Yup, you read that right. Hellmann’s, the mayonnaise brand, has a perfume. As a full disclaimer, I haven’t tried this fragrance and didn’t even know it existed before today. I’m not even sure if this still exists on the market for me to try, but I would love to try it regardless.
As someone who can’t stop talking about a potential shift in gourmands from sweet to savoury, I would have loved to see this level of being unhinged from an actual perfume brand (a mainstream one). But since I don’t believe a company like Prada or Versace will be making mayonnaise-inspired scents any time soon, we will look at this option by Hellmann’s.
Hellman’s Will Levis No.8
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Hellman’s |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Floral |
| Notes | Top: Lemon and Parsley Middle: Coffee and Vanilla Base: Mayonnaise Accord and Musk |
| Release year | 2024 |
Despite the unhinged marketing, actual reviews of Hellmann’s Will Levis No. 8 point to a surprisingly wearable fragrance. Those who managed to snag the collector’s item report that it lacks any harsh egg or vinegar notes. Instead, it comes off as a herbaceous and lemony scent, basically what I would imagine a savoury gourmand to lean towards. It also has a musky vanilla aroma with hints of coffee that become more apparent as the scent dries down.
Many claim the mayonnaise is undetectable, but I believe that is due to the fact that they expect the scent to smell like a sandwich. I theorise that the mayonnaise accord here (like all notes/accords) is heavily affected by the notes that accompany it. Therefore, it shows up as a subtle sourish-creamy scent, and that’s what people who tried it are picking up on.
The Audacity
Yet, even without a literal mayonnaise stench, fragrance purists immediately dismissed it as an idiotic novelty. However, as some defenders in the community pointed out, the perfume world already embraces bizarre animalic extracts and overly sweet, edible notes that leave people smelling like a walking bakery pantry. So why should a savoury, experimental stunt be where we draw the line?
Ultimately, while Hellmann’s may not have produced a savoury masterpiece we gourmand-lovers are dreaming of, this playful release serves as a disruptive meme in a mainstream market that often takes itself far too seriously.
Visit V Perfumes, your go-to fragrance shop in the UAE, to get your hands on all your favourite fragrances and many more. Shop online or in-store for the best prices in the UAE and GCC region.
