The increase in tomato fragrances

Once a kitchen staple, tomatoes have found their place in the fragrance world. Their distinct, captivating scent has become popular in perfumes, candles, and home fragrances. Let’s explore what makes this trend so unique.

Tomato fragrances offer a savory, refreshing aroma that lifts your mood and invigorates your space. The earthy, green notes of tomato make for an appealing scent. The process involves extracting the natural oils and essences from the tomato and blending them with other complementary scents to create a unique fragrance. Perfume content creator Abby Cadet says they work perfect for those who enjoy green, earthy aromas and want something different from the usual floral or fruity perfumes.

Tomato scents can smell crisp and fresh without citrusy, earthy, and slightly bitter notes. The nostalgia of tomato leaves evokes memories of gardening and summer days. Read on to learn more!

Versatility and the connection to nature

The versatility of tomato scents has become a game-changer in the luxury market. From high-end perfumes to candles and cleaning products, tomato fragrances can smell fresh, herbal, earthy, sweet, or crisp. This balance between the fruit’s sweetness and the vine’s greenness offers a range of unique and surprising options. Experts recommend considering how the tomato scent interacts with other notes in the fragrance and its overall impact and longevity. For beginners, layering the tomato scent with a complementary fragrance can help ease into the new aroma.

Vegetal accords, such as tomatoes, bring people closer to nature. Inspired by gardening and the feelings of calm, these scents resonate with those seeking alternatives to traditional summer fragrances. The trend towards eco-elegant vegetal stories, inspired by greenhouses and pantry ingredients, is gaining traction. Brands like Diptyque are leveraging the therapeutic connection to nature and the home with products inspired by the scent of fresh vegetables and herbs, offering a sense of comfort and peace.

Garden-inspired aromas are gaining popularity as brands celebrate humble plants, creating intriguing ingredient stories and elevated sensory experiences that connect with nature. For instance, Flamingo Estate’s Tomato Collection features a candle that pays homage to fresh garden scents like tomato leaves and basil. Similarly, Brûler Candles in the UK markets the Greenhouse Collection, centered on beetroot, rosemary, and basil. High-street giant Zara’s Basilicum candle exudes a fresh aroma, while Byredo’s Sweet Grass candle combines top notes of clary sage and mirabelle with musk, ciste, and powdery orris for a verdant scent. Bistro Waters by D.S. & Durga captures fresh and savory notes with grassy green peppers, just-chopped herbs like basil and coriander, and a dash of nutmeg.

With the rise of #PerfumeTok and a growing interest in backyard beauty and homegrown ingredients, vegetable-based scents are transitioning from niche to mainstream. The hashtag #VegetableGarden has amassed millions of views on TikTok, indicating a significant shift in consumer preferences. This trend extends beyond fine fragrances to personal care and home scenting, with vegetable notes appearing in haircare, deodorants, body mist, and home fragrances.

Pioneers and innovations in vegetable perfumery

In the world of perfumery, vegetables are becoming a main attraction. L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Le Potager collection and Officine Universelle Buly’s Les Jardins Français line lead the way with innovative fragrances featuring vegetables like cauliflower, fennel, and even artichoke. US-based Nette‘s second candle collaboration with Tata Harper features violet leaf and rose notes inspired by Tata Harper’s lush, ingredient-rich garden. Similarly, St Eval’s Garden Path collection captures the essence of secret gardens, while US-based Loam Candles has launched two new scents featuring fresh, earthy, and vibrant florals.

At Symrise, the Garden Lab platform marks a significant step toward sustainability. Dedicated to vegetable studies, it explores nature’s fragrances with a vast scent reservoir that connects consumers to nature. Thanks to a collaboration with the nutrition experts at the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment of Symrise, artichokes, asparagus, leeks, cauliflowers, and onions feature in perfumers’ baskets. SymTrap technology extracts perfume materials from food side streams, enabling Symrise to create a collection of fragrances from 100% natural raw materials.

