Scented Makeup: A New Wave of Luxury Sweeps the Beauty World - Lipsticks Become Wearable Perfume

1. The Era of Seeking "More Than Just Color"

Once confined to the realm of perfumes, "fragrance" has now expanded to lips, powders, and bronzers, transforming makeup from a visual to a sensory experience. HELLO!'s report describes this trend as an "invisible accessory that elevates mood." Historically, scented makeup has long existed, but recently, high-end brands have been weaving their perfume DNA into makeup, creating an "olfactory continuity" of their brand stories. Notable examples include the reimagined scent of Guerlain's "Meteorites" by perfumer Delphine Jelk, the harmony of red fruits and powdery florals in Byredo's lip and lip care products, and Louis Vuitton's debut makeup collection, where their master perfumer has infused lipsticks and balms with signature scents.HELLO!

2. Fragrance Design by Brand

• Louis Vuitton (La Beauté Louis Vuitton)
  The 55 shades of LV Rouge are set with a "light floral fragrance," and the balm with "raspberry & mint" aroma. The perfumer is Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud. Despite the ultra-luxury price range, the experience value is maximized through fragrance, texture, and refillable design.People.com

• Guerlain
  "Meteorites" has been updated with a "powder snow-like" scent through a classic x modern reblend, including woody notes (such as sandalwood), musk, and vanilla. Terracotta evokes a memory journey with ylang-ylang and orange blossom reminiscent of the sun.HELLO!

• Byredo
  The lip care features a "melting" composition of juicy red fruits, powdery florals, and vanilla cream. The fragrance is crafted by Jérôme Epinette.BYREDO

• Celine
  The lipstick is styled with a "70s rose & rice powder" scent, signing the haute perfumery world view even in lip products.Celine

• Prada
  The identity of the flagship perfume "Infusion d'Iris," which blends into the skin, serves as a reference point even in some makeup divisions.Prada

Addendum: The prototype of "fragrant makeup" is firmly rooted even in the mass to mid-price range. Nostalgic scents have already become standard, such as Too Faced's cocoa-scented palette and Physicians Formula's monoi-scented bronzer.NordstromTooFaced

3. Why Add Fragrance—Psychology and Economics

Fragrance powerfully links memory and emotion. Brands offer "fragrance = story" as a ritual beyond the completion of a look (the exhilaration of the application process, mood switching). HELLO!'s article also emphasizes "emotional memory evocation through fragrance." This logic connects with the SNS generation, sensitive to price, who find "luxury of the senses = experiential spending" acceptable.ritualityHELLO!

4. Honest Opinions on SNS: Enchanted vs. Confused

• Aspiration and Buzz: Louis Vuitton's first makeup received polarized reactions of "too expensive" yet "desirable." Alongside price criticism, voices appreciating the immersive experience of "even the fragrance is LV" spread.Indiatimes

• Concerns of Fragrance Fatigue and Sensitive Skin: On Reddit, opinions are divided with comments like "strongly scented face cosmetics are not preferred" and "some Guerlain items have strong scents, but I like the powders." Threads seeking "fragrance-free" options due to allergies or irritation from fragrances are also prominent.divided opinionsReddit

• Nostalgia Demand: "Candy scents" like chocolate and tropical remain popular, with reviews consistently praising "the scent is amazing."Ulta Beauty

5. Regulations and Skin Risks: Realities to Know

Fragrances are one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis. In dermatological reviews and conference materials, their presence as allergens is repeatedly highlighted. The EU's 2023 revision significantly expanded the list of allergens that must be disclosed, with a transition deadline set for 2026. For those with sensitive skin or a history of allergies, fragrance-free is the basic strategy.American Contact Dermatitis Society

6. Five Rules for Smartly Enjoying "Fragrant Makeup"

1. TPO x Fragrance Type: For the office, choose "clean scents close to the skin" (iris, rice powder). For the evening, create a mood with florals or gourmand scents. If aligned with the brand's perfume DNA, the overall harmony is easier to achieve.Celine

2. Light Fragrance on the Face: The face is prone to olfactory fatigue and irritation. Try stronger scents in points (like lips) rather than powders.American Academy of Dermatology

3. Patch Test & Ingredient Check: For first-time use, apply to a small area. With the EU's expanded allergen disclosure, reading INCI has become more important than before.EUR-Lex

4. Layering with Perfume: Design your scent with similar fragrances. Example: unify with "same DNA" from Celine or LV.Celine

5. Alternative Options: If you dislike fragrances, choose fragrance-free formulations. Community insights are also useful.Reddit

7. Future Prospects

Each maison is expanding its "olfactory signature" to the entire makeup line. Fragrance serves as a basis for price premium, and through the combination with refillable packaging and craftsmanship, it is expected to strengthen the "reason to buy." Meanwhile, as regulatory strengthening and sensitive skin needs progress in parallel, branching designs such as **lightly scented, low allergen, and fragrance choice (including unscented versions)** will likely spread. Luxury will continue to symbolize the shift from "display" to "happiness only I can understand"—fragrant makeup will remain its emblem.EUR-Lex