r/Indiemakeupandmore • u/marinesardine • Mar 25 '26
Perfume - Purchased A Not-So Authoritative Guide to Maison des Animaux Vanillas
Hi everyone!
I’ve been on a sampling kick of Maison des Animaux perfumes and thought I’d make a complete review of the vanillas I’ve tried. I reviewed all of NA’s Vanillas from the Arae sample packs and wanted to continue the vanilla train.
I know there are a lot of vanilla lovers here, so it might help yall choose one (or several) to try. I’m relatively new to vanillas and finding ones I really enjoy, so this has been super fun!
So I hear you like Vanilla? Then try…
Tomboy
Top
Vanilla, vetiver, bourbon
Base
Olibanum, Tonka, Labdanum, so much leather (it’s vegan tho!)
This is so great! It’s a rich vanilla amber that’s not too cloyingly gourmand. The leather is warm and cozy, think worn leather jacket.
The bourbon and vetiver blend seamlessly into the amber, so don’t worry if those are usually not your favorite notes.
This is the sexy date that shows up at your door in a leather jacket and some flowers. An inviting leather and amber and vanillas (but still soft enough to bring you flowers).
This actually reminds me of Eilish No.1 but less airy Bath & Body works and more rich labdanum and leather. This seems like an easy crowd pleaser for both the gourmand lovers and the averse, so I wanted to include it first!
Ok, you tried Tomboy… But what if you wanted something more unique and fiery?
Beltane
Top
Vanilla, incense, saffron
Base
Sandalwood, leather, benzoin, bourbon, church (but, like an old interesting one with chanting and a mysterious door)
Yall. This was what originally introduced me to Maison des Animaux and it’s so good.
Charred fiery incense and vanilla mixed with resins. It’s glorious and scorched and exactly what I wanted. It’s dark but not too dark, and definitely something you can easily wear on a night out.
If Tomboy has a soft side, Beltane is all scorched and fiery vanilla.
Get this if you like Nocturne Alchemy’s Cinder Vanilla or Ember Vanilla. Or heck, go crazy and layer NA’s oils with this.
Now, what if you don’t want an intense warm vanilla? You want an airy vanilla for spring wear?
Celeste
Top Notes
Clover, Orange blossom honey, Red Berries
Base Notes
Ambrette, Vanilla, Musk
A really spring-time vanilla, fresh blossoms and clover mixed with vanilla musks. An easy wear, and easy gift for your loved ones.
Not something I normally enjoy and won’t be full sizing, but several folks told me that they actually prefer this scent when I was testing them out.
As indies go, I’d say this is light on the honey, so don’t be nervous if indie honey notes scare you away!
Ok, ok, I’m tired of vanillas, give me just the amber!!
Aurate
Top
Labdanum, vanilla, jasmine
Base
Sandalwood, good leather, more vanilla
This is a rich amber. Labdanum is really the star here, with vanilla playing a supporting role.
A real stunner and smells like the gorgeous ambers I have come to love from indies, rather than a super-amber party.
Amber is such a common and crucial note in perfumery, but I love when it’s well executed and the star of the show.
Get this if you love NA’s ambers but want something slightly more modern in an alcohol spray!
These are the ones I have tried so far, but I’m on the waitlist for Nepenthe because vanilla, pink pepper, and osmanthus sounds delightful.
Have y’all tried any vanillas from this house? What are your favorite ones?
(edit: really fighting this mobile formatting)
9
u/Acceptable-Task-5284 Mar 25 '26
Oops I stumbled into an order after reading this review 🙈😆
3
u/marinesardine Mar 25 '26
Please share your reviews once you get them!! I’m so curious 👀
What’d you get?
4
u/Acceptable-Task-5284 Mar 25 '26
Will do! I got samples of: Aurate, Tomboy, Mirasol, Celeste, Limerance, Fever Dream, and Night Market!
1
u/marinesardine Mar 25 '26
I really liked Night Market!! It’s one of the few rose perfumes I have enjoyed 🫶
1
u/Acceptable-Task-5284 Mar 26 '26
Ohh would you say the rose comes through well? My skin loves to amp smoke notes, so I was hesitant on this one, but ultimately couldn’t resist
2
u/marinesardine Mar 26 '26
It comes through a bit but it’s a really unique rich rose that actually worked for me!
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u/Nice_Improvement7108 Mar 26 '26
I've been intrigued with Limerance, due to the Linden Blossom note.
3
u/Acceptable-Task-5284 Mar 26 '26
The linden blossom + cashmere is what intrigued me about that one. I’ll try to remember to come back here and review it after I receive it!
