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Classic perfumes will always have their place on vanities, but the allure of a trendy scent is hard to resist. In 2023, the fragrance industry was booming with bottles featuring buzzy notes just like that. From nostalgic vanilla to syrupy gourmands like pistachio, consumers and brands embraced the trendy wave. Now, fruity perfumes have taken the spotlight.
But these aren’t your typical fruit notes. Instead of sugary and juicy, these scents lean more into unique flavors such as tangy, tart, bitter and ripe. “Although fruity fragrances are a constant fan favorite, especially in the U.S., we’re seeing a movement towards more sophisticated types of notes to create new profiles,” says Dana Steinfeld, SVP of brand incubation and product innovation at Maesa.
Of course, seasonality plays a role in what scents people want to wear. Come spring and summer, earthy, woody and spicy fragrances are often swapped out for fresher and lighter perfumes. “With summer just around the corner, it makes sense that notes like mandarin and bitter orange are beginning to spike,” says Addison Cain, beauty strategy and innovation manager at Spate. According to data collected by Spate, the fruity perfume trend isn’t replacing traditional aromas as much as it is expanding the range of fruit notes to include more niche scents.
Featured Experts
- Dana Steinfeld is the SVP of brand incubation and product innovation at Maesa
- Addison Cain is in beauty strategy and innovation manager at Spate
- Chriselle Lim is the owner and creative director of PHLUR
- Jasmina Aganovic is the founder and CEO of Future Society
Why Are Fruity Perfumes Trending?
Unlike a signature scent, fruity perfumes offer a fun take on the category. “People are less scared to try new scents now and are more open to the idea of a fragrance wardrobe, making it easier to lean into unique perfumes,” says Chriselle Lim, owner and creative director of PHLUR. And the data suggests just that. According to Spate, unconventional fruit notes have sky-rocketed in search over the last year, with mandarin, bitter orange and peach leading the charge.
Many of these notes stick to the traditional seasonal profile, but Cain explains that TikTok has also played a role in their popularity. “Fruit perfume hashtags on the platform have increased 296.8 percent since last year,” she says. It’s hard to ignore the influence PerfumeTok has on the fragrance industry. “Creators have introduced new ways of communicating about scent, advancing the vocabulary from the easily identified fruit notes to a broader understanding of how juicy fragrances can be created from multiple sources,” says Jasmina Aganovic, founder and CEO of Future Society.
There’s also a nostalgia element that aligns with social media’s obsession with Y2K beauty. “Fruity scents are frequently linked to memories from childhood, like fruity candies,” says Lim. She continues, mentioning that the fragrances are easy to describe since the notes are quite tangible.
Yet, the appeal of fruity perfumes is widespread and reaches just about every generation. “In the past, the category has leaned younger due to the playful nature of the scents. But with a shift towards a more functional fragrance, the mood-enhancing properties of fruity notes have opened up the demographic,” says Aganovic.
Steinfeld adds that the range of styles and, more importantly, the vast number of different fruits mean that there’s something for every age group. “Fruity scents are complex, with so many facets that can make a fragrance feel both sweet and earthy,” she says.
The question isn’t whether or not fruit-forward fragrances are for you, as much as which one piques your interest. Below is a list of 21 unique but equally impressive fruity perfumes to put to the test. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite or two to slip into your rotation this summer.
The Top Fruity Perfumes To Try
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This sustainably made bottle houses an equally impressive scent featuring mandarin orange, fresh basil and green tea. It’s invigorating and aromatic, but also refreshing—like taking a sip of a tangy spritz on a hot summer day.
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A unique blend of fresh, sweet and woody, this perfume is as complex as it is pretty. The top note is a lush pink rhubarb that’s kissed with strawberry. But as it settles, rose and earthy cypress notes come into play. The result is a playful scent that begs for brunches and nights out.
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Fruits and herbs are a common combination for fragrances. But instead of balancing a sugary scent, the bay leaves in this cologne enhance the deep tart notes of blackberry. Together, they create a brambly aroma that’s charismatic and fresh.
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Remember Victoria’s Secret’s Strawberries and Champagne scent? Well, this is the antithesis of that. Instead of focusing on the sweeter notes, it harnesses the crisp, ripe aromas of freshly picked strawberries and blends them with plum, amber and fresh florals. The resulting fragrance is complex, sensual and absolutely unforgettable.