A fresh future for fragrances

As vegetable-based perfumery continues to evolve, the possibilities look endless. From the nostalgic aroma of tomato leaves to the unique scent of artichokes, the future of fragrances is rooted in the garden. Incorporating vegetables into perfumes provides a refreshing twist and aligns with the growing consumer demand for sustainable and nature-inspired products.

So, the next time you search for a new perfume, consider which vegetable appeals most to you – you might feel surprised by the fresh twist it brings to your fragrance collection. Ongoing research in vegetable-based perfumery promises new scents, offering consumers a closer connection to nature and a unique olfactory experience. Comment below which fragrance you’ll be trying!

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Smell the aesthetic

Are you favoring Dark Academia or #BookTok? Then we would like to introduce a coordinating scent to you (Byredo Bibliotheque)! TikTok’s #PerfumeTok, showcasing fragrance trends and aesthetics, has garnered 6.4 billion views, closely followed by #FragranceTok with 2.3 billion views.

In addition to curating fragrances to trending styles, influencers and followers seem to have Fragrantica, the ”perfume encyclopedia,” set as their home page. Interestingly, the TikTok community has also resuscitated and revived tried-and-true classic fragrances. In 2024, new perfumes will promote mental wellness, fragrance clubs will facilitate discovery, and workshops will offer customized experiences. Smelling excitement, read on!

Scent & emotional well-being

Smell closely links emotion, learning, and memory. The World Taste and Smell Association was founded during the pandemic when millions lost their sense of smell. In addition to trade, they host virtual events like the recent “Smell Can Change The World,” hoping to create an understanding of this often overlooked sense.

Women’s Health Magazine highlighted some fantastic fragrances that may offer a brain boost. A few noteworthy entrees include Pacific Chill, Louis Vuitton’s first “wellness fragrance,” which sharpens focus with peppermint, orange essence, basil, carrot seed, and black currant. Nette Rose Parade Eau de Parfum, a mix of neroli, rose, and ylang-ylang, reports to improve mindfulness by 109 percent. After wearing The Nue Co. Mind Energy, a combination of clary sage, juniper, and clove, for 30 days, 86% of wearers reported increased focus. Symrise and other ingredient companies are investing in the wellness of fragrance!

Fragrance Clubs

Wondering how to choose fragrances and discover new favorites? In that case – get ready for an ever-emerging fragrance club scene. Scentbird, a respected player, begins by asking prospective members to take a quiz to “indulge in new designer scents every month.” Skylar provides fragrance enthusiasts with a monthly rollerball with their top-selling Salt Air. The brand hosts the world’s largest Scent Club, boasting over 10,000 members.

Limited edition scents, exclusive discounts, fragrances to layer, and sampling keep members happy. Wicked Good offers limited-edition fragrances and surprises for those who want unique choices.

Perfume Workshops

As do-it-yourself experiences and global travel up trend, fragrance follows suit. Featured in Vogue, U.K.-based Experimental Perfume Club offers an Academy and online perfume courses for hobbyists to professional development. Molinard Parfums in Nice, France, welcomes visitors for a Classical Perfume Workshop that Trip Advisor reviewers note as the highlight of their visit. New York Magazine writer Kitty Guo, a self-proclaimed fragrance aficionado, challenged herself with Los Angeles-based The Institute for Art and Olfaction and their DIY fragrance kit.

With #PerfumeTok and the fragrance world responding with new developments and experiences, let us know how you plan to scent your future!

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The beauty of bottles

When you remember yourself as a child: Did you ever awe at your mother’s collection of artsy perfume bottles or your father’s cool, sleek bottles of cologne? The classic bottles glistened in the sun like gems – wearing crowns in whimsical shapes. These bottles hold precious ingredients and also display as an objet d’art that captures the story of the fragrance. To achieve this packaging designers are drawing inspiration from art and architecture. They adapt to our emotional and wellness wishes inspiring fragrance compositions. We observe exciting trends for you that define a new generation of these “gems.”

