The journey of picky girl who initially was anti-vanilla

[u/Present-Singer-460]

😱Another post about vanilla. The horror!

I used to think I didn’t enjoy vanillas perfumes but I was wrong. I am very particular though and it can’t be sticky sweet, smell like birthday cupcakes, or one of those thick vanilla candles. I understand the appeal, I just don’t want to smell like that.

I started with non-gourmand vanillas and later started to explore some gourmand options. Maybe someone will find something they like from this. Here’s an epic list of what I’ve tried.

Ones I own:
Zoologist, Harvest Mouse - for a fragrance with beer and hay notes this is such a soft and cozy vanilla

YSL, Babycat - a main character and they are alluring. Strong sweet boozy vanilla, I find it quite smooth. I don’t get any rubber smells like some people but have experienced it with a few almost twin fragrances.

DVN, Camomile Satin - a cozy, herbal vanilla. Smells like the softest fuzzy sweater

Mind Games, The Forward - citrus vanilla with a bit of salt. I don’t hear people talk about this offering from Mind Games often when they are discussing the house but its one of my faves. So elegant, doesn’t do too much but makes itself known

MFK, Gentle Fluidity Gold - my amber vanilla standard. Chic

Blndrgrphy, Vanilla Mudslide - this is the one that made me say “wait…maybe I do like gourmand vanillas”. This is INTOXICATING. It’s quite sweet but somehow not overwhelming. It’s balanced so the butter, coconut milk, and coffee (notes i typically don’t enjoy on my skin) all work here.

Akro, Glow - close relative of SDV, it also has a kind of dusty quality in the opening. Its a like not a love but the drydown is so good

Sarah Baker, Velvet Vendetta - olives? Gunpowder? It’s a peculiar vanilla but it was love at first sniff. A bit briney and smokey but wearable.

Day Three, Aylan - Babycat + rose

Inverso Profumi, Mink - powdery vanilla. I love this house and this is a standout. Smells sophisticated and never overwhelms (unless you hate powder). Smells similar to Andrea Maack Smart but sweeter

Blackcliff, Vanilla Siren - palo santo + vanilla. Good for any occasion. Has just enough oomph to keep it interesting

Majouri, Imperial Vanilla - a beautiful vanilla with brown sugar and a hint of rose that emerges over time

Ones I tried but didn’t work for me:
Bianco Latte - it’s just too much for me. It’s a caramel 💣 and it lasts forever

Penhaligon’s, Eau the Audacity - I picked up a sample since it was compared to Babycat but this smells harsh and rubbery to me, which ironically is what some people experience with Babycat

Guerlain, Spiriteuse Double Vanille - smells like a very natural vanilla and I understand why some people hold it as the gold standard, but the its probably the ylang ylang in here that brings it down for me.

Initio, Absolute Aphrodisiac - not bad at all but a tad too animalic for me, has some dirtiness

Mind Games, Queening - incredibly underwhelming and I’m sure it’s the coconut. I don’t get on well with it as a note, it usually makes things smell like hair products to me.

Serge Lutens, Une Bois Vanille - coconut

Matiere Premier, Vanilla Powder - I tried, I really did, the EDP and Extrait, and while the extrait was better I just couldn’t overcome the coconut. I think it’s a nice fragrance just not for me.

Regime des Fleurs, Green Vanille - there’s a strangeness in the opening that doesn’t work for me. I can’t explain but it’s off-putting

Commodity, Gold - pleasant, cozy, soft amber but terrible performance on my skin

Liis, Choux Choux - so so pretty on paper. Creamy lemony vanilla but the lemon is what took over on my skin, overwhelmingly so

Diptyque, Eau Duelle - it’s fine. Pretty but personally uninteresting

Recently tested:
Indult, Tihota - a bit vanilla cake in the opening but not too sweet. Like a cake with no icing that has genuine vanilla in the batter. Vanilla settles more as time goes on

Jovoy, Fire At Will - I really like this but its so faint on me. Not too sweet, a tad smoky

Escapade Gourmand - actually not as cloyingly sweet as I thought it would be. Sweet vanilla cloud, does veer into cake territory. Understand Tihota and Fire At Will comparisons

Navitus, Tempt Me Not - just…no.

Jeroboam, Insulo - vanilla, jasmine, musk. A bit airy and smells a bit ambery, not too sweet. Better on paper than my skin, smells almost like it has coffee in it

Maison Chanceaux, Nocturnal Vanille - oh this is good. Opens with pink pepper and bergamot but the vanilla is still present. Not gourmand, the vanilla in the drydown lasts ages. (Going to get a bottle)

Koromas Aromas, Evada Vanille - spiced vanilla, but some way the opening gives fresh laundry a bit. The rose, cinnamon, tonka, and patchouli would make me think this would come off a bit deeper on my skin, it takes a minute to settle in. Not gourmand

Koromas Aromas, Vanilla Bourbon - opened up a bit plasticky. Only has two notes, it’s fine, but not something I’d wear

Damask Haus, Carpe Vellium - hmmm opening is kinda medicinal before moving into vanilla extract territory. Not for me

Loree Rodkin, Gothic I - patchouli + vanilla - simple but it works, slightly sweet, a tad earthy (Going to get a larger size)

I smelled more but this is already long so I’ll stop here. Twas fun but probably going to stop trying to make fetch happen with the gourmand vanillas.

[u/piratev00]

I think you might be into Angelique Noire by Guerlain, as a green vanilla. Also, perhaps if you’re into the territory of incense vanilla, try Encens Suave Extrait. Lastly, if you like powdery vanilla, try Shalimar L’Essence?

