They say you can’t buy happiness, but can you bottle it? Gourmand scents would certainly suggest so. These decadent and dessert-like perfumes set themselves apart by smelling nearly edible — rich in a familiar warmth, sweetness and effortless wearability.
Those who wear gourmand scents often find themselves indulging in a saccharine sniff. Wearing mouth-watering notes of vanilla, caramel, almonds, chocolate and honey has been around for as long as fragrances have, though Mugler’s 1992 Angel parfum is often seen as the first popularized edition in the modern era.
Since then, modern scent connoisseurs have wanted their cake and to smell it too. Many gourmand fragrances also include notes of amber, patchouli, musk and warm spices like cinnamon — giving them added dimensionality. So, why do we love these scents so much?
As always with scent, it is partially physiological and psychological. In our bodies, our noses and mouths share the same airway — with the impact being smell comprising around 80% of what we taste. The connection between these two senses is as natural as it is delicious.
However, scent is more-often-than-not mind over musk. It is a powerful tool for nostalgia, immediately transcending time and space to transport us to distant somewheres or someones. Our brains process smells in the olfactory bulb — directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, two essential regions responsible for the development of long-term memories and emotional responses.
This relationship between smell and memory may be gourmand fragrance’s secret ingredient. Given that these scents are so similar to beloved and recognisable sweets like cotton candy and cookie dough, they serve as a relatable reminder of positive childhood memories. From a neuroscience point of view, sugar also activates the brain’s reward centres — releasing dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with reward, reinforcement and pleasure.
In short, gourmand scents literally make us happy. Looking for more flavour in your life? Discover the gourmand joy of our DULCEO Botanical Perfume Extract.
