It’s a well-loved member of the YSL fragrance family, and it comes in a variety of sizes so you can try it out before committing to a big bottle.
Ah, no vanilla perfume list would be complete without Tom Ford’s iconic Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum. The warm and rich combination of vanilla and tobacco creates the most sultry and powerful fragrance. I like to compare the tobacco essence to the scent of a cigar https://www.lavanila.com/products/the-healthy-fragrance-pure-vanilla
But if you err on the side of caution, choose one of the fresher and sweeter scents on this list. One of my favorite guilty pleasures happens to be a dirty martini.
That’s why when I discovered the Heretic Dirty Vanilla perfume, I was hooked. I can’t lie, I was originally drawn to the name, but what really won me over?
How it plays on sweet vanilla's darker side, thanks to the rich scents of amber, sandalwood, and spicy coriander. And alas, once I took a whiff of the warm woody notes, I discovered vanilla perfume why it was given its name. When you apply Kilian’s Don’t Be Shy perfume, you’re hit with a refreshing orange blossom scent.
Then after it sits on the warmth of your skin, the honeysuckle and rose fragrances make themselves known. Your senses are graced with a touch of sweet marshmallow sugar accord. The vanilla perfume feels both young and flirty, yet somehow also sophisticated. Beauty director April Franzino loves Clinique's fresh fragrance, My Happy, which has notes of orange blossom, amber, and vetiver.
She points out that its star note, neroli, is high-end and a rare find in inexpensive fragrances. Reviewers love that the scent is light and "sweet, but not too sweet." Just note that reviewers mention the fragrance lasts for about three hours. I recently bought Kayali vanilla and I love it but I still want a few more staple vanillas. A lot of the vanilla perfumes I’ve smelled are too spicy or mixed with strong florals or too powdery for my taste. It has notes of orange blossom, vanilla absolute, and marshmallow. It's definitely a very sweet scent that's grounded with an amber base.
So delicious, in fact, that I’m afraid one day I will mistake it for something edible. In this women’s vanilla perfume, classic feminine notes give the wearer an aura of sophistication and class. It’s the best vanilla perfume for women looking for a unique mix of luxury and casualness. This vanilla-scented perfume is a perfect blend of white notes.
And, after the bright opening, the fragrance takes a turn in a more floral direction. All these notes interconnect with an unforgettable base of sweet, creamy Madagascar vanilla.
The woody cedar and incense notes give this fragrance a sexy, earthy vibe, but a strong vanilla base (and a twist of jasmine and bergamot) keep it just sweet enough. The price tag might sting, but this unique vanilla lasts a long time on your skin, and the unforgettable scent is truly worth every penny. Packed with keynotes of bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, Mysore sandalwood, and Mandarin leaf. Replica has a knack for using the ordinary as inspiration to create extraordinary scents.
Whimsically titled “Coffee Break,” this medley of coffee, pepper, orange, cedarwood and vanilla is meant to arouse memories of a sweet, quiet mid-day moment. The subtle scent of sweet vanilla intertwined with light musk as well as coffee and mouse accord melt into a finish reminiscent of a warm latte that will linger on your skin for hours.
Master perfumer Quentin Bisch captured a little-known fact about the origin of vanilla (it comes from an orchid flower) as he developed his ultra-feminine aroma. This warm Chloé fragrance evokes the subtle sweetness of vanilla and balances it out with spicy orchid and amber notes for an utterly refined take on a classic.
Meaning, it smells like a heavenly dessert you can indulge in without the ensuing sugar crash. At the heart of Dolce Garden is a combination of vanilla absolute and coconut, which lend a sunny, uplifting feel, while top notes of magnolia, neroli, and mandarins inspire a fresh, juicy vibe. It’s still heavier and bolder than your average fruity-floral fragrance and if you don’t love coconut, you may want to pass, as the note is definitely noticeable.
