The Top 7 Fragrance Trends Of 2026: Latex, Mochi & More

Meet The Experts: 

• Autumne West is the National Beauty Director at Nordstrom and currently resides in Seattle.
• Courtney Brunson is a beauty product developer and copywriter for international brands, based in Paris. She’s also the founder of Eleasium, a bespoke fragrance brand.
• Kudzi Chikumbu, aka Sir Candle Man, is a trailblazing fragrance expert and lifestyle visionary who stands alone as the world's top Black male fragrance influencer, with over 400K followers.

Trend #1: Notes Of Kink

We’ve lived through the era of skin scents, of clean aquatic scents, and sticky, indulgent gourmands, all of which have their place, but they’ve left us craving something a bit darker, more impulse driven, more kink-forward. Notes of latex, leather, musk, and brazen nods to the pursuit of pure pleasure are showing up more and more in perfumery. Kudzi Chikumbu explains why he hardly finds this surprising. “Some of the most popular fragrance videos on social media are all about "compliment getters" and perfumes that make people fall in love with you—this has always been a thing, but this has evolved into something more sensual, more intimate," he says. “We're seeing 'skin scent' transform into ‘sexy skin scent' and something deliberately provocative. My hypothesis? This is a reaction to our overly digitized world—people are craving real-life connection and physical intimacy, and fragrance has become the bridge.”

Vyrao recently released two fragrances which both feature a subtle latex note: Ludeaux is a soft, fuzzy peach scent with airy florals, creamy sandalwood, and a hint of latex, and Ludatrix with spicy Sichuan pepper, a lipstick accord, and latex at its heart to remind the wearer that they’re in total control. For something a little more dominant, Arquiste’s new Nocturnality is a love letter to the leather scene. Billed as an oud but brought to life with latex, neoprene leather, and black shoe shine, this jet black, shiny leather scent is a gateway to enjoying all of your erotic fantasies in broad daylight. Finally, if you’re looking for something a little less latex and leather and more pure skin and sweat. BORNTOSTANDOUT’s Filthy Musk is an ode to skin-to-skin contact and primal urges. A blend of pineapple, spicy nutmeg, and animalic musk at every layer of the scent, it’s all about satisfying your animal instinct and enjoying every second of it.

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Trend #2: In The Mood

From replacing happy hour with an ice bath to taking your meeting in a sauna, biohacking has permeated every aspect of our culture—so it’s no surprise that we’re seeing the same ideas reflected in fragrance. “More people are recognizing how closely scent and mood are connected, and that awareness naturally inspires fragrances that feel more intentional," says Autumne West, National Beauty Director at Nordstrom. "Aromatherapeutic cues—like lavender for relaxation or citrus for uplift—naturally translate into fragrance formulations designed to influence how we feel.”

Functional fragrance has always been a cornerstone of The Nue Co., and their new Nostalgia Collection is all about reawakening the comfort of childhood. The standout of this collection is Otherwhere, a soft, familiar, musky gourmand that feels contemporary and hypnotic, and promises to help comfort and restore emotional balance. Some functional fragrances can tend to seem stuffy and overly serious, but everything about NETTE’s bright, warm, creamy Lemon Puff is delightful, and promises to promote happiness and relaxation for a simple way to reconnect with joy throughout your day. Even body mists are getting into the functional fragrance game, as evidenced by Philosophy—each of the scents in the brand's body and hair mist collection were developed to have functional benefits, and their Pistachio Paradise, a surprisingly sophisticated and earthy pistachio, promises to promote feelings of bliss. Who doesn’t want a little more bliss?

"Initio Parfums Privés Oud for Greatness is a great example of scents designed to influence how you feel as much as how you smell," says West, who notes that the brand even hosted immersive experiences that look at how people respond to different scent profiles. "In a world where we're all talking more about emotional regulation, fragrance is being positioned as a tool for well-being," Chikumbu says. "It's perfume as ritual and medicine.”

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Trend #3: Sweet Man

For too long, almost all mainstream men’s fragrances have been about broadcasting a certain type of masculinity, one that was often bold, commanding, and overpowering. But as our relationship with gender evolves and expands, we’re seeing that reflected in the fragrances made for men. Instead of being based around assertive notes like cedar, bergamot, and metal, we’re seeing a lot of vanillas and ambers enter the chat for fragrances that feel made for the modern man, whoever he may want to be.

Take, for example, Prada Paradigme, an interesting and approachable blend of bergamot and musk at the top, a floral heart, and a woody, resinous base. It’s soft, but sports a subtle confidence with nothing to prove. Ralph Lauren is also exploring the sweeter side of men’s fragrances with Polo Rede Eau de Parfum Extreme, a blend of red ginger, vanilla bourbon, and leather for an invigorating take on the traditional men’s scent. Finally we have Ellis Brooklyn’s Vanilla Man. And, it’s all in the name, isn’t it? This scent features a surprisingly herbaceous build with a sweet resinous base, for a warm, rich vanilla that reads almost boozy. It’s grown, sophisticated, and knows that sweet doesn’t always mean soft.

“Growing up, I was always drawn to sweet fragrances—I'd wear Prada Candy, Miss Dior, things that were marketed to women—and as vanilla has become the dominant fragrance conversation, more men have been willing to explore sweeter profiles," Chikumbu says. "Now, you've got guys wearing Sweetie Aoud by Roja or Silky Woods by Goldfield & Banks, which are sweeter vanilla woody scents, because the idea of masculinity in fragrance has shifted. It's less about 'genderless' marketing and more about men feeling comfortable simply wearing the sweet, gourmand fragrances they've always wanted to wear.”

