Think You Don’t Like Sweet Scents? Think Again. Here’s How to Pick the Right One
Main image – Carmenpalma/Stocksy
Lychee, jasmine and coconut – the scent profiles for Ted Baker’s Floralicous Kasia sounds pretty good, and the fruity number does indeed smell nice. So, when I tried it recently, why did I caveat my first spritz with a casual “yeah I like it, and I don’t normally like sweet scents.”
And I’m not the only one – my mum, my friends, my colleagues – these peeps have all claimed that certain sprays are “a bit too sweet for me.”
Image – Ted Baker
But back in my teens, my bathroom cupboard always had a place for the candy-like Britney Spears Fantasy (just found out this launched in 2004… wow). Since, I have told anyone who’ll listen that sugary spritzs aren’t my ‘thing’. I think I was trying to look cool among my beauty journo peers, but I fear I have been quick to judge.
According to one study, 45% of under 45-year-olds use fragrance to express themselves through scent, so it’s only natural that I see my perfumes as part of my personality. But, why is it anyway that I have been associating syrupy aromas with uncoolness? Britney is an icon.
I had to know, so I carried out a wee Instagram survey AND I’ve asked the fragrance experts. Olfactive O founder Olivia da Costa and Nissaba founder, Sebastien Tissot have explained everything.
Where has this attitude towards sweetness come from?
Simply put: we don’t want to seem generic. Tissot says that: “with overly familiar, mainstream scents—those commonly found in duty-free shops, often built around synthetic molecules like praline or artificial vanillin. The notes, while appealing to a broad audience, can come across as overly commercial, basic, and lacking originality. For some, that alone is enough to feel turned off: too mainstream, too generic, too “chemical.”
Da Costa adds that we might be turned off by intensity. “It’s actually not the sweetness itself that they are reacting to, it’s the intensity of the scent or the associations around this. For example, we may associate sweet scents as being quite young and almost childish. We may worry they will be so sickly sweet and there can be a notion that edible gourmand notes are less sophisticated.”
When I carried out my Instagram survey, 35% of you said that you love all sweet scents, the rest were on the fence. One of the reasons? “I don’t usually reach for them. But I can get on board if they are done in a sophisticated/unusual way.” We all want to feel special.
Interestingly, Da Costa mentions emotional triggers: “Fragrance is very unique and personal, its often triggered by an emotional memory and even sometimes a memory from childhood. So, a sweet vanilla gourmand may trigger happy nostalgic memories for some, while for others it might have the opposite effect.”
Scent profiles: Decoded
Here’s the helpful stuff. I’ve broken down what scent profiles *actually* mean, and what perfumes to try if you’re on the fence.
- Sweet
Tasty sprays: think brown sugar, apple pies and crème brûlées.
You probably don’t need me to explain what sweet smells like, but not ALL sweet perfumes smell like a Haribo strawberry (AKA the smell of feeling sick in the cinema and joy), lots are layered with other ingredients for depth and sophistication.
So, like, what’s cool right now? Tissot says the people are loving pistachio and cherry. Which explains why M&S have just released a £10 (?!) Pistachio eau de toilette. I’ve heard great things about M&S perfumes, and I will be trying this.
Image – M&S
If you don’t think yourself of vanilla, try Edeniste’s Vanille Irresistible before you give up hope – I wear it in jumper season. It is like wearing a hug. Heady vanilla is layered with leather accents and woody accord that makes you feel like you’re being hugged all day long. You should totally ask for it for Christmas. You might also like Nissaba’s Grande Ile, which balances treacly caramel and vanilla with pink and black pepper – it doesn’t smell sugary, it’s just super comforting.
Not convinced? Before you abandon sweetness – trial smoky, woody scents. Olfactive O Floral Smoke has top notes of orange blossom, but also spicy black pepper, and is blended with smoky myrrh and a woody base.
- Floral
Botanical goodness: think garden centres, herbal teas and walks in the woods,
“I don’t like rose perfumes; they’ll make me smell like a grandma.” My friend one said. But did you know that over 90% of women’s perfumes contain rose?
It’s true that rose makes up the base of most perfumes, you probably just haven’t noticed. But there’s loads of other floral scents to explore – think lilac, orchid, daisies and peonies.