How To Choose Your Vanilla Perfume
Henry Rose (Michelle Pfeiffer's the founder) is one of the chicest and most transparent line of fine fragrances you need to know about. In total, it now has 11 truly breathtaking scents, and Queens & Monsters is an all-time standout. I've been astounded at the attention it's garnered at the office when I spritz it at my desk. It's a woody perfume thanks to sandalwood, but it gets a fresh, creamy sweetness from smooth additions like violet, vanilla, cocomusk, and freesia. It's gorgeous, and like all of Henry Rose's fragrances, it's verified by the Environmental Working Group and certified by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
The brand is also known for its 100% ingredient transparency and the fact that its fragrances are free of all endocrine disruptors, parabens, phthalates, and carcinogens. While the combination of vanilla and marshmallow might sound too sweet to handle, trust me—it's not. This was Rihanna's signature scent (before she created her own perfume), and the earthy, fruity hits of orange and neroli give it a juicy and robust finish. I never wear it without receiving a compliment, and it's by far one of the best "grown-up" vanilla perfumes on my vanity. In contrast, if you would like a perfume for evenings, you might benefit from a more woody vanilla scent that combines sandalwood and cedar.
Furthermore, since many of these spicy scents are quite warm, they are better worn in the winter. For summertime, a lighter, floral vanilla scent is preferable. The pink pepper and orange blossom top notes are ideal for cooler weather and will interact well with your body chemistry at this time of year. These notes are soon followed by middle notes of coffee and bitter almond before settling into that heady vanilla aroma that we all know and love.
If you like earthy, herbaceous scents with a hint of sweetness, this is the one for you. The warm, vanilla base is sharpened by pink peppercorn, and given a rich, spicy quality thanks to cypriol, a plant similar to papyrus. It’s a mature, dark fragrance that captures the best parts of decadent vanilla and earth’s herbaceous offerings.
Vanilla, rose, bergamot, white musks, and jasmine are combined to create this bright and fresh rose scent. If a woodier and deeper fragrance is not so much your thing, Lancôme’s classic Idôle perfume will give you that citrusy and floral scent. If you’re a fan of gourmand fragrances, Franzino recommends this Tahitian vanilla scent.
According to reviewers, just two or three spritzes is enough for the scent to last all day long. The spray works best when paired with the coordinating body butters and sprays. Whether you take your coffee black or with a little shot of somethin’ somethin,’ you’ll love this spicy perfume from YSL. Developed around notes of coffee, absinthe, and orange blossom, this long-lasting fragrance is the perfect kind of indulgent and seductive for your Saturday night out. Remember that pure vanilla oil is an expensive product, so if you find it for a bargain price, it probably isn’t a high-quality product.
Read the labels carefully and understand that pure vanilla oil products are the most beneficial to your health. Other products contain synthetics and lab-produced vanillin.
Look out for a vanilla extract produced in Mexico that’s mixed with tonga bean extract, which contains a chemical called coumarin. It’s simple and well-balanced, and the addition of creamy musk gives it the appropriate amount of sensuality. This perfume also comes in a light airy version, Gold- Personal, as well as an amplified version, Gold+ Bold.
So no matter your intensity preferences, you can enjoy this scent to the fullest extent. If you could bottle up the feeling of ~desire~ you’d get Byredo’s Slow Dance. Vanilla and patchouli anchor the base note of this scent, but you’ll be hit with the smoky and creamy essence of amber and Labdanum. A touch of geranium adds a fresh note to balance and lighten up all the deeper scents. I mean, if we have the chance to smell like a goddess, why wouldn’t we?!
Mugler’s Alien Goddess perfume is a warm floral scent composed of bergamot, jasmine, and bourbon vanilla.
If you are a fan of the original Alien perfume but want something a little fresher, here’s your next signature scent. If you were a teen in the early aughts like I was, then Flowerbomb probably already holds a special place in your heart. I was my first perfume purchase back in, like, 2006, and I still own it today. The sugary gourmand juice has notes of vanilla, patchouli, and jasmine that are sweet, delicious, and totally timeless. Fruity, citrusy, and all-around yummy, this bright fragrance from Ellis Brooklyn feels like a shot of happy energy each time you spritz it. At first, you’ll smell a sweet, light mix of pear, fig, and coconut, which will slowly mellow into a rich musk throughout the day.