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Trend #4: Milks, Powders & Compacts

While a scented body product might not be groundbreaking, fragrance brands are standing ten toes down on high-end scents in multiple formats to take your layering game further than ever before. 2026 will be the year that layering gets taken even further, so far that you may not even need a fine fragrance to create a signature scent.

One of the most innovative formulas we’ve seen in a while is the new NOYZ MYLK, which boasts the intensity of an eau de parfum (15x the power of a body lotion, to be exact) in a milky serum format that nourishes skin. If you’re more about a solid perfume, you can’t sleep on Sidia. Their solid perfume collection is made up of their fan-favorite fragrances, Braless and Soaked, and the brand new Midas, housed in a small, weighty black compact that already feels like an heirloom. You can finish off your layering routine with a retro take on layering with body powders from Lush, a very vintage formula typically worn as the last step of your body care routine to add a little bit more fragrance and (sometimes) shimmer.

Different formats aren’t exactly new to market, as West will tell you, but they’re being adopted as new ways to experience and customize your scent. “I don’t view fragrance formats as a trend so much as an extension of personal expression," she says. "The formats themselves aren’t new, but the awareness around them has grown, and they give people more ways to experience scent depending on the moment, their mood, or the level of intensity they want.” She notes that at Nordstrom, fragrances like By Rosie Jane White Tee Body & Hair Perfume Mist and MATIERE PREMIERE Vanilla Powder Extrait are top-sellers.

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Trend #5: Café Fragrances

Little Treat Culture comes for us all. Now, instead of taking a break for a midday matcha or Instagrammable latte, you can access the same warmth, comfort, and indulgence in your fragrances that are inspired by all the same notes. Courtney Brunson, beauty product developer, says that contrary to popular belief, gourmands are not just for the super-young. "Gourmands blending familiar, sweet scents with non-traditional notes can make them feel more wearable and mature," she says.

Prada kicks us off with the new Infusion Santal de Chai, where the sweet and fiery spice blend meets the creamy softness of sandalwood, brightened only just by a touch of citrus and finished with a little musk to give it room to breathe. For a more coffee-forward take on the trend, Kayali brings us Freedom Musk Latte, where musk is darkened by cinnamon, a latte accord, lavender, and a base of grounding woods and chocolate musk (!!!) for a scent that’s mysterious, hypnotic, and obsession worthy.

As the matcha craze continues, more and more matcha scents are hitting the market, but Current Culture from niche fragrance brand Roan is not to be missed. It blends salty ocean breeze with a bit of white ginger and sweet, steaming matcha for a fragrance that’s as satisfying and centering as your midday refresh. If the warming spices of chai feel like they may be a bit too much for your everyday wear, might I suggest Belnu’s Chai Fleur, which balances the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom you’d expect from a chai fragrance with a creamy, plush dose of florals like lavender, cistus, and violet. It’s blended and blended so deftly that it could almost be mistaken for a floral fragrance, but one with a spicy secret.

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Trend #6: Mad For Mochi

Are you ever not in the mood for a mochi? I thought so. The chewy delights are becoming a fixation in fragrance, not only for their delicious sweetness, but their springy, starchy texture that makes them such a treat. It’s that same texture that many perfumes have brought to life through scent, and the below are a must-try for those who love the bite-sized snack.

d’Annam Strawberry Mochi is an example of why the up-and-coming brand is not to be slept on. It opens with a photorealistic rice powder note, so real you can almost chew it, and wraps it around a juicy red strawberry. It’s elevated, delicious, and truly something to get excited about. Dedcool added Mochi to everyone’s favorite musk for Mochi Milk, which creates a powdery sweetness that’s laser focused enough to cut through the musk, with a bit of starchiness to bring the mochi concept to life without overpowering the signature musk. Finally, for a sweeter take on the trend, Skylar offers a more fruit-forward, very pink mochi fragrance, featuring notes of lychee, sakura mochi, florals, liquid vanilla, amber, and woods. This is the sweetest of the bunch, and the one I’d venture to say is the most imaginative, youthful take on the note, and one that will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth.

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Trend #7: Forbidden Fruits

Fruits! We know them, we love them, and we’re finally getting away from the standbys like bergamot and red berries. There’s nothing wrong with those, but as perfume explores the furthest corners of orchards and gardens, consumers are craving bright, tangy, and unusual fruity notes. "Fruits carry a similar sweet, delicious satisfaction as gourmands, but with a more refreshing feel," Bruson says.There are also so many different components of fruit to play with in perfumery: the skin, pulp, seeds, juice and the plant itself.”

I’m obsessed with passionfruit so I may be biased, but By Rosie Jane’s new Matilda captures the tartness of biting into a fresh passionfruit, along with its juicy sweetness, and layered that with meringue, finger lime, and a bit of mango, on top of the signature sandalwood and musk base that is the through-line to her collection. I’ve always thought melon was underused in perfumery, and Hawthorne’s new Phantom Melon shows just how good it can be when given the chance. Muskmelon is blended with honeydew, geranium water, magnetic musk, stainless steel, and Co2, for a fresh, softly sweet, dewy, frosted fragrance unlike anything I’ve smelled before.

Did I mention I was partial to passionfruit? Disfruta by Lore is an absolute must-smell. Juicy passionfruit is blended with sweet agave nectar and smoky mezcal, for an absolutely craveable scent that will leave you dreaming about the next time you spray it on. "I love seeing creative ties back to the symbolism of fruit we’ve always seen in art," says Bruson. "Passionfruit, ripe red berries and apples all have a connection to classic art, femininity and fertility. Newer brands like Lore modernize that, almost carrying the same carnal, seductive approach to fruit you could find in a classic painting.”

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