Why Do Beauty Brands Want to Sell Women Dessert?
Plus: a new Edna Lewis documentary, and a fashion party with organ meat
Welcome to Best Food Blog, a writer-run publication about eating by journalists Ali Francis, Anikah Shaokat, Anna Hezel, and Antara Sinha. You can check out everything we’ve published so far here. Today, we’re sharing food news and trends that are top-of-mind, with a special guest appearance from writer, pastry chef, and friend of the blog Zoe Denenberg. You can keep up with her adventures on Substack or Instagram.
For as long as I’ve been a girl, the beauty industry has had a thing with dessert. Growing up, I begged my mom for Philosophy’s sugar cookie-scented shower gel. I collected Coca-Cola and cotton candy Lip Smackers in my little sequined purse. Also in the purse: at least four tiny bottles of hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works, the sharp antiseptic scent cut by raspberries and whipped vanilla. (No wonder I’m a pastry chef now.)
Just in time for Y2K nostalgia, brands are bringing sugary scents back — this time aimed at fully grown adults. Last month, Native launched a line of deodorants and lotions in partnership with Dunkin’, featuring flavors (er, scents) like strawberry-frosted donut and Boston Kreme. A few weeks later, Dove announced a new collection of cookie-scented soaps in partnership with Crumbl. And the lip balm hysteria of 2005 has officially gone highbrow, with brands like Summer Fridays charging $24 a pop for “pink sugar”-flavored lip gloss.
