8 Best Cotton Candy Perfumes

Best Cotton Candy Perfumes

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Cotton candy perfume is the name given to sweet, sugar-like perfumes that have a scent resembling cotton candy, or candy floss. This scent is usually created by using a substance called ethyl maltol, which provides a sugary, fruity quality.

Cotton candy perfumes tend to be marketed towards younger women, although they are becoming more popular with older age groups too, especially for casual, everyday use.

This article will explore eight of the very best cotton candy perfumes on the market today.

 

In a Rush' Round-Up

Image Recommended ProductsProduct Features Price
Best Overall
Ariana Grande Sweet Like Candy
  • Sweet and fun scent
  • Suitable for all seasons
  • A good every day fragrance
Best Budget
Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette Natural Spray
  • Warm, cosy scent
  • Perfect for special occasions
  • Lightweight for everyday wear
Most Popular
Angel by Thierry Mugler for Women
  • Excellent longevity
  • Iconic fragrance from the 1990s
  • Strong, with good projection
Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy NEON
  • Fresh, fruity quality, ideal for summer
  • Glamorous and youthful
  • Good longevity, with a strong initial hit
Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling
  • Versatile enough for year-round use
  • A fun, every day fragrance
  • Distinctive cotton candy and macaron smell
Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy
  • Ideal for nighttime use
  • Sweet yet sensual scent
  • Good longevity
Ralph Lauren Ralph Love Eau de Toilette
  • Good longevity
  • Light, understated and inoffensive
  • A small spray goes a long way
Prada Candy Perfume
  • Understated sweetness
  • Great for winter and fall
  • Good longevity

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What to Look For in a Perfume

When buying the best cotton candy perfume, there are a number of factors that need to be considered, including the top, middle and base notes that make up the fragrance and the price of the product.

However, it is also important to think about some of the other qualities that each perfume has, including longevity and sillage.

Longevity, in this context, refers to the length of time the perfume remains strong enough to be easily detected after being applied to the skin. The longer perfume lasts, the less need there is for re-application. Sillage, on the other hand, is the projection of the perfume, or the extent to which it leaves a trail in its wake.

Selecting the best fragrance requires you to analyze the different qualities of each perfume and then combine this more quantifiable information with your own personal preferences in terms of the smells you like.

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How We Test Perfumes

In order to test the different cotton candy perfumes, we have compared and contrasted products and assessed them based on some key criteria. These include the quality of the scent itself, the projection or sillage, how long the perfume lasts after being applied, value for money, and the overall versatility of the product.

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The Best Cotton Candy Perfumes

Best Overall

Ariana Grande Sweet Like Candy

Sugar-frosted berries, vanilla, pears, and candy combine to create a sweet, playful, and feminine fragrance, with a flirtatious quality and plenty of personality.
Scent:
4.4
Projection:
4.4
Longevity:
4.4
Versatility:
4.4
Value:
4.4

Ariana Grande Sweet Like Candy Review

Named as the Women’s Fragrance of the Year (Popular) at the Fragrance Foundation’s annual FiFi Awards in 2017, Sweet Like Candy is the third fragrance released by Ariana Grande in partnership with LUXE Brands, and its sweet, playful and sexy scent perfectly reflects the public persona of the pop superstar.

The cotton candy scent itself is characterized by a combination of berries, vanilla, pears and candies, which provide a sweet yet sensual and seductive fragrance. The perfume is ideal for wearing on date nights, but will not seem out of place as a daily fragrance, or for use when hanging out with friends, or attending social events with work colleagues.

Noticeable hints of marshmallow and whipped cream help to provide the fragrance with a very clear sense of youth, which is perfect for younger women or those who prefer vibrant, fun perfumes that smell like candy. Sweet Like Candy comes in the standard bottle design shared with the Ari and Moonlight fragrances from the Ariana Grande collection.

