Wellness, gourmand notes and personalisation

Key takeaways on perfume traits for 2026

• The worldwide perfume market is projected to achieve US$64.47bn in 2026, with non-luxury merchandise driving development.
• Wellness-focused scents and emotional perfumes are gaining recognition, with notes like lavender, jasmine and bergamot in demand.
• Gourmand and fruit-led fragrances stay sturdy, with raspberry and saffron rising as key notes.
• Personalisation by way of layering and the rise of physique mists are reshaping client perfume routines.
• Manufacturers are innovating with multi-sensory experiences and inexpensive entry factors to draw numerous demographics.

This yr, the worldwide perfume market is projected to generate income of US$64.47bn, in response to information agency Statista. It’s also forecast to attain a CAGR of three.18% between now and 2030.

Curiously, Statista additionally predicts that by the tip of 2026, 63.8% of complete perfume market gross sales will come from the non-luxury sector, with key markets to observe together with the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, the UK and Indonesia.

However whereas this clear and ever-growing demand for scent is simple, what sorts of fragrances do buyers need?

Wellness-conscious scents proceed to develop

Wellness continues to play an integral function in magnificence and private care routines. In consequence, extra persons are searching for dual-function merchandise that provide aesthetic advantages whereas boosting well-being.

Knowledge analytics firm Euromonitor highlights that perfume has turn out to be a device for psychological well-being, noting the rising demand for scents that enhance temper, scale back stress or promote leisure.

“Notes like lavender, jasmine and bergamot are more and more wanted for his or her soothing, energetic or uplifting properties,” it mentioned.

Perfume home Scentmate® by dsm-firmenich says fragrance is carefully linked to feelings and particular person identification. It cites information from NewNextNow Barometer, Wave 5, undertaken throughout 14 nations with 12,000 respondents, exhibiting that 80% of customers select perfumes that improve their emotional state, and 50% are keen on fragrances linked to a bodily or wellness profit.

This pattern spans perfumes, bathtub and self-care merchandise, and residential fragrances.

“Fragrance performs a key function in these routines, interacting immediately with the physique by way of scent, enhancing the pores and skin’s attraction, and providing emotional advantages tied to well-being and positivity,” it mentioned.

It provides that that is one cause why fruits, historically related to well being and power, are on the coronary heart of considered one of this yr’s important traits.

“Merchandise equivalent to Banana Break up by Jousset Parfums and Cherry Smoke by Tom Ford exemplify this pattern,” it mentioned.

Conversely, buyers are additionally searching for well-being, heat and self-indulgence in response to anxious, exhausting life, mirrored in comforting notes equivalent to honey and nectar. Examples embrace Honey Infused Hair Fragrance by Gisou and Tobacco Honey by Guerlain.

Meals-inspired notes and gourmand traits proceed

UK perfume retailer The Fragrance Store stories that its buyers more and more search consolation, escapism and emotional connection from what they put on – selecting perfumes that really feel cocooning and acquainted.

Head of Shopping for at The Fragrance Store, Karla Woolley, notes the demand for fruit-led perfumes that regularly reinvent themselves. Berry scents have loved a powerful few years, with launches equivalent to Tom Ford Misplaced Cherry, Burberry Her and Miu Miu Miutine. She says raspberries are the rising observe to observe:

“Sweeter than redcurrant but sharper and extra characterful than strawberry,” she explains. “Latest launches equivalent to Jimmy Choo I Need Choo with Love present rising curiosity within the observe, alongside a number of upcoming launches set to highlight raspberry.”

Woolley highlights the demand for fruit notes that really feel daring however refined:

“Raspberry provides sweetness with persona, making it excellent for perfumes that really feel expressive quite than overly sugary,” she mentioned.

Gourmand notes can even stay an enormous pattern this yr: “Creamy vanilla, tonka bean, caramel and tender milky accords proceed to resonate, however with a noticeable transfer away from overt sweetness,” she mentioned.

“Clients are nonetheless drawn to comforting notes, however they need them to really feel wearable and elevated. Gourmand perfumes have gotten much less about depth and extra about how they make you’re feeling.”

In 2025, perfumes like Tom Ford Soleil Blanc captured this completely, combining creamy pistachio and cardamom with a tender vanilla heat that feels comforting but polished. Equally, compositions constructed round brown sugar and vanilla bases, equivalent to Miu Miu Miutine, present how sweetness is being softened with florals and musks to create on a regular basis attraction.

In keeping with Shiyan Zering, Senior Analysis Analyst for Magnificence and Private Care at Mintel, edible perfumes are additionally rising, additional blurring the traces between perfume and flavour:

“These progressive creations mix aroma with style to ship a really multi-sensory expertise,” she mentioned.

Woolley additionally notes that spice is enjoying a much bigger function in shaping trendy fragrance traits, with saffron rising as a hero observe for 2026.

“It brings a heat and sweetness that feels luxurious with out being heavy,” she mentioned.

“Perfumes like Roberto Cavalli Serpentine Parfum present how saffron can add depth and richness when paired with jasmine, lavender and creamy vanilla-tonka bases,” she added, noting that cardamom and ginger are additionally gaining recognition.

Personalisation and physique mists reshape perfume routines

Personalisation is more and more influencing how folks put on fragrance, with layering changing into a key a part of the expertise.

“Moderately than counting on a single scent, buyers are more and more combining physique oils, hair mists and fragrance to construct a path that feels private and adaptable to their temper, the season or the event,” Woolley defined.

“With the continued rise of #FragranceTok within the UK, customers are extra knowledgeable and assured than ever, understanding notes and having fun with the method of experimenting with how totally different scents work collectively.”

In keeping with Vivienne Rudd, Senior Guide at Mintel Consulting, physique mists and sprays have loved elevated recognition lately and proceed to be a preferred selection. “That is largely as a result of their lower cost level in comparison with perfumes, making them enticing to customers wanting to save cash throughout financial uncertainty,” mentioned Rudd.

She highlighted manufacturers like Impulse and Salt & Stone Bergamot & Hinoki Physique Perfume Mist, which have efficiently focused each price range and status segments, with mists starting from £3 to £45.

“Customers usually use physique mists for on a regular basis put on and reserve perfumes for particular events,” Rudd shared. “Manufacturers are encouraging layering with different merchandise, like deodorants and lotions, to reinforce longevity and create personalised scent experiences.”

She added that mists are being positioned as lighter, extra refined options to conventional perfumes, interesting to those that desire much less intense scents.

Rudd mentioned that the gourmand scent has turn out to be the go-to olfactory profile, sparked by Sol de Janeiro, which has seen unbelievable success, notably within the travel-retail sector.

Mona L’Hostis, Director of Advertising for International Journey Retail at L’Occitane Group, instructed Cosmetics Design that buyers love layering scent mists or refreshing their scent on the go:

“In journey retail, mists hit the candy spot between indulgence and comfort, making them a standout selection for airport buyers searching for aspirational but approachable luxurious,” she defined.

“Fragrance mists are serving to drive development within the channel and capturing impulse purchases with a sun-kissed perfume expertise.”

Whereas Sol de Janeiro can attribute a lot of its success to its recognition with Gen Z perfume buyers, Rudd additionally highlighted the chance for manufacturers to innovate with much less candy, extra refined scent profiles to draw older demographics.

She additionally spotlighted the rising variety of status and luxurious manufacturers launching physique mists as an entry level for customers who could not be capable of afford higher-priced perfumes, or who need a low-investment choice that may be rotated with different physique mists.

Salt & Stone and Chanel are good examples of manufacturers introducing premium-priced mists with added skincare advantages.