In the Know(s): 3 Fragrance Trends Everyone Will Be Spritzing in 2026
According to industry experts, you can expect some kitchen staples to be making their way into fragrance bottles.
New years often bring new routines and discoveries, and that becomes extra evident in beauty rituals. A previously-untried lipstick shade or a fresh scent become simple reminders of the power of new beginnings.
In 2026, fragrances are expected to get deeper, more personal, and even wilder. Looking to get ahead of the curve? Keep an eye out for these trends—and the bottles to include in your wishlists.
1. Fragrances will move past experimentation and toward identity.
“Personalization will be a trend,” says COTY Fragrances brand manager Dana Laxa, which oversees iconic fragrance brands like Gucci, Hugo Boss, and Marc Jacobs. And we’re not just talking about engraving your name on a bottle. “It’s personalization through layering, combining scents, and creating your own signature scent,” she adds.
The key to fragrance layering is having a flexible base to work with. “Start with a sturdy base and add layers of more delicate, complementary elements,” advises Filipina perfumer Bernadette Lim in a previous interview with Allure Philippines. Allure recommends D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum, a musky fragrance that “enhances any scent.”
Image courtesy of brand
In keeping with personal expression, fragrances in 2026 will not just be limited to the skin or body. “Hair mists are definitely something that I’m seeing can be bigger in the next few years,” says Luxasia general brand manager Celeste Valencia.
2. People will want to start smelling less like everyone else.
Gone are the days when everybody wanted to wear Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue or Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. “We used to look for scents that are fresh and citrusy,” explains Tin Conde, Luxasia head of education. “But now, [Gen Z] is looking for something gourmand. The more unique the scent, the stronger it is, the more intense it is—that’s [the fragrance] for them.”
From Tom Ford’s decadent Lost Cherry to LUSH’s cozy-smelling Sticky Dates, here are seven gourmand fragrances worth trying.
Image courtesy of brand
3. The year’s unexpected trending ingredients are those we often cook with.
“Ginger, in the Philippines, is not a usual ingredient in fragrances,” says Laxa. “But ginger has this personality of being warm, being spicy, so it really creates a powerful—but balanced scent.” Other interesting ingredients to be on the lookout for are “pistachio, milk, and rice,” adds Conde.
You can find ginger in Boss Bottled Beyond Eau de Parfum and pistachio in KAYALI Yum Pistachio Gelato 33.
Image courtesy of brand
