“Whether it’s date night or a day in the office, I promise this perfume will bring in alllll the compliments.” Winner of the Best Hall of Fame Fragrance in our most recent Holy Grail Beauty Awards, Marc Jacobs Daisy is the essential floral perfume see more. When it comes to the perfect vanilla scented perfume to make a lasting first impression on a special occasion, throw the rule book out the window. Look for daring notes that captivate the senses and demand attention.
I’ll always love unapologetically sweet vanilla scented perfume, but now, my tastes have graduated to fragrance blends that are warm and woodsy or grounded with spices, leathers, or classic florals. That said, signature sweet notes like vanilla are often at the heart of my all-time favorite perfumes. “Vanilla can be the primary note, acting as the center of attention,” says Darryl Do, senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrance and Flavor Development. “Alternatively, it can be used to soften the fragrance like a soft powdery gourmand note that brings a subtle familiarity to it.” Still, it has far greater notability as a vanilla perfume for women owing to the feminine top notes of star anise and fennel.
What one person finds enticing, another’s gonna think is repulsive. But Carolina Herrera Good Girl is probably as close as it comes to getting objectively sexy. It’s actually the best-selling perfume in the world right now, likely thanks to its newfound fame topping lists that call it catnip for men.
Consequently, the lilac note is reconstituted synthetically and often paired with other floral notes. Intense Café is certainly intense with commanding sillage and immense staying power of 8+ hours. For best effect, wear it on cold autumn/winter nights – you will be surrounded with a warm glow. Dry-down is dark and brings plenty of exotic coffee and earthy patchouli. Juicy notes of pear, cherry, and mandarin give the opening a sweet, tart scent that is wonderfully edible.
At Viora London, we use hand-picked samples, discovery sets, decants, full bottles, plus in-store visits to bring you our written articles and video fragrance reviews. It is an informal scent with much to offer, including excellent performance, decent projection/sillage, and longevity for up to 6 hours. Libre Eau de Parfum is a bold and mature scent that is perfect for fall, winter, and spring. It is both sexy and sophisticated, and it is sure to turn heads in the office. Not just a straight-up vanilla bomb, Amouage Material Eau de Parfum is a complex blend of resin and vanilla with a touch of smoky mystery. Performance is excellent; during testing, I managed to get 6+ hours from this fragrance.
She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A.
What’s more, it is made using totally natural ingredients and essential oils, so you know that you will be getting an intense and beautiful aroma. Almond coconut is an Oriental vanilla perfume with a gourmand undertone. This is a versatile blend of vanilla scented perfume and musky notes that makes a rich and luxurious perfume. A study by Showers to You revealed 78% of a group of 3,700 women voted aromatic fragrances the most attractive scents for guys. Chanel Allure Homme Sport offers an aromatic, musky twist on a classic vanilla cologne so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme is as explosive as its hand grenade-shaped flacon.
Bergamot, mandarin, and neroli make a juicy statement right at the start as jasmine sambac and vanilla soothe at the heart. Cedarwood and musk finish the scent, leaving an unforgettable impression. This fragrance is perfect for any season and offers you the ability to mix this fragrance and layer it with different scents from the Tom Ford collection such as bitter peach. This cotton candy scented perfume was released by Lacoste in 2015 and is marketed by one of the global leaders in cosmetics and fragrances, Coty.
Angel Nova Eau de Parfum is one of the more recent additions to the iconic Angel line of fragrances. It is quite different from the original Angel and injects a luscious raspberry twist. Incorporating essential oils into your perfuming routine not only enriches your daily wear but also supports your wellness journey. From calming or invigorating effects to simply enjoying the process of creation, each recipe serves as both a fragrant escape and a way to express your individuality. Launched in 2010, the moderate strength and subtle scent make this perfect for work. Patchouly in this fragrance makes it a bewitching blend, hypnotizing, seductive, and best compared to Dior Homme.