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If you enjoy the subtly citrus aroma of earl grey, this is the scent for you. The black tea accord is laced with bright, bitter notes of grapefruit and bergamot but feels delicate thanks to honeyed neroli and jasmine.
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Fruity gourmand and woody accords unite in this interesting blend by Future Society. Herbaceous vetiver and crunchy pink sugar set the tone for the luxe notes of pistachio, red currant, lychee and Turkish rose to follow. Like all of the brand’s scents, Solar Canopy also features notes of an extinct flower to deliver a truly unique experience each time you wear it.
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Everything Tom Ford does is sexy, so you should expect nothing less from this peachy scent. A vibrant mix of saccharine stone fruit and bitter blood orange, straight from Sicily, it’s a whole Italian vacation mood in a bottle.
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As the name suggests, this scent is all about the flavors that dominate Caribbean culture—think juicy mango, fresh ginger, and spicy pimento pepper. But despite its bold blend, the fragrance feels distinctly gourmand and elegant thanks to luscious ribbons of cream and amber.
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Somehow, Byredo managed to produce a fragrance that embodies an entire fruit basket. A quick spray brings fresh aromas of black currant, fig, apple and peach, while spicy hints of cardamon and sweet notes of praline round it out. Like your favorite dessert, it’s good to the last drop.
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Inspired by the Nicaraguan home of the brand’s founder, Papaya Isla evokes the peacefulness of an island oasis. At the heart, you’ll find tropical fruit notes in perfect harmony with lush green scents and earthy aromas. One spritz is all that’s needed to transport you away, but a few more will ensure this captivating scent lingers all day.
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Who doesn’t love the bright, floral and delicious taste of lychee? This luxe bottle from Parfums de Marly captures the essence of the fruit and blends it with pear and grapefruit for a vibrant burst of freshness. Perfect for glamorous soirees and elegant evenings, it’s a scent to covet.
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One look at this bottle, and you know you’re in for a magical treat. The scent is a mélange of trendy fruit flavors, including açai berries, matcha, black currant and floral notes of rose and white flowers.
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Smoldering summer nights beg for splashes of this punky scent. It proves familiar fruits like apple and raspberry can have a sultry effect when blended with headier aromas like black currant, saffron and patchouli.
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Orris root is the unexpected sleeper scent in this perfume. When dried, it delivers rich aromas of raspberry and violet that are offset by the peppery nature of the root. Add the concentrated Mara strawberries and hints of bergamot and black pepper, you’ve got a fragrance that’s as memorable as it is delicious.
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Mango is a notoriously difficult scent to replicate, often skewing too sweet and tropical or too bitter. Vilhelm gets it just right by composing a cocktail of complementary flavors, including blackberries, jasmine and pink sugar, while notes of black pepper and black lotus smooth it out.
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Crisp, juicy and bold blood orange scents are the star of this perfume, but it’s not the only citrus you’ll find in it. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll get the bright, lemony aromas and herbaceous notes of basil and oakmoss.
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Aesop’s Erémia embraces the vibrant and tangy flavors of yuzu that have become popular in the culinary and cocktail scenes. Sweet and subtly sour, it pairs perfectly with grapefruit, green tea and waxy florals to make a refreshing summer scent.
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Your first thoughts of pear may be juicy and syrupy sweet, but this scent leans into the jammy nuances of the fruit. It’s elegant and clean, thanks to the bright Koji pear base and Bulgarian rose aromas.
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Inspired by the oh-so-delicious Bellini cocktail, this perfume embraces sweetness with a twist. Passion fruit and apricot blend together to create a nectar-like scent that’s delectable and rich without being too cloying.
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Grapefruit and plum may seem like an odd pairing, but they actually play very well together. In this new scent from Maison Louis Marie, the bitter notes from the citrus rind mix with the sweet plum nectar to deliver a juicy and fresh fragrance.
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The icy exterior of this bottle will instantly upgrade your perfume collection, but the liquid inside is just as enticing. Berries and stone fruits combine with fragrant notes of mimosa and jasmine before bottoming out into a mellow musk. It’s elegant, beautiful, and has just the right amount of freshness for effortless wear.
