If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission. People—Gen Z and Millennials in particular— are drinking less alcohol , reflecting a growing health consciousness. We’re more aware of the negative effects of overindulgence and the unpleasantness of hangovers.
After all, when was being excessively drunk ever cool? But there’s an intriguing paradox going on in the culture. We’re imbibing less booze, but buying more and more niche fragrances—for our bodies and our homes—that smell like liquor. Master perfumers the world over are exploring and reinterpreting these boozy notes in new and innovative ways.
While the liquor accords of the past could often smell cheap and sickly sweet, the emergence of these artisanal versions has completely now feel unique, comforting, and yes, intoxicating—delivering all the appeal of these notes without the hangover. “There is a reason they are called spirits,” says Dustin Lujan, who’s in charge of curation and operations at the high-end boutique Osswald NYC , one of the Big Apple’s best fragrance stores . “Liquor accords are cheerful, sultry, and fun.
Just like ordering your favorite cocktail, these scents give you a style and taste that’s all your own.” These colognes carry an edgy, devil-may-care attitude, and despite their playful connotations, the fragrance world takes liquor accords seriously. They can be rich and gourmand.