Top Notes: Blackberry, Pear, Bergamot

Middle Notes: Jasmine, Frangipani, Honeysuckle, Whipped Cream

Base Notes: Vanilla, Marshmallow, Cashmere Woods

What we liked

  • Sweet and fun scent
  • Suitable for all seasons
  • A good every day fragrance

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Best Budget

Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette Natural Spray

Fun, youthful and affordable, Pink Sugar from Aquolina is a popular cotton candy smelling perfume, which evokes memories of days spent at the funfair.
Scent:
3.8
Projection:
4.0
Longevity:
4.2
Versatility:
3.9
Value:
4.8

Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette Natural Spray Review

Originally launched in 2004, Pink Sugar is the first fragrance from the Italian brand Aquolina and is now marketed by Selectiva. A very sweet fragrance, with plenty of strength, it is especially well suited for girls and younger women. However, in truth, it will appeal to almost anyone that likes perfumes that smell like cotton candy.

The fragrance playfully blends the scents of cotton candy, caramel, vanilla and licorice with fruity top and middle notes, resulting in a sweet scent that delights the senses and captures the mood of those childhood days at the funfair.

While the sugary smell provides an unmistakably fun quality, the fragrance can be worn on a day-to-day basis and feels just as at home in meeting rooms as it does in social situations. Furthermore, Pink Sugar is an excellent choice for buyers who prefer their cotton candy perfume to provide value for money.

Top Notes: Raspberry, Orange, Bergamot

Middle Notes: Cotton Candy, Strawberry, Licorice, Lily of the Valley

Base Notes: Vanilla, Caramel, Tonka Bean

What we liked

  • Warm, cosy scent
  • Perfect for special occasions
  • Lightweight for everyday wear

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Most Popular

Angel by Thierry Mugler for Women

An iconic fragrance, with sweet and fruity scents and excellent longevity. Angel by Thierry Mugler helped to popularize the entire concept of cotton candy perfume.
Scent:
4.0
Projection:
4.7
Longevity:
4.6
Versatility:
3.8
Value:
3.9

Angel by Thierry Mugler for Women Review

Originally launched back in 1992, Angel was the first fragrance from the fashion house Thierry Mugler. While it was not an immediate success, the perfume grew in popularity relatively quickly and emerged as one of the most popular scents of its generation, helping to popularize the concept of perfume that smells like cotton candy.

Aside from its enduring popularity, one of the defining traits of Angel is its combination of longevity and projection. This means the scent lingers in the air and remains potent throughout the day.

The scent is sweet and fruity, although it has been known to divide opinion. Nevertheless, its popularity and influence on the entire industry helped to ensure it entered the FiFi Hall of Fame back in 2007.

Top Notes: Cotton Candy, Bergamot, Coconut, Mandarin

Middle Notes: Red Berries, Jasmine, Apricot, Rose, Peach, Honey

Base Notes: Vanilla, Chocolate, Caramel,, Tonka Bean

What we liked

  • Excellent longevity
  • Iconic fragrance from the 1990s
  • Strong, with good projection

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Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy NEON

Viva la Juicy by Juicy Couture is a cotton candy perfume with a fresh, fruity quality that makes it perfectly suited to the spring and summer months.
Scent:
3.4
Projection:
3.0
Longevity:
3.7
Versatility:
3.5
Value:
3.2

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy NEON Review

Viva la Juicy NEON is a new fragrance from Juicy Couture, released in 2021. It has a fresh, fruity quality, which makes it appealing for everyday use and this is especially true during the spring and summer months.

The smell is bold, with a strong initial hit of grapefruit and although this initial grapefruit scent fades fairly quickly, the overall fragrance has solid longevity, meaning it will not need to be constantly re-applied.

At the heart of the fragrance is orange blossom and jasmine, while the subtle woods base notes help to round off the scent. The target audience for the product is primarily younger women, especially those seeking a fragrance with a flirty, fun quality that also provides a clear sense of glamour.

This is one of the most popular cotton candy perfumes on the market for ladies of all ages.

Top Notes: Pink Grapefruit, Raspberry

Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, Jasmine

Base Notes: Woods, Tonka Bean

What we liked

  • Fresh, fruity quality, ideal for summer
  • Glamorous and youthful
  • Good longevity, with a strong initial hit

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Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling

Primarily targeted towards girls and younger women, Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling is unapologetically fun, youthful and feminine, combining the scents of cotton candy and macarons.
Scent:
3.7
Projection:
3.1
Longevity:
3.0
Versatility:
3.8
Value:
4.0

Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling Review

A highly feminine and unapologetically youthful fragrance, Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling is a cotton candy perfume with a distinct macaron flavor and a hint of spice.