Consider a vanilla fragrance that combines other favored notes for a more sophisticated take on the gourmand scent. “Citrus can add a freshness while spicy and woody notes can particularly enhance the warming and comforting aspects of vanilla,” adds Harris. “Soft florals and musks can enhance the creaminess and sensuality, creating an incredibly smooth, lactonic effect.” Vanilla Woods is one of the most complex fragrances in my collection. It starts with a strong sweetness dose with base notes of Madagascar vanilla, gourmand caramel, and woody amber. Its pear and rose notes rise to the surface within minutes, resulting in an intoxicating fragrance.
Whether I’m heading out for a casual day with friends, a romantic date night, or even stepping into a serious boardroom meeting, this scent effortlessly adapts to every occasion. A highly feminine and unapologetically youthful fragrance, Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling is a cotton candy perfume with a distinct macaron flavor and a hint of spice. Additionally, I considered the suitability of each perfume for different times of the year. Cotton candy fragrances shouldn’t be limited to any particular season; they can evoke a sense of whimsy and playfulness year-round. It’s only now that a slew of fragrance houses are releasing vanilla with “gravitas,” as perfumer David Seth Moltz of D.S. “Historically, Vanilla planifolia has been grown on Réunion Island and, later, Madagascar.
Clare has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, writing matter-of-fact reviews such as deep dives into skin concerns and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need. When she’s not typing away, Clare is in front of the camera creating shopping content for Cosmo’s TikTok Shop, testing the most viral beauty products to know. Simone de Vlaming is a beauty expert, product reviewer, and the founder of Beautymone. With vanilla scented perfume a decade of hands-on experience in the beauty industry, she combines her passion for makeup and skincare with a commitment to honest, in-depth reviews. Simone has been featured as an authority on platforms like Glam, Bustle, Mic, The List, and more, and has been a trusted reviewer for StyleCraze and MomJunction. She personally tests every product she writes about, focusing on performance and user experience to help readers make confident, informed decisions.
Dumont Exciting Insense is a unisex fragrance suited to men, though bold ladies could wear this dark knight. Basil, lemon, and cinnamon sparkle over a summer heart of chocolate praline, black cardamom, and tolu balsam, drying to mysterious patchouli, black amber, and Brazilian rosewood. Good Fortune EDP is an alchemy of Fennel, Bourbon Vanilla & full-bodied sweet Jasmine.
The formula also comprises madagascar vanilla, mandarin orange, cedar, black currant, lavender, ambergris, and musk. It is a modern and floral fragrance inspired by Paris, the city of intense love. This elegant perfume is recommended for daily use as the scent stays for a long time on the skin without having to retouch. One of the first things that you notice about this luxurious perfume is the elegant black bottle with a simplistic yet sophisticated label. This draws you in, but when you open the lid and take a breath at what is inside, you are further intoxicated by this sweet vanilla fragrance.
It is little wonder that this is such a popular scent in fragrance houses across the globe. Mal Lee at FashionBeans embarks on a unique quest for the ideal men’s vanilla cologne, blending scientific analysis with a personal touch. He meticulously evaluates over 50 fragrances to find those with a compelling narrative, focusing not just on scent but on creating an emblem of style.
For ingredient safety and regulatory data, we may reference the IFRA. I tried Black Opium Illicit Green Eau de Parfum in-store and found that it lasted for 4+ hours, with good sillage and projection for the first 2 hours. Libre Eau de Parfum, released in 2019, is a complex and attention-grabbing fragrance created by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim. The original Angel has remained perennially popular, but its younger sister Angel Elixir (launched in 2023), is a vanilla lover’s dream. Vanilla can lend even the most complex scents a seductive edge and there’s no better example of this than Chanel No.5. Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community!
