Edible Fragrances Are Trending—But Are They Actually Safe to Eat?

Once upon a time, in the lawless era of the early aughts, Jessica Simpson launched a line of edible cosmetics, including a gourmand perfume you could lick off your wrist. Aptly named Dessert Beauty, the scent was the moment—lining Sephora walls, it was sweet, a little bit sticky, and a lot a bit sexy. (The latter solidified through promo of Simpson and then-husband, Nick Lachey sensually licking each other in every photo opp.) Lawsuits emerged, the line was shut down, and its existence only to be remembered through nostalgic millennials. Well, until recent months. As it turns out, edible fragrances are back—this time cosplaying as the chicer, grown-up versions of their candied predecessors. But it begs the question: Have we gone too far? Fine, I'll say it—please, please don't eat your perfume.

As fragrance houses are upping the ante, competing to outdo one another in fresh avant-garde ways, the perfume industry isn't just about smelling good anymore. Now, it's a race to create a brand new sensorial experience—and as of late, perfumes dubbed safe to eat have re-entered the chat. While they're unlikely to be seriously harmful (due to the fact that there's more regulation than in the days of Dessert Beauty), before you consider your perfume an afternoon treat, let's unpack this trend.

@paulreactss

♬ original sound - Paul | Fragrance Influencer

Fragrance influencer @paulreactss posted a TikTok detailing his experience testing, and subsequently, tasting Haute Sauce Beauty's lineup of "America's only edible fragrance." In the video, Paul sprays it directly in his mouth—something, I must add, the brand says not to do—and reacts completely shocked, saying the Vanillian Dream scent tastes just like a "nutty, macadamia creme brulée." In the same spirit, beauty podcast Fat Mascara talked about the London-based edible perfume, Amorecco that's "made to be sprayed, tasted and devoured," per the brand.

Haute Sauce says its perfumes are 100 percent edible because they contain food-grade ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan. That said, there is no ingredient list to be found, which, I'll be frank, makes me very hesitant to get in on the taste test phenomena. Amorecco, on the other hand, lists all ingredients in its "lickable perfume" and they're fairly simple. The fragrance is comprised of "food-safe" or "generally food-safe" ingredients, as classified by the FDA, alongside alcohol, fragrance, and sweeteners.

Another factor to consider? The longevity. While these may smell and taste sweet, they may only last for a short period of time. The secret to a long-lasting perfume is the concentration of oils, and because this is an alcohol-based formulation, chances are these edible perfumes are going to evaporate quickly.

My take? Perfumes you can eat are fun in theory but feel more like a novelty than a game-changer. Sure, the concept is intriguing—who wouldn't be curious about a fragrance that doubles as a treat (especially a marshmallow perfume)? But at the end of the day, perfume is meant to be worn, and sniffed, not eaten. If nothing else, this trend proves that the beauty industry will always find ways to keep us entertained. Maybe just read the fine print before licking your wrist in public.

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