We all know what chocolate tastes like. But what does it smell like in perfumes?! Well, that depends on what notes you pair it with. The smell of chocolate in perfume can range from sweet and milky to bitter and earthy. It is often blended with vanilla, coffee, nuts, or fruits for a warm, gourmand, and sensual aroma. It’s also used to add depth, creaminess, and an addictive, indulgent quality, creating scents that feel like warm cocoa, dark truffles, or even fruity chocolate treats.
Let’s take a look at the following unisex fragrances with a chocolate note and see what this note is paired with in each of these fragrances.
1. Kilian Black Phantom Memento Mori EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kilian |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Vanilla |
| Notes | Top: Rum Middle: Dark Chocolate, Coffee, Almond and Heliotrope Base: Caramel, Sugar Cane, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Tonka and Vetiver |
| Release year | 2017 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Sidonie Lancesseur |
Black Phantom is a dark and mysterious fragrance with rich, gourmand notes. The rum in the opening harmonises with dark chocolate, adding depth and cosiness. This is not a sweet fragrance but rather a bitter, sexy, and intense scent, perfect for colder weather.
As the fragrance develops, the chocolate note remains prominent, complemented by bitter coffee beans and a salty caramel nuance. Despite the sweet components, the fragrance maintains a beautiful balance, never becoming cloying. At the dry down, the scent becomes sweeter, boozier, and smoother.
2. Montale Chocolate Greedy EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Montale |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Vanilla |
| Notes | Top: Bitter Orange and Dried Fruits Middle: Vanilla and Coffee Base: Cacao and Tonka Beans |
| Release year | 2007 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Pierre Montale |
Chocolate Greedy by Montale is a delightful chocolate experience, reminiscent of delicious brownies or hot chocolate. I find it to be a yummy chocolate/vanilla scent with a fresh orange burst that complements the cacao notes.
It stands out from other chocolate perfumes, which can sometimes smell synthetic, offering a more authentic, gourmand experience. It smells like freshly baked waffles with Nutella, making it incredibly addictive.
3. Tom Ford Black Orchid Reserve Parfum
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Tom Ford |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Spicy |
| Notes | Top: Truffle and Bergamot Middle: Ylang-Ylang and Black Orchid Base: Dark Chocolate, Patchouli, Tonka, and Vanilla |
| Release year | 2025 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Tom Ford |
Black Orchid Reserve by Tom Ford is a smoother, more versatile take on the original Black Orchid, potentially making it suitable as a daily fragrance. It retains the line’s familiar DNA, with dark floral richness and lacquered sensuality.
The earthiness from patchouli and booziness are enhanced, while the truffle note remains. Compared to the Eau de Parfum, it’s less earthy with base notes that lean toward vanilla, tonka, and patchouli.
4. Unique’e Luxury Chocolate Makes Me Happy Extrait De Parfum
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Unique’e Luxury |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Citrus Gourmand |
| Notes | Top: Cacao Pod, Lavender, Dark Chocolate, Mandarin Orange, and Grapefruit Middle: Ginger, Benzoin, Cinnamon, Labdanum, and Olibanum Base: Cacao Pod, Caramel, Amber, Vetiver, Sandalwood, and Musk |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Unique’e Luxury |
Chocolate Makes Me Happy is a unique and experimental blend, so it’s not for everyone. The opening is incredibly realistic, smelling genuinely like deep chocolate with hints of citrus and vanilla.
After a few minutes, the scent transitions into a smooth, high-quality, chocolatey, ambery fragrance with gourmand facets, developing into a deep,enjoyable amber. However, the mix of lavender fougère and gourmand can be unexpected, and some may find it unpleasant. The experience varies greatly depending on how it develops on individual skin, making it a risky blind buy.
5. Xerjoff Symphonium EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Xerjoff |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Vanilla |
| Notes | Top: Orange and Mandarin Orange Middle: Chocolate and Cardamom Base: Vanilla, Laotian Oud, Thailand Oud, and Musk |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Chris Maurice |
Symphonium is a standout fragrance in the Xerjoff line, with a unique and delicious blend. The opening features a vibrant burst of orange and mandarin, which transitions into a chocolate and cardamom combination. The dry down is warm and sensual, featuring vanilla, oud, and musk.
It is a masterpiece. It is basically orange slices coated in white chocolate that melts beautifully. The scent is long-lasting, lingering on the skin for a full day and even longer on clothes. Although the price is a consideration, it is worth every penny given its exceptional qualities.
6. Mancera Roses & Chocolate EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Mancera |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Floral Fruity Gourmand |
| Notes | Top: Peach, Black Currant, Mandarin Orange, and Bergamot Middle: Dark Chocolate, Rose, and Violet Base: Vanilla, White Musk, and Cedar |
| Release year | 2013 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Pierre Montale |
Another Pierre Montale creation. Roses & Chocolate offers an unexpected yet irresistible pairing, combining a vibrant opening with a comforting, sensual dry-down. It’s luxurious, memorable, and different. The performance is solid, with good longevity and projection, a trait often associated with the Montale brand.
The scent profile blends chocolate, sweetness, and roses, creating an interesting and appealing aroma that is particularly well-suited to colder weather. The opening may present as cocoa powder on some skin types, but the scent then evolves into a unique blend as the sweet, deep rose mixes with the chocolate.
Find your favourite chocolate fragrances at V Perfumes, your go-to perfume shop in Dubai. Shop at the best prices in the UAE and Gulf region and don’t miss out on exclusive offers online and in-store.
Disclaimer: This article contains external links, including links to Amazon affiliates and V Perfumes’ main site. If you make a purchase through these suggestions, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our disclaimer to learn more here.
