2025
8
India Fragrance Trends in BPC Report 2025
2026-01-07T12:02:44+00:00
REP54778823_FBFF_4E08_A854_269FEA1EF9A8
2195
190142
[{"name":"Beauty and Personal Care","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/beauty-personal-care"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"India","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/india-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Fragrance plays a pivotal role in influencing Indian consumers within BPC categories. This Report outlines key trends shaping purchase behaviour across fragrance themes, descriptors and scent intensity. Current launch activity…
India
Beauty and Personal Care
simple

India Fragrance Trends in BPC Report 2025

Fragrance plays a pivotal role in influencing Indian consumers within BPC categories. This Report outlines key trends shaping purchase behaviour across fragrance themes, descriptors and scent intensity.

Trusted by leading global brands

Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Key issues covered in this Report
    • Overview
    • Fragrance is a crucial purchase driver for Indians across BPC categories
    • Green/herbal fragrances lead overall, followed by gourmet scents
    • Graph 1: BPC product* launches with the top 10 fragrance component groups, 2020-25
    • Graph 2: BPC product* launches with the top 10 fragrance component groups, by category, 2020-25
    • Aromatherapy, outdoor and locational fragrance themes are shaping the next wave of BPC innovation
    • Graph 3: BPC product* launches by the top 10 emerging fragrance component groups, 2020-25
    • Indian BPC scent choices favour familiarity over fantasy, with florals anchoring trust and everyday appeal
    • Graph 4: influential fragrance themes when buying BPC products, 2025
    • Women seek reassurance; men seek expression
    • Graph 5: influential fragrance inspirations when buying BPC products, by gender and age, 2025
  2. OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE FLORALS

    • Floral still anchors BPC demand, but brands are easing away from it in newer launches
    • Graph 6: influential fragrance themes when buying BPC products, 2025
    • Graph 7: BPC product* launches with floral fragrance component group, 2020-25
    • India under-explores florals despite their central role in BPC choice
    • Graph 8: number of floral fragrance components in BPC categories, 2022-25
    • India vs the US: emerging floral fragrance components
    • Now: modernise florals with layered scent stories
    • Now: tap into nature-inspired themes enriched with floral notes
    • Now: introduce floral scents shaped by global influences
    • Now: tap into cultural elements within floral
    • Graph 9: culture/tradition-inspired fragrance as a driver of BPC purchase, 2025
    • Now: seek inspiration from global brands leveraging their local heritage
    • Next: leverage the growing gourmand influence in floral fragrance profiles
    • Graph 10: food/bakery-inspired fragrance as a driver of BPC purchase, 2025
    • Graph 11: number of posts around gourmand fragrances on social media platforms, 2021-24
    • Next: leverage the growing gourmand influence in floral fragrance profiles
    • Limited-edition launches in the floral-gourmand trend
  3. FRAGRANCE DESCRIPTORS: SKINCARE, HAIRCARE AND SOAP, BATH & SHOWER

