Best Smelling Vanilla Scented Perfumes for Ladies

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Vanilla is of course an insanely popular note to use in both men’s colognes, as well as, ladies’ perfumes. Why wouldn’t it be? It smells great and can add a gourmand sensibility to any fragrance, when done right. It seems to be almost hand picked for inclusion in a wintertime scent over any of the other seasons, though, it can also make an appearance with less ‘heavy’ perfumes.

In this post, I want to give a plethora of options for women who are looking for a new fragrance that is highlighted by vanilla as the main or one of the main notes.

What are the Best Vanilla Fragrances for Women?

Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce–

As the French name suggests, this is a woody vanilla scent. Not completely candy-like sweetness, rather, it has smoky woods with an addition of a coconut note.

Up top and for much of the wear, you get a vanilla pairing with coconut, and hints of black licorice. I normally don’t much enjoy licorice in perfumes, but I think this one is actually nice, and not overpowering.

At the base, there is more creaminess from tonka bean, a smokiness from oud and almond, and further smoothness from sandalwood. Un Bois Vanille is a very nice addition to the list, from Serge Lutens, and gives you a something familiar yet almost entirely unique.

Creed Sublime Vanille Cologne Unisex 8.4 oz Eau De Parfum

So, let’s start out with this hyper-expensive entry from Creed. Sublime Vanille has one of, if not, the best vanilla notes that I have ever smelled in a fragrance. It’s fantastic. It’s sweet and creamy, mixed with tonka bean during the dry down period. Sublime Vanille opens with citrus notes, which gives it a nice orange creamsicle vibe.

A bit longer into the wear and the lemony aroma begins to fade quite a substantial amount. This gives rise to the light musk note, which will play a support role in this rather simple composition.

This Creed is soft and airy, good for a wide range of uses, for really anyone to wear.  Again, this one is a high end scent, but the vanilla doesn’t get much better (if at all) than what’s in here. Here is my full wear review.

Kenzo Amour by Kenzo

An affordable, soft and floral, vanilla based fragrance for ladies. Amour is vanilla flanked by frangipani, heliotrope, and cherry blossom. This one is a nice example of vanilla, but used in a somewhat unique way.

Not only do you get, some different floral ingredients, from the run of the mill, Kenzo Amour also features a warm, fluffy, rice note. The whole thing comes across as clean, inviting, with a bit of a fresh powdery finish (and smoky incense). Very nice performance and a versatile daily wear type of perfume.

Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

A rather pricey designer fragrance but Hypnotic Poison is a beautiful and sexy fragrance for women by Dior. There are two other Hypnotic Poison variations by Dior and each one stands out on its own. Vanilla is highlighted with notes of apricot, coconut, and almond playing a supporting role.

Warm, complex. seductive. This is one sexy fragrance and includes notes of sandalwood, vanilla, musk, almonds, moss, and many more. There are many flankers from the Poison line of perfumes and this is the best of the bunch, in my opinion.

The vanilla and almond lead the way and offer a sweet, creamy, and nutty aroma. Sandalwood provides the main support, along with another sweet creamy note, in coconut. Hypnotic Poison is quite bold and will last all day on one’s skin, without any issue. This is a warm and enveloping scent, so, be careful with over-spraying at the office or such places.

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum

One of the absolute classic presentations of a fully developed tobacco note, blended with sweet elements, like the namesake, vanilla. It’s warm and bold and extremely pleasant to wear. Tonka bean, dried fruits, and cacao join some spices to help round out the main tobacco/vanilla combination.

Tobacco Vanille is a unisex presentation by Tom Ford. It kicks off as quite a sweet aroma, with a spicy additional layer headed up by cinnamon. It’s very warm, with an emergent greenish tobacco note, dried fruits, and a delightful cacao. Quite powdery cacao, which plays well off the vanilla.

As it dries down, Tobacco Vanille becomes less sweet, but has an overall darker and heavier aroma to it. There is a resinous sap note here, which thickens up the whole experience. The thickness of the aroma, makes it ideal for the colder climates, but not so much once the temperatures rise.  Great performer, with elite longevity and sillage.  Tobacco Vanille Review

Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women

The opening isn’t that great in my opinion but when the coffee note emerges to go along with the vanilla, Black Opium comes into its own. Black Opium has become a best seller in the world of fragrance, since its release some years back. Black Opium, as a name would seem like it would be a darker fragrance, but it is actually quite sweet.

