Aromatic Awakening: The Art of Coffee in Fragrance Design

In a world where the boundaries between our morning ritual and our signature scent are deliciously blurring, coffee has become the aromatic muse captivating perfumers worldwide. From the steaming cup that awakens our senses at dawn to the complex coffee notes that linger on our skin at dusk, this beloved bean is experiencing a remarkable renaissance in fine fragrance. So now, we invite you to explore how coffee – once merely the companion to our daily routines – has transformed into the most intoxicating note in modern perfumery…

There’s a fascinating symbiosis between fragrance and flavour in how coffee enters the perfumer’s palette. Indeed, often these two teams of scientists-meets-creatives are based in the same building. Romantically, we could imagine famous noses sitting at their desks and raising their noses to discover where a delicious aroma is wafting from, tracing it to the basement of the Flavours department, and then jostling with their employees to be the first to use an exciting new discovery. Though one supposes it’s a rather more prosaic testing and development process than that fantastical scenario, before the food ingredient crosses the floor to the perfumers’ portfolio.

Quite apart from the reciprocal correlations between what we smell and taste (it’s commonly cited that up to 80% of ‘flavour’ is experienced through retro-nasal olfaction as we eat); another intriguing connection is the fact that, just as perfumers rely on fragrance wheels to navigate the olfactory landscape, coffee connoisseurs often employ tasting note ‘wheels’ – colour-coded charts of descriptive words – to hone their palates. The parallels between these sensory tools are striking, with both serving as visual guides to the complex world of aromas and flavours.

Whilst various versions of fragrance wheels have existed since 1949, it was Michael Edwards, a renowned fragrance expert and founder of Fragrances of the World, who revolutionised the concept in 1992 with his improved modern iteration. This wheel has since evolved to reflect contemporary fragrances and our ever-changing perception of scent. Because coffee professionals, much like perfumers, also undergo rigorous training to discern the subtle nuances.

The terroir, harvesting methods, processing techniques, storage conditions, and blending of coffee beans all contribute to a vast array of aromas and tasting notes, mirroring the intricate world of perfumery. One might describe a coffee as having ‘notes of sun-kissed berries with a whisper of jasmine’, or ‘a rich, velvety base of dark chocolate accented by a hint of smoky spice’ – descriptors that could just as easily grace the packaging or marketing of a perfume. This shared language of sensory exploration bridges the gap between the realms of coffee and fragrance, inviting we enthusiasts to savour the complexity of enjoying sipping and sniffing with equal passion and discernment.

What makes coffee such an intriguing note in perfumery is its remarkable versatility, and The Fragrance Shop 2025 trend report confirms that coffee notes are indeed taking centre stage in what they term the ‘neo-gourmand’ movement – a new wave of fragrances that are more sophisticated and complex than traditional gourmand scents. Often featuring coffee alongside other intriguing notes like matcha, rice, sesame, and nuts, this family of scents are what some are now calling ‘umami perfumes’ – the savoury counterpoint to sweet gourmands.

For those eager to explore this aromatic trend, why not lets some of these coffee inspired fragrances filter through to your daily rotation…?

4160 Tuesdays Black Velvet Cafe 

A deep, intoxicating coffee absolute weaves seamlessly with oudh and woods, creating a plush, textural experience that lives up to its velvet namesake. As it unfolds on skin, the warmth of tobacco and the earthiness of patchouli emerge, grounding the composition while allowing glimpses of brightness to shine through. The true artistry of Black Velvet Cafe lies in its evocation of that secluded corner in a subtly lit café – black velvet furnishings surrounding you, the comforting embrace of leather nearby, and that perfect espresso warming your hands – a sensory memory captured in a bottle that transcends seasons and occasions.

£50 for 50ml eau de parfum 4160tuesdays.com

Adscenture Turkish Delight

Beckoning you to Istanbul’s labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, where the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with exotic spices in the air. The journey begins with a vibrant burst of ginger and warm, roasted coffee notes that immediately transport you to a bustling Turkish café. As you wander deeper, the fragrance unfolds its heart of aromatic cinnamon leaf, smoky tobacco, and delicate geranium. But the true magic emerges in the drydown, where powdery Turkish delight confections blend seamlessly with creamy vanilla, resinous benzoin, and earthy labdanum, leaving a trail as mesmerising as the bazaar itself. This is an olfactory adventure that captures the essence of Istanbul’s sensory tapestry in a bottle.

£60 for 30ml eau de parfum in our Shop

Electimuss Caspian Cherry

Promising ‘a truly indulgent cherry confection of Bacchanalian intensity, served on a silver platter’, perfumer Kevin Mathys certainly delivers. Atop a burnished base of vetiver and white chocolate, luxuriant cherry is resplendent in almond liqueur and whipped coconut, while spiced honey, dark chocolate and a shot of coffee beckon you closer. Inspired by ancient Romans first tasting cherries, traded across the Caspian Sea; this is a complete feast for the senses.

£200 for 100ml extrait de parfum electimuss.com

Roja Dove Perfumery Chou Chou

Almost a century after their original launch, Roja Dove redesigned three fragrances created by 1930s perfumer Pierre de Velay. After translating the texts in de Velay’s diaries, his reinterpretations include this ultra-gourmand indulgence, in which a sparkle of citrus soon drifts dessert-wards, past violet and jasmine to notes of vanilla, coffee, milk chocolate, candyfloss, caramel, then on to a finale of oakwood, dry woods, amber and musks. One for those who take their coffee with plenty of sugar and relish the opulence, this is far beyond a grab-and-go latte: think delicately sipping while wearing an exquisite silk dressing gown and matching slippers, reading letters from a lover on a chaise lounge…

£495 for 100ml eau de parfum rojadoveperfumery.com

La Montaña Alfredo’s Café Candle

Coffee can also be captured in candle form, such as this stunner – inspired by a real-life café owned by Alfredo, this fragrance embodies the heart and soul of community life. As you light the candle, you can almost hear the lively chatter, hearty laughter, and the satisfying clack of dominoes hitting the table. This complex aroma took exceptional craftsmanship to perfect, requiring over forty iterations before achieving its final, captivating scent. The result is a sophisticated blend of black tobacco, coffee, and brandy, intertwined with notes of leather and church incense, transporting you to the warm, cosy atmosphere of a bustling Mediterranean café.

£39 for 220g in our Shop

However you like your aromatic brew, it’s clear coffee notes are continuing to percolate through the fragrance world, offering an invigorating alternative to traditional sweet scents. Whether you prefer your coffee (and your perfume) milky and sweet or dark and intense, there’s never been a better time to wake up and smell the coffee – quite literally.

Written by Suzy Nightingale