    • Fresh and clean anchor fragrance expectations, but mood is where brands can differentiate
    • Graph 12: fragrance experiences consumers seek from BPC categories, 2025
    • Facial skincare: deliver sensorial efficacy with mild scents
    • In facial skincare, fragrance is tolerated, not celebrated
    • Graph 13: scent strength in facial skincare, 2025
    • Graph 14: scent strength preference in facial skincare, by gender and age group, 2025
    • Fresh and clean are universal in facial skincare; emotional cues fine-tune the appeal by age
    • Now: potential to leverage fresh and clean fragrance cues in facial skincare
    • Graph 15: % share of facial skincare product launches with a fresh and clean fragrance component, by sub-category, 2020-25
    • Now: use fresh and clean fragrance cues to create cross-category appeal
    • Wellness rituals are reshaping facial skincare, opening the door for wellness-led fragrances
    • Now: facial skincare’s shift towards wellness creates white space for mood-led fragrances
    • Graph 16: facial skincare product launches with an aromatherapy/mood enhancement fragrance component group, 2020-25
    • Now: stand out by offering calming, relaxing and uplifting scents
    • Case study: Etvos unites functional efficacy with sensorial luxury through fermentation
    • Soap, bath and shower
    • In SBS, brands overindex on green notes, while consumers seek refreshing emotional payoff
    • Graph 17: soap, bath and shower product launches, by top 10 fragrance component groups
    • Graph 18: fragrance experiences consumers seek from the soap, bath and shower category, 2025
    • Now: amplify the fresh and clean narrative in SBS
    • Next: use energising fragrance cues to drive appeal among men
    • The next growth wave lies in fragrances that deliver emotional and wellness benefits
    • Graph 19: benefits consumers seek from bathing, 2024
    • Graph 20: soap and bath product launches with the top 10 emerging fragrance component groups, 2020-25
    • Now: enhance the experience of SBS products by infusing them with aromatherapeutic fragrances
    • Now: leverage mood-boosting fragrances in SBS
    • Now: offer premium fragrance for a more soothing bathing experience
    • Case study: Lux China introduced multisensory body wash
    • Now: aromatherapeutic options can include innovative ingredients to complement scents and enhance their therapeutic benefits
    • Givaudan focuses on the fragrance ‘bloom’ experience in shower rituals
    • Extend aromatherapy benefits to bodycare ranges
    • Haircare: double down on wellness-driven descriptors
    • Fresh and clean win universally, yet layering wellness-driven descriptors can elevate the haircare experience
    • Now: strengthen the focus on fresh and clean descriptors
    • Graph 21: haircare product launches with the fresh and clean fragrance component group, 2020-25
    • Now: take cues from international brands tapping into fresh and clean fragrance descriptors
    • Case study: prolong freshness using time-release innovation
    • Opportunity to capitalise on wellness fragrance descriptors
    • Graph 22: haircare product launches with the aromatherapy/mood enhancement fragrance component group, 2020-25
    • Dominate with aromatherapeutic scents and lasting benefits
    • Dial up on niche mood-based fragrance cues
    • Graph 23: haircare product launches with select fragrance components, 2020-25
    • Next: hair perfume offers a low-risk way to premiumise haircare through scent
    • Graph 24: share of hair perfume* launches in all hair product launches, 2020-25
    • Hair perfume in India is emerging through wellness and cultural reinterpretation
    • Blend function with fragrance to turn the hair-perfume trend into a growth opportunity
  4. LEAD WITH PREMIUM SCENT INNOVATION IN MEN’S GROOMING AND CARE

    • Younger Indian men actively seek luxury fragrance cues in everyday BPC
    • Graph 25: influential fragrance themes when buying BPC products, by gender and age, 2025
    • Now: integrate fine fragrance cues into skin- and haircare
    • Leveraging olfactory expertise: Bella Vita’s move into other beauty categories
    • Highlight the integration of iconic luxury perfume notes
    • Now: advance the luxury scent experience with seasonal variations
    • Graph 26: influencing fragrance inspirations when buying BPC products, 2025
    • Innovate with spa-wellness-inspired scents for men
    • Graph 27: influential fragrance inspirations when buying BPC products, 2025
    • Key takeaways
  5. APPENDIX

    • Abbreviations
    • Generations
    • Consumer survey methodology
    • Social data research methodology
Download Report Summary

Fragrance plays a pivotal role in influencing Indian consumers within BPC categories. This Report outlines key trends shaping purchase behaviour across fragrance themes, descriptors and scent intensity. Current launch activity is dominated by green/herbal/woody scents, while other fragrance groups present untapped growth potential.

Floral scents continue to be the most preferred, especially among younger women, creating an opportunity to modernise these profiles by blending other nature aspects, cultural elements and gourmand notes. In contrast, nostalgia and travel-inspired themes rank lowest in consumer preference.

Across skincare, haircare and bath & shower categories, ‘fresh’ and ‘clean’ descriptors remain the most desired. However, current NPD underindexes on these cues, providing brands with a clear opportunity to strengthen their positioning through such universally appealing descriptors. At the same time, growing consumer interest in wellness-led and mood-enhancing scents suggests further room for differentiation, especially as demand rises for fragrances that evoke calm, balance or sensorial uplift.

Lastly, the Report explores how brands can champion luxury-perfume-inspired scent innovation within the men’s grooming space.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • Fragrance descriptors most sought by consumers in BPC
  • Fragrance themes influencing BPC purchases
  • Consumer preferences for scent intensity across BPC categories
  • Fragrance component trends fuelling NPD in India
  • Opportunities for wellness-driven fragrances

Reimagine florals with nature and indulgence cues. Infuse wellness-driven scent into everyday beauty products. Elevate men's grooming with sophisticated, luxury-perfume-led scents.

Twinkle Behl, Research Analyst – Beauty and Personal Care, India

£ 2,195 excl. Tax
Secure direct checkout
Instant PDF download
Portal access included
Need help deciding? Get in touch

Trusted by global industry leaders

4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Abacus logo

There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.

However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.

Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Wincanton logo

When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.

They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.

So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.

Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
Epsilon logo

We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.

By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.

For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.

Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
Waitrose & Partners logo

We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.

Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.

Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
VocaLink logo

We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.

As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.

We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.

 

Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
Bauer Media Group logo

We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.

They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.

Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
Mediacom logo

Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.

It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.

Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
Deutsch logo

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
Amazon logo

Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.

Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.

Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon