Sweet Perfumes Are Always Going to Have a Place in My Fragrance Collection

I’ve fallen head over heels for this perfume over the past few weeks, partly because of the unusual combination of notes that just work so well together. The star of the show is iris, which is flanked by other notes like Turkish rose and musk. The result is a scent that is fresh, sweet, and a little soapy, almost like you’ve just taken the loveliest-smelling bath of all time.

You know that really delicious smell of burning wood when you’re roasting marshmallows? That's exactly what Maison Margiela’s By the Fireplace smells like. It somehow captures those sweet, smoky tendrils and combines them with vanilla, cashmeran, and even pink pepper notes. Think of the coolest person you know wearing an oversized leather jacket; they probably smell like this.

Maison Louis Marie’s No. 15 Vanille Infinie takes one of the most beloved sweet notes in perfumery, vanilla, and elevates it with additional notes of citron, jasmine, heliotrope, and even tonka. The result is a warm gourmand that doesn’t smell like a baked good. Instead, it's light, airy, and perfect for someone who wants a more “grown-up” version of the note.

Iris is one of my favorite sweet floral notes, and it’s nowhere near gourmand territory. In this scent, it offers a beautiful powdery quality that works perfectly with one of my favorite notes of all time, iso e super. The result is light, uplifting, and perfect for year-round wear.

I never thought I’d enjoy a popcorn note in perfume, but L'eau de Parfum has proven me wrong. Cotton candy, butter, popcorn, vanilla—this perfume is a gourmand bomb for anyone who loved going to the circus or fairs growing up.

This one’s for the girly girls. Not only does Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl Blush come in the most stunning packaging (this version even has a bow), but it also smells phenomenal. Bergamot, ylang ylang, vanilla, it’s a sweet, fruity floral masterpiece that will please almost any palette.

It might still be winter in New York City, but Miu Miu’s Fleur de Lait is a one-stop ticket to a tropical vacation, even if it’s only in your mind. Mango and coconut milk are two of the first notes you’ll pick up, followed by a fruity-floral osmanthus note wrapped in apricot. The result is a fruity, slightly lactonic scent that will be in my bag all summer long.

A classic formula has been updated with Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb Peony. Strawberry, peony, musk, and vanilla create a delicate veil that is inoffensive, innocent, and perfect for everyday wear.

One of the best parts about Baccarat Rouge 540 is that sugary, candy-like quality that comes from the saffron, jasmine, and ambergris combination. It’s something that has never been as perfected as it has in the original iteration of the perfume, which is why no dupe will ever come close.

If you want that airy, candy-spun quality in your perfume but in a more mature, cool way, Crystal Saffron from Matiere Premiere will be right up your alley. It has a muted quality that gives the illusion of sitting close to the skin like a skin scent, but the more it warms up from your body heat, the more that subtly sweet quality of its star note, saffron, emerges. It’s a stunning interpretation of one of my favorite fragrance notes of all time.

An amber-forward gourmand, Apple Love doesn’t smell anything as you’d probably expect. Realistic red apple, sugar cane, and Madagascar vanilla are a few standout notes in the composition, but peach skin and plum blossom give it a soft, skin-like quality that prevents the sweeter ingredients from becoming a headache-inducing bomb.

You’ve likely heard of Delina, but Oriana is a hidden gem from Parfums de Marly. Fruity citrus notes give way to orange blossom, blackcurrant, and raspberry heart notes before settling into a stunning gourmand base comprised of notes like marshmallow and chantilly cream. It’s complex enough not to feel childish when worn, but it’s also one of the sweetest offerings from the Parfums de Marly line.