I know many will read the title and think this is just gourmand fragrances being taken too far, and maybe they’re right. However, I wouldn’t say it’s taking it too far; rather, it is pushing the limits while stepping slightly into savoury gourmand territory, a fragrance genre many of us (myself included) have been waiting for. Although the perfume we’re talking about today is based on a dessert, it isn’t nearly as sweet as Western treats. I would also like to add that while it is a sweet gourmand, it contains a savoury gourmand note that I would love to see in more savoury fragrance compositions.
Mooncake is a fragrance by the brand d’Annam, a Vietnam-based niche fragrance house founded by Nick Hoang that celebrates Asian culture and memory through high-quality, unisex scents. This fragrance, as the name suggests, represents the traditional mooncake: a dense pastry featuring a thin, tender crust filled with rich pastes like lotus seed or red bean. They often contain a salted egg yolk in the centre to balance the sweetness, resulting in an oily and chewy bite that is typically enjoyed with tea.
D’Annam has an even more savoury gourmand fragrance: Pho Breakfast. This article only mentions Mooncake to highlight the salted egg yolk note.
D’Annam Mooncake
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | D’Annam |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Vanilla |
| Notes | Top: Honey Middle: Syrup, Mug Bean, and Salted Egg Yolk Base: Lotus Seed and Vanilla |
| Release year | 2025 |
| Perfumer | Luis Hou |
When you first spray Mooncake, you definitely get the honey and syrup, but then it’s immediately grounded by the mung bean, which adds a slightly nutty texture. It reminds me less of a sugary candy and more of the actual filling of a mooncake, which is thick and substantial. Luis Hou really managed to capture that specific starchy quality that these desserts have.
The part that really makes this stand out, and what caught my attention in the first place, is the salted egg yolk. I know it sounds like a strange thing to put in a perfume, but it works so well here. It adds a rich, buttery saltiness that cuts right through the sweetness of the honey. It gives the scent a bit of an oily, dense feel, almost like you can sense the weight of the pastry itself. It’s a fragrance that really activates all your senses.
As it dries down, I can smell the lotus seed slightly in the background, but the vanilla note mainly takes over. The lotus seed keeps that characteristic pastry vibe going, while the vanilla acts as a smooth base to tie everything together. That being said, this fragrance stays true to that mooncake inspiration right until the end.
Because it’s such a rich and dense scent, I’d say it’s best suited for the cooler months. It feels like the perfect choice for fall, which is fitting given when mooncakes are traditionally eaten (but it’s cosy enough for any cold day). It’s a great pick for someone who wants to smell delicious, but in a way that’s more about texture and memory than just smelling like a sugar cube.
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