcends the ordinary, diving into savory and vegetal realms. Think truffles, tomato leaves, basil, carrot, even the comforting essence of steamed rice and fermented soybeans! These scents, reminiscent of cherished culinary experiences, wrap you in warmth and nostalgia. Take Snif’s innovative Slice Society, a fragrant homage to pizza with notes of fresh basil and rich tomato sauce, or Eloria’s Jang Eau de Parfum, which captures the mouthwatering aroma of traditional Korean fermented sauces. While distinct in character, both fragrances challenge conventions and beg the question, “What am I smelling? Why does this feel so familiar?” As Robertet perfumer Arielle Lebeau notes, “These savory notes add a layer of complexity and intrigue to any fragrance.”
While these bold scents may not be for everyone, they illustrate the fragrance industry’s trajectory as we head into 2025 and beyond. “Savory notes might not scream romance,” reflects Matlin, “but they ignite excitement, usher in innovation, and mirror the globalizing landscape of fragrance.” Brands are shifting their focus from just catering to the classic Western palate of white florals to embracing a more seasoned, adventurous clientele eager for new olfactory experiences.
Milky fragrances are brewing with a caffeinated twist!
After two years on the rise, milky fragrances are evolving, heading straight for your favorite coffee shop! Expect a delightful expansion of this category with tantalizing takes on sweet drinks—from milky teas to lattes and even matcha lattes. “A perfect embodiment of this trend is d’Annam’s Vietnamese Coffee,” shares Susan Wai Hnin, founder of Gabar fragrances. With notes of rich coffee and creamy condensed milk, it perfectly captures the essence of Cà Phê Sữa Đá, that delightful traditional Vietnamese drink. Kayali is riding this wave too with Cafe Oud 19, which recreates the comforting aroma of a luscious cappuccino, while Maison Margiela’s Coffee Break, one of the pioneering milky drink scents, is a warm embrace of coffee, milk mousse, and vanilla.
If coffee isn’t your milky drink of choice, don’t fret! There’s a delightful range of options brewing for 2025. Gabar’s 05 Lull Eau de Parfum envelops you in the soothing aroma of black tea, blending dreamy creaminess with romantic undertones. Excitement is also building for matcha-inspired fragrances as we approach the end of 2024, with a remarkable 127.4% rise in search interest for matcha notes. Lebeau notes that her clients are increasingly requesting matcha scents, some favoring the sweet, creamy variant, while others are drawn to the earthy, bitter essence of pure matcha powder. “Matcha is such a complex note to explore,” she adds, hinting at the depth it adds to fragrances. If milky is more your vibe, check out Obvious Parfums’ Un Été, which harmonizes vanilla and tonka beans for a super-photorealistic scent.
Rice fragrances are rising to the occasion!
With the success of Diptyque’s Le Papier and the viral sensation of d’Annam’s White Rice, rice notes are anticipated to soar in popularity come 2025. “A softly steamed rice accord is clean, comforting, and immediately familiar,” says Sabas, adding that it pairs beautifully with vanilla or soft woods like sandalwood. “These rice fragrances open up a fresh avenue to explore the intersection of clean and skin scents,” notes content creator Emma B., who emphasizes that her followers are gravitating towards these unique fragrances right now.
Stone fruits and cherries are maturing beautifully.
2024 was the year of fruity fragrances, marked by the strawberry craze, the summer buzz of Ellis Brooklyn’s pink pineapple Miami Nectar, and the rising excitement around cherry perfumes, notably represented by Sabrina Carpenter’s Cherry Baby. That cherry note will pave the way for what’s to come in 2025.
“As we transition from the cherry trend into what’s next, expect stone fruits like plums, mangos, peaches, and apricots to take center stage,” says Lebeau. Plums are already making their presence known in top-end releases like Marc Jacobs’s Perfect Elixir and Victoria Beckham’s Reverie 21:50. My personal favorite? NOYZ Unmute—a captivating blend of fruit and gourmand notes, with hints of vanilla and pistachio, creating an intoxicating experience.
Feeling adventurous? Discover the exciting stone fruit fragrances already making waves! For example, Eau So Vert’s Fruto Oscuro combines rare Mexican black cherry and zapote, creating an utterly unique scent experience that’s dark, syrupy, and tart. Vilhelm Parfumerie’s Mango Skin evokes that super-fresh, ripe mango essence, while Tom Ford’s Bitter Peach expertly melds notes of peach, blood orange, and earthy patchouli for an unforgettable fragrance.
Florals are making a comeback!