Perfume pairing with your drink is the practice of matching a fragrance to your beverage to create a sensory experience better than the sum of its parts.
Just like wine and food pairing, this concept is about complementing flavours and aromas to create a harmonious blend between what you taste and what you smell.
Why Would Someone Pair Their Perfume with Their Drink?
It’s fun. The natural aroma of your drink can blend with your fragrance in the air, and the smell of your fragrance can influence the taste of your drink.
This effect can help a person express themselves in a truly unique way, since every perfume is different and every drink is different.
Matching Your Drink with the Right Perfume
Beers
Ales
Rich and malty ales go with sweet or warm fragrances (particularly for traditional ales). An amber perfume like cinnamon or clove or agarwood will complement the flavour profile of a traditional ale and offset the bitterness of a pale ale.
Lagers
Crisp and refreshing, lagers work well with clean citrus or herbal fragrances that mirror their light and effervescent nature.
Stouts
Dark and full-bodied, stouts match beautifully with deep and gourmand scents. A gourmand scent that is heavy on the base notes- ideally featuring coffee, cocoa, or vanilla- will set you right.
IPAs
Try wearing a resinous perfume, or something aromatic or green, when trying to pair your scent with IPAs which tend to be bold and hoppy with a quirky twist. A green or aromatic fragrance will echo the IPA’s bitter and floral character.
Wines
Red
Rich and tannic reds match well with woody and spiced scents that have a full-bodied feel best achieved with a focus on heart and base notes. A rosewood perfume, warm amber, or something earthy or spicy like patchouli or pepper will blend well with the deep and bitter flavour of a good red.
White
Bright and acidic white wines call for fresh and floral perfumes. Something green or sweet and airy, like jasmine, lily, or citrus, could work well for a white wine pairing with perfume. You can also experiment with subtle aquatic perfumes.
Rosé
If your perfume is a sweet aldehyde or floral, it will make friends with a rosé while on your skin. The sweet, powdery notes will complement and texture rosé’s intense and round taste profile. A sharp fruit such as berry can also contrast without adding a jarring texture to your wine’s scent profile.
Sparkling
Effervescent and celebratory, sparkling wines match best with light, airy fragrances that feature aldehydes, neroli, or white musk. Florals, aquatics and aromatics can customise mood and add complexity.
Spirits
Vodka
Clean and neutral, vodka works well with the perfume equivalents of a vodka mixer. That said, focus on scents that focus on volatile fragrances with crisp aquatic, citrus, and green notes for a simple but powerful effect.
Gin
Botanical and herbaceous, gin pairs beautifully with herbal and aromatic fragrances like juniper, lavender, or rosemary.
Tequila
Vibrant and earthy, tequila complements warm and spicy notes like agave, cardamom, or smoky incense.
Rum
Sweet and tropical, rum works well with gourmand or vanilla-based perfumes, as well as coconut and spiced accords.
Whiskey
Rich and smoky, whiskey pairs well with deep, leathery, or amber-based scents that reflect its complexity.
Mezcal
Smoky and mysterious, mezcal works beautifully with dark, resinous, or incense-heavy fragrances.
Brandy
Warm and luxurious, brandy complements opulent fragrances with honey, dried fruit, or caramel notes.
Cocktails
Ancestrals
Classic and time-honoured, ancestral cocktails pair well with elegant, vintage-inspired perfumes featuring aldehydes and floral bouquets.
Sours
Tart and refreshing, sours work with bright, zesty fragrances featuring lemon, lime, or yuzu.
Spirit-Forward Cocktails
Strong and complex, spirit-forward drinks match well with bold, spicy, and woody perfumes.
Duos and Trios
Simple yet balanced, these drinks pair well with minimalist, clean, and subtle fragrances.
Champagne Cocktails
Bubbly and refined, champagne cocktails are best complemented by light floral and aldehydic scents.
Highballs, Collinses, and Fizzes
Refreshing and lively, these drinks pair well with crisp citrus and green fragrances.
Juleps and Smashes
Herbal and cooling, these drinks work well with minty, fresh, and aromatic perfumes.
Hot Drinks
Warming and comforting, hot cocktails match well with cozy vanilla, cinnamon, or nutmeg notes.
Non-Alcoholic
If you don’t drink or are recovering from alcohol addiction, here’s how to pair your perfume with common nonalcoholic drinks.
Mocktail
Creative and varied, mocktails often taste better than their alcoholic counterparts. Often fruit based and sweet, they’ll pair well with florals and the fruity, aromatic scents in your wardrobe.
Sparkling or Tonic Water
Effervescent and crisp, these drinks work well with fresh citrus and aquatic notes. Citrus will add contrast and aquatics will add nuance and attention to mouthfeel.
Juice or Fruit-Infused Water
Naturally sweet and refreshing, fruit-based drinks match well with juicy, tropical, or floral fragrances. Depending on the dilution, the perfume you choose should be airy or used more sparingly.
Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Rich and cosy, these beverages pair beautifully with gourmand, cocoa, or vanilla-heavy perfumes. You can also experiment with subtle contrasts like a deep and gentle green or citrus perfume.
Tea
From floral to spiced, teas work well with scents recalling other tea ingredients. For example, a jasmine, bergamot or chai-like perfume can contrast or reinforce the tea flavour you choose to drink.
Kombucha
Tangy and fermented, kombucha complements earthy, herbal, and citrusy scents that mirror its character. Suggested notes include patchouli, sage, lavender, and lime.
Using Perfume Safely Around Your Drink
To avoid altering the taste of your beverage, apply perfume away from your face and hands. Stick to pulse points like wrists and neck, and use your scent sparingly so it doesn't overpower your drink. And please don’t put your fragrance in your drink, it’s not safe to do.
How Setting May Affect Your Pairing
Outdoor vs Indoor
In an outdoor setting you should stick to a volatile scent, meaning it evaporates more easily. This is because your fragrance will be battling the environment- be this wind or strong sources of smell nearby.
A volatile scent means something light and breezy with a lot of top notes. Citrus, fresh, aquatic, green and aromatic notes are your friend here, and you may need to adjust your drink choice accordingly.
Indoor gatherings tend to come with a more controlled atmosphere- figuratively and literally. This leaves you free to wear richer, more complex scents with more base notes that are harder to detect outdoors. Since you can wear your outdoor scent indoors, an indoor setting will leave you with more pairing options depending on your drink or drinks of choice.
Daytime vs Evening
Bright and airy notes can also be best for a daytime setting, being associated with wakefulness and energy. A daytime setting is more likely to be family friendly or work related; a clean, clear scent like a citrus or calm floral will help you match the tone as well as your drink.
A smoky, deep or resinous fragrance can help evoke the mystery and adventure of night, and match well with most offerings of a good meal or an after hours bar or night out.
Casual vs Formal
Casual outings are a great time to test different pairings or even break the pairing rules. After all, it’s your drink and your scent and your taste. For a formal setting, it’s best to wear what works and what can match the mood and tone of the occasion.
Drinking Responsibly While Having Fun
If you’re drinking alcohol, it’s important to keep this a mindful experience. Stay hydrated, pace yourself, and ensure your fragrance enhances the moment rather than becoming overwhelming. Whether indulging in a fine wine or a well-crafted cocktail, the right perfume can elevate the experience to a sensory delight.
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