TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY FRAGRANCE & FLAVOR COLLABORATIONS

Cross-promotions with iconic food and beverage brands and consumer packaged goods partnerships are not new. However, they are creative, fun, and unexpected. Being limited, these products are collectible and garner attention. The holiday season brings out new, often odd, limited-edition fragrance and flavor innovations and collaborations. From fine fragrance and candles to beverages and chocolate, tis the season for brands to pull out all the stops.

SMELL THIS

Fine Fragrance launches are inspired by trends in pop culture. Gourmand scents are on trend and continue to be influential. Inspired by an Espresso Martini, Absolut and Kahlúa have collaborated with Imaginary Authors to craft the Blend No. 83 fragrance. The limited-edition Absolut x Kahlúa scent contains notes of dark chocolate, sugarcane rum, Arabica coffee, velvety foam, and night musk. It is packaged in a 1980s-inspired crystal martini coupe-like bottle. Le Monde Gourmand and The Gemini Bake have teamed up on the Meringue Magique Eau De Parfum. This indulgent fragrance features notes of whipped cream and praline with brandied orange and gardenia. On the savory side, KFC Spain dropped a limited-edition Eau D’uardo unisex fragrance inspired by Colonel Sanders’ original iconic recipe. The scent features geranium, mandarin, bergamot, and pink pepper. It is packaged in a bottle that resembles a chicken thigh with a golden cap.

APPLY THIS

From sweet to savory, bath and body fragrance and flavor collaborations run the gamut in olfactive directions. The Beekman 1802 x Nestle Toll House Fresh Baked Cookies & Milk Body Care Collection launched in five applications: Bar Soap, Cookie Lip Balm, Hand Cream, Hand & Body Wash, and Whipped Body Cream. The microbiome-friendly products are clinically proven to maintain a healthy skin barrier and cause zero irritation. Bath and body kids and tweens brand Allkinds partnered with Chupa Chups to create a limited-edition collection. The four scents are inspired by the brand’s lollipop flavors: Caramel, Grape, Strawberry & Cream, and Watermelon. The products are available in Daily Body Cream, Jelly Wash, Scented Lip Saver, Shower Syrup, Whipped Shower Foam, and Chupa Chups sponge. Microwaveable Indian meal brand Tasty Bite developed limited-edition Spice Balms inspired by the brand’s bold flavors. The Hot & Spicy Spice Balm “is for the most fervent spice lovers with no shortage of chili peppers,” while the Tikka Masala Spice Balm is the iteration of Tasty Bite’s Chickpea Tikka Masala entrée with a smokey flavor. The Vindaloo Spice Balm is bold and tangy and evokes the flavor and aroma of Tasty Bite’s Vindaloo entree.

LIGHT THIS

According to the National Candle Association, approximately 35% of candle sales occur during the Christmas/Holiday season. It’s no surprise that food and beverages continue to inspire scented candle collaborations in a variety of olfactive fragrance and flavor directions with an emphasis on savory scents. Swiss Miss and Candier by Ryan Porter have co-created a limited-edition candle housed in the classic Swiss Miss red mug topped with mini marshmallows made of wax. The scent contains notes of chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, sugar, and praline and is fragranced with essential oils. Australian brand Twisties snacks and Angel Aromatics released a limited-edition range of scented candles that are twisted and available in Classic Cheese and Technicolored Chicken scents. UK burger restaurant Fat Hippo and Hot Wax joined forces on two signature, limited-edition candles in Bacon and Pickle scents. The 100% natural soy wax candles are hand-poured and vegan-friendly.

DRINK THIS

Both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are a hotbed of innovation. Recent activity can be seen in new partnerships. Nestlé and Kellogg’s have teamed up on several new beverages. Coffee Mate and Eggo’s have dropped an Eggo Waffles with Maple Syrup Flavored Creamer. On the milk front, Nestlé and Kellogg’s released Eggo Maple Waffle Flavored Milk with notes of toasty waffles, warm butter, and sweet maple, and Frosted Flakes Cereal Flavored Milk with frosted corn flakes with a rich and creamy dairy finish. In January, Coffee Mate and Paramount Pictures will launch a Coffee Mate Mean Girls Pink Frosting Flavored Creamer, “which channels all the flavors of a cake filled with rainbows and smiles.” Molson Coors Beverage Company and the Coca‑Cola Company partnered on the Peace Hard Tea line in three flavors: Freedom of Peach, More Peace More Lemon, and Really Really Razzy. Pernod Ricard and Coca-Cola announced an Absolut Vodka & Sprite pre-mixed RTD cocktail expected in 2024. It will be available in Sprite and Sprite Zero Sugar varieties with the initial launch planned for select European countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany.

