The Biggest Perfume Trends In 2025: Everyone has different tastes in fragrance, but in any given year, certain trends influence what you can expect to smell everywhere. Wherever you went in the mid-2000s, you couldn’t avoid the sandalwood-infused scent of Le Labo Centelle 33, which dominated the fashion industry. Then, saffron and ambergris scents became widespread, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 became the fragrance du jour. Byredo Vanille Antique has been a dominant force on the scene in recent years.
Similarly, in 2025, fragrances are still going in a very tasty route. Food is the focus of the majority of popular fragrance trends, such as citrus, vanilla, and almonds. Instead of being overpowering or synthetic, 2025’s food-themed fragrances are delicate, complex, and incredibly wearable. Learn about each of the trends in perfume that are becoming more and more popular below.
Table of Contents
“you smell good”
Grown Up Vanilla
Modern vanilla fragrances aren’t overly sweet or overpowering like some of their more traditional relatives. Next-generation vanilla fragrances, on the other hand, are approachable, versatile, and captivating. According to The Fragrance Foundation’s president, Linda Levy, “vanilla continues in so many ways.” Imagine a blend of vanilla with unexpected smell elements like leather and smoke.
Citrus Burst
This year, citrus is also showing up in fragrances. “The infusion of citrus forward scents is giving spring fragrance notes a new twist,” Levy explains. Twists of lemon, orange, and grapefruit give scents a lively, brilliant quality.
Nuts and seeds
What is one unexpected fragrance that will be popular in 2025? nuts. According to Arnaud Guggenbuhl, global head of marketing, insight & image at Givaudan, “nutty and seed-like notes—like hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, and sesame—are helping create fragrances that feel edible and comforting.”
Saltwater taffy
The most energizing fragrances to sample this year will take you to a windswept rock. Water and salt are two basic notes that are responsible for it. “These notes draw on the essence of life’s origins, evoking the purity and depth of water,” Guggenbuhl explains. While driftwood and mossy seaweed provide layers of depth, the mix of ocean wood and mineral salt evokes the rocky shoreline. Clean aldehydes give a contemporary, refined appearance while encapsulating the ocean’s unadulterated energy and revitalizing, grounded essence. When combined, they take you to the ocean’s core and give you a sense of its might and wonder.
Surprising Scents
2025 will undoubtedly be a year full with surprising fragrances. This is the perfect moment to experiment with your scent if you’ve ever desired to. Additionally, umami, savory notes like pizza (Snif’s Slice Society), herbal, earthy notes like moss (Dries Van Noten’s Mystic Moss), and grassy, fragrant notes like matcha (Le Labo’s Thé Matcha) are becoming more popular in perfumery. Not only can these scents draw attention, but they are also very versatile.