I don’t really like to play favorites when it comes to the best perfumes (listen, I’ve got more than 200 of ’em), but I can’t deny that one seriously stood out in 2023. That would be Kayali’s Yum Pistachio Gelato | 33. It basically ignited my gourmand perfume obsession. Suddenly, I only wanted to smell delicious and edible. Who wouldn’t? And I wasn’t the only one who fell in love, says Kayali founder Mona Kattan. Scents connect you to core memories and moments, and sweet perfumes evoke a comforting and nostalgic vibe, she says. This is exactly what led her to expand the franchise. Meet Yum Boujee Marshallow | 81, the newest sweet creation from Kayali and likely my new favorite perfume for 2024.
“This fragrance is in reference to the nickname my husband, Hassan, gave to me,” says Kattan. “He says even when I am not wearing any fragrances, I smell like a marshmallow—fresh, clean, sweet, soft—so I decided to make this a part of our Yum franchise, which celebrates desserts and all things yummy.” I got the chance to test it ahead of launch, and not to spoil anything, but I’m potentially even more infatuated with this one. Keep reading for my full review, info on how to layer from Kattan, and more.
What does Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow smell like?
Key notes: Strawberry, pink marshmallow, whipped vanilla, freesia, orange blossom, raspberry sugar, ambrox.
Kayali’s Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81 is like an ode to the dessert table at a little girl’s birthday party. The room is covered in pink balloons and confetti, and the desserts don’t skimp on frosting or sprinkles. But it’s also elevated—think: the My Super Sweet 16 type of birthday that’s so OTT and decadent. Kattan describes the scent as “an incredibly boujee, fluffy, and indulgent juice.” The hero note is pink marshmallow: an extra-sugary, powdery marshmallow scent that evokes a cotton candy–esque scent. It’s also spun with strawberries and orange blossom to add a juiciness plus whipped vanilla cream, flaky coconut, and raspberry sugar to up the ante on sweetness. Kattan calls it Kayali’s most “irresistible” scent to date. “It’s also a very happy fragrance, so I think anyone who wears this will feel like a delicious and delightful snack,” she adds.
My review:
The first night I doused myself in Yum Boujee Marshmallow, I found myself inside of a cramped, sweaty karaoke bar in Chinatown celebrating a friend’s birthday. Every single person I spoke to complimented my perfume, noting how delicious I smelled. Some even pulled out their Notes app to take down the name of the perfume to buy it for themselves. I’ve never had such a strong, overwhelmingly positive response to a perfume in my life. Amid a bar that didn’t smell great, I was the sweet spot, apparently—all thanks to the strong projection of this perfume.
The next morning, as I peeled my clothes off the floor to throw in the wash, I could still smell the perfume on them, which led me to sniff my wrists to see if I could pick up on the scent on my skin as well. Albeit faint, the scent was still present, with the notes coming off warmer and more vanilla-like than the sharp, pungent strawberry cream it was when I first spritzed it on.
It should be stated that I, obviously, love sweet scents. I wasn’t shocked that I devoured this perfume. But I can’t really imagine it stealing the hearts of those who don’t ordinarily love a gourmand perfume, considering most of the notes are sugary and edible. It doesn’t have a woody or spicy note in the base that offers up a different spin, like Yum Pistachio Gelato or Vanilla 28 do. What you see is really what you get with this one, which can go both ways depending on your preferences.
How to layer it:
As a fragrance lover, I rarely wear just one perfume. Instead, I’ll create my own concoctions with what’s in my current collection. So if you also have a fragrance wardrobe, consider combining Yum Boujee Marshallow with other gourmands, like a vanilla perfume, to add even more sweetness. “Like putting whipped cream on your favorite dessert,” says Kattan. She’s also a big fan of layering Yum Boujee Marshmallow with Yum Pistachio Gelato for a cozy, wintery scent. “The fluffiness of the shared marshmallow notes, the fruitiness of the strawberry, and the creamy coconut in Boujee Marshmallow really layer beautifully with the fresh spiciness of the cardamom and milky nutty notes of the pistachio gelato accord,” she explains.
I’ve also been testing it out with some of my go-to layering perfumes in my collection, like Le Labo Thé Noir, which gives it a sophisticated, woodsy, fresh vibe that really grounds the sweetness. I also love pairing it with Parfums de Marly Delina, an airy floral that basically turns into a pink fluffy cloud of girlhood when paired with Yum Boujee Marshallow’s notes.