Espresso Martini
The bitter-sweet exhale of a cold shaker, espresso and vodka fused into vapor. This modern icon captures the moment anticipation becomes sensation, recreating London's most glamorous cocktail as an olfactory accord.
Character
How it smells
Vodka, espresso, and the scent of late nights.
The original Espresso Martini was invented in 1983 by London bartender Dick Bradsell, who named it after a model's request for something that would "wake her up and f*** her up."
Origin
United Kingdom
The Espresso Martini emerged from London's Soho bar scene in 1983. Bartender Dick Bradsell worked at the Savoy when a Belgian model, tired of boring drinks, asked for something energizing.
Bradsell combined vodka, fresh espresso, and coffee liqueur in a shaker, creating the frothy cocktail that would define cocktail culture for decades. The drink's popularity exploded through the 1990s and 2000s, becoming a staple of nightlife worldwide.
By the 2010s, perfumers began translating its distinctive aroma into fragrance, capturing the quintessentially modern combination of sophistication, energy, and indulgence. Today, Espresso Martini accords appear across niche and designer fragrances, representing a bridge between bar culture and beauty.
Wears it best
Fragrances featuring Espresso Martini
Brands
Brands known for Espresso Martini
Good to know
Questions, answered
The essentials on Espresso Martini in perfumery: how it smells, where it comes from, and how it behaves on skin.
What does Espresso Martini smell like in perfume?
Espresso Martini accord smells like strong coffee with bitter roasted notes, sweet vanilla undertones, and a clean alcoholic brightness reminiscent of cold vodka. The combination creates a sophisticated, energizing scent.
Is Espresso Martini a natural fragrance ingredient?
Espresso Martini is a crafted accord combining natural coffee absolute with synthetic aromatic molecules. No single plant produces this scent naturally.
Which fragrances feature Espresso Martini notes?
Several niche fragrances feature coffee and cocktail-inspired accords, with scent profiles combining bitter espresso, vanilla sweetness, and boozy warmth characteristic of the cocktail.
What coffee materials are used in Espresso Martini accord?
Perfumers use coffee absolute, CO2 extracts, or nature-identical compounds like furfuryl mercaptan (providing authentic roasted coffee character) combined with sweet and alcoholic accords.
Does Espresso Martini fragrance contain actual alcohol?
Fragrance Espresso Martini accords contain aromatic compounds that smell like alcohol, but no actual ethanol. The effect comes from volatile molecules that mimic vodka's crisp, clean lift.
Why did cocktail culture influence perfumery?
Cocktail culture's growth in the 2000s and 2010s created shared sensory experiences that perfumers translated into fragrance, capturing moments of indulgence and social ritual.
What scents pair well with Espresso Martini notes?
Espresso Martini accords pair naturally with vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli, amber, and dark chocolate. These complementary notes amplify the cocktail's sweet-bitter balance.
Who created the original Espresso Martini cocktail?
Dick Bradsell, a London bartender working at the Savoy, invented the Espresso Martini in 1983 when a Belgian model requested a drink that would energize her.
