VANILLA FRAGRANCES

Want to learn more and discover vanilla fragrances?

At the end of this article you’ll find a top 10 list with some of my best vanilla perfumes.

Ah, vanilla vanilla!. It is the flavor of dreams, the scent of comfort, and the aroma of home. Whether it’s a milkshake, a cupcake, a room spray, or a candle, it has the ability to evoke nostalgia and bring a feeling of contentment. Vanilla fragrances are warm and cozy, making them great fragrances for any time of year. Whether you prefer a sweet, musky, spicy, tooth-achingly sweet, or fresh scent, I can almost guarantee there is a vanilla fragrance for you, and no matter what type of vanilla fragrance you choose, you’re bound to feel the effects of this warm and cozy scent.

Vanilla will bring a feeling of serenity and peace to even the most hectic of days. From floral and romantic to musky, spicy, and mysterious, these fragrances will put you in a dreamy mood no matter what situation arises.

This post is all about vanilla fragrances.

BEST VANILLA FRAGRANCES

FTC DISCLOSURE: this post has affiliate links. This means that if you click and make a purchase through the links provided, I’ll earn a small small commission that will help me keep creating content at no extra cost to you . Opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for your support!. Read full disclosure here.

Vanilla is by far one of the world’s most popular scents. The vanilla plant is a tropical orchid that produces fragrant and flavorful vanilla pods that are usually used to make desserts and baked goods, but they can also be used in a variety of things including soaps, shampoo, oils, body lotions, home fragrances like room sprays and reed diffusers, incense, and of course, perfumes.

I remember when I was living in Mexico, I went to “El Tajín”, an impressive archaeological site that was close to a vanilla factory. I’ve always been fascinated by this precious spice. Since I’m a curious, avid learner, I needed to go and see what the hype was about, and let me tell you, the experience was mind-blowing. I learned a lot about the orchid plant, the vanilla itself, the differences between Mexican vanilla and other vanillas from around the world, and the whole harvesting process. If you ever go to Veracruz, Mexico, please do yourself a favor and go to El Tajín and the vanilla factory; you won’t regret. I wish I had a picture to post here but I couldn’t find a single picture of this amazing experience. This is without a shadow of a doubt, one of those tours I’ll take again and again and I’ll never get tired of.

Fragrances that contain vanilla are often described as addictive, gourmand, creamy, sugary, and warm. Vanilla makes a great scent for everyday wear, as it is light and versatile, working well with any outfit or setting, but depending on the blend, it’s also perfect for night time, in fact, most fragrances that will give you that “Femme Fatale” vibe have vanilla in the composition. Vanilla fragrances are an excellent choice for women, teens or men who are looking for a scent that is warm, and sweet, but be careful because vanilla fragrances can also be overwhelming.

Vanilla is one of the most mass-appealing notes in perfumery, and one of the (if not THE) most versatile notes in perfumery. Vanilla is always a safe bet. It can be combined with so many notes and it always smells in the range of good to amazing, but never less than “good”. Another great thing about vanilla-dominant perfumes is that they are perfect for layering. Layering fragrances in the Western countries became major in the last few years, but in the Middle East layering has been part of their culture basically since they started wearing perfume, and vanilla in my opinion is a magical note and perfect for this purpose.

Different Types of Vanilla Fragrances

Let’s step back for a minute and talk about this highly coveted, gorgeous, and complex spice.

There are different type of vanillas. The most common ones used in perfumery are the Mexican Vanilla also known as Madagascar Vanilla, and Tahitian Vanilla. The latter is less common, more floral, and in my opinion less gourmand and more sophisticated. I’m not saying the Mexican/Madagascar vanilla isn’t sophisticated, but the Tahitian Vanilla to me has the power to take a vanilla fragrance to the next level. It’s still sweet and gourmand but usually, it’s not on the dessert / edible level as the traditional Mexican vanilla is.

There are a number of different vanilla fragrances available today, each with their own unique scent and character. Before you start shopping for your new fragrance, it is important to know what type of vanilla smell you are looking for. The following are some of the most common types of vanilla fragrances available today.

Floral and romantic

Vanilla floral fragrances are a sweet and floral mix that often contains notes of jasmine, orange blossom, gardenia, and/or rose. This type of vanilla scent is perfect for people who love a sweet, light, and romantic fragrance, however, it’s not uncommon to see other flowers (yellow and white), like ylang-ylang or tuberose in which case you can expect a creamier and more intrusive scent.

This type of vanilla fragrance is great for romantic occasions and day time wear, and they tend to sit close to the skin.

Musky and mysterious

These vanilla scents have a rich and creamy base with the warmth and sweetness of vanilla and a cozy musk accord. They often contain spices and woodsy notes, in particular sandalwood and guaiac wood or palo santo. They are perfect for those who love vanilla but prefer a more mysterious scent yet cozy and inviting. This type of vanilla fragrance is great for evening or night time occasions; for people who love a creamy, musky fragrance, while also enjoying a sweet and velvety cloud.