So fresh, so clean is exactly how I would describe this natural perfume. So when you hear the words "natural" and "perfume," you probably think "expensive"—and I totally feel you. But this natural perfume checks off all the boxes (smells good, free of parabens, and free of sulfates) and it's only 25 bucks. It's equal parts sweet, flirty, and fresh, thanks to the notes of black currant, peony, and amber. Think of it as the fragrance equivalent of the winky-face emoji.
To make a vanilla oil infusion, buy whole vanilla beans or pods from your local health food store, preferably organic, then chop them into pieces and remove the seeds. Add them directly to a carrier oil (you want to pick an oil that isn’t very fragrant, like jojoba oil). Let the mixture sit for at least a week — with time the fragrance will be stronger.
You can filter out the pods when you’re ready to use the oil, but it’s not necessary. Because of the confusing forms of vanilla, read the labels; the higher percentage of vanillin, the better the product. The price of a vanilla absolute or Co2 extracted oil costs over $100 for an ounce! If you plan on using a purchased vanilla oil on your skin or internally as medicine, make sure you choose a reputable company that has a high percentage of vanillin. This is the perfect summer day lounging in Central Park in a bottle.
Byredo's Sundazed starts with citrus scents like mandarin and lemon and is layered with neroli, jasmine sambac, and musk. And for a sweet infusion, cotton candy is also added to the base. Chanel No.5 is probably a perfume your grandmother actually wears, but why sleep on a good thing?
The rich floral perfume has notes of May rose, jasmine, citrus, bourbon, and vanilla. The description of this perfume says it's inspired by "clean sheets and a swath of sun-warmed skin," and who doesn't find that appealing? It's in the warm-florals family with key notes of ambrette seeds, jasmine petals, and musk. This perfume has a strong concentration of amber, but it also contains scents of patchouli, tonka bean, and vanilla. It's a subtle fragrance with a hint of mystery, so wear it if you prefer being an enigma.
If you want something that's a bit more grounded than a floral scent but still has those powdery vibes, try Byredo's Mojave Ghost. In addition to powdery violet, it has notes of sweet Jamaican nessberry, ambrette, sandalwood, magnolia, warm Chantilly musk, amber, and cedarwood. Where does vanilla fragrance come from?
Fruity scents were reserved for teenagers spritzing on gobs of body spray, not mature people hoping to smell elevated. These days, however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Fruity notes are getting mixed in with musks, ambers, and earthy accords. There is no clear-cut answer as to which vanilla perfume is the best.
Finding the perfect scent is a personal journey; it all comes down to individual preference and what notes you find most pleasing. Whether you prefer a light and sweet vanilla blend, or a more complex and intense fragrance, there are numerous options available to choose from. Despite the prominence of vanilla scents in perfumery, vanilla perfumes aren’t always easy to get right. That’s why we have created this exhaustive list of the best vanilla perfumes.
There's something about its simple, sexy warmth that makes it irresistible to (almost) everyone in sniffing distance. If you're into vanilla perfume, you're likely to have spritzed (and fallen in love with) one of the "gateway" fragrances—like Aquolina Pink Sugar—long ago. And while those sugary-sweet scents certainly have a place in our hearts, if you're looking for something a little more refined and grown-up, we've got you covered. The creamy citrus smell is not heavy and can be worn all day long.
While the blend of vanilla, amber, and caramel base notes makes it most definitely a gourmand, you'll also get more surprising notes of sweet, juicy pear and rose. Plus, you can feel good about smelling good, making it a win-win in your fragrance rotation. That combo offers a surprisingly sultry yet approachable vibe, making it a great option for a date or an overall signature scent.
