Sweet Scents For The Holiday Season

By Marilisa Racco

‘Tis the season to indulge in sugary delights from sugar plums and candy canes to shortbread and sticky toffee pudding. We’re all for indulgence, but why not go guilt-free? Satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping your sugar rush in check by spraying on the sweet stuff instead of ingesting it. In the fragrance world, these sweet-enough-to-eat scents are called gourmand fragrances, or foodie fragrances, and they’re associated with nostalgia, warmth and comfort. Typical gourmand fragrances are composed of “edible” notes of vanilla, chocolate, honey and other notes inspired by dessert. Not that perfumers don’t think outside of the pantry. This crop of fragrances sates our sweet cravings with sparkling berry notes. Don’t worry — these aren’t isnt cloying Strawberry Shortcake scents. Decidedly more sophisticated, they use spicy notes like musk, amber and earthy wood alongside the sugar to evoke warmth, mystery and an unmistakable lust for the sweet life.

DKNY MYNY
Described as having a modern, urban spirit, this fragrance uses top notes of raspberries, galbanum and accents of pink pepper; middle notes of Egyptian jasmine, freesia and orris root; and finishes with patchouli, vanilla, musk and ambergris.
From $55,  Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay

Daisy Marc Jacobs Hot Pink Edition
A richer interpretation of the fragrance’s original namesake eau de toilette, this limited edition eau de parfum is round and sparkling. Top notes of wild strawberry are complemented with violet petals, gardenia and jasmine at its heart, and finished with white woods, birch and cedar wood. A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the Look Good Feel Better charity.
EDP, $85, Shoppers Drug Mart

Comme des Garcons Play Red
Boundless creativity in a bottle is how this fragrance is characterized. Warm and complex with sweet notes of juniper berry, mint, lime, basil, jasmine, Mastic tree, abelmoschus, vetiver and cedar make for a bright and unconventional scent.
$132 at Sephora; comme-des-garcons-parfum.com for other locations

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Gold Couture
A glamorous and decadent scent, this is a luxurious spin on the original Viva La Juicy perfume. Top notes of wild berry and honeysuckle mingle with golden amber and melted caramel. It’s what the brand calls a couture overdose.
From $84, Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay

L’Artisan Parfumeur Mure Et Musc Extreme
A true gourmand fragrance, this amped up version of the original Mure et Musc boasts more intense top notes of fruit and a musky base. Orange blossom leaves, blackberry, red berries and the addition of blackcurrant make this a deep scent ideal for those special nights.
$194, Sephora