Chocolate, an ancient status symbol and aphrodisiac tempts men and women the world over with its rich, seductive scent.
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From luscious floral blends to decadent perfume that smells like chocolate and vanilla, here are our top contenders for the best chocolate perfumes on the market.
Our Top 11 Chocolate Perfume Picks
Best for Beginners
Mancera’s unisex Choco Violette resembles a subtle Montale Chocolate Greedy. Bright hazelnut, bergamot, and orange unveil a dark chocolate-violet heart, drying to Madagascar vanilla and white musk.
Launched in 2016, it makes a great introduction to gourmand perfumes.
PROS: Realistic scent
CONS: Violet scent smells “off” to some
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Very good
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Everyday wear
- Price: $
Best Simple Option
Demeter’s scents are linear, one-note scents you can layer with anything. Their Dark Chocolate, launched in 2013, is rich and sweet.
PROS: Accurate smell
CONS: Poor performance
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Weak
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Layer with other fragrances
- Price: $
Best Year-Round
Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Amyris Homme echoes Chanel’s Allure Homme. Mandarin and rosemary introduce a milk chocolate/coffee/coconut heart with iris and amyris, drying to oud and tonka bean.
Launched in 2012, its balance makes this the perfect year-round gourmand perfume for men.
PROS: Vibrant, suitable year-round
CONS: Moderate longevity; iris may be plasticky
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Moderate
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Strong; wear it on weekends
- Price: $$$
Best Chocolate Perfume for Women
Michel Germain’s Sexual Femme is a chocolate-scented perfume for women, reminiscent of Paco Rabane’s Black XS for Her. Raspberries and red fruit lead to rose and Mexican chocolate, grounded by herbal patchouli and tonka bean, creating a classic feminine fragrance.
Launched in 2010, the moderate strength and subtle scent make this perfect for work.
PROS: Easy to wear, not overpowering, affordable
CONS: Chocolate is rather subtle
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Very good
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Everyday
- Price: $$
Best for a Night Out
Dumont Exciting Insense is a unisex fragrance suited to men, though bold ladies could wear this dark knight. Basil, lemon, and cinnamon sparkle over a summer heart of chocolate praline, black cardamom, and tolu balsam, drying to mysterious patchouli, black amber, and Brazilian rosewood.
Launched in 2020, this darkly intense yet summery chocolate perfume for men demands to be taken clubbing or on a cocktail date.
PROS: Great value
CONS: Can be overpowering
- Sillage: Enormous
- Longevity: Phenomenal
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Heady; suitable for nights out
- Price: $$
Best Chocolate Oud for Men
Pardon by Nasomatto evokes L’Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme, with romantic magnolia and flowers revealing a dashing, dangerous dark chocolate, tonka bean, and cinnamon heart, drying to oud and sandalwood. Its elegance, strength, and seductiveness make this our favorite chocolate scented perfume for men.
Launched in 2011, this fantastic Gualtieri scent is unfortunately too powerful for the office.
PROS: A truly classic scent
CONS: Not a people-pleaser or a “safe” scent
- Sillage: Strong
- Longevity: Phenomenal
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Men who want to impress
- Price: $$
Best Women’s Gourmand Scent for Summer
Ahmed Al Maghribi’s Abaan, which resembles Ahmed Al Maghribi’s Anab, makes a perfect summer chocolate perfume for women. Luscious litchi, kiwi, and jackfruit open to a luxurious heart of vanilla-white chocolate, jasmine, and orchid, drying down to woodsy orris.
This scent, released in 2019, is decidedly feminine and summery.
PROS: Unabashedly feminine
CONS: Poorly priced
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Moderate
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Summer nights
- Price: $$$
Best Chocolate Perfume for Longevity
Ard Al Zaafaran Oud 24 Hours is Tom Ford’s Black Orchid with greater longevity. Bright mandarin and bergamot are tempered by dark chocolate. The spicy, floral heart with gardenia, ylang-ylang, and jasmine dries to mysterious patchouli, oud, sandalwood, incense, and amber.
Launched in 2016, this unique chocolate scented perfume will serve anyone wanting a long-lasting, rich gourmand scent.
PROS: Good performance and price
CONS: Too feminine for some
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Outstanding
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Truly unisex; suitable for evening events
- Price: $
Best Ultra-Feminine Gourmand Scent
Fantasy by Britney Spears is a sugary-sweet, ultra-feminine scent reminiscent of Aquolina’s Pink Sugar Sensual. A fruity opening of red lychee, kiwi, and golden quince unfurls to a white chocolate-cupcake heart with exotic floral jasmine and orchid, drying to musky, woodsy orris.
More cost-effective than Abaan by Ahmed Al Maghribi, Fantasy is too “Barbie in pink” for some, which is also why others love it. It’s best suited for daytime or casual dates.
PROS: Sensual, popular, well-priced
CONS: Sickly sweet to some; inappropriate for formal occasions
- Sillage: Moderate to good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: The office
- Price: $
Best Traditional Chocolate Perfume for Men
Boss the Scent Private Accord by Hugo Boss is an oriental scent resembling Givenchy’s Very Irresistible. Vivid bergamot and ginger blossom into maninka, pineapple, pepper, and coffee, drying down to cacao, vanilla, patchouli, benzoin, and amberwood.
This integrated, traditionally masculine scent, released in 2018, is safe for gifting.
PROS: Refined, classic masculine
CONS: Maninka and sour green apple scents aren’t universally liked
- Sillage: Moderate to strong
- Longevity: Moderate to excellent
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Everyday
- Price: $$
Best for Seduction
A bold, erotic unisex scent, Boccanera by Orto Parisi resembles Black Afgano by Nasomatto, another Gualtieri scent. Aggressive chili, black pepper, and ginger introduce a seductive dark chocolate and sandalwood heart, drying to musk.
Launched in 2014, this perfume will appeal to those who like Dumont Exciting Insense.
PROS: Audacious, erotic
CONS: Chocolate may be too bold; austere blend
- Sillage: Strong
- Longevity: Exceptional
- Scent potency/ Appropriate for: Date nights
- Price: $$
What Does Chocolate Perfume Smell Like?
A perfume that smells like chocolate and vanilla, with base notes of oud or patchouli, results in rich fragrance notes ranging from white chocolate cupcake to dark chocolate intensity, including classic combos like choc-hazel and mocha.
The Story Behind Chocolate Fragrances
Thierry Mugler enlisted top Parisian noses to bring Angel to the market in 1992. The first chocolate-based fragrance, it featured caramelized praline, vanilla, and a revolutionary 30% patchouli for balance.
This scandalously seductive, intriguing chocolate perfume for women created a new scent genre: the gourmand perfume.
Final Thoughts
Chocolate scented perfume is timeless, elegant, and irresistibly seductive. Moreover, there’s a chocolate scent for everybody – find your favorite today.
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Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.