Floral fragrances can smell light and springlike, but some are infused with sage, wood or oud notes for a warmer, heavier appeal. If warm and heavy is your bag, try TOM FORD’s Oud Voyager. The heart of rich and woody oud is enveloped in rose and geranium.
Image – Maison Crivelli
I personally LOVE Maison Crivelli Hibiscus. It’s one of those “you smell amazing, what are you wearing?” scents. I like to absolutely soak myself in the stuff before meeting my friends, and it now reminds me of kind reassurance and deep-belly laughs – though it smells like hibiscus and pomegranate.
- Spicy
Packing a punch: think sprinklings of pepper, freshly baked cinnamon buns and chai lattes.
Tissot describes spicy fragrances as “fascinated and often unexplored. Spices bring a bold, sensual energy and can elevate a scent with warmth and depth. Notes like cinnamon, cardamom, and various peppers add intrigue and comfort, creating an enveloping, almost tactile experience.”
Image – Maison Margiela
If you’re like me, and you need a Caffè Nero loyalty card for pumpkin spiced latte addiction – you probably don’t need more convincing. But remember that spicy scents don’t all smell like puddings – they can be fresh, warm and sour, and can even include notes like ginger and coriander. In the Hermès Twilly Eau Ginger Eau de Parfum, ginger is the star of the show, and is complemented by peony and cedar.
Tissot explains that spicy scents “blend harmoniously with florals like rose or with woody bases, adding complexity and contrast that make the scent truly memorable.” If you think you don’t like spicy notes, then the Maison Margiela Replica on a Date Eau de Toilette might change your mind. The spice is there (thank you, pink pepper), but rose and blackcurrant syrup softens the punch.
- Woody
Forest fantasies: lazy summer days, freshly cut grass and mossy woodland.
Deep woody notes are often used as a fragrance base, as they make a great layer for lighter, fresher aromas on top. But that doesn’t mean that you’ll smell like soggy old bark. Woody sprays can give soft, subtle calmness. Da Costa says she’s “feeling futuristic green notes. Aromatic, earthy notes which connect you deeply to nature and people, a complete counterbalance to the world of Ai, smartphones and technology. I’m thinking hay, Angelica, shiso and a bouquet of wild herbs and aromat.”
Image – Bon Parfumeur
For an escapist botanical wonderland of a spritz, experiment with the Bon Parfumeur Eau de Parfum. Temperature-raising wood and incense is blended with rosemary and coriander and – wait for it – pineapple for a fruity zing. Prone to a cardamom bun? You’re craving Maison Margiela Replica Autumn Vibes.
- Fresh
Light and airy: icy lemon sorbets, crashing ocean waves and early winter walks.
The ‘fresh’ category has always confused me a bit – the word fresh reminds me if the smell of bleach or Lenor adverts. I have avoided this category in the past, as some fragrances can smell a little synthetic, reminding me of public toilets.
But this isn’t necessarily the case. I always spritz the Grace de Monaco Promenade Sur Le Rocher before big meetings and press days. It makes me feel fancy. Don’t be deceived by the amber, vanilla and musk description – it has this cotton fresh quality that smells like luxury, darling.
Image – Olfactive O
If you’d love to spend your summers swanning around Italy, squeezing lemons and drinking fizz all afternoon (wouldn’t we all?) then the fragrance equivalent is Olfactive O Citrus. The bottle says: “I am sparkling, spontaneous and enchanting” and I wear mine when I need a pick-me-up.
Takeaway
Still think you don’t like sweet scents? That’s totally fair enough – but if you try any you like, then you’ll have to let the Live That Glow team know so that we can try, too!
As Tissot says: “Fragrance should be approached the same way you would music, art, wine, food, or literature—there are infinite possibilities, and the key is to stay curious, explore, and learn.” So go on out there, spread those fragrance wings, let your nose down, and cause absolute chaos in Sephora trying all the samples.
Meet the experts
Olivia da Costa is founder and creative director of British fragrance house Olfactive O
Sebastien Tissot is CEO and founder of Swiss fragrance brand Nissaba fragrances.
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