Berry Good, Thanks! Six Freshly-Picked Fragrances Turning Heads Right Now
July 28 | 3 minute read
Words by Danielle Gay
Once confined to the top shelves of syrupy-sweet fragrance lovers, berry scents are being reinvented and it’s fuelling a massive comeback. Part of the neo-gourmand movement, berry fragrances are following in vanilla’s footsteps and moving beyond candy-coated accords in favour of layered formulas that reveal a grown-up twist.
Modern perfumeries are driving the renaissance thanks to next-gen formulas that focus on texture rather than sweetness – leaning into sharp blackcurrant, milky blueberries, crisp raspberry leaves and tart wine-stained accords.
Leave the body glitter and berry mist behind: our favourite formulas are drawing on notes that are hyperrealistic, using the fruit’s seeds, leaves or skin and layering berry notes with unexpected pairings like musks, minerals, woods and leather.
Here are six berry fragrances ripe for the picking.
The interpretation? In Bibbi’s world, that smells like fresh strawberries turned warm and amber-like thanks to ambroxan and musk, with mid-notes of macerated raspberry for a tangy edge. If you’ve been searching for a berry fragrance with cool-girl credentials, this is it!
If you’re nostalgic for your early ’00s body sprays but don’t want to take a trip back to the sugar rush of your teenage years (please don’t!), this is a sweet compromise. It’s a little decadent, a little indulgent – but won’t leave you smelling like a high school locker room.
No wonder it’s one of MECCA’s best-selling fragrances! Maison Crivelli Cuir InfraRouge Extrait De Parfum is the perfect first-date scent because it will do all of the flirting for you. Founder of Maison Crivelli, Thibaud Crivelli, wanted to convey the euphoric feeling of a summer music festival: the pulse of music, the heat of the dance floor and the cool sip of a fruity cocktail. It’s a fragrance that would last all day long at a festival too – it’s beloved in part for its next-level sillage (a few spritzes goes a long way).
A jammy raspberry accord is the hero here, paired with unexpected notes of leather, cinnamon and oud. It really lingers – like a good first date should!
Notes of juniper berries bring an after-hours vibe to this neo-gourmand fragrance, offset by spicy green mandarin, a floral heart of neroli and a woody-musky base. One last drink, anyone?
