Fragrance trends don’t come and go as quickly as, say, fashion, fortunately. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that pistachio is big on the perfume front this year. That’s partly due to the mega-success of a certain Kayali (more on that below).
But what about other options? Well, that’s where we are ever(fumed) helpful with a selection that covers all budgets and styles.
Before we get into our best choices, what makes pistachio so appealing? Yes, it’s nutty and creamy. But it also has woody and earthy elements. And depending on how it’s used, it can be sweet or savory.
Where known, the name of the perfumer is included in brackets after the name of the fragrance.
Our Top Pistachio Fragrances
Bvlgari Omnia Green Jade EDT (Alberto Morillas)
Since its launch in 2003, the Omnia Collection from the Italian luxury jewelry brand has delivered the complete package of understated scents and gorgeous bottles.
The intro of Omnia Green Jade EDT 2009 release is fresh ’n green with sunny mandarin orange at the fore.
A bouquet of florals – jasmine, peony, pear blossom – maintains the crispness – while the drydown shows the woodier side of the pistachio, with sensual white musk wrapping it up.
It’s not heavy on the pistachio and is a fine choice if you’re looking for something where the note adds to the overall appeal.
Alas, it’s been discontinued, but you can still find it online.
L'artisan Parfumeur Traversée Du Bosphore EDP (Bertrand Duchaufour)
The niche-pioneering Paris-based brand has numerous classics in its repertoire, including this discontinued gem from 2010.
Inspired by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour’s travels to Istanbul, Turkey, the opening of Traversée Du Bosphore EDP is all about a blend of fruit (red apple, pomegranate) and spicy notes.
A leather accord gets support from an iris and saffron. And then the drydown brings on the delights in the form of wafts of nougat (sugar, honey, rose water, and pistachio in the mix).
It’s sweet, it’s a gourmand, and it’s fantastically evocative stuff in the perfumer’s typically maximalist style. Get it now!
Demeter Fragrance Pistachio Ice Cream Cologne
What do we have here? A cheap and cheerful alternative to Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 EDP Intense?
The American brand that’s made a name for itself with simple, easily identifiable, and unpretentious scents describes Pistachio Ice Cream Cologne 2014 release as “slightly nutty, slightly sweet, cool and creamy” and we must agree, that pretty much sums up its appeal.
Yes, it’s not as complex and long-lasting as the aforementioned hit, but for the price (and the fun), you can’t go wrong with it.
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc EDP (Natalie Gracia-Cetto)
Who says too much sun is bad for you? Certainly not in the sensual and sultry world of Tom Ford.
Inspired by all things luxurious (private islands, private jets, you get the picture), Tom Ford Soleil Blanc EDP 2016 release seduces from the opening notes of pistachio and cardamom.
It gets more tropical with the floralcy of ylang-ylang and tuberose, and the milky tones of coconut (we’re in posh sunscreen territory now).
Drying down with an amber accord and vanilla-ish notes of tonka bean and benzoin, it’s pure indulgence with a TF price tag to match.
Elie Saab Girl Of Now EDP (Dominique Ropion & Sophie Labbé)
Don’t let the cheesy name put you off this 2017 release from the Lebanese fashion brand. The company’s successful wooing of a younger market is way more sophisticated than it sounds.
The opening of Elie Saab Girl Of Now EDP features softly sweet notes of pear and mandarin orange.
Creamy pistachio brings on the gourmand mood. It’s amplified by almond essence, with its bittersweet nutty qualities, and sunny orange blossom.
Settling on a base of musky Cashmeran and patchouli, this EDP is a treat for those who like it sweet but thoroughly elegant.
D.S. & Durga Pistachio EDP (David Seth Moltz)
Do you want pistachio from top to bottom? Well, here it is. Come and get it.
Now part of the NYC-based niche brand’s permanent repertoire (understandably, the initial limited-edition 100 bottles were snapped up), Pistachio EDP 2023 release shows self-taught perfumer David Seth Moltz’s work at its best.
The nut features in all stages of the fragrance’s progression (with support from roasted almond) and while he admits to not usually doing the sweet thing, the aromatic spiciness of cardamon and earthiness of patchouli give it delicious depth. Vanilla ups the creamy factor.
It’s pricey, but well worth it.
Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 EDP Intense (Olivier Cresp & Sébastien Cresp)
We don’t like making predictions so early in the year. But we’re willing to put our reputations on the line for Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 EDP Intense as one of the most popular.
The 2023 release from the United Arab Emirates-based brand is everywhere at the moment. Father and son Olivier Cresp (the master perfumer behind the gourmand-pioneering Mugler Angel EDP) and Sébastien Cresp teamed up for this scent. See our interview with them here.
Pistachio can be a salty, savory note but here it’s given the sweet gourmand treatment with an ice cream(y) accord that features the crisp citrus tones of bergamot and the additional woody nuttiness of hazelnut. The combo of cardamom and rum brings an element of spicy booziness to the treat.
There’s some floral fruitiness in the mix too, but we’d be hard-pushed to identify any specific notes. Nevertheless, it enhances the fresh aspect of the scent.
It’s in the drydown that Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 EDP Intense comes into its own. There’s a whole lot of powderiness via marshmallow, cotton candy (the synthetic ethyl maltol at work here, well known for its use in Mugler Angel EDP and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540), and a Turkish delight accord. We like how the latter gives a nod to brand founder Mona Kattan’s Middle Eastern heritage and reinforces the pistachio-ness of the composition (the nut is an integral part of the confection).
Most of all, though, it’s the whipped and sandalwood creaminess blended with vanilla-ish tonka beans that leaves a lasting impression.
As with many fragrances from the company – for example, Kayali Vanilla 28 EDP (2018), Kayali Déjà Vu White Flower 57 EDP (2020), and Kayali Invite Only Amber 23 EDP (2021) – it’s unashamedly on the sweet spectrum.
Beauty entrepreneur Mona Kattan (Kayali falls under the Huda Beauty umbrella) is very in tune with what consumers want from their fragrances: boldness, distinctiveness, and pleasure. And Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 EDP Intense delivers in all those ways. Yes, it’s being hyped and crowd-pleasing, but that doesn’t stop it from offering upliftment and escapism with addictive sugariness.
Hermès Un Jardin À Cythère EDT (Christine Nagel)
From the undeniably sweet to the more savory side of things.
The Parfums-Jardins Collection (“jardin” = garden in French) has impressed us with its quality and refinement since its launch in 2003 with Hermès Un Jardin en Méditerranée EDT.
This 2023 addition maintains the standard we’ve come to expect from the range that takes its inspiration from secret gardens (this time we’re on the Greek island of Cythera, also known as Kythira).
It gets going with the freshness of citrus and the woodiness of olive trees.
Coumarin is known for its grassy and nutty attributes, and there’s just enough of that here to contribute to the sunny ambiance. Slightly salty and warm, the pistachio completes the escapist mood.
Where previous Jardins were characterized by degrees of lushness and greenery, in-house perfumer Christine Nagel wanted Un Jardin à Cythère to be neither green nor floral. She realizes that with deceptive ease.
The French luxury goods brand (FYI: Its value passed the €200 billion market value earlier this year for the first time, making it the world’s second-most valuable luxury brand after LVMH) does things differently in a subtle way. This EDT is a perfect example of that approach.
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Richard Goller is a fragrance and grooming blogger. His blog is called Fragroom. A senior editor with 20 years' experience, his blog allows him to combine two of his passions: engaging content and the always-intriguing world of fragrances. When he isn't blogging, you'll find Richard indulging in his newly found passion for balcony gardening.
