Chocolate scents are the unsung heroes in the fragrance world, but have been steadily trending upwards in popularity. Part of the gourmand family (scents with edible, dessert-like aromas), chocolate perfumes don’t roar as much as a marshmallow, vanilla, or caramel note, but they are intriguing scents with lots more depth and richness.
Compliment magnets, cocoa or chocolate scents have that same allure as fragrances with a coffee note – you know they smell sensual, but you can’t figure out exactly why that is. Most are blended with other complemtary notes that either add something sexy or more complexity, like oud or florals, as well as other ‘edible’ accents.
We love them for being a little more niche than the more obvious gourmands, and here are our top 10 best chocolate perfumes for ladies.
What do Chocolate Perfumes Smell Like?
So what do chocolate scents smell like? They can be nutty, creamy, rich, or subtly sweet. Some are definitely in the dark chocolate or cocoa zone, while others might lean toward fudge or milk chocolate.
Generally, white chocolate is on the sweeter end. Like other gourmand fragrances, they can be influenced by what surrounds them, so choose wisely if you are a fan of different elements like florals, resins, or fruit notes.
Kayali Oudgasm Chocolate Oud EDP, €135.95/50mls
If you are a gourmand/foody scent fan, Kayali is the brand to look at; Mona Kattan is a master of this genre. Oudgasm Chocolate Oud is unexpected yet utterly delicious and decadent.
The scent opens with caramelised apple, then cinnamon and incense enter the room. The dry-down of dark cocoa, chocolate oud and cashmere wood lingers on the skin for hours. It’s the sexiest scent on this list of chocolate scents.
Aerin Rose Cocoa Parfum, €180.80/50mls
The ‘rich lady’ on our list of chocolate scents, Aerin Lauder’s nostalgic Rose Cocoa Parfum, also has a touch of oud in its base to extend its gourmand and floral essence.
Here, chocolate mingles with powdery rose to create a scent that is both feminine and unforgettable. As for the bottle and bow, this is a very giftable fragrance for the chocolate lover in your life.
Maison Margiela Replica Matcha Meditation EDT, €140/100mls
Matcha might be tea, but the base of this intriguing Margiela scent is sweet white chocolate. Another eau de toilette, the fragrance is airy and light, perfect for lovers of chocolate perfumes that aren’t heavy and rich.
Orange blossom, jasmine, and bergamot on a bed of warm woods add to the meditative qualities of this calming fragrance.
Akro Dark Eau de Parfum, €180.80/100mls
Akro Perfumes is a forward-thinking fragrance brand created by Master Perfumer Olivier Cresp, his daughter, Anaïs, and her partner, Jack Miskelly. Inspired by ‘addictive’ notes, its 15-piece fragrance line-up is unlike anything you’ve experienced, and the focus relies heavily on gourmand notes like lemon, coconut, vanilla, and whipped cream.
Dark by Akro is your new guilty pleasure. It has notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, cinnamon, hazelnut, and vanilla. Wear this and expect to be asked over and over why you smell good enough to eat.
Kilian Black Phantom Memento Mori EDP €256.95/50mls
We go to the dark side now with our favourite chocolate scents, and Kilian’s Black Phantom. Pirate-inspired (yes, really), this is bold, decadent, and altogether one of the best fragrances ever conjured up by the sexy Kilian Hennessy of the Hennessy cognac dynasty.
Black Phantom opens with a ‘Shin Shin’ accord, strong coffee and Caribbean rum, and its middle notes are dark chocolate, almond, and heliotrope, which has a soft and powdery effect. The dry-down of caramel, sugar cane, sandalwood, vanilla, and tonka gives the scent a creamy and sensual finish.
La Bougie Chocolat EDP, €60/50ml
An Irish buy is next on the list. From West Cork, La Bougie also offers a chocolate-scented candle that would be delicious over Christmas with a hot chocolate in front of the fire.
Here, perfumer Lucy Hagerty has combined traces of chocolate with a heart of jasmine and a cosy dry-down of amber. Simple, sophisticated, affordable, and very moreish.
Monotheme Cocoa Beans EDT, €39/100mls
Italian and vegan, Monotheme’s chocolate fragrance is unlike the rest. Here, the fragrance opens with pink pepper and pear, and jasmine and flirty tuberose emerge from the heart.
The dry-down is intoxicating: gourmand cocoa notes with spicy patchouli, and warming amber marry together for a memorable scent trail. Affordable and one of the nicest niche chocolate scents for everyday wear.
Le Monde Gourmand Rose Chocolat EDP, €20.34/30mls
Le Monde’s Gourmand Rose Chocolat is an easy-wear scent, and it’s our best budget buy on this list of chocolate scents.
A flirty interpretation of chocolate, it combines cocoa on a bed of pink musk and rose with a creamy sandalwood dry-down. For lazy weekend days, it’s a perfect scent to wear.
Clinique My Happy Cocoa & Cashmere Mist, €88/100mls
Clinique’s My Happy is a set of six fragrance mists that can be used individually or layered for a unique aroma. Cocoa & Cashmere is comforting and addictive, yet lightweight and easy to wear on any occasion.
The scent opens with vanilla and golden amber, then cocoa, musk, and jasmine appear. Pink pepper and honeysuckle complete the experience.
Sabrina Carpenter Sweet Tooth EDP, €33.89/75mls
We’ll finish our look at chocolate scents with one for the lovers of sweet fragrances. Sweet Tooth from the queen of pop, Sabrina Carpenter, delivers on the candy notes.
It opens with zesty bergamot and candied ginger, before melting into a heart of chocolate marshmallow, jasmine petals, coconut milk, and vanilla. Warm cashmere wood and sugared musks linger in the dry-down, and for an eau de parfum, it’s very reasonably priced.
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