Collectible through collaboration

The recent collaborations between fragrance brands and musicians, fine artists and designers have given birth to limited editions and miniature works of art. Byredo’s founder Ben Gorham and Mumbai-based photographer Ashish Shah showcased the work of local artists to decorate a limited edition of Mumbai Noise – reminiscent of the founder’s childhood in Mumbai and highlights the vibrant counterculture of the city. Gucci joined forces with Korean tattoo artist and illustrator Miki Kim to create limited-edition artwork for the brand’s Flora Gorgeous Gardenia fragrance. Lastly, Korean brand Tamburins, collaborated with ceramicist Bae Sejin on Object Collection Candle. Each container evokes the reflective calm generated by the scent.

Fragrance, bottle it sustainable

Wellness and sustainability continue to influence fragrance creation. Brands experiment with novel approaches to perfume design by also caring for the bottle’s afterlife. While we may not judge a book by the cover, we do frequently judge a perfume by the bottle. For example, the refillable bottles help many fragrance brands achieve their sustainability goals as consumers want to unite luxury and planet-conscious packaging. So how can brands care for the environment and keep designs luxurious and fun? Kenzo knows the answer! With their special Flower by Kenzo bottle design. You may refill the wooden Japanese-inspired kokeshi doll and also keep it as a collectible item. Another Brand – Dries Van Noten introduced a new fragrance collection featuring ten whimsical and collectible flacons. Each refillable flacon surprises with a unique design encompassing upcycled materials. To pronounce their exclusiveness they also give you a matching key to unlock the cap to funnel for dispensing.

Caps lock

Caps crown the unique look of a bottle like Dries Van Noten’s perfumes. Or they figuratively define the perfume impression by transforming a generically shaped bottle. France-based Atelier Materi crafts tactile caps for its fragrances, each unique through hand-painted gold swirls. Off-White’s first fragrance launch, Paperwork, references industrial design with a dramatic crimson-dripped, grip control spout cap atop a minimalist bottle. While Guerlain’s L’Art & la Matière collection allows individuals to personalize designs from a matrix of cap plates, assorted cords, colors and custom bottle engraving.

As fragrance becomes more personal and emotional, designers and brands make sure to reflect this sentiment in the bottle’s design. What bottle has wholly grabbed your attention? Do you collect perfume bottles? Do you follow these three trends when shopping for fragrances? What other trends are you seeing? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below!

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The sound of fragrance

You might typically consider music and scent two separate arts. Actually, they go together pretty well. Both comprise notes, evolve, tell countless stories, and trigger an enthusiastic response. The smell of a cashmere sweater reminds us of a favorite party (and all the music we remember). Scent can even remind us of important people in our lives. Many of us also connect these individuals with songs. It feels like true magic when music and scent come together to help bring about further connection and healing in our souls. Read on to learn more. 

The blueprint

Scentertainment— scent + entertainment— is quickly rising to the top of mind for both consumers and companies. Take Barilla and Spotify, a unique collaboration of multiple music playlists designed to help ensure people cook pasta for the correct amount of time.

Each playlist’s duration corresponds to the proper cooking time for the pasta shape, the name of which it bears. For example, the Mixtape Spaghetti playlist. Every song runs exactly nine minutes and three seconds. This indicates that listeners should cook spaghetti for that precise time to achieve perfectly al dente noodles.

Today’s popular iterations

You may definitely call Viktor & Rolf’s Spicebomb one of the most enduring and modern-day classic scents. Well, now the infrared edition brings sound, too! Citing the onset of COVID-19 as an inspiration for the project, the team at ICRAM Amflify wanted to create an immersive experience for scent-lovers. So many perfumeries and retailers closed during the pandemic. Bringing sound to scent became a way to connect with the consumer without the physical contact. Spicebomb’s notes artfully melt chili pepper, cinnamon, black pepper, and red berries. The team behind the sound created an experience conveying the scent’s hot and spicy notes. After countless tests and experiments, the sound became a success and hallmarks a new era for scent and sound. 

