As consumers navigate 2025, fragrance trends continue to shift away from the muted and subtle scents of recent years. Fragrance and perfume customers, as well as the industry, are looking to explore new sensory experiences in the year ahead. From bold scents to sustainable manufacturing, the latest trends in the fragrance industry are as dynamic as ever.
2025 Perfume Trends to Watch
The pandemic brought unexpected growth for perfume manufacturers, but the traditional scents consumers leaned toward between 2020 and 2023 are being moved to the back of the shelf. In their place, we already see increased demand for subtle “skin scents,” bold florals, and a few other features.
What Is a Skin Scent?
Skin scents are composed of familiar, subtle scents that enhance your natural scent; they smell like you but better. The scents are so unintrusive that they smell different on each wearer, which means the same product offers a signature experience for everyone.
Sometimes called skin fragrances, these products usually feature a few familiar top notes, although there is considerable variation across products. The most common scents in skin fragrances are:
- Musk
- Sandalwood
- Orris
- Vetiver
Parceling out skin scent sales from the broader fragrance industry’s sales volume is tricky, but it’s widely regarded as one of the fastest-growing segments.
Bright Floral Notes
One of the most persistent fragrance industry trends, floral scents rose to prominence in the wake of the pandemic and as a carryover from the 2022 holiday season. Consumers have long associated floral perfumes with femininity and quality, and many new fragrance releases over the past few months have featured bold, bright floral aromas, such as rose, orange blossom, and other citrus notes.
Read More: How Are Essential Oils Made?
Sustainable Fragrances Take Center Stage
Sustainability in the fragrance industry is a seismic trend that’s changing the market for good. The search for clean, sustainable fragrances has pushed manufacturers to diversify supply chains and reformulate existing products to meet consumer demand. For nearly all brands, it’s worth the effort; even during cost-of-living pressures, consumers are willing to pay 9.7% more for sustainable products, and 78% say a sustainable lifestyle is important to them.
Market Spotlight: Fragrance Industry Trends
After a single year-over-year decline in 2020, the global fragrance market has enjoyed steady growth. It has a forecast value of $62.11 billion in 2025, and the US remains the largest market, accounting for approximately 14.5% of the total revenue. Most of that value is derived not from luxury fragrances (perfume and colognes), but in HI&I and personal care products – an impressive 63% of market value.
Offline Sales Channels Remain Strong
Fragrance is a truly personal and experiential consumer product. Despite substantial growth in online sales over the past decade, more than 74.65% of fragrance purchases were made in person. Celebrity and social media influencer endorsements, diverse product offerings, and custom scents drive in-store purchases. Expect brands and retailers to leverage a multichannel approach to selling while continuing to invest in personalized, AI-generated perfumes in the years ahead.
Adaptable Services to Meet and Anticipate Trends
Trends change. At Tilley Distribution, we provide the agility manufacturers need to capitalize on changing consumer priorities. With a comprehensive product catalog, global distribution capabilities, and in-house technical support, we’re helping partners adapt and grow. Speak with a Tilley representative today to get started.
