Tomato is the latest scent that’s taking over the world of fragrance – here’s how you can jump on the bandwagon

Who would’ve guessed that this humble fruit (yes, fruit and not a vegetable) is taking the fragrance realm by storm? It’s great on pizzas, in sauces, on its own, and it’s also surprisingly an amazing scent to drape yourself and your home in.

And for those of us who choose to step into drugstores or beauty shops instead of the supermarket, we’re all wondering the same thing — does tomato have a scent at all?

Tomato fragrance may still be quite an underdog, but it’s proven to be one of the cleanest scents there is.

You may be a little dubious or hesitant like we are, but TikTok users have raved about how tomato fragrances smell just like a glorious garden and can let you manifest your garden fairy persona.

What do we have to say about that? It’s high time we get adventurous and start shopping for tomato fragrances!

Welcome to the tomato renaissance

We all know of the usual scents that are tried-and-true options (or rather, safe options), like vanilla, musk, ylang-ylang, orange, peony, and more. However, the one ingredient that really stands out from the crowd is tomatoes.

Flamingo Estate founder Richard Christiansen shared in an interview with Elle that he never thought people would enjoy the smell of tomatoes, but it has become the brand’s best-selling product by far.

Currently the darling of the beauty and fragrance space, tomatoes have an allure all on their own. It’s known to gift us with a sense of nostalgia, especially those of us who grew up with food-inspired scents.

Although, it doesn’t actually smell like Mum’s spaghetti or mouth-watering shakshouka.

Related read: Medi-scents are the latest fragrance trend that enhances your overall well-being – here’s what you need to know

What does a tomato fragrance smell like?

It’s fresh, clean, inviting, comforting, and leaves a bit of mystery. From tomato perfumes to tomato-scented candles and soap bars, some of these products are said to smell exactly like a tomato leaf.

If you’re curious, the next time you’re preparing a meal or at the farmer’s market, try plucking one leaf out and crisping it up in your hands before giving it a whiff!

Interestingly, some tomato fragrances aren’t actually made from the actual fruit itself but recreated from synthetic and natural molecules, which isn’t uncommon in the world of perfumery.

Sometimes, perfumers use blackcurrant sulfur to imitate the scent of tomatoes.

Related read: Get a whiff of the 19 best genderless fragrances to represent your individuality this Pride Month!

It all comes down to nostalgia and the creation of moments or memories.

Brands take inspiration from the tomato plant and leaves and come up with their iteration and perception of a tomato scent to narrate stories, invoke emotions in people, and replicate simpler times spent with loved ones.

Different notes like basil, mint, mimosa, green ivy, and orange flowers can be made into a melange of fresh scents to capture moments of you being surrounded by tomatoes or enlightened in a flourishing garden.

Related read: 15 TikTok-famous fragrances that went viral for a good reason

15 best tomato-scented products to add to your routine

L’Artisan Parfumeur Vétiver Écarlate Eau de Parfum

Dreamed up by master perfumer Quentin Bisch, this perfume taps into the joy of childhood memories and makes us yearn for simpler times.

Vétiver Écarlate opens with notes of a lightweight blend of grapefruit essence and bergamot before leading into tomato leaf accord and galbanum essence. The scent also has notes of ginger and vetiver essence to add to the sense of nostalgia.

L’Artisan Perfumer Vétiver Écarlate Eau de Parfum (100ml) retails for S$230 at Selfridges.

Demeter Tomato Cologne Spray

This tomato fragrance was introduced to the market by Demeter in 1996 and reminds the brand’s co-founder Christopher Gable of picking tomatoes at his grandfather’s farm when he was a child and having his hands smell like tomato leaves.

The strong yet pleasant green scent is embodied by a mesmerising tomato note that smells like every aspect of the tomato plant, from the stem to the blossom and leaves.

Demeter Tomato Cologne Spray (120ml) retails for S$52 at Fragrance.sg.

MiMo MY SECRET GARDEN Tomato Soap Bar

Here’s another way to indulge in the invigorating scents of tomato! This 100% plant-based soap bar is made with tomato extracts and essences that’ll give you a refreshing and therapeutic shower routine.

Plus, it also has potassium and vitamin C and can help protect the skin from sun damage.

MiMo MY SECRET GARDEN Tomato Soap Bar (160g) retails for S$16 at LUMINE SINGAPORE.

Arkive The Mastery Liquid Hairspray

This weightless non-aerosol fix spray holds, defines, and textures your tresses. With a veil-like hold that’s not sticky at all, this hairspray also has baobab oil for scalp moisture and hair shine and baobab protein to increase the strength and elasticity of hair.

Its selling point also includes the unique scent, No One Elsie, which was named after founder Adam Reed’s grandmother and takes inspiration from her greenhouse.

If you’re wondering what it smells like, the brand described the warming, uplifting scent as “captivating head notes of tomato leaf and rhubarb” coupled with notes of honeysuckle, redcurrant, palo santo, and vetiver.

Arkive The Mastery Liquid Hairspray retails for S$19 at Selfridges.

EnViruBac+ Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Gel

Made in Singapore, this hand sanitiser will keep your hands free of germs and bacteria and well-moisturised thanks to the aloe vera extract in the formula.

Better yet, it has a brilliant scent of tomato leaf that will leave you feeling refreshed and keep your hands smelling great all day long.

It’s also gentle on the skin, so you can use it as many times as you wish without worrying about dry hands!

