Happy New Year! Is it me, or is time going by faster? It’s now 2026. Looking back, 2025 certainly kept Trendincite LLC engaged. Altogether, we wrote, researched, and edited over 45 trend pieces that covered 2025 Fragrance & Flavor Trends, Ingredient Trends, and Lifestyle Trends.
How accurate were Trendincite LLC’s 2025 Trend Predictions?
Here are earlier forecasts from 2023 and 2022. Which trends stuck?
- Trendincite: Translate Trends to Tastes – Generic Brands Get An Upgrade, On-Demand Delivery Speeds Up, You Fill Up My Senses, Spread On The Flavor, and Nuts For Nuts
- 5 Trends to Watch For…
- 2025 will be defined by AI, robots, precision fermentation, and GLP-1 drugs
- Private label is on the rise as consumers watch their wallets
What themes did we see for 2025 trends?
Evidently, fruits are popular while spicy profiles proliferate. Presently, protein is functional. Undoubtedly, multi-sensory experiences are on trend, and candy checks all the boxes. From head to toe and at home, consumers want to smell good and feel good. Sensory wellness is still under the radar. Games and toys bring people together, whether single or in a family.
- Fruit Salad – Camu camu emerges, strawberry makes a comeback, peach and banana are on trend
- Savory Side – Soup’s on as a comfort food, snacks without borders heat up, and beverages kick it up
- Protein + – Protein, caffeine, and collagen feed consumers’ need for wellness
- What’s Your Function? – Functional foods have shifted from being a niche to becoming a standard consumer expectation. Functional foods and beverages address hormonal changes for aging women, and functional products that support mood enhancement continue to launch
- I Want Candy – novel tastes, textures, collaborations, and functional ingredients foster candy innovation
- Life Goes On – Singles are hesitant to swipe right, and games and toys unlock our inner child
- Sensory Sensations – Sensory-driven products and activations captivate consumers, cpgs push the envelope, and sound and texture rival flavor
- Altered States – Sensory Wellness Is Overlooked for consumers with invisible disabilities, altered smell or taste
- From Pits to Lips – Whole body deodorants dominate ap/deo applications, and lip care is the “it” affordable luxury
- Smell Good – Solid perfumes, enhanced body sprays, and music-inspired scents fuel fragrance, and skin care ingredients drive hair mists, body wash, and sun care innovations
- At Home – Wellness & luxury kindle the home fragrance market
- Sensory Wellness – Once-taboo conversations and pets as companions are shaping sensory health, and consumer packaged goods will explore and capitalize on the intricate relationship between scent and taste, creating products with multi-sensory experiences
What 2025 events did we participate in?
In addition to the many articles we wrote, we shared our POV at various industry events.
- From Lip Balm to Beauty in the Metaverse, Amy presented at Sniffapalooza’s 23rd Fall Ball
- A Look Back And A Look Forward – Food & Beverage Trends Shaping Innovation, Amy presented at NAFFS 108th Annual Conference
- Stop And Smell The Trends: Exploring Innovations In Consumer Packaged Goods, Amy presented at NYSCC Supplier’s Day 2025
- Listen To my conversation with Stephanie Feuer, co-founder of WTSA, on Trends In Flavor and Fragrance on The World of Taste & Smell Podcast
What’s next in 2026?
Lastly, have you downloaded our 2026 trend report yet? See what to expect in 2026.
New Year – New Trends! Kick off your year with an inspirational custom-designed trend excursion, a trend-forward marketing presentation, an informative blog post, or collaborate with Amy Marks-McGee as a guest speaker for your next event. What’s in store for 2026? Contact Trendincite LLC to support your 2026 marketing efforts.