Sweetness is becoming increasingly necessary in a world that seems to serve bitterness on a silver platter. Gourmand perfumery comes to our rescue like a marzipan steed, leaving behind a vanilla-laced trail that wraps our steps in a cloud of pastry-like rêverie. And like every beautiful thing, sugar, too, follows the rhythm of the seasons, moving from the spiced intensity of autumnal cinnamon to the boozy notes of winter, blending with white flowers in spring until it reaches summer. The warmer months are, in fact, the most difficult when it comes to olfactory pyramids that tickle the tender side of our taste buds: because of their intensity, gourmands are often abandoned as temperatures rise, leaving a moment of glory to fruity scents that blend coconut and pineapple into a tropical smoothie. And yet, there are some fragrances that have found the secret ingredient to turn notes of milk and sugar into a symphony of candied freshness. We are talking about mint. Used in its syrupy version to create ice creams, popsicles and chilled drinks, in perfumes it replaces the cherry on top of an imaginary cake and becames the crystallized leaf on a bon bon, creating the perfect recipe to distill a dessert into the scent of summer.
From Japan With Freshness: When Sugar and Mint Meet
J-Scent, On a Cloud, $ 110
There is always an amuse-bouche that teases our senses to prepare them for a generous banquet. On A Cloud by J-Scent is exactly that, the first, delicious taste of a new interpretation of gourmand fragrances. Created in 2024 by the Japanese brand, it was conceived to evoke the fluffiness of cumulonimbus in the sky, when they take on that particular milky shade, streaked with a delicate green-blue nuance. In the top notes, there is a sparkling peppermint that almost seems to dissolve into the heart notes, where sugar and vanilla triumph. Wrapping everything in a feeling of absolute creaminess is the base note, a warm, soft milk, the kind that leaves a greedy little mustache on the lips after a generous sip. Poetic yet kawaii, like Japan’s multifaceted culture, On A Cloud is one of those fragrances from which there’s no going back.
Milk and Mint ‘all’Italiana’ Against the Summer Heat
ThoO, Amore, $ 220
Presented at Esxence 2026, Amore by ThoO is the decisive step toward mint gourmand fragrances. Created by perfumer Cristian Calabrò, the scent is a concentrate of caramelized freshness and belongs to the Crazy Collection, which focuses precisely on the pairing of unusual ingredients, rarely used in perfumery or apparently incompatible with one another. Peppermint cream, fresh mint, milk, coconut, musk and sandalwood thicken into an olfactory pyramid that celebrates the imperfect beauty of Italian summers, where the most intense contrasts know how to find perfect balance. With vibes that evoke an afternoon snack by the lake or the brave attempt to enjoy a mint gelato while cycling, Amore represents Italy’s true love for things that are unique, at times bizarre, and certainly unforgettable.
