Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford

Vanille Fatale was released in 2017 by Tom Ford. It is listed as a unisex fragrance, whether that’s actually the case or not is debatable. In this post, I want to share my thoughts and experience while wearing this perfume. What are the notes? How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a try?

What does Vanille Fatale Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, mahogany, barley, olibanum, myrrh, coffee, saffron, coriander, narcissus, plum, and more

Click here to try: Vanille Fatale Eau de Parfum, 1.7 oz

My Full Wear Review of Vanille Fatale

The opening minutes of Vanille Fatale makes it known that this isn’t going to be your usual vanilla perfume. It hits hard with a mix of very sweet, warm, and tart notes. Mainly, what I get at the start is vanilla and plum.

At first the sweet/tart blend is way too much for my nose, but it does settle itself down, the further you get into the wear. But man, that opening, is really in your face about it.

I always think that I’m going to like plum notes in perfumes, much more than I seem to do, as I really enjoy the actual fruits themselves.

Once you move past the initial stage, I think that Vanille Fatale really comes into its own, and becomes much more interesting.

There is a smoky Oriental vibe to it with saffron and myrrh notes. It is also quite creamy, the roasted coffee and barley give this one a unique presentation and depth that you don’t get with run of the mill vanilla perfumes.

When it all comes together Vanille Fatale is warm with a touch of smoke, while being sweet and tart. From there you add slightly spicy elements (coriander and saffron) and a rich mahogany aroma.

What’s cool is that underneath there is a boozy rum note, which later helps to reign in the sweet tartness, and make this one into a darker sort of perfume.

There’s just so many different aspects to the fragrance, that you catch just hints of this or that throughout, and it takes on a new mood.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off fairly strong, and then moves into something that has a much more moderate sillage. To me, the opening can be overwhelming, but it does settle and isn’t too big of a deal.

Much of that opening strength has to do with how the tart notes can come across. Once those settle, it feels a lot more towards the middle of the road.

The longevity is great and Vanille lasted at least 9 hours on my skin. No performance issues here. I couldn’t imagine throwing these sorts of notes together and not getting something that lasts long.

Seasonally, this would be great in cold weather up to moderate temperatures. Once the humidity kicks in, I think that Vanille Fatale would fall apart. It is listed as a unisex, but it feels like a ladies’ scent to me.

They try to bring it back towards the masculine side with that warm spicy/boozy aroma, but it doesn’t fully succeed. When I compare it to men’s fragrances with those kinds of notes, it is much more feminine.

Funny enough, I’ve seen some women say that this is too masculine. So, I guess it depends on your own tastes.

This could fit in for almost any occasion during the season. It has a certain refinement and class, so it could be worn dressed up. Meanwhile, it is attractive enough to be worn for a night out. A nice darkly sweet daily wear.

I’d go easy with it, in the office. That initial bit of time can be too strong for that environment.

Overall Impressions of Vanille Fatale

Overall, do I like Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford? I think that it’s good, but it doesn’t really blow me away. There are times, when I find it enjoyable, and other times where I really don’t at all.

The dry down is the highlight. I enjoy the booze, coriander, and saffron notes. Vanille Fatale has plenty of depth and character, which is at the very least interesting.

The smokiness, the plum, coffee, mahogany…there’s a ton going on here. Different facets, not all of them feel that great.

It’s a mixed bag for me. Plus, it feels too feminine for me to wear, and can be cloying. However, it does have its moments and can perform extremely well, so I can’t hate it.

Some people will absolutely love this one, but it’s probably a fragrance you’d want to test out before committing to purchasing a full bottle.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.