It is led by coffee and vanilla, as its main notes, along with warm pink pepper and cedar. This is warm, sweet, and powerful but not for everyone. Sure, it has mass appeal, but some think that the sweetness is too much and the perfume can become too enveloping.

Very good performer and while downcast by the critics, this perfume seems to have found plenty of love from consumers. This is a good blended option for vanilla lovers, as it is quite present, but not just a pure bred vanilla scent. Black Opium Full Review

MONTALE Vanille Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fl Oz

A great under the radar vanilla fragrance, that can be tough to find, but well worth a try for its deliciously sweet scent. Yet, Vanille Absolu, also has a great little spicy punch from clove and cinnamon.

However, that spicy touch is fairly fleeting, and the vanilla here really does have a sugary quality to it. More closer to a candied-like vanilla scent, with some other undisclosed gourmand type of notes.

As it dries down, Montale’s Vanille Absolu, becomes creamier and woody. This gives the perfume a cozy and comforting vibe, to close things out. I wouldn’t pay top dollar for it, but this is a great pickup at a discount.

Vanilla Lace by Victoria’s Secret

A very simple and inexpensive take on vanilla. It got a rich  and sweet creaminess and a hint of musky undertone. Been a staple for a few decades, at this point.

Again, there’s nothing too complex about Vanilla Lace, it’s just a lower price option, from Victoria’s Secret. However, this is probably the best vanilla scent from their line, and really is a pure vanilla perfume. Maybe a bit more, candied/baked goods than, naturalistic vanilla…but still very attractive.

Van Cleef & Arpels Orchidee Vanille Women’s Edp Spray, 2.5 Ounce 

A warm and sweet blend of vanilla, chocolate, and orchid. Light and feminine fragrance which screams classy and refined. This can be somewhat difficult to find, but it still around the web.

Orchidee Vanille opens with an orange burst, that is covered in vanilla. Somewhat, of a creamsicle-like aroma, that gives way to a tonka/chocolate/vanilla blend later on.

This Van Cleef & Arpels perfume, has a surprising amount of depth, for such a sweet gourmand. Yes, you are mainly getting the vanilla note. However, underneath that is contributions from almond, musk, tonka bean, orchid, and more. Each plays its part and has its time to shine. Really lovely scent.

Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise Cologne Spray

A vanilla perfume with a nice addition of anise, to give it a bit of a spicy edge. Quite a fresh take on the vanilla note and also quite expensive, if you can find a bottle of it.

Nautica Blue by Nautica

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Here in my latest installment of fragrance reviews, I’m going to take a closer look at Nautica Blue. This scent is in the lower end in terms of price for men’s colognes. It was released in 2005 by Nautica and has been one of the best selling ‘cheapies’ on the market since.

There can be some good deals and great finds at really affordable  prices. Is Blue actually one of them? What are the notes? What does it smell like? How long does it last? Read below for my take. Also see: Nautica Voyage N-83 Review and Nautica Blue vs. Nautica Voyage Comparison

What does Nautica Blue Smell Like?

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Notes include: Musk, cedar, bergamot, sandalwood, peach, pineapple, water lily, jasmine

Click here to try: Nautica Blue Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 fluid ounce

My Full Wear Review

Nautica Blue contains fruit notes such as bergamot, peach, and pineapple. However, I wouldn’t classify it as a fruity fragrance at all. It’s more along the lines of an aquatic/woody scent and the fruit notes add a layer of freshness to it.

While they don’t smell the same at all, I am reminded of Polo Sport when I try out Nautica Blue, as they share the cedar, musk, sandalwood, and bergamot notes. It’s that same clean type of marine aroma you would get from Polo Sport but the Polo fragrance is way better, in my opinion.

The opening of Nautica Blue can actually be quite harsh, with the newest formulations on the market, the start of this scent has a sharp detergent-like smell. This really wasn’t as prominent with older bottles or maybe my memory of those is clouded.

