Gourmand

Caramel

Note Profile

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Also Known As

caramel drizzle, gourmand caramel

About

Caramel is a note that recreates caramelised sugar. It is built from synthetic compounds such as maltol, ethyl maltol and furaneol. It smells rich, sweet and creamy, like melted sugar with buttery, slightly toasted tones and a hint of burnt sugar. It is used in the heart or base of gourmand fragrances for warmth and sweetness.

Scent Profile

Caramel in perfumery has a rich, sweet, and creamy scent reminiscent of melted sugar with buttery and slightly toasted undertones. It can evoke notes of vanilla and a hint of burnt sugar, creating a comforting and edible impression. As it develops, caramel may reveal subtle nutty or milky facets, adding depth to gourmand accords. It carries a jammy fruit sweetness and a faint amber-like resinous warmth under the sugar.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~48h 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

Perfumers can build Caramel around this material.

Ethyl maltol strawberry · caramellic · fruity

Smell words come from published sources.

A given perfume with this note may use some of these, or something else.

Origin

Caramel is recreated in perfumery using synthetic aroma compounds such as maltol, ethyl maltol, and furaneol, as natural caramelised sugar is not suitable for fragrance use. These molecules are blended to mimic the complex aroma of caramelised sugar. The note does not come from direct extraction but from careful formulation in the laboratory.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use caramel primarily in the base of gourmand fragrances to impart warmth, sweetness, and a sense of indulgence. It pairs well with vanilla, tonka bean, praline, and fruity or nutty notes, as well as with florals to add a creamy, edible dimension. Caramel is used to evoke a cosy, comforting mood or to enhance the richness of dessert-inspired compositions.