EnViruBac+ Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Gel (50ml) retails for S$5.90 at Engel’s Sense. There are also 500ml (S$9.90) and five-litre (S$39.90) options available.

Jo Malone London Green Tomato Vine diffuser and refill

Drawing inspiration from typical London townhouses, in particular the gardens, Jo Malone London whipped up a refreshing tomato fragrance that’s part of their The Townhouse Collection.

This diffuser will have your home perfumed with notes reminiscent of freshly picked produce in kitchens or greenhouses.

Plus, just like for all Jo Malone London purchases, this one will also come gift-wrapped in their iconic cream and black box.

Jo Malone London Green Tomato Vine diffuser and refill retails for S$215 at Selfridges.

Urban Apothecary Vine Tomato Lux Diffuser

At Urban Apothecary, tomatoes are treasured for their summer-loving and feel-good vibes. The brand promises that this diffuser’s addictive tomato fragrance is sure to grow on you!

Hand-poured by skilled artisans in England and housed in a mouth-blown glass apothecary bottle, this lively and irresistible scent includes top notes of lime, grapefruit, and the green and minty tomato leaf.

Its heart notes feature jasmine, fresh grass, and tomato pulp edged with the aroma of moss, musk, and cedarwood.

Urban Apothecary Vine Tomato Lux Diffuser retails for S$98 at Takashimaya and S$78.40 at Shopee.

Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

Known as a full-bodied garden-grown pleasure and for their dreamy concepts on Instagram, Flamingo Estate also has a delicious tomato fragrance that conjures up memories of late Summer dinner parties in Sicily.

In their attempts to worship the ripe, supple, juicy tomato, this soy wax candle captures the scent of heirloom tomatoes and transcends you to Sicilian gardens.

Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle retails for ~S$77.86 (US$58) at flamingoestate.com.

Boy Smells Gardener Candle

If a garden is your safe space, then you’ll love this zen scent. Boy Smells redefines the outdoors by diffusing familiar notes of tomato, petitgrain, and honeysuckle.

This vine-ripened scented candle lends itself delightfully to calm, domestic settings with dominant notes of orange tree, tomato lead, and oakmoss rounded by drops of floral nectar and cedar.

Plus, this candle has a burn time of 50 hours, making sure that you can indulge in its earthy and botanical fragrance for long periods of time.

Boy Smells Gardener Candle retails for S$65 at The Paper Bunny, S$66 at Harrods, and S$84.47 at Amazon.

Carrière Frères Tomato Room Spray

This 100% natural alcohol-based tomato room spray is reminiscent of a botanical cloud with green notes that will place you in the heart of a field where the ripest tomatoes are ready to be picked.

What’s more, it’s housed in recycled and recyclable glass that comes in the shape of an apothecary flask, a homage to ancient apothecary jars and a herbalist’s inspiration behind the brand.

Tangy and sweet, this tomato fragrance is also known to clean and purify the air.

Carrière Frères Tomato Room Spray retails for S$130 (USD96) at 24S.

MALIN+GOETZ Tomato Scented Candle

This limited-edition candle has a natural wax blend that’s hand-poured in Brooklyn and can burn for up to 60 hours.

Fresh and lush, this tomato candle opens with freshly picked herbs like aromatic basil, calming lavender, and cool mint leaves.

The rich sweetness of a ripe tomato is accompanied by green ivy vines, uplifting mandarin, and woodsy petitgrain to engage your senses. And the clean fragrance finishes with notes of earthy cedarwood and green pepper.

MALIN+GOETZ Tomato Scented Candle retails for S$79.50 at Nordstrom.

Loewe Tomato Leaves Room Spray

Courtesy of Jonathan Anderson and in-house perfumer Nuria Cruelles, Loewe’s Home Scents collection includes a tomato fragrance that evokes memories of Victorian botanical and vegetable gardens.

Capped with a lovely red ceramic stopper that’s coloured just like the sweet, juicy tomato, one spray will fill your room and environment with the purest essence of tomato leaves.

Loewe Tomato Leaves Room Spray retails for S$135 at Selfridges.

Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle

And the Loewe Home Scents range also has candles and rattan diffusers. One of the popular picks from this collection is the tomato candle with a glazed terracotta ceramic holder.

Made in Spain, this candle is 100% vegetable wax with a cotton wick and has up to 30 hours of burn time.

Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle retails for S$120 at Selfridges.

Nette Laide Tomate Scented Candle

Developed by master perfumers, this sustainable hand-poured coconut-soy wax candle has an approximate 50-hour burn time.

This tomato fragrance features heady notes of ripe tomato vines, cucumbers, mimosa, violet leaf, orange flower, and ylang-ylang that’ll have you feeling like you’re basking in a summer garden.

Nette Laide Tomate Scented Candle retails for S$99.02 at Nordstrom.

Apotheke Tomato Tarragon Candle

For a dynamic tomato fragrance that’s sure to delight your senses, reach for Apotheke’s Tomato Tarragon Candle.

Derived from the brand’s modern twist on classic scents, this elevated fragrance combines the aroma of freshly picked tomatoes with hints of tarragon and orange zest.

It also features a soy wax blend and has a tremendous burn time of 60 to 70 hours.

Apotheke Tomato Tarragon Candle retails for ~S$58.92 (USD44) at Apotheke.

Featured image credit: @raemasako/TikTok, Flamingo Estate, @evprek/TikTok