Gourmands are growing up right before our eyes! As dessert-inspired fragrances have taken a more refined turn in recent years, perfumes are getting even more experimental. Enter savory gourmands, a bold scent category that balances robust notes like nuts, turmeric and even tomato with more traditional fragrance notes. The result is thoughtfully crafted, boundary-pushing scents that are as intriguing as they are wearable.
The Balancing Act of Savory Scents
No one wants to smell like grease or oil, and that’s where the art of a well-balanced savory gourmand comes in. While viral scents—like Domino's pepperoni-scented perfume—grab attention, they run the risk of veering too far into novelty. Without the right formulation, bold, savory notes can wear more like natural body odor than a thoughtfully crafted fragrance.
That means that perfumers who are interested in the savory side of things need to lean on more traditional notes to create a perfectly balanced fragrance. Think basil, but brightened with fresh citrus, or clean-smelling paper deepened by steamed rice notes. The result is a more complex take on a gourmand that captures your nose instantly.
Savory gourmands also tend to be more unisex than traditionally sweet scents. "These fragrances are also notably genderless," adds Jo Malone perfumer Celine Roux. "When we develop for Jo Malone, we are trying to embody a specific mood or moment and we make it approachable by focusing on the key scent notes. Everyone can understand and intuit how Lime Basil and Mandarin, or Blackberry and Bay will smell."
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