Either way, the bergamot and pineapple, are super sharp at the top. Then, the cedar and heavier musk come in and give it that laundry sort of smell.

As it dries down, the sharpness is muted somewhat by the woody notes like the cedar and sandalwood. The musk also falls back and the floral notes become much more prominent for the rest of the wear.

Water lily and jasmine are the flowery ingredients, which go together with the pineapple and citrus bergamot, as the main attractions once this has had time to settle on the skin.

To describe this cologne I would use the words fresh, crisp, clean, soapy, aquatic. It’s a very safe and straightforward fragrance that won’t surprise you with anything unique but it won’t overwhelm you either.

I do find the cologne somewhat attractive, it is pretty basic however, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the price you’d pay for a bottle.

I really don’t like the opening, in these newer bottles, it’s way too sharp for my nose but it does quiet down a lot.

In some ways, this is a victim of some re-formulation. It’s been around for decades now, so, it was bound to happen. But, I do think that the quality has slipped, on the newer bottles.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It’s projection is fairly moderate and definitely seems to have a short half life. So, it’ll go from a moderate opening to a lighter dry down.  Nautica Blue is usually going to last anywhere between 2-5 hours, depending on the circumstances in which you wear it.

Not a great longevity by any means but at this price point, one could afford to respray it as needed. At this roughly $15-25 price range, you’re not going to get too many scents that both smell great and last for a long time, it just what it is.

However, this isn’t terrible in terms of performance.

Seasonally, this works best in the warmer months of the year. It’s a nice refresher on summer days, as it can take the heat, and actually still smell like its supposed to. It holds up for the rest of the year, also, it just is at its best when the weather is hot.

I’d call this a casual fragrance. It’s safe and not overwhelming. Nautica Blue is a solid starter cologne for the younger guys out there. So, high school through college. Or just someone who needs an inexpensive and clean scent to spray on certain days.

That sharply fresh and soapy sort of scent, isn’t one that screams out, ‘romantic wear’ or nightlife fragrance. It’s a basic freshie, that can be had for super cheap.

Overall Impressions of Nautica Blue

Overall, I’d say it’s a decent buy, but nothing that will blow you away. It’s a good way to smell fresh during the warmer months of the year and could be a solid option for a guy on a tight budget.

I prefer Nautica Voyage over this. However, you might prefer Blue between those two. That’s usually not the case, for most people, though.

I think that this is still one of the best smelling Nautica colognes, but rather middling versus other brands in this price range.

That’s not too big of an accomplishment, as the brand has put out a lot of duds over the years. This one is still okay versus the rest of the competition at this price. It was better than it’s current form, at one time.

Fresh, simple, and you know what you’re getting out of it.

Invictus vs. Invictus Legend Cologne Comparison

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Paco Rabanne has released a new flanker fragrance to the Invictus lineup. Naturally, we will want to know how it compares to the original, which is better in the match up between: Invictus vs. Invictus Legend. Does Legend meet expectations or does it pale in comparison to the original release from the brand? Which lasts longer? Smells better? Is the best buy?

Tale of the Tape

Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Invictus Legend

Notes include: grapefruit, amber, geranium, metal, mead accord, guaiac wood, laurel, sea salt, bay leaf

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend eau de parfum for men 3.4 Fl Oz

Read my Review: Invictus Legend

Opening

The original Invictus opens up with its citrus notes, ambergris, and bay leaf. The aroma this produces, has often been described as, grape bubble gum. That’s fairly accurate and underneath this is a bit of the sea notes, giving Invictus a light aquatic feel.

Invictus Legend also starts off with a strong citrus, yet, it feels more tropical in its presentation than grape bubblegum. The grapefruit and lemon is joined by a heavier dose of the aquatic notes and amber, with the bay leaf barely registering.

Yes, these two do smell similar, but are still quite distinct. The opening of Invictus is really enjoyable and the sweetness has grown on me over time. However, I think that I enjoy the start of Legend, a bit more. The citrus is more intense and you get some fresh spiciness later on. The amber is also, more noticeable.

