Although much of the Northeast has been covered in snow, spring is just around the corner—and with the new season comes fresh scent trends that lean into earthy, bright and floral notes. Spate recently predicted that honey will be a popular fragrance note in 2026, with data showing searches for honey scents spiked by more than 1,000 percent year over year. Honey has plenty of nuance: Of course, there are the sticky-sweet, confectionery facets, but the fragrances poised to be popular this year reveal a far more sophisticated depth.
Featured Experts
- Douglas Little is the founder and perfumer of Heretic Parfum
- Bee Shapiro is the founder of Ellis Brooklyn
- Kara Kowalski is the Head of Product and Scent Development at Snif
- Dimitri Weber is the founder and CEO of Goldfield & Banks
Why Honey Is Trending in Fragrance
Founder and perfumer of Heretic Parfum, Douglas Little, predicts “honey is trending because people are craving comfort with substance, warmth that feels embodied and real.” With gourmands dominating fragrance for years, Ellis Brooklyn founder Bee Shapiro says it makes sense that people are beginning to explore other “yummy notes” in more nuanced ways. “It makes sense that honey would become more popular here as it’s not your typical sugar note.”
Many experts say honey also adds a distinctive texture to scent. Kara Kowalski, head of product and scent development at Snif, notes that the spike in interest signals a shift toward natural sweetness and tactile fragrance experiences. “I always felt honey in fragrance does more for the feel than the scent,” she says. Shapiro agrees: “There is a texture to the smell of honey that is fun to play with and adds another dimension to the scent.”
What Honey Smells Like in Modern Fragrance
There are many interpretations of honey depending on how perfumers use the note. “Honey, for me, is not the syrupy, synthetic fantasy that dominates modern perfumery,” says Little. “If I’m working with honey, it’s beeswax absolute—the material that smells like the hive itself: warm comb, crushed pollen, sun-heated wood and a faint leathery hum of something alive.”
Founder and CEO of Goldfield & Banks, Dimitri Weber, describes honey as an addictive, grounding note. Kowalski says today’s honey scents lean golden, skin-like and slightly sensual. “Think less candied, more golden glow,” she says. Shapiro agrees, noting that honey is a sophisticated way to add a touch of sweetness to fragrance.
The Best Honey Fragrances to Try in 2026