With notes of coconut milk, banana, and pineapple—alongside more unexpected hints of plastic and pool water (!!!)—this eau de toilette transports me to a pool deck sipping a pina colada. Some reviewers, however, say that this is akin to glorified sunscreen, and if you aren’t into that smell, this might not be your cup of tea. A long-lasting vanilla perfume keeps you enveloped in a comforting, delightful scent throughout the day. Its enduring fragrance instils confidence, leaving a memorable impression without the need for frequent reapplication. This perfume has a hint of vanilla and sweetness, putting it firmly in the gourmand fragrance family.
Picture yourself surrounded by an irresistible aura, leaving heads turning wherever you go. The secret lies in the best vanilla perfumes for men, like Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, Chanel Allure Homme Sport, and Valentino Uomo Intense, where vanilla musk cologne takes center stage. The hyper notes of vanilla depict a high-quality seductive masterpiece, making it one of the most realistic vanilla scents out there.
In this guide, you’ll find the 7 best coffee perfumes for women, including amazing designer and niche coffee scents to suit every taste. Another viral body spray, Brazilian Crush by Sol de Janeiro is a sweet treat in a bottle. The notes of salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla are oh so delicious. This perfume just screams sexy to me, like the perfect date night perfume. So it came as no surprise when I realized that Emily Ratajkowski is the face for this new version of Flowerbomb. The vanilla is clear but not overly sweet or gourmand and the woods add a really nice touch to tone it down and round it out.
This exquisite scent transforms the classic sweetness of vanilla into something unexpected and nuanced, with layers of earthiness and darkness that tantalize the senses. Cashmere wood, ciste, and musky notes effortlessly combine to create an intoxicating ambrosia that lingers on the skin. Reach for this dark and seductive gem to complete your night out on the town look. In this guide, we’ve sniffed, spritzed, and sniffed again (you’re welcome) to bring you the crème de la crème of vanilla perfumes.
Remember those suuuper sweet vanilla scented perfume you used to wear as a teen? This intoxicating fragrance redefines the allure of vanilla, combining deep and bright notes to create an unforgettable scent. With vanilla tincture from India, vanilla absolute, and sandalwood essence, it exudes a glamorous and seductive charm that is impossible to resist. Whether seeking a touch of mystery or a bold statement, Vanilla Sex is a perfectly sweet match. Don’t be shy, keep scrolling to give yourself a vanilla-spiked sweet treat for your senses. There is no denying that vanilla is a luxurious and high-end fragrance that is timeless and elegant.
However, some of the best coffee perfumes on this list balance this heavier note with lighter scents. With a touch of lavender and orange blossom, it’s a super wearable coffee perfume. Or even Coffee & Whiskey by Bath and Body Works, a brand that specializes in everyday heroes. Perfumehead’s fragrances always tell a story and this one is all about the morning after a particularly wild rager. Practically, let’s call it a vanilla scent because, well, it is—but it’s not one of those single note gourmands that makes you smell like a pastry.
While this technique for production is old, it remains effective to this day; and we certainly pay the price for it with a kilo of pure vanilla costing around $500. Vanilla is an orchid-like plant that contains pods; from these pods, the delicate fragrance of vanilla is extracted. This is perfect for all occasions, including a fun day out with friends or a quiet afternoon stroll in the park. She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri.
They’ve been blended into perfumes for centuries and have even been touted as an aphrodisiac. Orange blossoms work so well in perfumes because their scent is so complex—they don’t just smell floral, but they also have notes of citrus, honey, and even greenery. Orange blossom oil (also known as neroli oil) is really potent and a little goes a long way, so perfumers consider it a specialty oil. Diptyque’s Eau Duelle celebrates the sexy and lighthearted side of bourbon vanilla. Dark calamus and smoky cypriol play up the rich notes of vanilla while still honoring its sweet roots.
These versatile fragrances engulf you in a cozy and refreshing vanilla scented perfume that will turn heads. If you want to lift your senses this summer, invest in a vanilla perfume. Check out the infographic below to learn about the key notes in these perfumes and a few interesting facts about Vanilla notes.
