Once upon a time, in the lawless era of the early aughts, Jessica Simpson launched a line of edible cosmetics, including a gourmand perfume you could lick off your wrist. Aptly named Dessert Beauty, the scent was the moment—lining Sephora walls, it was sweet, a little bit sticky, and a lot a bit sexy. (The latter solidified through promo of Simpson and then-husband, Nick Lachey sensually licking each other in every photo opp.) Lawsuits emerged, the line was shut down, and its existence only to be remembered through nostalgic millennials. Well, until recent months. As it turns out, edible fragrances are back—this time cosplaying as the chicer, grown-up versions of their candied predecessors. But it begs the question: Have we gone too far? Fine, I'll say it—please, please don't eat your perfume.
As fragrance houses are upping the ante, competing to outdo one another in fresh avant-garde ways, the perfume industry isn't just about smelling good anymore. Now, it's a race to create a brand new sensorial experience—and as of late, perfumes dubbed safe to eat have re-entered the chat. While they're unlikely to be seriously harmful (due to the fact that there's more regulation than in the days of Dessert Beauty), before you consider your perfume an afternoon treat, let's unpack this trend.
