Candies bring about cozy and cheerful thoughts. A lot of our happy memories are often associated with sweets.
It may have been a reward for a good deed from when you were a kid, maybe a sweet treat shared with your friends. The sweetness simply reminds us of fun times, rewards and celebrations. And that’s why a lot of people are equally drawn to candy-smelling perfumes.
In this article, we picked perfumes that smell like candy and we also discussed what kind of candy they smell like.
What are candy fragrances?
Candy fragrances belong to the gourmand family of perfumes wherein scents try to mimic the sweet-smelling properties of sugar, honey, and chocolate. That’s exactly what you can expect from candy-toned perfumes.
They’re usually made up of other notes like floral fragrances and musks to elevate their scent and give them a more sophisticated feel.
And then it will give a mellower and relaxing smell. The featured taste is obviously sweet!
Notes That Smell Like Candy
Caramel
Caramel is one of the most popular notes, and its creamy, smoky, buttery flavor gives it an extra dimension of richness and depth. It’s usually used as a foundation note and it enhances the entire character of the scent.
Benzoin Accord
Benzoin is a compound that has a strong scent of vanilla, warmth, and sweetness. It has a similar sweet tone to it like that in vanilla and tonka beans but with a distinct brightness to it. It has an affinity for lemon and orange notes and shows very sensual tones. It’s versatile because it can be used for both male and female fragrances. The best way to describe benzoin is “sweet-spicy”.
Fruity and Berry Notes
Fruit and berry notes imitate the flavors you get from fruit drops or gummy bears.
They are refreshing and invigorating, and they complement floral notes well.
They contain sugar so they’re naturally going to give you a sweeter taste if you add this ingredient to the mix. The fruit and berry notes also make concoctions perkier and sharper.
Vanilla Notes
Vanilla goes nicely with candy-toned perfumes. If you’re a fan of those creamy candies like Strawberries and Cream Savers, then you’re most likely drawn to the vanilla note as well.
It is the quintessential base note in perfume as it blends in so well with a lot of other interesting notes. It creates harmony when added to complex mixes.
Molecule Tone
Like with ingredients like benzoin, praline, and vanilla, you may notice some of the fragrances coming off with a synthetic note to them.
The sweet taste comes from the infusion of flavors with other chemicals.
5 Exquisite perfumes that smell like candy
Prada Candy
The House of Prada has launched some of the most exquisite fragrances out there and Prada Candy sure is one of them.
Composed of Benzoin accords, musk, and balsamic vanilla laid on a caramel base, Prada Candy is a sweet and creamy, delightful scent.
It is subtle yet sexy.
Go for this if you want that caramel tone with musk at the end.
This is a lovely daytime fragrance since it’s not such a heavy scent. It’s indulgent enough but it won’t make your head spin.
It has the effect of candies that are cozy and pleasant. That said, don’t expect such an enormous sillage to this.
In terms of longevity, this holds up nicely with at least 7-8 hours of wear.
If I would liken this to one candy, I’d pick toffee.
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Nectar
Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb Nectar is a perfume with Benzoin.
Nectar is a whimsical take on syrupy scents. It opens up brightly with blackcurrant and bergamot accompanied by an interesting gunpowder, metallic note.
In the middle, you have orange blossom and jasmine and the base is a decadent combination of benzoin, vanilla, and tonka beans.
Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb Nectar has quite a depth to it. Be prepared for such an intense sillage. It’s an attention-grabbing scent that lingers throughout the whole day.
It’s sensual and indulgent so wear it when you want to feel sexy and confident. Be careful with this one, though.
It can be too overwhelmingly sweet for some.
Fruity and Berry Notes
Something to look for in a candy-toned perfume is a fruity and/or berry note. This mimics the flavor you get from fruit drops and gummy bears. Fruits and berries have sugars in them so naturally, you can get a sweeter effect by adding this to the mix. The fruit and berry notes also make concoctions perkier and sharper.
Pink Sugar by Aquolina
Pink sugar is a popular choice when it comes to candy-toned perfumes and it’s livened up by fruity and berry notes.
Pink Sugar has top notes of fig leaves, Sicilian Orange, and Bergamot.
At the heart is a combination of red fruits and licorice that dries down to a base of musk, caramel, and vanilla.
The fragrance is a charming, sweet scent that’s flirty and young.
Turn heads with this one as it has a really great projection. You will also be getting compliments once people notice this on you since it has a gorgeous, delightful sweetness to it.
Good thing the longevity is amazing on this one as well.
Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture
For that creamy and rich vanilla tone, check out Viva La Juicy Couture.
Launched in 2008, the scent starts with wild berries and a juicy mandarin. At the heart, there are notes of honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. The base is a blend of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and pralines.
Viva La Juicy Couture is seductively sweet but it’s just right. If you prefer perfumes that wouldn’t induce headaches, then this is for you.
The performance on this one is not so impressive, though. The sillage is on the moderate side. It’s more airy and light. I also wouldn’t recommend this if you’re after something that has great longevity.
This is more of a mild, perk-me-up fragrance.
Cotton Candy by Demeter
Demeter is an interesting line of fragrances. It tries to replicate the scent of common but pleasant aromas not often captured in perfumes.
Some of its themes are Marshmallows, Rain, Garden, and Salad. One variant that they have is Cotton Candy.
Cotton Candy by Demeter is a sugary, light scent. It captures the fun and playful experience of eating cotton candy. It has strawberry and coconut touches to it. You’ll also find some hints of vanilla and caramel notes to it. You do get a synthetic tone on this one.
Don’t spray on too much as it gets a bit nauseating when blasted on. It wouldn’t help to use too much as well. It wouldn’t really make the scent last longer which is unfortunate since the longevity on this one isn’t too good. You can expect just about 2-3 hours of wear from it.
The Demeter Cotton Candy perfume is an isolated experiment that really captures the essence of the “cotton candy” scent.