Not Marshmallow, Not Vanilla—The Rich, Milky Fragrance That Will Be on Everyone’s Necks This Winter

Gourmand lovers, lean in: The note to watch this winter is truly good enough to eat. Although, the space is growing increasingly refined with less of an emphasis on spun sugar and more of a buttery, toasted, somewhat savory appeal. We’ve already seen this shift in consumer tastes (pun intended) with the rise of marshmallow-infused blends—milky, bouncy confections that have a slightly toasted creaminess. Now, that toastiness takes a step further with the jump in rich, dulce de leche-inspired perfumes.

Allow DSM-Firmenich perfumer Erwan Raguenes to explain: “After the surge of milky, marshmallow-soft scents, richer edible notes like caramel and dulce de leche are emerging as new lead players, bringing a creamy, textured sweetness that feels warm and winter-ready,” he previously told WWW about winter fragrance trends. What is a dulce de leche-like scent, you ask? Simply imagine that sweet, silky sauce bottled—smooth, buttery, and slightly nuttier than your run-of-the-mill caramel. That complexity gives it a rich depth that keeps the overall blend from giving you a sugar rush, so even the gourmand-averse among us might feel inclined to give the note a try—especially after browsing these 11 mouthwatering scents below (many of which are marked down for Sephora’s holiday fragrance sale when you use the code SAVESCENTS at checkout!). I’d shop them now before the trend officially reaches fever pitch in 2026, and let the “You smell so good!” comments commence.