Sweet and seductive

These vanilla scents tend to be enveloping and dense. Also very creamy with a subtle sweetness, spiciness, and often times, earthiness because it’s common to find patchouli within this category. They are perfect for those who love a sweet fragrance with the power to knock everyone’ socks off 😉, so I’d say, this type of vanilla fragrance is great for dates or when you want to make an unforgettable impression.

Pure Vanilla Fragrances

Pure vanilla fragrances are smooth and creamy, usually blended with almond and coconut notes. This type of vanilla scent is perfect for people who love “edible” olfactory experiences. Very creamy and yummy, they tend to be simple, linear fragrances perfect for daytime wear.

How to Store Vanilla Fragrance

To get the best lifespan out of your vanilla fragrance, it is important to store fragrances properly, and this applies to fragrances in general not just vanilla perfumes. However, I’ve noticed that vanilla-dominant fragrances and green/fougères seem to be more sensitive to light and poor storage conditions.

Make sure to keep the bottle out of direct sunlight, as this will cause the scent to fade and break down more quickly. Also, make sure to keep your bottle in a dark, cool, dry place. This will help to prevent the oils from spoiling, making your fragrance last longer, and whenever possible, keep it in the box.

How to Choose a Vanilla Fragrance

When it comes to choosing a new fragrance it can often be difficult to know where to start. With so many different scents available, it can be challenging to know which one is the best fit for you. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get a fragrance that you love. –

Know Your Body: Your body chemistry will have a large impact on the scent you choose, meaning that it isn’t always best to go with your favorite scent. If you would like to find a fragrance that works with your body chemistry, start by researching different scents and then testing them out to see what you like best.

Know Your Mood: The mood you are trying to convey with your fragrance choice will also have a big impact on what you should buy. For example, if you are looking for a fragrance that is sweet and romantic, a floral vanilla will likely be a good choice.

Mind The Occasion: When shopping for a new fragrance, it is also important to consider the occasion for which you will be wearing it. For example, if you are looking for a fragrance to wear to a romantic dinner, a spicy, balmy vanilla may be a good choice. There are no rules and no write or wrong way to choose a fragrance, just go with your instinct and test, test, and test.

Don’t Mind The Season: The type of season you’re in can greatly impact the type of fragrance you wear. If you’re in warmer months, lighter and fresher scents are great for wearing. If you’re in colder months, heavier scents are better for staying warm. However, last year I decided to test cold weather fragrances under hot and humid weather conditions. I brought to Hawaii a few of those “sweater weather” fragrances, and was blown away by the results. Most of these spicy and woody fragrances performed much better under these extreme weather conditions, not only did they smell sweeter but also lasted longer and projected better, so the moral of the story is: there are no rules when it comes to wearing perfume. Wear whatever brings joy to your life.

Top 10 Vanilla Fragrances for Women

Trying to narrow down a list to the best vanilla fragrances is like trying to make a list of the best chocolate cakes, but these are some of my absolute favorites. I also tried to put together a list with a nice mix of designer and niche perfumes so it’s suitable for all budgets.

Let’s take a look at my top 10 vanilla fragrances in no particular order:

FTC DISCLOSURE: this post has affiliate links. This means that if you click and make a purchase through the links provided, I’ll earn a small small commission that will help me keep creating content for you to enjoy at no extra cost to you . Opinions are 100% my own, and I’d have the same opinions about these fragrances without an affiliate link . Thanks for your support!. Read full disclosure here.

1) Ruby N Vanilla Intense |EBK Paris

This is a vanilla perfume that I will always, ALWAYS keep in my collection. It’s the most luxurious vanilla fragrance I’ve ever tried, it’s opulent, velvety, and exudes class and sophistication. Different from the typical gourmand vanilla scents, this is to me vanilla on a whole new level with a beauty second to none. A+. Related post: Ruby N Vanilla Intense . Here you can also watch my YouTube video where I reviewed this stunning fragrance.

2) Shunkoin | Xerjoff

Shunkoin is a criminally underrated fragrance from the Italian niche house Xerjoff. I’ve reviewed Shunkoin several times when I was on YouTube, and also on my Instagram account (@gb_fragrances) because I truly feel it deserves to be discovered. I’ve recommended this fragrance to many fellow content creators and they loved it and so did many of my subscribers and followers so I wanted to include it here in this blog post for you to discover.

Shunkoin belongs to the “JTC” Collection. JTC stands for Join The Club, and it was meant to bring together people who own the same fragrance. Each bottle comes with a card that belong to this club is a very soothing, relaxing, very creamy (almost buttery) fragrance, very calming, powdery and just beautiful. The notes are not disclosed by the house but to me this has vanilla, sandalwood, sandalwood, orris, and musk. A very “fluffy” vanilla scent with a beautiful and sheer trail. Related post: Shunkoin Xerjoff