CHICYEE

If there’s one flavor I crave above all else these days, it’s passionfruit. It all started with Rhode’s limited-edition passionfruit lip balm from a few summers ago, and the obsession has not abated. From Swedish Bon Bon sour candies and smoothies to Porn Star Martinis to perfume, passionfruit plays a major role in my culinary and olfactory palette. You might even say I have a passion for passionfruit. (Sorry.)

But you know what? I’m not alone! Passionfruit has become the new hot fruit note in fragrance, following in the footsteps of prior trendy faves like cherry, strawberry, and pear. Passionfruit notes have popped up in tons of new releases lately, and they couldn’t have better timing; the fruit’s cheerful burst of juicy, zingy freshness feels like a much-needed vacation from the winter blahs. One moment you’re in the same black leggings and cashmere sweater you’ve been wearing for a week, the next you’re waking up in the tropics and watching a pastel pink and orange sunrise. Or at least pretending to, thanks to your perfume.

Ahead, learn more about why passionfruit feels so timely and what the fruit brings to a fragrance, whether it’s a classic fruit-centric scent or something much more unique.

About the Fragrance Note

Richard Saint-Ford, perfumer and founder of fragrance line Iggywoo, says that passionfruit is rarely used literally. “You’re usually smelling an impression rather than the fruit itself, built from naturals and molecules that recreate its brightness, tang, and juiciness,” he explains, noting that it’s often used in top notes for lift or “immediate impact,” though it can also be “threaded through” a fragrance for a “modern and alive” quality. (And when used badly, he says, scents can “tip into smoothie territory.”) 

“Passionfruit brings a sweet-acidic tropical profile that makes your mouth water and your brain light up,” Saint-Ford shares. “There’s a sharpness to it, with a fermented edge that keeps it from becoming too pretty or too light.”

Passionfruit “loves contrast,” says Saint-Ford. “It plays beautifully with creamy notes like coconut, vanilla, and sandalwood because they soften its sharp edges and turn acidity into something more sensual.” It pairs nicely with “personality” florals like ylang ylang and jasmine, but Saint-Ford also enjoys a more unexpected combination. “Oud works because it introduces an animalic and grounded quality to counteract the brightness,” the perfumer explains. “The fruit becomes less ‘tropical cocktail’ and more dangerous, almost bruised.” Passionfruit is also a compelling match for resins, smoke, and musk. “Anything that makes the fruit feel ripened or fermented, that’s where it stops being what we know and starts telling a more fragrant story.”

The Best Passionfruit Perfumes

Why not stay ahead of the curve and spritz yourself with fruity goodness before the rest of the perfume world catches on? Passionfruit scents really stand out in a sea of sweet gourmands and, while they’re a natural fit for warmer weather, sundresses, and swimwear, they’re surprising and unexpected alongside a winter outfit—a fun fragrance juxtaposition, so to speak.

For an easy, everyday passionfruit, try By Rosie Jane’s Matilda, a brand-new passionfruit scent that opens with an optimistic blast of bright passionfruit and keeps the happiness going with mid-notes of lime and meringue before calming down into a golden musk base. Instant escapism! Another fruity-heavy interpretation is Brandt’s Guava Sorbet, which leads with guava but features a sugary passionfruit note too.

Nostos, a new fragrance brand that made its debut this year, launched with a small curation of scents including Teen, an ode to Y2K mall scents. To my nose, it’s like if Victoria’s Secret Love Spell was built around passionfruit and blood orange notes versus apple and peach; here, the fruit adds a crisp, shampoo-y quality to the joyful, youthful scent, like the popular girl stalking through the hallways of your high school. Armani’s forthcoming Power of You, with a campaign starring Kendall Jenner, is a passionfruit and vanilla-centric scent. 

If you’re looking for something less straightforward and a little weird, Lore’s Disfruta is a woody-fruity mashup of juicy passionfruit and mezcal, which adds a smoky edge to the ripe fruit notes for a complex, compelling interpretation of the tropical fruit.

How to Wear Passionfruit Perfume

The joy of perfume is all about experimentation and play, and it’s honestly never been easier to play DIY perfumer and layer your own custom passionfruit scent. Start with a thick body moisturizer, like Sol de Janeiro’s Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream, which features the brand’s Cheirosa 91 scent—a flirty blend of rose and passionfruit. For something deeper and more luxurious, Noteworthy’s body butter in n.057 Sweet Embrace is a gourmand-y twist on the fruit with notes of vanilla and tonka bean. Then, add your favorite passionfruit perfume on top for a mix that lingers and lasts.

And your passionfruit obsession, like mine, has taken over your life, you can even scent your home with the fizzy, sparkling deliciousness. Voluspa’s Nāpali Passion Fruit candle is a sunlit mix of passionfruit, guava, coconut milk, and vanilla—fresh and fruity with a sweet smoothness that doesn’t feel sticky or cloying. It seriously cheers up every room, which is the magic of passionfruit in both your diet and your beauty routine.

“Passionfruit is vivid, emotional… it hits the nervous system pleasure centers at speed, which is the instant satisfaction we all crave these days,” Saint-Ford says. “Passionfruit feels indulgent, sun-warmed, slightly messy, like pleasure without apology.”