I've Found 9 Vanilla Fragrances That Feel Grown Up, Not Sickly Sweet
Image by: @taniasarin
Forget all about the saccharine sprays you doused as a teen, vanilla is all grown up - and I've found the best women's fragrances to prove it.
Has anyone else noticed that shopping for perfumes isn’t as simple as it used to be? There has been an increasing trend in trying to find a signature scent that feels a little strange, interesting, unique and wholly recognisable to us, rather than ‘off the shelf’. But with more perfumes on the market than ever before and a new one seemingly going TikTok viral every week, finding the right fragrance has become a tough feat - one that I myself have battled with in recent weeks and months. See, as a teenager, I was a Britney Spears Fantasy girl (who wasn’t?). Life was easy then. But as I’ve grown up, I’ve experimented with a multitude of different fragrances from high-end brands and beyond, searching for a womanly scent that would become my signature. But until just a few weeks ago, at 26, I still hadn’t found it. To step up my search, I recently headed to a slew of department stores and perfume lounges to see what’s new, and after testing what seemed like hundreds of different perfumes from different fragrance families, I found my sweet spot - and it wasn’t what I expected.
After sniffing my way around every counter, I realised that vanilla was a scent I really liked and instantly connected to. With the resurgence of all things Y2K, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that the scents of yesteryear are back in a big way. Granted, we’ve come a long way since The Body Shop Vanilla Body Mist I also doused myself in as a barely-teen - now I like it cut with amber for a headier scent rather than, well, birthday cake. And it seems I’m not alone in my penchant for the sweet stuff - search demand for vanilla-scented perfumes is up by 65% at LookFantastic in recent months.
On my search, I tried out some of the most expensive vanilla scented fragrances out there from some of the most renowned perfumers, including Vanilla2 by Maison Tahite and Creed Sublime Vanilla. But don’t feel like you have to fork out - my favourite happened to be under £25 and bought from a high-street clothing brand. Below I’m sharing the fragrances that stood out, each one featuring a heavy vanilla note that’s perfect for summer - and no, they’re not all girly and sweet.
Kayali
Vanilla 28 Eau de Parfum 50ml
£73.00
The Huda Beauty Kayali fragrance collection seems to be taking TikTok by storm at the moment, and the Vanilla 28 fragrance appears to be a fan-favourite. Vanilla 28 by Kayali blends the intoxicating scents of vanilla, warm brown sugar and velvety tonka to create the perfect gourmand scent that also boasts of notes like patchouli, amber woods and musk at the base.
ZARA
Sensual Vanilla EDP 80 ML
£22.99
Zara is known for its incredible dupes when it comes to their irresistible fragrance collection. The high-street clothing brand has collaborated with the likes of Jo Malone in the past, so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing when it comes to creating scents that leave a lasting impact, and their vanilla collection is no different. The Sensual Vanilla perfume by Zara has got to be one of our favourites thanks to the heart of warm vanilla mocha that it boasts of. This luxurious fragrance combines rich flowers with the comfort of creamy Madagascar Orpur vanilla and sandalwood.
Maison Margiela
Jazz Club Eau De Toilette 100ml
£125.00
If you associate vanilla with your youth, give this a sniff. Maison Margiela's Jazz Club evokes the exhilarating atmosphere of a private club that you wouldn't have had a hope in hell of getting into back then - think jazz music, whisky cocktails and a hint of smoke. Other key notes include pink pepper, neroli oil and lemon to lift. This is marketing towards men but don't let that stop you.
BOOTS
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 71 Perfume Mist 90ml
£24.00
The Sol de Janeiro perfume mists are taking social media by storm – and for a very good reason. The brand claims that their Brazilian Crush Cheirosa mists are proven to boost your mood, based on an independent third-party study of 36 participants. Each of their fragrance mists have the perfect blend of fruity and floral notes, with their 71 mist boasting of a Caramelised Vanilla and Macadamia scent. This hair and body fragrance also has notes of White Chocolate, Tonka Bean, and Coconut Blossom which all really add to the tropical headiness this mist has.
THE BODY SHOP
Vanilla Eau De Toilette
£15.00
The Body Shop vanilla perfume has been a staple in so many of our lives for quite some time, and even if you’ve drifted away from it for a while, it might be time to get reacquainted. A quintessential vanilla fragrance, this classic scent will leave your skin smelling sweet, creamy and feminine with just a couple of sprays. Made with 93% ingredients of natural origin, this vegan eau de toilette is an ideal perfume to use as a base and then layer on top with muskier vanilla scents like Kayali Vanilla 28 or Byredo’s Vanille Antique.
BYREDO
Vanille Antique
£280.00
Byredo have taken the fragrance industry by storm in recent months, with their Gypsy Water becoming a cult classic. From their Night Veils collection, their Vanille Antique is a heady fragrance centred around perfumery’s rarest raw ingredient. Vanille Antique sees the smoky scent of vanilla bean become “charged with history and character; transforming into something unexpected, less syrupy and more nuanced”, according to the brand. Instead of vanilla being sweet and innocent, this fragrance has an earthiness and darkness, and a warming mix of cashmere wood – a mature vanilla for those who want to smell like old money, for sure.
BEAUTY BAY
BILLIE EILISH - Eilish
£32.00
Pop sensation Billie Eilish’s fragrance, which is aptly titled Eilish, is an amber gourmand fragrance which allows you to wrap yourself in the cosy warmth of sugared petals, juicy mandarin and red berries, before unfolding with decadent cocoa, and warm vanilla. The fragrance also has notes of musk, tonka bean, and sleek woods. This fragrance has been compared heavily to Zara’s Sensual Vanilla, with the high-street brand’s version slightly easier on your bank account.
LUSH
Vanillary Perfume
£25.00
Cosy and elegant, the Lush Vanillary perfume is creamy and decadent thanks to it having a fudge-like and deliciously sweet scent. This long-lasting and indulgent scent leaves you wanting more thanks to the warm and sophisticated fragrance combination of vanilla and tonka combined with jasmine, which in turn creates a stirring vanilla perfume that will quickly become your new classic.
DIOR
Vanilla Diorama
£125.00
Dior is known for its extensive collection of high-end fragrances, with the Vanilla Diorama eau de parfum known for exuding both amber and gourmand accents. A unisex fragrance, the Vanilla Diorama resembles an exquisitely creamy vanilla mousseline, pricked with orange zests over a backdrop of bitter cocoa. The bittersweet fragrance actually celebrates a mysterious dessert created especially for Monsieur Dior.