12 vanilla perfumes that we're obsessed with, from sexy to summery
Not too sickly, not too sweet
As aromas go, vanilla has got one hell of a history. These days it can be discounted as too cloying or too basic but lest we forget, vanilla perfumes are a bona fide aphrodisiac with a proven ability to soothe, seduct and even increase arousal.
That said, not all vanilla perfumes are made equal. Given how tricky the plant is to cultivate, the majority of the vanilla scents and flavourings you'll come across are synthetic (99% of them, in fact). But just like in nature – where there's numerous different varieties and species, depending on the soil and climate its grown in – synthetic vanilla can come in a huge array of scents. Effectively, it's the Goldilocks porridge of perfume. Choose right and it can smell phenomenal – creamy, sweet, smoky, spicy or floral. But first you have to find one that's not too sickly and not too sweet.
To really hit the jackpot, you have to make sure it's partnered up with other scents that make you tick and play up the particular facet of the complex vanilla note that you're most attracted to – whether that's a candy floss haze that focuses on sweetness, a dark, sultry, earthy number that kicks your dopamine (aka, your love hormone) into gear or a soft, nuzzly number that envelops you in a cashmere-light blanket of scent.
Still not convinced? Blind-sniffed, vanilla scents repeatedly come out on top for popularity. One of Rihanna's favourite scents, Love Don't Be Shy by Killian, reached legendary status after celebs that were close enough to sniff her(Jennifer Lawrence, Cardi B and Nick Jonas) named her the best smelling celebrity hands-down. One of the major notes? A glug of sensual vanilla. It's ambrosial, warm, sweet, creamy and intoxicating (just like you'd expect our goddess, Ri-Ri, to smell).
Meanwhile, when beauty PR manager, Steph Easton, wrote about her lack of a sense of smell for GLAMOUR UK, she reported crowd-sourcing her perfumes based on their reactions from others. The surprise smash-hit? Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy Gold Couture Eau De Parfum – a golden blend of honeysuckle, amber and – you guessed it – vanilla. Told you it was classic for a reason.
Find our round up below of the sweetest smelling vanilla-scented perfumes to try now.
This article first appeared on Glamour.co.uk
Instagram / @llucinkah1/12Best floral vanilla
Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum, from £56 for 30ml
A new icon in the making, YSL's Opium and Rive Gauche became defining scents of their generation. The new guard? Libre which has already established its status as a smash hit amongst millennials and Gen Z. The warm, musky vanilla base is lifted with a floral burst of jasmine sambac, lavender and orange blossom alongside citrusy neroli and tangerine.
Save when you shop for vanilla perfumes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
2/12Best cosy vanilla
Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue, from £65 for 30ml, Feel Unique
Pure vanilla opens with fresh jasmine and lime then beds down into oak moss, woods and spicy coriander. The result smells simple, understated, cosy, and elegant like wrapping yourself up in the softest cashmere jumper.
3/12Best woody vanilla
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille Eau de Parfum, from £110 for 50ml
This is toasted vanilla, rather than straight-up sweet, the inclusion of black licorice, beeswax and bitter almond gives it a more unisex edge, plus sandalwood and guaiac wood help to ground it.
4/12Best creamy vanilla
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Gold Couture Eau De Parfum, from £49 for 50ml
A crowd-pleaser, blind-sniffed this blend of berries, honeysuckle, amber, caramel and vanilla came out on top.
Save when you shop for vanilla perfumes with these Feel Unique discount codes.
5/12Best smoky vanilla
Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace Eau de Toilette, £83.85 for 100ml
Like it's name suggests, Replica's perfumes help to accurately reconstruct the scents they describe. By The Fireplace smells dead-on like a smoky hearth, kicked off with a S'mores marshmallow-y opening number. Perfect if you like warm smoky scents.
Save when you shop for vanilla perfumes with these Feel Unique discount codes.
6/12Best sexy vanilla
Annick Goutal Paris Nuit et Confidences Eau de Parfum, £132 for 100ml
Inspired by an evening in Paris (pretty sexy in itself), this is a soft sensual vanilla with a smoky, oriental undercurrent that draws you close and feels very sultry and romantic. Plus, it manages to navigate away from feeling sickly or cloying completely.
7/12Best warm vanilla
Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Parfum, £125
This makes use of real vanilla from Madagascan Bourbon vanilla pods, blended with herbaceous cypriol. It's an unusual and shape-shifting scent that starts up bitter and almost citric, then dries down into a warm, nuzzly, beautiful scent that feels sophisticated, comforting and quietly powerful.
Save when you shop for vanilla perfumes with these Selfridges discount codes.
8/12Best sweet vanilla
By Kilian Love Don’t Be Shy Eau de Parfum, £185 for 50ml
Best-known for being Rihanna's favourite perfume, this is a syrupy gourmand that smells like cream soda, fluffy marshmallows and clouds of candy floss, blended with a glug of sensual vanilla. It's ambrosial, warm, sweet, creamy and alluring (just like you'd expect our goddess, Ri-Ri, to smell). However, it takes a really sweet tooth to pull it off.
Save when you shop for vanilla perfumes with these Selfridges discount codes.
