A Fragrance nana-issance?!
I independently review everything I recommend. When you buy through my links, I may earn a commission. See more details here.
A lot of new releases are featuring banana or plantain as a main note. Will this be a trend coming in 2026 and beyond?
From left to right, let’s start off with my dislikes. I know, its hard for me when I dislike fragrances but I have to find what I like and dislike to figure out what my favorites are for my collection.
Banana Bliss is very artifical banana scented BUT it took a while for me to dislike it. Funny enough this scent is either extremely disliked or extremely liked and its quite affordable. If you want super sweet “artificial” smelling banana this is the one for you. Fun Fact: I don’t know how true this is but I hear what we think is “artificial” smelling banana IS what banana is supposed to smell like.
Eclaire Banoffi was also a strong dislike for me. Something about the caramel notes mixed with the banana and floral notes. It doesn’t smell good on me and I am SO disappointed but many people love this fragrance and very affordable so I accept its just me.
Hazel split was a dislike at first sniff. I got it as apart of the bundle for the hot cakes set for snif and the powdery chocolate notes with the banana and its not long lasting at all. It was such a left down because conceptually it sounds delicious.
I LOVED spray tan by snif when I first received it and then I got rid of it. I don’t know my nose changed so much on it but I think I need a re-sniff (this is me typing the word snif and sniff alot). The banana flower is subtle but this really does smell like sweet suntanned skin lotion. To be honest I get more carrot than banana flower.
Banana leaf, floral notes with kelp and aquatic notes?! Its a strong no for me. For those who loves those notes will enjoy this fragrance. I thought I was getting something similar to a favorite banana leaf fragrance I write about a little further down but at all.
Lastly, super fairy was a love at first sniff. I went home, took not one but TWO baths with it and buy the second bath I hated it. I don’t know what happened. Its just TOO sweet for me and thats strange coming from a gourmand lover. This scent also lingers in my bathroom for DAYS. Side note: I can’t find anywhere that explicitly says it has a banana note but it does smell like bananas and the internet agrees.
From left to right, Here are some fragrances that I have come across with a banana note that I would love to try. Oldies but goodies and maybe I missed the banana wave just like we had a pistachio wave but you can enjoy “older” fragrances as if they just dropped yesterday.
Whipped Banana Pudding is a catch-me-if-you-can fragrance that is sold at stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx which you should NEVER sleep on. This and the ooey gooey buttercake live in my head rent free.
Banana Flambee?! Gimme. Demeter is masterful of elevating singular notes to layer or to explore an interpretation of a note. Some fragrances of theirs that are on my wishlist are Leather, Vetiver, and Patchouli.
LU’AU I can’t find anywhere and I am sure its going to stay sold out. It came as only a hair/body mist and I hope we can get it as a perfume. There is controversy over the name so hopefully we can get the same formulation in a longer lasting scent with a new name.
Banana, oud, lily-of-the-valley, jasmine, and tuberose? My nose can’t create a distinction of what this will smell like but I am hopeful its delicious.
Ellis Brooklyn’s banana mist seems to be having a comeback or some iteration of a banana fragrance will be on the shelves soon. I am excited about this one. (its the basis of this whole article)!
Sugar me sweet is for the gourmand LOVERS and the gourmand LOVERS only their line has nothing but bangers so I know ALL of their banana notes are amazing. Banana milk stood out to me the most. I’m thinking creamy banana ice cream vibe.
Insert the meme of the little boy saying “I told you!” We have ANOTHER banana fragrance in 2026. Marc Jacobs released his new daisy collection with artist Takashi Murakami to make this new collection. I am not the biggest fan of the daisy line but I know some people are going to be very excited for the scent as well as the design.
Yellow Daze is another fragrance I came across with banana notes. I hear its more rummy than banana forward but I still need my nose on it and I know others who love Dossier fragrances too want to smell this!
From left to right, Here are some fragrances that I have come across with a banana note that I have tried and there are not loves but likes and I would recommend. Starting with Maui in a bottle. I hear this one performs like a body spray and I cannot confirm or deny it. I have smelt this one and it is pleasant but it was not a jump to buy for me.
I own a sample of Banana Au Chocolat by Teddy the Perfumer, an independent perfume who also works with a new house called House of Eden. My thoughts, its honestly not for me but if you want a not-so-gourmand gourmand fragrance this one is great. In my mind I want my gourmands to be sweet. It still smells edible but its more of a dusty banana and a dusty earthy chocolate.
Banana pudding by Elysian is one of the first banana fragrances I’ve tried. I’ve actually tried almost everything from the tea party collection, my personal favorite is Strawberry Rose Milk Tea Latte. This is a powdery floral banana and its simply too powdery for me but is it nice yes. Is it what I wanted no.
Banana crepe by Oakcha is the same thing for a fraction of the price as Banana Pudding. I have friends who RAVE about this but for me its a no.
Nanantopia is such a gorgeous banana scent, however, on me its powdery floral banana. I thought this one was the one I would stop trying banana fragrances to be honest. I simply thought they were not for me.
I get more blackcurrant and florals than banana in Sisters B4 Misters but its definitely a delicious scent. The more I smell it, and inhale myself (wearing this scent at the time of writing) I do get hints of banana but you have to go looking for it. It won’t jump right out at you. If you like Reine de Nuit by Byredo or in my case Floral Nights by the DUA brand because I haven’t smelt the OG I think you will love this fragrance.
You know that chalky sweet banana candy that is from the 90’s? Jousset turned that into a fragrance! This is GOOD but I need another sample to see how much I want to keep it in my collection but its definitely high on my list!
Then came counterplay and things started to get interesting…a sweet basket of fruits. Melon, Guava, and Banana?! Now I don’t outright detect a banana note but score I give this fragrance overall a 9.2/10. I keep a list of ratings of every single fragrance I came across in 2025 and beyond. I rated this quite high.
The three bananas I could smell, wear, and use for the rest of my life and be a banana and banana-ish lover. From left to right, let’s start with Banana Milk Coffee. The newest addition to my collection with bitter coffee, sweet banana, and a creamy milky finish. This is absoultely gorgeous and the dry down on skin is where the magic happens for me. It turns super creamy, little bitterness left from the coffee in the best way, and floral. Think the last gulp of a lattee all the sweetness and cream left over. I can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous it is.
My top banana, nana, banana flower fragrance. A where have you been all my life fragrance. J’Ai Trois Amours. I find it so soft, so delicious, so breathtakingly beautiful. Its comfort in a bottle and smells so upscale and classy. Think a high end sweet banana dessert they put in the middle of a plate that makes it look like a flying saucer. Its quite expensive but its worth every dollar. I can’t wait to add a full bottle to my collection.
Lastly, the one who made me love plantain in fragrance and makes me feel a deep since of nostalgia. As a native new yorker who grew up around many Latin and Caribbean cultures theres nothing like maduros. Maduros are sweet plantains fried and they get this caramelized crust thats so delicious. You can put a little sugar on them but you simply don’t have to. This smells like sweet plantains and pineapple fresh off a grill with caramelized sugar.
I look forward to see what more fragrances, and other fruity notes, we see in 2026 and beyond. I hope you check out some of these for yourself. Maybe it will be apple actually to take over…