Caramel Perfumes Are a Shortcut to Smelling Like a Snack
Prepare for compliments.
For most people, their olfactory personalities change based on the seasons. Woody scents in the fall, smoky concoctions for the winter, fresh notes in the spring, and so on. While I’ve done the same in the past, recently, I’ve found myself hyperfixating on specific notes. Lily, iris, milk—I’ve found some of the most fascinating fragrances on the market by focusing on specific ingredient expressions, and lately, I’ve been all over caramel perfumes.
“Caramel can smell different based on everything from the perfumer’s interpretation to the specific notes that they use to make up their version of the accord,” Jay Pardo, Senior Director of Commercial and Marketing at DHub 95, a niche perfume distributor, tells me. “Traditionally, a caramel note includes molecules like benzoin, vanillin, coumarin (from the tonka bean), ethyl maltol, and also sandalwood on occasion.”
In short, no two caramel perfumes are the same, but quite a few caught my attention while I was testing for this story. As someone who loves gourmand perfumes, but can also be honest about the downsides of the category (they can be cloying and a little headache-inducing at times), this list contains something for everyone. Regardless of whether you’re someone who loves to smell like an edible dessert or just want the caramel in your perfume to be a supporting character, keep reading to see the ones that pleased my very critical nose and are worth adding to your own fragrance collection at home.
The Best Caramel Perfumes
- Best Caramel Perfume Overall: Penhaligon's Changing Constance Eau de Parfum
- Best Luxury Caramel Perfume: Bond No. 9 Tribeca Eau de Parfum
- Best Viral Caramel Perfume: Giardini di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum
- Best Gourmand Caramel Perfume: Cirque du Soleil L'eau de Parfum
- Best Citrus Caramel Perfume: Casamorati Lira Eau de Parfum
- Best Caramel Body Spray: Lush Let the Good Times Roll Body Spray
Penhaligon’s is well-known for one of my favorite leather fragrances, Halfeti, but not as many people talk about Changing Constance, and it’s high time that changed. Salted caramel is flanked by a sultry tobacco and spicy cardamom, creating a gourmand perfume that feels anything but childish.
Fragrance Family: Amber Vanilla
Key Notes: Salted caramel; Tobacco; Cardamom
Size: 2.5 fl oz
What I Love: Gourmand but not immature; Gorgeous packaging for collectors; Well-balanced
What I Don’t: Caramel is more of a supporting character, so if you want a realistic caramel scent, this one isn’t it
Review for MC: “Penhaligon’s Changing Constance is the epitome of a fragrance for someone who likes to go against the grain. While technically it is a gourmand scent, the caramel in this perfume acts more like an elegant conduit for the rest of the spicy notes to flow into each other with ease. It’s an elegant fragrance that has no season—it shines year-round.” — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Ariel Baker testing Penhaligon's Changing Constance Eau De Parfum.
It’s rare that a Cacao-forward fragrance catches my eye (I only have one other in my collection), but Bond No. 9’s Tribeca is still one of my favorites. It features one of my favorite notes, ambroxan, as well as moss, hazelnut, and more. Tack on the gorgeous bottle, and you’ll never want to put it down.
Fragrance Family: Amber Vanilla
Key Notes: Caramel; Hazelnut; Amboxan; Moss
Size: 3.3 fl. oz
What I Love: Slightly chocolate leaning; Fun packaging; Ambroxan adds a lightness that keeps it from being too sticky-sweet
What I Don’t: Can pull a bit maple syrup-like
Review for MC: “If you love caramel and want to smell edible, almost like a piece of toffee, Tribeca is for you. Cacao, hazelnut, and caramel are a few of the more gourmand notes in this scent, but moss, ambroxan, and jasmine keep it from leaning directly into nauseatingly sweet territory. It's a fantastic addition to any caramel lover’s perfume collection.” — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Ariel Baker testing Bond No. 9 New York Tribeca.
If you’ve seen even a handful of videos from Perfumetok, you’ve likely come across the viral Bianco Latte from Giardini di Toscana. Caramel is the first note you’ll encounter on this olfactive experience, quickly followed by honey, coumarin, and comforting base notes like vanilla and white musk. Somehow, the combination leans a little lactonic, so if you’re also a fan of milk perfumes, you may have just found your new holy grail fragrance.
Fragrance Family: Gourmand
Key Notes: Caramel; Honey; White Musk
Size: 3.4 fl. oz
What I Love: True gourmand fragrance; Can really pick up on the honey and caramel notes; Simple, but elegant, packaging
What I Don’t: Some people may find this a little too cloying in warmer weather
Review for MC: “This caramel and vanilla blend is about as sweet and warm as it gets. It’s as comforting as a hug from your mom and as sweet as my favorite dessert, and for that, I’m obsessed.” — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Ariel Baker testing Giardini Di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau De Parfum.