A warm, enticing note – vanilla serves as a key scent in many Lancôme fragrances from La vie est belle to Idôle. In order to understand vanilla perfumes and how vanilla works as a fragrance note we called upon Tripta Holtz Senior Fine Fragrance Evaluator, L’Oréal USA to teach us all about vanilla perfumes. Vanilla is also perfect for people who like a long-lasting scent as this is a potent fragrance. In most vanilla perfumes you will find that the sillage is intense and the longevity is powerful; many of these fragrances will last well into the next day if they are not washed away. This is because these perfumes are light, fresh and generally not overbearing.
My favorite thing about the Valentino Donna Born In Roma perfume is that it is great for the spring and summer months, but it also has warmer notes that make it the perfect fragrance to use in fall and winter. It has a vanilla, musky essence but is a little bit sweet thanks to the berries. Listen, I know that when you hear the words “vanilla perfume,” you may have unpleasant flashbacks to middle school days where you routinely doused yourself in warm vanilla sugar body spray in the locker room. And yeah, you may not want to invest in those too-sweet, headache-inducing scents now that you’re officially ~adulting~. But vanilla perfume can feel sophisticated and can be grown-up, you just have to find the right one. This scent is one of Sephora's best-sellers — the travel size alone has over 1,000 reviews.
It's a warm and spicy floral scent featuring jasmine and orange blossom notes. Not only does it come with a completely filled mini bottle, it also comes with refill liquid and a funnel for easy transfer. Describing a perfume as “unpredictable” might sound like a slight, but when it comes to this fragrance, I promise it’s not. Inside this gorgeous, pink and blue bottle is a flowery combo of tuberose, jasmine, and orange blossom, all of which work together to exude crispness without smelling powdery. And, let’s not forget the star of the show – vanilla.Feve Delicieuse by Dior is a superb vanilla-based perfume for women and men looking for a unique luxurious scent. It’s one of the boldest and most elegant takes on the classic note of vanilla. Sensuality is the key word to best describe “Gold Couture” by Viva la Juicy.
This affordable vanilla perfume has a seductive and hypnotizing scent. It’s based on caramel and vanilla, giving it an almost edible aroma. And, the gourmand notes are a perfect fit for fun-loving, youthful and confident women. “I think in American culture, vanilla conveys sexiness and femininity,” Shapiro says, and this powdery-light perfume from Parisian brand Ex Nihilo might just be the epitome of that sentiment. Housed in a fuchsia-colored glass bottle, “Sweet Morphine” opens with fresh lilac and bergamot essence before unleashing a floral heart of iris and mimosa absolute. Vetiver, patchouli and bourbon add richness and strength to the composition that comes through as a cheeky wink, rather than an immediate statement. If you love the scent of vanilla but you also want to cultivate an aura of alluring mystery, Byredo’s Gypsy Water is for you.
The warm, musky vanilla base is lifted with a peppery burst of bergamot, lemon and juniper berries alongside notes of pine needles, sandalwood and amber. Real pure vanilla is complex and delicious, and has a rich sweet creamy tobacco vibe, with soft woody notes and whispers of spice. From warm vanilla to sweet vanilla to salted vanilla and bourbon vanilla you can find vanilla as a perfume note in our La vie est belle and Idôle scents, each of which have a different twist and take on vanilla.
Discover vanilla as a perfume note with a fragrance experts guide to vanilla perfume. Learn about salted vanilla, warm vanilla, and bourbon vanilla perfumes.
I love this scent for its ability to contrast the warm, sweet smell of vanilla with a sharper note like sea salt. Not to mention, it was inspired by the infamous Burning Man festival, so you know it smells like a good time. Applying a few spritzes of a warm, cozy fragrance is one of my favorite ways to embrace the cold weather. Think of this one as a slightly warmer take on a traditional vanilla. Cappuccino mixes with pure vanilla to give it an extra dose of sweetness—but don’t be fooled by the gourmand blend, it’s not sickly sweet or overpowering. The addition of caramelized cedar gives it just a hint of woodiness that provides the right balance. If you love a classic vanilla fragrance and you’re looking for a sophisticated version, this one is perfect.
