Gourmand perfumes: the Angel revolution
In 1992, Thierry Mugler launched Angel, the first gourmand perfume. Thirty years later, this olfactory family dominates the market and seduces millennials.
What is a gourmand fragrance?
A gourmand fragrance contains edible notes reminiscent of pastry or confectionery: vanilla, caramel, praline, chocolate, coffee, almond. These sweet accords make you want to bite into the perfume.
Unlike classic orientals, gourmands highlight these sweet facets rather than amber or spices.
Angel (1992): the perfume that changed everything
In 1992, perfumer Olivier Cresp composed a radically new perfume for Thierry Mugler: Angel. For the first time, a patchouli-vanilla-caramel-chocolate accord dominated a feminine fragrance.
The success is immediate. Angel becomes one of the best-selling perfumes in the world and creates a new olfactory family: gourmands.
Gourmand perfumes in Perfumdle
| Perfume | House | Year | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angel | Thierry Mugler | 1992 | Gourmand Oriental |
| A*Men | Thierry Mugler | 1996 | Gourmand Oriental |
| Hypnotic Poison | Dior | 1998 | Oriental Vanilla |
| Fantasy | Britney Spears | 2005 | Fruity Gourmand |
| La Petite Robe Noire | Guerlain | 2009 | Gourmand Oriental |
| Trésor Midnight Rose | Lancôme | 2011 | Floral Gourmand |
| Candy | Prada | 2011 | Gourmand Oriental |
| La Vie Est Belle | Lancôme | 2012 | Gourmand |
| Black Opium | Yves Saint Laurent | 2014 | Gourmand Oriental |
| La Nuit Tresor | Lancome | 2015 | Gourmand |
| Her | Burberry | 2018 | Fruity Gourmand |
| Lost Cherry | Tom Ford | 2018 | Gourmand Fruity |
| Cloud | Ariana Grande | 2018 | Floral Gourmand |
| 1 Million Lucky | Paco Rabanne | 2018 | Woody Gourmand |
| Replica Coffee Break | Maison Margiela | 2019 | Gourmand |
| Oriana | Parfums de Marly | 2021 | Floral Fruity Gourmand |
| Devotion | Dolce & Gabbana | 2022 | Floral Gourmand |
| Her Elixir | Burberry | 2022 | Fruity Gourmand |
Why millennials love gourmands
Gourmand perfumes are phenomenally successful with millennials and Gen Z for several reasons:
- Comforting: sweet notes evoke childhood and sweetness.
- Addictive: vanilla and caramel create a recognizable olfactory signature.
- Accessible: unlike chypres or leathers, gourmands please immediately.
- Versatile: worn day or night, summer or winter.
Modern gourmand best-sellers
Black Opium (Yves Saint Laurent, 2014)
Coffee, vanilla, orange blossom and jasmine: Black Opium modernizes the gourmand with a caffeinated twist. It's one of the best-selling women's perfumes in the world since 2014.
La Petite Robe Noire (Guerlain, 2009)
Guerlain reinvents its heritage with a fruity gourmand oriental: black cherry, almond, vanilla and iris. Seductive and accessible.
Candy (Prada, 2011)
Prada creates a gourmand oriental wrapped in caramel and benzoin. Modern and luxurious, Candy embodies the designer gourmand.
La Vie Est Belle (Lancôme, 2012)
Iris, patchouli, praline, vanilla: La Vie Est Belle is the best-selling French perfume in the world. Its floral gourmand accord conquers all generations.
Her (Burberry, 2018)
Burberry offers a modern fruity gourmand with strawberry, blackberry and vanilla. Fresh and addictive, Her seduces Gen Z.
Read also
Complete guide to olfactory families
Discover all perfume families and their characteristics.
Iconic oriental perfumes
From Shalimar to Baccarat Rouge 540, the history of orientals.
Unisex perfumes: the trend redefining perfumery
The rise of gender-neutral perfumes since CK One.
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