Candle Craze

Another trend emerging from the pandemic? Candle-core! People have started making candles at home. Now, they are scouring the internet for perfect aroma. According to the National Candle Association (NCA), candle sales have increased by over 30% since the pandemic. Timelier than ever, enter Scandle: the candle with a coordinating playlist. They offer a scent and a playlist for every mood. For example, chilled Music candle comes with songs featuring Fleetwood Mac. Simple Things spotlights music by Elton John. Just scan the Spotify playlist code on the back of your candle and enjoy the perfect scentertainment moment.

It also makes the perfect personalized gift that includes both customizations of sound and smell. How about giving your favorite scent and mixtape, too? Sometimes the most unlikely pairings turn out the best. Scentertainment brings the world of sound and scent together in a comforting package.

What do you hope to see combined in scent and sound next? Sound off in the comments!

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Indonesian Patchouli: The Silent Fragrance Star

Moldy, muddy, damp, and something you would rather connect with a dark window-less basement. Would you expect one of the most popular fragrance ingredients behind this description? The source of this scent looks quite bland. Patchouli – a low-growing leafy green plant, delivers one of the most popular fragrance ingredients. It also comes with a compelling story of how it contributes to your favorite scent. Let’s look at how Indonesian farmers cultivate this fragrance ingredient and how perfumers create lovely scents with it. 

Samsir cuts the patchouli plant a few centimeters above the dry earth using a small pair of garden shears. The sun burns hot on the hilly field deep in the jungle, far from any villages in the Sulawesi region of Indonesia. One can access the area only by steep, bumpy roads, making an all-terrain vehicle essential. The 47-year-old cultivates three hectares of patchouli and lays the snipped plants out to dry on tarps. Then, a short while later, he cuts the plants he grew earlier into ten-centimeter pieces using a long knife that he fashioned out of a sharpened piece of metal taken from a car. This process ensures that more valuable oil remains inside the plants if cut after dried.

The farmer then carries the tightly stuffed sacks to a crude field distillation unit located on the pothole-littered road some 200 meters away. An employee has lit a fire under the large container, and the water is already boiling. “Once it begins to steam, we fill the still with dried patchouli herbage,” says Samir, explaining the process. Within seconds, the air fills with the intense fragrance of the perfume oil, carried by the steam. It cools slowly inside a pipe while the oil separates from the water flowing into a pail. The farmer can extract around 0.6 kilograms from 30 kilograms of dried herbage.

One of more than 500,000 farmers, Samsir cultivates patchouli alongside corn, soy, cocoa, cashews, and coconuts. The plant forms an integral part of their livelihood. Even if many generate no more than four or five liters of the precious oil per week. It accounts for a significant income due to its high value.

A Long-Standing History

For many scent-enthusiasts, the story above often remains hidden. So often, we, as consumers, know little about the products we use and how they come into our lives.

Patchouli occupies an iconic position in the perfume industry. The emblematic aroma –often described as intense, spicy, earthy (used widely in chypre and oriental fragrances) adds depth and sensuality. Finding its way into nearly all aromatic products, from fine fragrances to shower gels and detergents, the precious oil ranks in the top 10 natural raw materials for fragrances.

Patchouli entered a more mainstream awareness during the ’60s counter-culture movement, where the extract appealed as a natural deodorant, strong enough to mask the smell of alcohol and marijuana.

At the same time, the ingredient holds a long-standing history as a trending ingredient in men’s and women’s fragrances. For example, the classic Monsieur Givenchy, created in 1959, acts as the first widely distributed fragrance for men by Givenchy and a new vision of masculinity. For women, how can we forget the iconic Aromatics Elixir by Clinique? As the oldest perfume from the house of Clinique, circa 1975, the notes comprise verbena, sage, chamomile, and patchouli as the base. After its Reintroduction in 2007, the current bottle features a retro atomizer, adding the perfect nostalgic flair.

And today, we can find patchouli everywhere, from Tom Ford White Patchouli,  Maison Margiela Music Festival, to Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia. This adds to the reasons why to note the ingredient’s history and current consumption.

