40 Days and 40 Nights of Fragrance Notes: Gourmands

Gourmand fragrances are any scents that are "foodie" in nature. These fragrances can smell like a decadent cupcake or a crisp fall apple. I have a great appreciation for a dark chocolate note and anything with gooey marshmallows. Coffee adds a great jolt to a fragrance dry down.

Kilian's Love Don't Be Shy is a spongy, sweet confection of a fragrance. The inspiration is the marshmallow. Love Don't Be Shy is a bold sugary minx.
My first impression was that it was a great homage to Guerlain. There is a heavy Shalimar influence. Love Don't Be Shy might be sweet but there is an undercurrent of mystery. There is a metallic honeyed Neroli note with a fairly grand Sambac Jasmine. There are appearances from Rose and Iris. The dry down is a great buttery vanilla with a cloud of musk. The sillage and lasting power is strong in this Kilian.

The queen of all the gourmands is the legendary Thierry Mugler's Angel. It is chock full of sweetness. The gourmand notes are dark chocolate, caramel,coconut and cotton candy. I wore Angel throughout the 90's. It was an odd choice to pair with Doc Martens and vintage 1940's dresses. I loved its unique charm. I also loved that it was challenging to find in Ohio. I had to drive to Cleveland's Saks Fifth Avenue to purchase a bottle. Today you can find a bottle of Angel at your local Macys Department store and Wal-Mart. Angel has spawned many copies and tribute fragrances. It also inspires great love or hate among fragrance junkies. Angel will always have a special place in my heart. It was the fragrance that accompanied the best years of my life.

Donna Karan has a series of fragrances that are inspired by the apple.  All worthy and accurate.
But the best apple fragrance is Molinard's Caramel Pain d'epice.  It is all kinds of apple cider with a dollop of cinnamon. Gorgeous and perfect for the beginnings of fall.

Chocolate Fragrances:
Thierry Mugler Angel
Serendipitus
Bulgari Omnia (white chocolate)
Serge Lutens Borneo
Chanel Coromandel (white chocolate)
Fresh Cannabis Santal
Tom Ford Black Orchid
Ralph Lauren Notorious
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire #2
Vera Wang Princess
Sarah Jessica Parker Covet
Cartier Le Baiser Du Dragon
Avril Lavigne Black Star
Bond 9 Coney Island
L'Artisan Pigment Brulant
S-Perfume 100% Love: This is supposed to be a life changing gourmand. I have never smelled it!
Demeter Junior Mints
Demeter Chocolate Chip Cookie
Demeter Devils Food
Comme des Garcons Series 7 Sweet: Spicy Cocoa

Cotton Candy:
Aquolina Pink Sugar
Demeter Cotton Candy
Thierry Mugler Angel

Caramel:
Dior Miss Dior Cherie
Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy and Juicy Couture
Thierry Mugler Angel
Jessica Simpson Fancy
Hard Candy Hard Candy
Estee Lauder Pleasures Delight
Escada Escada Collection: A great sweet but dark fragrance!Love and cherish my bottle.
Lulu Guinness Fairytales

Marshmallow:
Kilian Love Don't Be Shy
Mariah Carey M
Coach Poppy
Guerlain Le Petite Robe Noire #2

Coffee:
Bond 9 New Haarlem
Jo Malone Black Vetyver Cafe
Comme des Garcons Series 7 Sweet: Wood Coffee

Apples:
Dolce & Gabbbana Light Blue
Molinard Caramel Pain d'epice
Donna Karan DKNY Be Delicious
Donna Karan DKNY Red Delicious
Donna Karan DKNY Fresh Blossom
Frederic Malle Outrageous
Katy Perry Purr
Clinique Happy
Anna Sui Dolly Girl

Let us know your favorite gourmand fragrances in the comments!


Reviewer: Annie
Graphic Credit: Melanie Parker
Photo Credit of Stay Puft Man: Wikipedia
Disclosure: All products mentioned in this review have been sniffed or purchased by the reviewer.
The sample vial of Kilian's Love Don't Be Shy was provided by Bergdorf Goodman

Vogue Beauty: Kilian Fragrances

"As for her own vanity table, Matisse-a longtime fan of Givenchy Ysatis and Guerlain Shalimar-plans to christian it with her first fragrance in years. After sniffing her way through Hennessy's entire collection(for fall, he's introducing an addictive eau de parfum, Prelude to Love, Invitation), she's smitten with Love, Don't Be Shy. It's a soft, unusual floral based on an early-twentieth century marshmallow recipe and tempered with notes of iris and neroli. "What can I say?" She Laughs. "In the winter, I've been known to keep marshmallow fluff in the studio." (Sophie Matisse)

Credit: October Vogue and Blogdorf Goodman