Edge: Legend

Projection

Invictus has always felt like a strong cologne, at first, and then moves into something that is moderate. Does Legend surpass it? Yes. Legend has a more powerful sillage, at the top, and remains stronger throughout the rest of the wear. It’s not the most powerful fragrance out there, but it does pack a punch early on.

Edge: Legend

Longevity

With Invictus EDT, I have continually gotten 6-7 hour of wear, on my skin. It’s not insanely good, by any means, but definitely respectable. Meanwhile, Invictus Legend goes a bit further. With its greater power, Legend can last for somewhere in the 8-10 hour range, which is quite good.

Edge: Legend

Versatility

To me, there isn’t much separation here, as the ingredients are so similar that the uses will overlap. Both are great in the warm weather, but Legend does have more of a summertime feel. Both can go daytime or into the nightlife, without issue. Not seeing a winner, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

The original Invictus has never been my favorite scent. I used to be mostly indifferent toward it, and now, I do like it more. The opening is still the most enjoyable part to me and the performance is good enough. I understand why it is so popular and has gotten so many fans.

However, I have already enjoyed Invictus Intense more than the original, and now I will add Invictus Legend to that list. Legend is like a more citrus/marine version of Intense, sort of like a summer addition, and does everything better than Invictus EDT.

The performance and sillage is greater. The citrus notes give it a tropical edge, while the amber is deeper and more intense.

I have to say, it feels more balanced and energetic than the original. For those reasons, I have to give Invictus Legend, the win here.

Winner: Invictus Legend

Acqua di Gio vs Azzaro Chrome Cologne Comparison

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For this men’s fragrance comparison, we are going to be taking a closer look at two insanely popular fragrance from the 1990s, Azzaro Chrome vs. Acqua di Gio. Which of these citrus aquatic scents, is the better wear? Which lasts longer? Which should you buy? I have worn, tested, and reviewed each and will break them down by category before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape: Chrome vs. AdG

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Azzaro Chrome

Click here to try: Men’s Chrome by Azzaro Eau de Toilette Spray – 3.4 oz.

Notes include: neroli, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, pineapple, musk, woods, and jasmine

Read my review: Chrome Review

Opening

Acqua di Gio opens up with a nice citrus blend of tangerine and bergamot. These two top notes are joined by marine notes of an ocean quality, and then, floral notes of neroli and jasmine.

It’s nice with the sea notes and the citrus. I like the addition of the jasmine, in particular, and the spices which gradually arise during the wear. Having come back to this fragrance after a long absence, the citrus and jasmine really struck me as being fantastic.

Chrome opens with lemon and pineapple, which is a sharper pairing, than is found in AdG. It too, has jasmine and neroli, in the beginning.

Do the two smell similar? Ehh, there are somewhat related but, AdG has a spicier and less sharp profile. Chrome is bright with a vaguely aquatic aroma lurking in there, with more of a soapy/woody scent.

Which is better? It’s really close, as I enjoy both of these colognes and how they start. Ultimately, I think I prefer Acqua di Gio’s opening act, a bit more. The oceanic sea breeze, with the tangerine and bergamot, is what I think gives it a slight edge.

Edge: Acqua di Gio

Projection

Chrome can strike me as pretty bold, right at the start, but later settles down into a moderate. It’s a pretty similar experience with Acqua di Gio, which is also, fairly moderate. I really don’t see much separation with the current sillage of each.

Older editions may have had a marked difference. Nowadays, they’re basically equals.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With Acqua di Gio, I get about 6-7 hours of wear, on my skin. It’s respectable, but not amazing. Azzaro Chrome will get me 7-8 hours of wear. It’s not a huge difference, but Chrome is better with how long it lasts.

Update: Trying AdG some more, it seems to be a 5-7 hour range. A few times, I don’t think it reached the six hour mark.

Edge: Chrome

Versatility

Both of these colognes are great in the warmer months of the year. They really do smell fantastic, when the temperatures rise, but can go year round without issue. Both are good for casual wear, daily office wear, or even to school for younger men.

Neither is much of a nighttime fragrance exclusively, but can venture into that world. Again, there’s not much separation, and they occupy the same niche essentially.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Each of these fragrances, has been a best seller since the 1990s, and there’s good reason for that.

