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Of all the surprising fragrance notes popping up in the last few years—milk, violet, and pink peppercorn, to name a few—one of the most unexpected, and a personal favorite, is marshmallow. Not so much “ooey-gooey” as fluffy and sweet, these scents are here to carry you away on a cloud of lightly toasted comfort.
First, a quick history lesson: When marshmallows are mentioned, the “roasted at the end of a stick” variety may come to mind, but did you know that their name comes from an actual plant? According to the Farmer’s Almanac, marshmallow (also known by its Latin name althaea officinalis) is an “herbaceous perennial native to Europe” that blooms in the summer months and has long been used as an ingredient for medicinal treatments, dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt. The confectionery treat differs considerably from the original herb (which is considered to have little to no scent) and is typically what perfumers refer to when listing marshmallow as a note, including the (many, many) marshmallow-touting fragrances launched recently.
If you’re hesitant to try anything that sounds remotely edible, let me be the first to say that, yes, gourmand scents can be a tad divisive. Thanks to their historical association with certain treats—vanilla cake, coffee with cream, honeycomb—they carry a reputation of being overly sweet, even immature. I keep a stash of trial- and travel-sized samples, and whenever I ask friends or family what types of scents they’d like to give a shot, they’ll often say that they’ll “try almost anything, as long as it’s not too sweet.” But the range of gourmand fragrances spans wider than it gets credit for and—as with any other category—there are bound to be some scents you fall for and others that make you cringe.
Plus, while most of the following perfumes are gourmands, it’s worth noting that the inclusion of marshmallow does not make a scent inherently so (the same goes for caramel, honey, vanilla or even sugar itself). In short: Don’t be afraid to try something outside of your comfort zone. Your next favorite fragrance is out there—and it might have notes of Jet-Puffed créme.
A velvety blend of fruity (bergamot, pear) and floral elements (violet, orris) overtop soft, silky notes of marshmallow, cashmere, and white amber, Ellis Brooklyn’s Sweet is an elegant example of a scent that features marshmallow notes without being super sugary.
Top notes: ambrette, bergamot
Middle notes: violet, orris, heliotrope
Dry notes: marshmallow, white amber, cashmere
If decadence is more your thing, look no further than Heavy Cream from Phlur. It is absolutely delectable and, despite its name, surprisingly light and fresh. Unlike many of the scents on this list, this fragrance features marshmallow in its top notes (along with citrusy notes of lemon and orange), so you’re instantly transported to a sugary, yet sophisticated cloud nine.
Tip for my fellow gourmand fans with a nostalgic streak: Layer Heavy Cream’s Hair & Body Mist with Phlur’s Tangerine Boy Eau de Parfum. If you’ve ever smelled a Creamsicle and wished it could be bottled into a perfume (just me?), this combo is it. Plus, Phlur’s affordable price point and variety of formats make experimenting with multiple scents a far more accessible endeavor.
Top notes: lemon sugar, marshmallow, orange
Middle notes: jasmine blossom, coconut cream, vegan ambrettolide
Bottom notes: vanilla mousse, salted caramel, whipped cream
A magical facet of fragrance is its ability to transform over time. When I first spritzed Moon Carnival on my skin, I was instantly hit by its vibrant fruity and bright floral notes of passionfruit, gardenia, tuberose, and bergamot. Maybe I’m just easily swayed by monikers, but it brought a beautifully lit nighttime “carnival” to mind. Throughout the day, though, I started to notice its evolution into a warmer gourmand-type scent—a welcome shift for the evening that can be attributed to its base notes of marshmallow, vanilla, and tonka bean.
Top notes: passionfruit, bergamot, pink freesia
Middle notes: tuberose, gardenia, orchid
Bottom notes: marshmallow, tonka bean, vanilla
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One of our favorite floral fragrances on the market right now, NOYZ’s Love Club scent builds on its marshmallow and woody base, balancing its smokiness with lighter citrus and floral notes. Its warm, velvety finish makes it an excellent scent for the transitions of summer to autumn and autumn to winter.
Top notes: saffron, sichuan pepper, Italian mandarin, bergamot
Middle notes: Tuscan leather, Turkish pink rose, wild raspberry, violet
Bottom notes: whipped marshmallow, ebony woods, patchouli
With notes of strawberry, vanilla, and marshmallow, this perfume from Kayali (the fragrance brand created by Mona Kattan) is one of the most gourmand numbers on this list, so if you love all scents of the sweet variety, this fragrance is for you. Mixing fruity and creamy elements, Yum Boujee Marshmallow is a warm, dessert-like winner for confectionery fans.
Top notes: pink lady apple, Italian lemon, freesia, nectarine blossom
Middle notes: orange blossom water, pink marshmallow, strawberry, coconut flakes
Bottom notes: whipped vanilla, raspberry sugar, pink musk, ambrox, Kayali signature accord
When you’re feeling dry and itchy, body lotion can be a godsend, and when a great formula is accompanied by delicious notes like marshmallow, vanilla, and caramel, it only adds to that silky, comforting feeling, like a warm blanket enveloping your skin with hydration. Enter: Fenty Beauty’s new Toasted Marshmallow iteration of its famous Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream, a sweet, shimmery body lotion that gives your skin a golden glow. With texture this fluffy and a fragrance so alluring, it almost feels edible.
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Not ready to commit to a full eau de parfum just yet? At just 10 bucks, this delicious lip balm from Ded Cool is an inexpensive way to see if marshmallow-spiked scents are in the cards for your future fragrance library.
For marshmallow purists, there’s Demeter Fragrance Library’s sweet, simple Marshmallow Body Lotion. If body lotion isn’t your thing, that’s OK: this is just one of the many formats the company offers with this scent. Others include body splash, shower gel, and even diffuser oil, should you be inclined to use marshmallow in your home rather than on your skin.