The Fragrance Trends Defining 2026
Your signature scent is dead—and that might be the best thing to happen to perfume in years.
That's just one of the shifts reshaping how we think about fragrance in 2026. Here's what else is defining the moment.
Gourmands Grew Up
Vanilla-caramel-chocolate scents aren't going anywhere—but they're maturing. The sugary body sprays of the 2010s have evolved into sophisticated compositions that happen to be edible-smelling.
Think: vanilla blended with oud. Chocolate layered over leather. Praline darkened with incense. Even savoury notes—bread, sesame, rice—are creeping into the gourmand category.
The new gourmands don't smell like dessert. They smell like someone who makes excellent desserts and also has impeccable taste in everything else.
Try: Flowerbomb (the floral-gourmand pioneer), Dolce&Gabbana The Only One (coffee and violet sophistication), or Love by Kilian for the ultimate evolved-gourmand experience.
Berry Season
Raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, jammy fruit—berry notes are having a serious moment. They bridge the gap between freshness and sweetness, reading as youthful but not childish.
This tracks with the playful, nostalgic aesthetic dominating fashion right now. The same impulse driving Y2K revivals is making berry perfumes feel exactly right.
Try: Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey (peachy-sweet), Bright Crystal Absolu by Versace (pomegranate and peony), or explore the fruity-floral world of Chloé Nomade.
Skin Scents Keep Growing
The "your skin but better" category shows no signs of slowing. These are fragrances designed to smell like you've just showered with something incredibly expensive, then done nothing else.
The appeal is intimacy. In an era of personal branding and carefully curated presentation, there's something quietly radical about smelling like... yourself. Just elevated.
Try: Jo Malone Orange Blossom or Wild Bluebell for understated elegance, Acqua di Gioia for a fresh aquatic take, or the Hermès Un Jardin collection for transportive subtlety.
Oud Evolves
Oud isn't going anywhere—but it's learning subtlety.
Yes, it's been trending for over a decade. Yes, everyone from designer to drugstore has an oud flanker. But the note itself—rich, complex, slightly animalic—still commands attention.
The difference in 2026: oud now plays a supporting role rather than dominating everything in a ten-metre radius. The "oud bombs" have given way to nuanced compositions where the note adds depth without overwhelming.
Try: Halfeti by Penhaligon's for sophisticated oud-rose, or explore the Lattafa Bade'e Al Oud range—particularly Oud for Glory—for accessible luxury that punches well above its price point.
The Death of the Signature Scent
This might be the biggest shift: people are abandoning the idea of one perfect perfume.
Instead, they're building fragrance wardrobes. A fresh citrus for morning meetings. A cosy vanilla for evenings at home. Something bold for nights out. Something subtle for Sundays.
Layering has gone mainstream. Brands now design scents meant to be combined. The question isn't "What's your signature?" anymore—it's "What are you wearing today?"
Memory-Driven Scents
The most interesting perfumes of 2026 aren't selling a fantasy. They're selling a feeling.
Fragrances designed to evoke specific memories—your grandmother's kitchen, a childhood holiday, the first apartment you loved—are resonating deeply. This is experience-driven consumption at its most personal.
It's not about status or trend-chasing. It's about emotion. The perfumes that connect to something real are the ones people actually reach for.
What This Means For You
If you're still searching for that one perfect signature scent, you might be thinking about it wrong. The pressure to find The One can be paralysing.
Maybe the better question is: what do I want to smell like right now? This morning? For this occasion? In this season of my life?
Five favourites isn't indecisive—it's sophisticated.
Not sure where to start? Tell us what you're feeling and our AI will match you with scents for your mood, moment, or wardrobe.