A Sustainable Future?

Often produced in remote locations in Indonesia, farmers still lack the proper techniques to cultivate this crop safely. While Symrise partners with local suppliers to bring sustainable practices to the area, consumers and companies need to learn more about this desirable ingredient. For example, new practices promote sustainable farming on Sulawesi Island in Indonesia (where 80% of patchouli remains harvested). In addition, by funding energy-efficient distillation units, carbon emissions decrease, and forests stay protected.

Additionally, the operators of the energy-efficient distillation units provide technical support, along with the farmers, who now own the skills to farm in a more environmentally friendly way. While nearly all of the world’s patchouli comes from one area, there remains a bright spot – more opportunities to enhance relationships with producers to cultivate patchouli more efficiently and safely. Patchouli denotes the scent of the moment. So what products do you want to see patchouli make its way into next?

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Embrace the Blues

Imagine a warm summer day. You are standing on the beach with soft waves teasing your feet. You watch the deep ocean blue merge with the sky far and away. You close your eyes and listen to the sound of seagulls and let the sunshine heal your soul. You feel renewed, energized by the different shades of blue.

The color blue does than causing the blues. More often, it stands for stability, tranquility, and a sense of reliability. In 2020, Pantone named Classic Blue the color of the year. It instills calm, confidence, and connection, We even saw the discovery of a new shade of blue–YInMn Blue, the first new blue pigment discovered in 200 years. So blue has officially come back in vogue: it enriches your wardrobe, your skincare routine, your perfume, and even your candle!

The Rise of Dopamine Dressing

For sure, our emotions connect with colors on a deep subconscious level. This expresses in our clothing too. According to Glamour, dopamine dressing is taking over after a year in cozy sweats. Dopamine dressing, in short, relates to wearing what makes you feel good and color forms a big part of it. Adding more colors to our wardrobe could make us happier and more confident. Beyond bright yellow or exciting red, seeing color has always created a subjective experience. So, wear your favorite blue loud and proud.

As a color, blue instills coolness and creativity. This has always made blue a popular choice for summer. This starts with a pair of Levi’s 501 in indigo, continues to a baby blue seersucker suit or a lapis slip dress, and culminates in a turquoise statement necklace. Blue offers boundless options.

Blue Beauty Movement

In 2020 we saw the blue beauty movement come into play. As part of the clean beauty movement, blue is the next wave of ethical standards and targets the pollutants in the ocIn 2020, we saw the blue beauty movement come into play. It integrates into the clean beauty movement. As such blue brings the next wave of ethical standards. It targets the pollutants in the ocean and, as you may guess, primarily plastics. Beauty brands have made it their mission to use safe packaging for the ocean and the environment. You can help keeping the oceans blue with the following products: https://www.beauty-heroes.com/blue-beauty/ To enjoy head-to-toe blue beauty, try My Black Is Beautiful’s Blue Ginger Hair Collection and Sunday Riley’s Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm.

 The Scent of Blue

What scent does the color blue evoke? Indigo waves, citrus sunrise, beach clouds, coral coconut, sea salt… Louis Vuitton has packaged Imagination in a translucent blue bottle, the scent boasting fresh notes that perfectly match summertime. YSL’s La Nuit De L’Homme Bleu Electrique uses inspiration from a different kind of blue, the kind that adds more mystique and intensity. The fresh and spicy men’s cologne blends oriental Cardamom with fragrant, floral notes of Lavender and Geranium. 

Blue as a Lifestyle

Many consider self-care the new healthcare. It starts with building a sanctuary out of your home, where you can practice mindfulness. Thinking about incorporating some blue into your daily routine? Try Paddywax’s sunny and colorful Realm collection. Haze, the blue vessel in the collection, embodies the scent of driftwood and fig. Niven Morgan’s Blue Candle emanates a fresh, intoxicating fragrance. It reminds you of a perfect sky reflected in the melted sapphire of a calm sea. These primary blues find expression in an elixir that blends exotic tropical wood and warm amber spiced with mandarin, bergamot, and the bright tang of lemon. 

