Cotton Candy Dreams, for Sweet Fragrance Lovers

I love how the perfume industry keeps getting more and more specific with fragrance notes. I mean, of course, I want a sweet perfume, but specifically, a cotton candy kind of sweet. And this is what we get, more or less, from these fragrances.

What does cotton candy smell like, though? The cotton candy note is a note focused on ethyl maltol (𝐶7𝐻8𝑂3), a versatile ingredient for sweetening and rounding out flavours. It is sweet, sugary, sticky and powdery.

Let’s take a look at the following fragrances that have a prominent cotton-candy note.

1. DKNY Be Delicious Ice Pop Berry Bliss EDP

DKNY’s Be Delicious Ice Pop Berry Bliss is part of a three-floral fruity gourmand fragrance collection. The other two are Be Delicious Ice Pop Citrus Splash and DKNY Be Delicious Ice Pop Very Cherry, both launched in 2025.

Ice Pop Berry Bliss, I would argue, is the sweetest. It reminds me of an overtly sweet celebrity fragrance that would have come out in the early 2000s. It is fruit-and-cotton-candy-forward, giving a fresh, fun overall scent. All three fragrances are ideal for daytime summer wear.

2. Mugler Angel EDP

Switching things up to a more mature scent with a cotton candy note. Angel was one of the fragrances my mother used to wear, and it will forever take me back to the time she wore it. Mugler released this iconic scent in 1992, and I believe it makes many of us nostalgic.

The cotton candy note isn’t the only sweet note in Angel. It is accompanied by coconut, honey, chocolate, vanilla, tonka bean, and other sweet fruits and florals. But what saves this fragrance from being overtly sweet and gives it a hint of maturity and elegance is the warmer grounding notes at the base, such as patchouli, amber, musk, and sandalwood. I recommend this fragrance for first dates (if you’re doing a fun activity) or brunch with friends.

3. Byredo Sundazed EDP

While you can definitely tell there’s a sweet note in Sundazed by Byredo, it isn’t the most prominent per se. Accompanied by brother citrus notes at the opening and a warm white musk note at the bae, the cotton candy doesn’t dominate here, yet, you can tell it’s there, adding sweetness and giving balance to this lovely summer scent.

 Overall, Sundazed is a citrus fragrance. These mandarin and lemon notes are prominent and are the first things you smell when you try this perfume. But as it dries, more room is created for the other notes to shine. That’s when you can sense that sugary, sticky sweetness coming through. The jasmine note adds a creamy factor here, making Sundazed an absolute dream.

4. Aromatix X French Avenue Carnal Desire Extrait de Parfum

Last, but not least. Carnal Desire by Aromatix X French Avenue, which came out as part of a duo back in 2024. The other fragrance was Royal Taboo. The most prominent notes in Carnal Desire will be the oud and leather, which I love.

But the third most prominent out of all the notes happens to be our good old friend, cotton candy. In fact, you smell the cotton candy before the more prominent and longer-lasting notes of oud and leather. Not just that, the sweetness remains there in the background, making your sweet tooth itch. 

Find your favourite cotton candy fragrances and more at V Perfumes, the biggest perfume store in the UAE and across the Gulf region. Visit us in-store, or shop online, and don’t miss out on our ongoing deals and offers. 

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.