This cotton candy scented perfume was released by Lacoste in 2015 and is marketed by one of the global leaders in cosmetics and fragrances, Coty. A sweet, fruity and flirtatious fragrance, Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling is perfect for daily use and for leisure activities, but is also appropriate for everything from date nights to boardroom meetings.

Top notes of red apple, mandarin orange and blackberry combine beautifully with base notes of cashmere wood and patchouli, resulting in a pleasant perfume, that is great not only for spring and summer, but for fall too.

Top Notes: Red Apple, Mandarin, Blackberry, Spices

Middle Notes: Cotton Candy, Macarons, Lily of the Valley

Base Notes: Musk, Cashmere Wood, Patchouli

What we liked

  • Versatile enough for year-round use
  • A fun, every day fragrance
  • Distinctive cotton candy and macaron smell

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Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy Eau De Parfum

First released in 2004, this nighttime perfume is a sensual, feminine fragrance. Suitable for all age groups, it blends cotton candy with fruit, floral and spice notes.
Scent:
3.9
Projection:
3.0
Longevity:
3.8
Versatility:
3.1
Value:
3.2

Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy Eau De Parfum Review

Originally launched in 2004, Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy is the first perfume on this list which is specifically marketed as a nighttime perfume, intended for use during the most intimate moments.

With this in mind, the perfume succeeds in providing a sensual, seductive scent, which manages to combine warmth and fresh tones to create an appealing, feminine aroma that is suitable for women of all ages.

Aside from the sweet middle notes of this cotton candy perfume, some of the other notes include mandarin and spicy pink pepper top notes, and vanilla and caramel base notes.

Top Notes: Mandarin, Spicy Pink Pepper, Bergamot

Middle Notes: Cotton Candy, Rose, Floral

Base Notes: Vanilla, Caramel, Sandalwood, White Musk

What we liked

  • Ideal for nighttime use
  • Sweet yet sensual scent
  • Good longevity

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Ralph Lauren Ralph Love Eau de Toilette

An understated cotton candy perfume, with fruity and floral qualities. Ralph Love works equally well as a date night perfume or an everyday fragrance.
Scent:
3.8
Projection:
3.3
Longevity:
4.0
Versatility:
3.8
Value:
3.3

Ralph Lauren Ralph Love Eau de Toilette Review

Released in 2016, Ralph Love is an eau de toilette from Ralph Lauren, marketed by L’Oréal. The cotton candy scented perfume is a fruity, floral fragrance, which the company says was inspired by first date energy.

With that being said, the end results are a fun, fresh scent, which works perfectly as a daytime perfume for all occasions. The smell itself is characterized by a combination of cotton candy and apples, and while it can be used all year round, it is especially effective in the spring time.

In many ways, the best quality of Ralph Love is that it is light and inoffensive, which makes this one of the best cotton candy perfumes for day-to-day use as well as attending school and casual events. However, it also has good longevity and will not need to be constantly re-applied.

Top Notes: Red Apple

Middle Notes: Pink Rose

Base Notes: Cotton Candy

What we liked

  • Good longevity
  • Light, understated and inoffensive
  • A small spray goes a long way

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Prada Candy Eau De Parfum

A more sophisticated product than many other perfumes that smell like cotton candy, Prada Candy is ideal for all age groups and is especially great for the winter months.
Scent:
3.9
Projection:
3.2
Longevity:
3.9
Versatility:
4.2
Value:
3.4

Prada Candy Eau De Parfum Review

Launched in 2011, Prada Candy is a creation from renowned perfumer Daniela Andrier. It also represents something of a bold step for Prada, with the majority of the brand’s other fragrances being more serious, sensible and sophisticated, and arguably less fun or playful than perfume that smells like cotton candy.

Nevertheless, Prada Candy is certainly less sweet than many of the other cotton candy perfumes listed, and that potentially makes it more accessible to those who are slightly reluctant to jump aboard the cotton candy train.

The most distinctive notes contained within the fragrance are caramel, vanilla and benzoin, and these combine to make it an especially good choice of perfume for the colder winter months.

Top Notes: Caramel

Middle Notes: Musk

Base Notes: Vanilla, Benzoin

What we liked

  • Understated sweetness
  • Great for winter and fall
  • Good longevity

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