I have never once understood the candy corn debate. Every fall, the same argument resurfaces—waxy, too sweet, tastes like a candle—and every year, I eat an entire bag of the tri-colored treat in roughly two sittings and feel nothing but joy. I have strong opinions about seasonal marketing fatigue, but candy corn gets a pass. I am Team Love It, permanently, no notes and no need to try to persuade me otherwise. So, when Brach’s announced it was launching a fragrance built entirely around the flavor, I didn’t need convincing; I needed a release date.
Meet Ode to Candy Corn ($22), a limited-edition eau de parfum dropping on the first day of fall, September 22, with a second drop coming October 1 at CandyCornSeason.com. It’s a 1.7-ounce spray built around notes of creamy vanilla, spun sugar and honey—the exact profile that makes the candy taste the way it does, translated into something you wear instead of eat.
Kelly Peyser, director of Brach’s and seasonal marketing at Ferrara Candy Company, puts it simply: “Candy Corn is the true marker of fall and Team Candy Corn is passionate about their fandom, so this year, Brach’s is giving them a new way to express their love for the iconic treat. With Ode to Candy Corn, we’ve transformed the unmistakable flavor of Brach’s Classic Candy Corn into a wearable fragrance that truly captures the sweetness, warmth and nostalgia that makes this time of year so special.”
And here’s some data that should end the debate for good, at least statistically: Despite being one of the most argued-about treats in the seasonal aisle, the 11-ounce bag of Brach’s Candy Corn is the number-one fall confection item in the country. Seventeen percent of its annual sales happen before Labor Day, and more than half occur before October even starts.
Numbers aside and noses at the forefront, the candy-flavored perfume is not going to convert the haters. If the taste bothers you, the smell probably will, too—it’s honey-sweet and exactly what you’d expect—and that’s fine. That’s not who this is for. This is for the people who already have a bag open in their car right now, who get genuinely defensive when someone calls it “the worst Halloween candy” in a group chat and who consider “smells like nostalgia” a compliment and not a red flag.
The bottom line: If you’re looking for something sweet and not subtle to add to your seasonal fragrance rotation, this is a fun option.
Brach’s
Ode to Candy Corn