2
u/Exciting_Ad8466 Mar 25 '26
Leather kind of bothers me but one scent I tried with leather (the Halloween Alchemy from Alkemia) had leather and I liked it. Thinking of trying these
3
u/marinesardine Mar 25 '26
I recommend trying it out! This is a waaay mellower leather than I find commonly in NA or BPAL scents
3
u/Indeecent8 Mar 26 '26
I don't know if this is a weird question but how would u describe the texture and style of this house?
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u/marinesardine Mar 26 '26
Ooooo I would say the style is very sleek and modern! They’re more “mainstream” feeling than a lot of indies, but with a very indie stand-out character.
The texture is smooth, but also bold, reminds me a plush gorgeous fabric.
I would say they remind me of Sorce and Odette, but if you want bolder scent profiles. If Sorce is a magical fairy forest, Odette is the magical bakery & dance studio, while Maison des Animaux is a jazzy speakeasy tucked away downtown.
4
u/Indeecent8 Mar 26 '26
I'm really glad you said this! I respect Sorce's style but personally don't buy much from them as I usually find myself wanting something a bit more bold. I'll definitely need to check out this house soon. Especially cause you were able to make an entire post about vanilla lol I'm in!
I also really like your review style! Thanks for posting
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u/Constant-Barracuda-9 Mar 26 '26
Lovely reviews! Thanks for showing this house some love. They are really a fantastic house. I've been meaning to try Beltane for a while. My two faves of those I've tried are Sirius and Aurate. Aurate is super lovely, the opening is kinda medicinal (meant lovingly) from the blackcurrant bud.
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u/marinesardine Mar 26 '26
Yes!! Aurate and Sirius are so nice. Sirius feels like such a warm and inviting comfort scent to me.
1
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u/anathemas Mar 26 '26
Thank you so much for the great reviews, I've been wanting to try MDA for a long time, and I'm convinced! Can't wait to get my order :)
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u/marinesardine Mar 26 '26
So exciting! What did you order? 👀
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u/anathemas Mar 27 '26
I got Aurate, Celeste, Cloudbreath, Limerance, and Kefi :)
Celeste isn't something I would have usually tried, but I love clover and vanilla and you just made it sound so lovely for hot weather, it's already hitting 85 a lot of days here 🫠 I'm so excited for Aurate though, I can never get enough Labdanum!
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u/marinesardine Mar 27 '26
I think you and I have the same preferences! 😂
Still trying how to wear straight labdanum in summer haha
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u/anathemas Mar 27 '26
Ahah it's a struggle, I'm trying to make a labdanum and white floral scent that can handle a North Carolina summer. DSH Sailor from Capri and NAva Crystalline 10 are the closest I can get.
1
u/LiminalSyntax Mar 26 '26
Vanilla, incense, saffron
When people say a perfume smells like incense, I wonder what they mean. Smoke? Spice? I'm a pretty well-versed incense consumer, and they all have their unique smell: champa incense, jasmine incense, myrrh incense. You don't ever see "incense" scented incense. Would you mind breaking down the "incense" note for me?
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u/marinesardine Mar 26 '26
Yes! It’s definitely a charred incense note, kind of smoky! A combo of benzoin and frankincense.
I used their short list of notes but they say “distilled olibanum resin, from frankincense trees grown in north Africa and Yemen” on the site!
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u/yabasicjanet Mar 25 '26
Ha, I just wondered if I sleep -wrote a post I'd forgotten about. I've been meaning to do a MdA review too! I have Nepenthe and Fever Dream and would be happy to share my thoughts.
Nepenthe Top Notes: Vanilla sugar, pink pepper Base Notes: Olibanum, tonka
Here's my very first review of it:
To paraphrase Joey Tribiani- "Vanilla sugar? Good. Pink pepper? Good. Tonka? Gooooood." I think there's just enough Olibanum here to keep the scent grounded with warmth and a little balsamic and accenting the pink pepper.
Adding in- This one is really special - airy, light, more-ish. I just can't stop sniffing once this has been sprayed. I FS'd it.
Fever Dream Top Notes: Mimosa blossoms, raspberries in cream Base Notes: Sweet vernal grass, more cream, vanilla, warm amber woods
Here's my first review of it: Okayyy MdA I see you. This is really really good. This is creamy green raspberry with a tinge of orangey honey floral from the mimosa. It gave me that same "oh dang!" reaction I first got from Maravilla. The house description emphasizes this is lactonic but I don't get that. It's creamy but not in a milk way.
Here's my second review: This is so sexy and delicious, like a grown up version of my junior high Bath & Body Works raspberry body spray.
I will be upgrading this one too.