Gourmand

Brown Sugar

Note Profile

Prepared 322 perfumes

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About

Brown sugar in perfumery evokes the rich, sweet scent of caramelised sugar, with molasses and toasted warmth beneath. It gives a cosy, dessert-like quality that makes fragrances feel indulgent and comforting. The note is popular in gourmand fragrances, where it strengthens edible, sugary accords.

Also Known As

Brown Sugar Accord, Black Sugar

Scent Profile

Brown sugar smells warm and sweet, of caramel, toffee and molasses. A toasted, slightly nutty edge adds depth, and a faint boozy note sits underneath. It reads thicker and warmer than plain sugar, close to a vanilla pod. The edible sweetness lingers softly into the drydown.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~24h lasting

Family Sweet & Gourmand

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

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ScentArt

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Materials That Can Make This Note

Brown Sugar is usually an accord, a blend of several materials, such as:

2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine roasted · burnt · coffee
Acetic acid sour · vinegar · acidic
Cyclotene maple · coffee · honey
Furaneol strawberry · caramellic · pineapple
Hexanal grassy · fatty · plum

Smell words come from published sources.

Allergens perfumes with this note can list: Bitter almond, Vanillin

A given perfume with this note may use some of these, or something else, and may or may not contain the allergens above.

Origin

Brown sugar cannot be extracted for perfumery, so the note is built from aroma chemicals. Maltol and ethyl maltol give the caramel sugar, and vanillin adds the vanilla side. Together they mimic the caramelised sugar and molasses of culinary brown sugar.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use brown sugar primarily in the heart and base of gourmand fragrances to add sweetness and warmth. It blends well with vanilla, tonka bean, praline, and spice notes, as well as fruity or creamy accords.