Cocoa

Cocoa, a gourmand note par excellence

Cocoa appeared in perfumery in the 90s, with the development of gourmand fragrances. The first gourmand fragrance to incorporate chocolate is Thierry Mugler's Angel. In innovating with raw materials, the creator wanted to produce an olfactory shock… It was a complete success, as Angel still sells just as well today. Here, chocolate is positioned as a base note alongside caramel, vanilla and patchouli. The heart is as fruity as can be thanks to peach, pineapple and passion fruit. Launched in 1992, Angel revolutionized the world of perfumery. Thanks to perfumery, one can now indulge in chocolate without restraint, and above all without guilt. Acting as an olfactory comfort blanket, chocolate feels reassuring. Cocoa gives off powerful, sharp aromas that never leave anyone indifferent. Cocoa absolute also offers bitter, balsamic fragrances.

Cocoa and its pairing with other olfactory fragrances

Thanks to its many facets, chocolate blends with a great many fragrances. Flowers, particularly rose, iris and jasmine, accentuate the feminine side of chocolate. This is the case for the legendary fragrance Pure Poison Élixir by Christian Dior. Here, cocoa absolute is paired, as a base note, with vanilla, almond and amber. The heart is a blend of orange blossom and jasmine. After a citrus opening, Pure Poison oscillates between soft, rich, sweet and amber notes… Christian Dior succeeded in creating a true elixir of ecstasy. One might think that chocolate is only used in feminine fragrances, but this is not the case. A magnificent fragrance for men, CKIN2U HIM by Calvin Klein, is a most surprising aromatic fougère, where cocoa sits as a heart note alongside chili pepper and shiso. With the presence of vetiver, musk and lemon, CK is a bold, on-trend fragrance for staying connected…

Cocoa is an ingredient appreciated by many of us, some are even addicted to it. While the cultivation of the cocoa bean dates back a very long time, the incorporation of chocolate into perfumery dates back to the early 90s. Thanks to its sweet, suave fragrances, this brown gold finds its place in gourmand fragrances. A surprising raw material, chocolate manages to work its way into floral, fruity and citrus compositions, but also woody or aromatic ones.