How are you going to embrace the blues? Are you interested in trying any of the trends or How are you going to embrace the blues? Are you interested in trying any of the trends or products? Let us know what you think, and leave a comment below!

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An Apple a Day

Did you know that humans have been eating apples since 6,500 BC? What first comes to mind when you think of apples? Desserts—there is Thanksgiving Apple Pie, Chausson aux Pommes, Tarte Tatin, or Latkes. The options are endless! Cider? The last few years have seen a resurgence of the beverage. Brands are experimenting with fruity and spicy flavors as well as DIY kits to attract new customers. Apples are the gift that keeps giving. 

Apart from being a vital ingredient in desserts and beverages, apples are trendier than ever in the beauty industry. The fresh scent of apples have inspired fragrances like DKNY’s Be Delicious and Nina Ricci’s Nina. Also, the nutrients are utilized in skincare products like Laneige’s Apple Lime Lip Sleeping Mask and Briogeo’s Be Kind Kale & Apple Shampoo. And yet, there is still so much more to explore about apples. 

At Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont, we experienced almost 120 varieties of funky-looking fruit with funny names like Belle de Boskoop, Hidden Rose, and Northern Spy. Since apples are a member of the Rose family, we also smelled the flowers, which had notes of florals, fruits, and nuts. This rare and unique collection of apple varieties, from fruit to blossoms, will bring a whole new perspective to what you think of apples. Here are some of our favorites. 

Hidden Rose 

Hidden Rose Blossoms are made up of delicate, pink-rimmed florets with tinges of white that are sheer and delicate. The flower has an exciting fresh mixed floral scent with elements of Rose, Muguet, and Lilac. 

The Hidden Rose Apple is a true aesthetic and culinary delight! Discovered in an Oregon orchard in the mid-1960s, the pale green skin hides a wondrous surprise of bright pink flesh. This crunchy apple has a tart and mildly sweet taste reminiscent of sparkling Strawberry Lemonade.

Kingston Black 

The Kingston Black Blossoms comprise small clusters of dainty pink-tinged white flowers. These exquisite flowers release a sheer greenness with warm, honey-like undertones.

The Kingston Black Apple was named after Kingston, the central cider-producing region in the UK. Despite its name, the small round fruit has a deep red or purple-hued skin. Kingston Blacks cannot be eaten fresh but are best enjoyed in the form of hard cider. 

Zabergau Reinette 

The Zabergau Reinette Apple comes from the Zaber River region in Germany. It has a unique, sugary walnut flavor that develops after a long period of ripening. The blossoms are a luminous pale white and are particularly attractive. The fragrance has a green; sheer Muguet feel that is very voluptuous.

Ananas Reinette

The Ananas Reinette apples were grown in France and Belgium in the 1850s. Although small in size, they have a zesty, pineapple-citrus flavor that lends irresistible freshness. Ananas Reinette Blossoms grow along branches in small clusters of gorgeous, reddish-violet flowers. The blossoms are more fruity than other apple blossoms, with a nectarine/peachy aspect combined with a sheer freesia element.

Northern Spy

Introduced in the 1800s, the Northern Spy Apple was named after The Spy, the famous James Fenimore Cooper novel. Spies are large, reddish, smooth-skinned apples with juicy white flesh and crunchy texture. They are both subtly sweet and tart, with a rich aromatic flavor.

D’Arcy Spice

The green, russet D’Arcy Spice Apple originated from Essex, England, in the late 1700s. Traditionally, it was picked on Guy Fawkes Day and hung in cloth bags from the tree limbs until December. Notable for its crisp and aromatic yet spicy nutmeg flavor, the D’Arcy Spice Apple is commonly eaten fresh or used for ciders. 

Are you feeling inspired by the fresh scent of apples? Did any of these apples spark a particular interest in you? Let us know what you think, and leave a comment below!

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