Cafe Gourmand

to me this is a beautiful saffron and hazelnut latte scent mixed with a smooth wood scent. this is not a coffee forward fragrance, despite what the name might suggest. it is very creamy and woody. if you hate saffron or tend to think it's a bit too doctor's office chic for you, definitely sample this first. the saffron definitely could hit your nose as medicinal, but for me it is sweet and lactonic.

Completely disagree with the previous review. This is not a starbucks dark roast photo gourmand, if you want that try Akro - Awake. This is a sophisticated, moreish, grown up interpretation of a coffee scent. If you just want straight up coffee, this is not it. That is what makes it wearable from my perspective.

My very first try of the house of Maison Tahite is Café Gourmand, part of the coffee collection of 4. This first entry is actually not too coffee-intensive but rather a balanced gourmand, unsurprisingly a bit sweet with some spicy and savory qualities, as well. The full note list is brief enough that it seems worth mentioning all of it: saffron, milk, coffee, hazelnut, patchouli, vetiver, sage, sandalwood, musk. So it has a tempered sweetness, albeit without too much coffee, but more notable are the savory elements that remind me somewhat of L’Artisan Parfumeur - Tea for Two and The Dua Brand - Chef Will Birge / Mealbox, both with interesting savory elements. I find Café Gourmand fairly easy to wear, though, not too heavy and not remotely over-the-top in terms of the gourmand sweetness. While I imagine others who find the savory aspect a bit distracting may not enjoy it, I think it’s surely worth a try for most, at least to know that fragrances like this (the sweet/savory/spicy blend) are out there. Café Gourmand and the rest of the house is priced quite modestly for niche, at $115 for 100ml in EDP concentration, sold at Luckyscent (where I bought the coffee sample pack and an additional larger sample set, as well) and other boutiques. 7 out of 10

Creamy hazelnut milk poured on roasted coffee grounds spread over a tree stump. A toasted nut breakfast pastry served on a wooden plate with a cup of joe. Creamy and very nutty gourmand, but somewhat light on the coffee much like its siblings. Soft projection for 2-3hr, longevity 8-10hr.

Beautiful and undeniably strong. The scent truly captures the atmosphere of a bustling café or bakery during peak hours - rich, warm and full of life. Unfortunately, the coffee note is a bit too overpowering for me. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy the smell of coffee, I found it slightly heady and even headache-inducing at times. I was drawn in by the cozy, gourmand description and wanted to give it a fair chance. While it definitely delivers on that promise, it’s just not quite “me.” That said, my boyfriend really enjoys it on me, and I’ve received a few compliments while wearing it - so it clearly has its fans. But personally, I prefer something a little softer and less intense.