EAT THIS

Thanksgiving flavors and savory food are inspirational for brands to partner and create one-of-a-kind flavor collaborations such as doughnuts and dumplings. For Thanksgiving, McCormick and Dough Doughnuts teamed up on the Holiday Bites Collection, a limited-time collaboration of mini doughnuts in three flavors: Cranberry Craze, It’s All Gravy, and Pumpkin to Talk About. The Cranberry Crazy doughnut highlights a cranberry jam filling with McCormick rosemary, and a cranberry-rosemary glaze topped with dried cranberries. It’s All Gravy is made of McCormick brown gravy-infused dough with maple cheesecake filling topped with brown gravy glaze, ground sage, and black pepper stuffing crumbles with garlic powder. Pumpkin To Talk About features a creamy filling made of McCormick pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, and cinnamon topped with a pumpkin glaze, pecan streusel crumbles, and a dollop of meringue with ground cinnamon. Not a collaboration, but an interesting product inspired by Thanksgiving is Baskin-Robbins’ new flavor Turkey Day Fixin’s ice cream that combines cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and cornbread.

Kraft Singles and Top Chef finalist Shirley Chung developed Kraft Singles’ Souplings, a Chinese American fusion of tomato soup and grilled cheese dumplings. The Souplings were available at Chung’s restaurant, Ms. Chi Café and on Goodbelly.com for a limited time. Campbell’s and Phillip Ashley Chocolate collaborated on the Phillip Ashley Limited Edition Holiday Sides Truffle Collection, a six-piece soup-infused savory chocolate set. The Apple, Fennel & Herb Stuffing includes roasted apples, fennel, and Campbell’s Cream of Celery Soup bread pudding in a blond chocolate bonbon. Baked Corn Casserole has cornbread, sweet corn, and Campbell’s Cream of Chicken soup in a white chocolate bonbon. Everything Bagel Mashed Potatoes highlights Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese soup caramel coated in a dark chocolate bonbon with everything bagel seasoning. The Green Bean Casserole contains Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom condensed soup, green beans, and onion-infused sea salt in a dark chocolate fudge bonbon. Hot Honey Mashed Sweet Potatoes features sweet potatoes, thyme, local Memphis hot honey, Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup, and milk in a chocolate bonbon. Jalapeño Cheddar Mac & Cheese is made with Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese soup, triple cream Brie, and jalapeño-infused white chocolate ganache in a blond chocolate bonbon.

SNACK ON THIS

Consumers love snacks and there’s no shortage of snack introductions. Salty snacks and chocolate still reign supreme. Pringles and The Caviar Co. teamed up on three limited-edition premium packaged potato chips and caviar collections: Crisps and Caviar, Salt Of The Sea, and Smoky Shores. Inspired by Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules stars Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney’s soon-to-be-opened sandwich shop, Something About Her, Lay’s created the limited-edition Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Chips flavor.

In partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, Brach’s introduced a limited-time Elf candy lineup. Brach’s x Elf Candy Canes come in three flavors: Buddy the Elf Maple Syrup, Cotton Candy Headed Ninny Muggins, and World’s Best Cup of Peppermint Hot Cocoa. The Swirly Twirly Gum Drops are new dual-color swirled jelly candies offered in Icy Blue Raspberry, Merry Cherry, and Sweet Sugarplum flavors. Candy Cane Forest Mellowcreme Candy is available in Candy Cane (Peppermint), Elf cap (Maple Syrup), Leon the Snowman (Toasted Marshmallow), and Mr. Narwhal (Frosted Sugar Cookie) shapes and flavors.

Regardless of the smell or taste of these limited-edition fragrance and flavor collaborations, they capture consumers’ attention and drive brand awareness. Keep a lookout for more brand collaborations and innovative scent and flavor interpretations in a variety of scented and flavored products.

Get your customers’ attention in 2024 and collaborate with Trendincite LLC. Partner with Trendincite on a custom-design multisensory trend excursion, an attention-grabbing marketing presentation, a sweet or savory blog post, or hire Amy Marks-McGee as a guest speaker.