Chrome is a great daily wear cologne, that has a lot of fans, and it does get plenty of complements. It is fresh, upbeat, with aquatic and woody undertones.

It has a soapy clean smell with a unique metallic edge. It’s really easy to just grab and spray on, without much though, and has good performance.

However, if I’m just going on smell alone, I’d give the edge to Acqua di Gio. It is more interesting to me. I like the spiciness, the floral undertones, the oceanic influence, and those awesome citrus notes. It would be my choice, if each were priced the same.

I will say, that you can usually get Chrome for a cheaper price (sometimes, it’s reversed). If that were the major deciding factor, I’d buy that over the Armani cologne. Nonetheless, AdG is the winner of this match up for me. They are extremely close and it’s not a clear cut choice.

Winner: Acqua di Gio

Angel Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a review of a Thierry Mugler cologne on the site. The last time being, B*Men, which I actually grew to enjoy quite a bit after my initial mixed reaction. I recently received another sample with one of my cologne orders, and it’s one of the flanker fragrances of the Angel Men (A*Men) series, Pure Havane.

While I’ve smelled this cologne before, I was wanting to give Pure Havane a longer try, and see exactly how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. In this post, I will share my thoughts of my experience with this fragrance and try to flesh out a bit as to what this tobacco based juice is all about.

What Does Pure Havane Smell Like?

Notes include: tobacco leaves, honeyed tobacco, patchouli, and bitter cocoa

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce

A*Men Pure Havane

The opening of Pure Havane is quite simple. Imagine a fine Cuban cigar dipped in honey and then rolled in a pile of sugar…that’s what this smells exactly like. It’s a very warm, sweet, and slightly sticky sort of smell that is actually quite beautiful and enthralling.

Although, it isn’t listed in the notes, I also detect a hint of vanilla which provides an extra creamy smoothness. Now, if this doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, look elsewhere. However, if you like rich and masculine scents, then Pure Havane is a masterpiece of fragrance.

The tobacco note in this is dominant but it is a rather different experience than something such as Burberry London, the tobacco in Pure Havane is a much lighter and sweeter smelling variety.

As it wears on, the honey note lessens and the vanilla scent gets pushed more into the foreground. Also, the cocoa note emerges and smells like a chocolate powder to me, it must be the way it blends with the honey and vanilla.

There’s a bit of earth spice here, from patchouli, but it mostly stays in the background. The dry down of Pure Havane is all about the rich tobacco and thick honey, with all of the other sweet notes, orbiting these two. Not too much development from this fragrance, but it’s very good in its contained style.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, A*Men Pure Havane is really good. It isn’t overwhelming, but it is on the strong side of things. It doesn’t require that many sprays to be effective, which is a relief with so many weak colognes out there.

The reach does decline during the wear, but the first hours are pretty potent.

It also has really good longevity, this is an all-day kind of scent. However, be aware that it is much more of a skin scent after 5-6 hours but with reasonable application it should still be noticeable.

Pure Havane is for cold weather. If you live in a climate that is hot year round, you probably shouldn’t bother with this at all. I fear it would become a complete mess in the heat, yet, it is so beautiful in the cold weather.

I would say you could wear this to pretty much whatever event you would want to and it seems perfectly acceptable for school and work. Plus, this is a sexy type of cologne. Great for dates or just wanting to get closer. Pure Havane is a very comfy sort of scent.

Overall Impression of Pure Havane

Overall, is Pure Havane a buy? Yep, while it’s limited to colder weather, it is still a fantastic scent and performer. This A*Men flanker is a layered gourmand fragrance with tobacco taking center stage in its profile.

Not everyone enjoys this kind of cologne, so if you’re more into fruity, dry woods, or aquatics then this probably isn’t going to be a good selection.

On the other hand, if you like sweet winter scents (that aren’t sickly sweet) and rich tobacco blends then Pure Havane is an excellent choice.

I think that the opening can be overwhelming or messy at times, but, this one does settle down and get better as it moves along. Not a super mature scent, but it can work well for guys through their 20s and 30s, with exceptions.

The A*Men line has produced some awesome colognes, over the years, and this is among the best.

Update: All of these ‘Pure’ fragrances got discontinued by Mugler.