Fragrance

04-30-2025

Find Your Scent: What Does Purple Ube Smell Like?

If you’re looking for a new signature scent, check out this guide to learn what ube smells like and find out more about this unique ingredient. 

With summer just around the corner, you might be looking for a new scent to add to your fragrance collection. As you search for new fragrances, you might see purple ube listed as a scent note. 

This article will take a close look at what purple ube is, what it smells like, and the scents it pairs well with so that you know what to imagine when you see this sweet treat included in a fragrance. 

What Is Purple Ube?

Purple ube is similar to a yam, but what sets it apart is its incredible, bright purple color. Starchy and sweet, purple ube is native to Southeast Asia and a staple food in the Philippines. For several centuries, purple ube has been cultivated in the Philippines and plays an important role in Filipino cuisine

Traditionally, you could find purple ube in everything from jams to baked goods in the Philippines. One of the most classic Filipino foods with purple ube is ube halaya, a jam made with purple ube, coconut milk, and butter. 

Nowadays, both in the Philippines and abroad, you can find purple ube used to flavor ice cream, lattes, and a wide variety of sweet treats. 

What Does Purple Ube Smell Like?

Purple ube has a distinct, delicious smell that makes it a beloved ingredient in both the culinary and fragrance worlds. This section will break down the three main notes that purple ube adds to a perfume. 

Sweet and Nutty

First things first, when you smell purple ube, you’ll be struck by its sweet, nutty smell. Thanks to the sweetness of its scent, purple ube is often described as a cross between vanilla and pistachio.

Earthy

The nutty, sweet notes of purple ube are balanced by its floral earthiness. This quality gives purple ube a more complex scent profile and adds an element of richness to its scent. 

Creamy

Purple ube also has an undeniably creamy smell. Buttery and delicious, its creamy undertone is also often compared to coconut. 

What Does Purple Ube Pair Well With?

Now that you know exactly what smells make up the scent profile of purple ube, it’s time to consider what ingredients this nutty, sweet fragrance pairs well with. 

Here are some of the best scent combos you can make with purple ube, as well as our recommendation for a Snif fragrance that features this distinct, delightful smell. 

Lavender

Purple ube has slightly floral undertones, so it’s a match made in heaven when paired with lavender. Lavender adds a touch of freshness to the smell of purple ube without being too bright or sharp. The result is a calming, sweet duo that smells as good as a hug from your favorite person feels. 

Dates

Another great scent to pair with purple ube is date. Dates have a fruity, sugary smell that blend beautifully with the nuttiness of purple ube. You can find lavender, dates, and purple ube combined with milk froth, black tea, and palo santo in the fragrance Gentle Reminder. 

Created to be a scent that’s equal parts soothing and grounding, Gentle Reminder will help you find a soft place to land when you need it most.

Your New Favorite

Get ready to discover your new favorite fragrances this summer. As you start your search, keep an eye out for purple ube, a scent that’s as sweet as it is serene. 

Sources:

Research Advances of Purple Sweet Potato Anthocyanins: Extraction, Identification, Stability, Bioactivity, Application, and Biotransformation | NIH 

Pinoy on the Plate: Uniting the World Through the Exquisite Taste of Filipino Cuisine | Research Gate

Lavender and the Nervous System | NIH 

Therapeutic effects of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) in the prevention of diseases via modulation of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumour activity | NIH

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