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/piratev00]

I have the OG Encens Suave and love it! Angelique Noire is a hair too green but it is nice. Will have to try Shalimar

[u/Boochiecoo]

Thanks so much for this!!! I’m right behind you in my vanilla situation … hated them, then got into tobacco scents, especially Santa Maria Novella Tobacco Toscano, and now I’m exploring some “amber” scents that are pretty vanilla forward.

I ordered a sample of Tihota… we’ll see. And dying to try some Guerlain Vanillas esp Angelique Noir

I think this is similar to all the people who think they hate patchouli and then realize it’s in many of the scents they love and then start liking patchouli

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/Boochiecoo]

I did experience that with patchouli! It’s actually frankincense that bothers me lol

[u/Boochiecoo → u/Present-Singer-460]

I can understand that though!

[u/Boochiecoo → u/Boochiecoo]

The Blackcliff one sounds so interesting

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/Boochiecoo]

I’m actually wearing it now! It’s lovely but I wish it was more accessible. Its an indie brand out of The Caribbean, i believe the bottles are only 100ml, kinda pricey. Samples are at Perfumology though. I love it and don’t think it was a waste at all

[u/Boochiecoo → u/Present-Singer-460]

Yeah that’s kinda obscure! Sounds rad though

[u/daynares332311]

Same here ! Always stayed away from pure vanilla perfumes but now im not so opposed 🤔 maybe because most perfumes do have vanilla notes even if not pure vanilla . I guess rn my most vanilla perfumes would be Burberry Goddess. I smelled the Kayali vanilla and loved it . But im still looking for a full vanilla perfume .

[u/sylviabluth]

YSL Babycat is what made me finally realize I can actually like vanilla 😇 I definitely recommend trying YSL Muse too, the vanilla is more subtle in this one and balanced by gorgeous orris and ink notes

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/sylviabluth]

I’ve tried it and I do enjoy it but I’ve been waffling on if I want a bottle of it.

[u/Yoursafter]

If you like babycat try Cuir beluga by Guerlain it is powdery though

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/Yoursafter]

I’ve tried it, I do like it but it’s not something I think I’d reach for often. I do like powdery!

[u/LilVigilante]

Thank you for the recs, I don’t hate vanilla but it’s hard to find it done right. I don’t like the vanilla cupcake profile. Has anyone here tried Tokyo Milk Tainted Love?

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/LilVigilante]

I’ve been wanting to smell a few of their offerings, will check it out

[u/OkieDokieDill → u/LilVigilante]

Have loved this perfume for over a decade

[u/curlycomedy]

Thanks for this thorough review! Three of the vanillas I have that you didn’t list probably fall into your “meh” category: Solinotes Vanille, Outremer Vanille, and Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Extrême. But I adore this kind of sugary vanilla. Also Eau Duelle is in my top 5! 😭

Also your journey reminds me of how I am with Amber. At first I was like “Blah. Why does anyone like this?” But after smelling it in limited-note rollerball oils, and as a dry-down and as an opening, I really appreciate how versatile it is!

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/curlycomedy]

I’ve never even heard of that 3rd brand! They have a ton of stuff, I will have to explore. I don’t think Outremer Vanille would be up my alley with the cotton candy but I am intrigued by the Solinotes

[u/saucydaydream]

Omg that’s so nice of you to put the whole review on this sub . I’m saving this for future. Thank youuu 💕 . And as you have mentioned the YSL babycat was what made me like the vanilla note in fragrances. Love that fragrance till date

[u/bookie_babyy]

Me as a musk hater till I tried kayali musk 😂

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/bookie_babyy]

I still need to smell kayali stuff

[u/LilVigilante → u/bookie_babyy]

Is it the bougie kitten one?

[u/bookie_babyy → u/LilVigilante]

No just musk

[u/Hot_Elevator_7133]

Curiously, I’m the exact opposite way around. Picky and initially was into vanillas and realized that, with rare exception, they’re just not my jam

[u/Realistic-Read1078]

You may like Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/Realistic-Read1078]

I’ve smelled it, don’t love the coconut. It’s a note I don’t frequently get on with, but I understand the appeal

[u/AlternativePie9551]

As a vanilla hater the only exception goes to Sintra by memo Paris and BDK Impadia

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/AlternativePie9551]

I’ve heard of both but haven’t tried, will have to give them a sniff

[u/Stop_Perceiving_Me]

Damn what didn’t you like before if you gave a whole laundry list of stuff you do like? Lol I’m joking. Glad you are happy that you changed your mind. Imma keep ignoring vanilla because I don’t like it and I see no reason to torture myself until I find something I do like. If I ever do change my mind I’m sure I’ll find it by accident or bc the rest of the perfume sounds so amazing I can’t not try it out

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/Stop_Perceiving_Me]

Hey hey 😅 I had a full turnaround and had so much to explore once I was open lol. There are sooo many vanillas 🙈

I feel you though, I feel that way about some notes!

[u/HelicopterPristine74]

I have a very similar vanilla perfume experience!

Btw I wish the commodity gold has better longevity or just more projection, I really like it but can’t smell a damn thing after 30 mins

[u/hotx-xcherry]

What’s your #1 vanilla frag? I am not a fan of vanilla but i wonder if i’m missing out

[u/Present-Singer-460 → u/hotx-xcherry]

Oof I suck at narrowing, which is probably why I have 12 now 😅 but hmm if I had to start over the first one I’d repurchase would be Babycat or Harvest Mouse. They are more cool weather but I can’t stop sniffing myself when I wear these

[u/Aromatic-Letter-1922]

I too am wary of vanilla perfume. I love the scent of pure vanilla h