My Favorite Dessert-Inspired Fragrances

Aside from my passion for making desserts, I've got a terrible obsession with sweet gourmand fragrances. Over the years, I've amassed quite a collection of body sprays, lotions and perfumes that smell like creme brulee, chocolate truffles, vanilla ice cream and even cotton candy. If it smells like dessert, I'll wear it. It puts me in a good mood and I think it makes everyone else around me less grumpy. One side effect though: it makes me (and probably the people around me) crave for sweets. But with all the cookies and candies around during the holidays, especially at my house, I'll have no trouble satisfying my sweet tooth.


Here are a few of my favorite fragrances. The best part about these sweetly scented indulgences: zero calories and zero guilt. I can't say the same about the cookies and candies though.

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Serendipity 3 Serendipitous Perfume is a warm chocolate perfume with notes of Tahitian vanilla and blood orange. This was my very first gourmand fragrance and it's still one of my favorites after all these years. I love wearing this during the holidays because the scent reminds me of a cozy cup of hot chocolate with loads of marshmallows on top. Mmmmmmm....

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 Pink Sugar by Aquolina has become my everyday fragrance for the past couple of years. It smells like cotton candy. Need I say more? This has strong staying power so a little spritz will go a long way. The notes are bergamot, sicilian orange, raspberry, fig leaves, lily of the valley, licorice, strawberry, red fruit, cotton candy, vanilla, caramel, musk, wood and powder.

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 Chocolovers by Aquolina starts off smelling like a chocolate orange truffle but then it morphs into this sensually mysterious fragrance that reminds me of Nutella. Ferrero Rocher anyone? The notes include bergamot, orange, lemon, lily of the valley, coriander, hazelnut, vanilla, malt and musk. Very sexy and yummy too.

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 Vanille Extreme by Comptoir Sud Pacifique has a warm and spicy vanilla scent that's not syrupy sweet like some vanilla perfumes I've come across. I actually like layering this with other fragrances. The notes are tahitian vanilla and spices - that's it. Simple yet amazing. Some might think it smells like cake batter. I just think is smells deeeeelicious.

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 Jaqua's Pink Buttercream Frosting Body Mist (no longer available) is probably the most authentic bakery scent I have. It smells like sugar cookies, Krispie Kreme donuts and birthday cake all rolled into one. How can you not be happy after smelling this? It's alcohol-free so it doesn't have the same staying power as an eau de parfum, but I don't mind reapplying this sweet aromatherapy.

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 Demeter Fragrance Library has a massive selection of fun and wacky scents but Condensed Milk is my favorite. It REALLY does smell like sweetened condensed milk. Trust me, I should know. It's kind of a comforting scent so I like dabbing a little on my wrists before I go to bed. Sweet dreams...