I am a woman of routine. Almost every morning, I wake up, make a cup of coffee, and settle onto my couch to read a book. It is something I look forward to the night before as I prepare for bed. To me, coffee symbolizes a new beginning—a fresh start to the day. The aromas rising from my cup awaken my senses and attune me to the world around me. Coffee has the power to expand, elevate, and sharpen the human experience, much like perfume. In fact, fragrance is also a part of my daily rituals. Before I leave my apartment, I spritz perfume on my pulse points. Both rituals—coffee and fragrance—ground me, as they do for many others. Is it any wonder that coffee and espresso notes are trending in the perfume space?
“Coffee is deeply familiar and comforting, evoking warmth, energy, and ritual—qualities that naturally draw people in,” says Nick Hoang, the founder of D’Annam, a fine fragrance brand from Vietnam, when asked about the trend. Gil Clavien, the nose behind Scent Beauty Me Espresso Eau de Parfum, agrees. “It’s a widely loved note because it evokes warmth and indulgence, a balance of relaxation, connection, and motivation,” she explains. “It brings a feeling that’s both grounding and uplifting.”
Design by Kaitlyn Collins / D’Annam / Scent Beauty / Unsplash / Byrdie
“Scents are an emotional experience,” she adds. “In uncertain times, it’s a way to feel grounded, reassured, and even indulgent. There is a desire for comfort-driven scents. Much like comfort food, people are gravitating toward fragrances that feel warm, familiar, and soothing.” Nostalgic scents can act as a weighted blanket for the senses, evoking feelings of safety and security to the front of one’s mind while pushing aside anxiety and stress.
Modern gourmand fragrances have been around since the ’90s, but according to Hoang, those earlier versions were more synthetic. “The new wave of gourmand scents is more photorealistic and immersive, making them feel fresh and exciting,” he says. The coffee note itself isn’t new, but Hoang explains that it had often been “built around a woody base” giving it “a darker, more traditionally masculine character.” However, recent interpretations of the scent have “expanded its appeal, incorporating gourmand and even floral elements.” Take Maison Margiela Replica Coffee Break Eau de Toilette, for example, which combines lavender with a coffee accord. Or Akro Awake Eau de Parfum, which features lemon notes. D’Annam Vietnamese Coffee Eau de Parfum “balances deep espresso with sweet condensed milk, creating a nuanced and gender-neutral appeal,” Hoang adds.
Design by Kaitlyn Collins / Maison Margiela / Akro / Unsplash / Byrdie
Coffee itself is aromatically complex. “If you took a bag of coffee beans, from a high-quality independent roaster and made fragrances using the notes on the bag, then I think you’re going to get awesome perfumes,” says perfumer Josh Meyers of Imaginary Authors. The brand collaborated with Absolute and Kahlúa during last year’s holiday season and launched a limited-edition espresso martini perfume, and it’s planning to release a new fragrance in April featuring coffee notes. “Coffee is an interesting element to add to a perfume—it can make the scent more engaging, fun, and playful,” says Meyers.
That playful element was key in developing Scent Beauty Me Espresso Eau de Parfum, a fragrance inspired by Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song. “Much like Sabrina Carpenter, the scent needed to feel magnetic–confident, sweet, and utterly captivating,” explains Clavien. “The combination of ingredients beautifully captures the atmosphere and feeling of savoring an espresso—whether dusted with cocoa powder, drizzled with caramel, or paired with a crisp biscotti. It evokes a sense of richness and indulgence, infused with a touch of playful charm.”
Coffee as a note is versatile—you can shape it into whatever scent profile you prefer. “I think coffee is one of those fun notes that you can use to make a gourmand, but it’s not necessarily a gourmand in the sense that it’s not overwhelming or overly sweet,” says Meyers. “Coffee notes are delicious, nuanced, and multifaceted. They’re easy to manipulate into something sweet, creamy, or bitter. You can do a lot with it.” Much like the start of a new day, with the hours stretched out before you, the possibilities are endless.