There's a Reason We All Want to Smell Like Tomatoes This Summer
ICYMI, tomatoes are trendy, and that extends to the olfactory world.
Fragrances with notes of tomato provide an addictive, savory finish that can boost your mood and instantly refresh your home. But what exactly makes this fragrance trend so appealing? After all, there aren't many ingredients in a salad that we want to smell like.
Erwan Raguenes, a perfumer for DSM-Firmenich, argues it lies in their ability to offer a fresh, unique way to play with the versatility of green notes, which are generally leaves and plants that can provide a crisp, fresh-as-cut-grass scent. "Tomato allows us to add complexity or novelty to a leafy or crunchy green note," he explains.
Tomato fragrances are created just like any other fruit notes with synthetics and natural ingredients to recreate the scent. But what exactly makes tomato, tomato? Instead of focusing on what we perceive as tomatoes in food, the scents work to capture the plump, fresh fruits in their natural state, according to Raguenes: "When designing a tomato note, the aim is to capture the fresh, slightly tangy and green aspects of a tomato, rather than its savory or cooked qualities." This makes the fragrances agreeable and pleasant, rather than smelling like a sauce you've whipped up in your kitchen or a roasted tomato coming out of the oven.
Perfume content creator Abby Cadet considers tomato an ideal scent option for someone who wants to incorporate a touch of nature into their beauty routine. "They're perfect for those who enjoy green, earthy aromas and want something different from the usual floral or fruity perfumes," she says.
"Tomato scents can be crisp and fresh without being citrusy, and can also be earthy, and sometimes slightly bitter [when mixed] with aroma from the skin," says Malin + Goetz SVP Brand Marketing Isabelle Pierre-Emile. Tomatoes can also be powerfully nostalgic. "Tomato leaves evoke memories of gardening or summer days, providing a sense of freshness and natural beauty," she adds.
For the brand's Tomato Candle, the team worked to capture the sights and smells of founders Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz's Hudson Valley garden, evoking the process of growing tomatoes in your backyard and using them to cook and create meals that bring people together.
"Our signature tomato scent is a beautiful mélange of herbs and vines, hinting at the fruit from which it grows," says Pierre-Emile. "With a soft and clean finish, you'll feel as if you've just meandered through a countryside garden... There's nothing more beautiful than growing the perfect ripe tomato and plucking it from a late-summer vine to share."
But it's tomato's versatility that makes the scent stand out in a luxury market. "You'll see them appear in high-end perfumes, candles and cleaning products — they can be fresh, herbal, earthy, sweet or crisp and can evoke a fantasy tomato-y scent," Pierre-Emile says. It strikes the balance between the sweetness of fruit and the greenness of the vine to offer something unique and unexpected.
When shopping for a tomato perfume or scent, experts have a few suggestions. "Consider how the tomato scent interacts with other notes in the fragrance and its impact and longevity," says Raguenes, explaining that it should be a balanced composition, with the tomato note complemented by other supporting elements. (Cadet suggests basil, citrus or even light florals.)
If you're new to incorporating tomato into your fragrance wardrobe, Raguenes recommends wearing it with a layering fragrance, like DedCool Milk, to ease into the scent. "It could also be your hand soap, strong enough to add an accent to other scented products you might wear," he says. You can extend the use of your tomato fragrance beyond personal wear by using it to scent your living space.
Ahead, we've rounded up 14 of our favorite tomato scents to shop now, from perfumes to candles.
Snif Slice Society, $25, available here
Cravings by Chrissy Teigen Simmer Down Scented Candle in Tangy Tomato, $20 $17, available here
Jo Malone Green Tomato Vine Townhouse Candle, $140, available here
Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle, $245, available here
Maison Margiela 'Replica' From the Garden Eau de Toilette, $165, available here
Loam Candles Community Garden, $33, available here
Malin + Goetz Tomato Candle, $64, available here
L'Artisan Parfumer Vétiver Ecarlate Eau de Parfum, $230, available here
Nette Laide Tomate Scented Candle, $82, available here
Outdoor Fellow Tomato Vine Scented Candle, $34, available here
Paige's Candle Co Tomato Leaf & Basil, $19, available here
Rose + Co Candlemakers Mother's Garden, $28, available here
Memo Paris Italian Leather Eau de Parfum, $310, available here
Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle, $60, available here
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