Scent Notes

Journey through the building blocks of fragrance, from Bergamot to Ambergris.

SWEETS AND GOURMAND SMELLS

Nutella

Nutella is a rich gourmand accord blending intense hazelnut (often roasted) and creamy milk chocolate. It delivers a dense, sweet, and comforting profile, enhanced by facets of dark cocoa powder and warm vanilla. The scent is indulgent, providing a deep, sensual sweetness and texture in a composition.


History

Brief History of Nutella

The history of the hazelnut cocoa spread note in modern perfumery is linked to the celebrated Italian creation, Nutella. This iconic gourmand flavor originated after World War II when cocoa was scarce. Pietro Ferrero, a baker in Alba, Italy, developed the first iteration in 1946: a solid block of chocolate and hazelnut paste known as Pasta Gianduja. This initial creation was based on gianduja, a traditional paste from the Piedmont region. Ferrero later transformed this block into a creamy, spreadable product in 1951, renaming it Supercrema gianduja.

The spread was fully revamped and renamed “Nutella” by Pietro’s son, Michele Ferrero, in 1963, launching the first jar in 1964. While not a traditional perfume ingredient, Nutella’s success established a globally recognized, comforting gourmand reference for hazelnut and cocoa. This paved the way for modern perfumery accords, such as “Pokan,” which mimic beloved food items like caramel popcorn and roasted hazelnut, providing rich, indulgent, and contemporary twists on traditional fragrance structures.

Famous Perfumes with Nutella Note

The “Nutella” note, which captures the creamy, rich blend of chocolate and toasted hazelnut, is the inspiration for several highly specific gourmand creations that aim for photorealistic accuracy. The most celebrated perfume for directly capturing the scent of the famous hazelnut cocoa spread is often cited as **Jousset Le Gourmand**, which explicitly features a hazelnut cocoa spread note. Similarly, **Kyse Perfumes Cacao Noisette** is frequently recommended by perfume enthusiasts as a nearly exact rendition of pure Nutella, emphasizing the smooth chocolate and nutty core.

  • The trend extends to smaller, artisanal houses that name the confection directly, such as **Sicili Fragances Crepe alla Nutella** and **The Unleashed Apothecary Trat Treat 2**, showcasing the high demand for this comforting and indulgent scent profile.

Within the more mainstream and designer niche space, several fragrances have achieved cult status for their strong, unintentional likeness to Nutella, primarily by expertly balancing hazelnut and chocolate accords with an underlying sweetness. The classic example is **Mugler Angel Muse**, particularly the Eau de Parfum, which combines a velvety chocolate and hazelnut blend over an intense patchouli base, creating a savory-sweet, addictive effect that many users compare to the spread.

  • Other popular choices that lean into the chocolate-hazelnut combination include **Mancera ChocoViolette**, which offers a nutty, dark chocolate profile, and **Cacharel Yes, I Am Delicious**, which is described as having a chocolate-nutty scent with a floral twist.

The influence of the Nutella note highlights the power of the hazelnut accord within the gourmand family, especially when paired with cacao. The toasted flavor of hazelnut is highly prized by perfumers, reminiscent of praline and often used in fragrances to impart a sweet, slightly woody, and indulgent quality. This essential combination is foundational to the “neo-gourmand” movement, as seen in complex compositions like **Trussardi Passeggiata In Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II**, which has been recognized for its delicious chocolate/Nutella character, offering a rich, comforting, and unforgettable signature.

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