It still baffles me that Cirque du Soleil (yes, the circus show) has a perfume, and what’s even more confusing is that it’s phenomenal. Somehow, the brand managed to fit the entire circus experience into one bottle, from the buttery popcorn that you can buy before the show to the sweet cotton candy you’d take home as a yummy souvenir. Fragrance tells a story, but this one is an entire experience, recaptured and so nostalgic.
Fragrance Family: Gourmand
Key Notes: Bergamot; Caramelized amber; Cotton Candy; Buttery popcorn accord
Size: 3.4 fl oz
What I Love: Extravagant packaging; Nostalgic scent; Long-lasting
What I Don’t: Some people primarily smell the floral notes, so be sure to test in person
Review for MC: “It’s a little ridiculous how obsessed I am with this perfume, but it’s because it fascinates me so much. There is so much variation in the notes, and you’d think that there would be too much going on, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. You can smell each note distinctly as the perfume dries down, and the result is a floral-gourmand scent that can only be described as nostalgic. Even if you’ve never been to a Cirque du Soleil show, it’s like this bottle is singlehandedly transporting you to a front-row seat.” — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Ariel Baker testing Cirque du Soleil L'eau De Parfum.
Citrus-flavored baked goods are always some of my favorite desserts, and Casamorati’s Lira turns me into a sweet treat, which I love. While the primary citrus note in this perfume is blood orange, there’s something about its combination with caramel, vanilla, and even cinnamon that makes it lean more toward the edible treat side of the spectrum instead of the fresh, fruity side. The resulting fragrance is sweet, cake-like, and fantastic for anyone who loves a caramel perfume with a kick.
Fragrance Family: Gourmand
Key Notes: Caramel; Blood orange; Cinnamon; Lavender; Vanilla
Size: 3.4 fl. oz
What I Love: Smells like a citrus cake; A gourmand that can be worn in the summer
What I Don’t: Some may find it to be too syrupy
Review for MC: “Lira is a caramel perfume for the summer lovers. The blood orange note remains fairly prominent throughout the first few minutes of the perfume sitting on the skin, but then the vanilla and caramel round it out to an almost creamy scent. Before it can go to the “too sweet” end of the spectrum, lavender gives it an aromatic twist that keeps everything light and fresh.” — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Ariel Baker testing Casamorati Lira Eau De Parfum.
Lush remains one of my favorite body care brands (the dusting powders are elite), but let’s not forget the fragrances. In fact, one of the best caramel scents in my collection is the Let the Good Times Roll body spray, which is another popcorn-leaning fragrance. It’s a fairly simple composition of notes, but this is a beast-mode perfume if I’ve ever come across one. For less than $50, I recommend stocking up on as many as you can.
Fragrance Family: Gourmand
Key Notes: Buttery popcorn; Caramel; Vanilla
Size: 6.7 fl. oz
What I Love: Fantastic value; Follows Lush’s signature clean-ingredient philosophy
What I Don’t: Packaging can feel a little juvenile
Customer Review: “My absolute FAVORITE!!! Lasts all day idk how they do it! And I’ve never not gotten a compliment when wearing it! Just buy it, trust me.” — Lush Cosmetics
How Do I Wear Caramel Perfumes?
Gourmands are wonderful to wear in the drier, colder winter months, but even the most seasoned nose can find them hard to wear in the summer months. But there’s a hack for that. “If you’re finding your caramel perfume to be overwhelming or cloying, the easiest way to still wear it is to spray less and from a farther distance to the skin,” Pardo says. “You can also find fresh gourmands that are not overly sweet, but that can combine elements of more fresh scents like citrus or even aldehydic notes.” There are a few scents that he says perfectly straddle this line, like Tonka in the Sun from Maison Tahite, or La Playa from Carner Barcelona.
What Notes Pair Well with Caramel Perfumes?
If you’re just getting into the world of caramel perfumes, or simply like to layer your scents as I do, there are a few notes that pair really well with a caramel note. “Usually other gourmand notes are your best bet,” Pardo says. Think coffee, cocoa, vanilla.” For those who want to take their caramel perfumes into an entirely different olfactive family, oakmoss or cedar can give a nice contrast and depth to the caramel notes. “Boozy notes like rum or cognac can also pair very well and are extremely elegant,” Pardo adds.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
Meet the Expert
Jay Pardo is the Senior Director of Commercial & Marketing at DHub 95.
