The 15 Most Iconic Vanilla Perfumes of All Time
The 15 Most Iconic Vanilla Perfumes of All Time
There’s a reason vanilla is so popular in fragrances: the warm and sweet composition is instantly comforting. In fact, vanilla is known to be a mood enhancer.
The only edible fruit in the orchid family, vanilla is a versatile ingredient that plays well with so many other scents, making it perfect for endless fragrance formulations. While vanilla perfumes are amazing to wear all year, there are definitely some, like Mugler's Alien Goddess, that are better for the warmer months thanks to notes like fresh floral or rose. On the flip side, vanilla perfumes that are complemented by spices or woody notes are perfect for fall and winter. But if we're being honest, wear the scent that speaks to you, regardless of the season. With so many great vanilla fragrances to choose from you're bound to find one you love.
Whether you consider yourself a bonafide gourmand girl or just like to smell hints of sweetness in your perfume, vanilla can (and does) do it all. Here, 15 of the best vanilla perfumes to try out, from cult classics to newcomers.
1) Vanille Antique
Byredo
byredo.com
$250.00
It's easy to see—or smell—why Byredo is so popular, and Vanille Antique, one of the brand's night veil scents, doesn't disappoint. You might be expecting something super sweet with opening notes like freesia and plum, but the heart and base notes of amber and cashmere woods add an Earthy sophistication.
Notes
Top: freesia, plum
Heart: amber, cashmere woods
Base: Madagascar vanilla beans, cistus oil
2) Chelsea Nights Eau de Parfum
Bond No.9 New York
neimanmarcus.com
$460.00
Luxe fragrance brand Bond No.9 takes inspiration from the neighborhoods of New York City. This newest fragrance is meant to capture the essence of a wild night out in Chelsea.
Notes
Top: Saffron, Cocoa absolute
Heart: Tuberose, Myrrh Resoid, Cedarwood, Oud oil
Base: Amber, Vanilla, Suede, Patchouli Oil
3) Lanc?me Id?le Aura Eau de Parfum
Lanc?me
ulta.com
$99.00
Classic notes of rose and jasmine mix with modern salted vanilla to give this scent the perfect a touch of sweetness.
Notes
Top: Essence of isparta and centifolia roses
Middle: White jasmine and bergamot
Base: Salted vanilla
4) Vaniglia
Santa Maria Novella
smnovella.com
$145.00
According to the brand Santa Maria Novella, vanilla was actually thought of as an aphrodisiac in ancient times. Even so, the zippy lemon and bergamot, comforting jasmine, and grounding vanilla make it easy to fall in love with this fragrance.
Notes
Top: Lemon, bergamot, orange
Heart: Jasmine, vanilla
Base: Vanilla, sweet woods, benzoin
5) Black Opium Eau de Parfum
Yves Saint Laurent
sephora.com
$102.00
Though the name is Black Opium, this iconic fragrance is both sweet and warm thanks to notes of coffee, white flowers, and vanilla. It's the perfect one to pick up when that chill in the air comes around.
Notes
Top: coffee
Middle: white flowers
Base: vanilla
6) Vanilla Diorama Fragrance
Dior
dior.com
$2023.00
This fragrance is named after one of Christian Dior's favorite desserts, the Diorama Gourmand (details of the actual pastry are a mystery as there are no true records of it). But this fragrance interpretation is just as delicious as the mythical dessert, with nearly-edible notes of vanilla, cocoa, and orange wedge.
Notes: Vanilla, cocoa, and orange wedge
7) Alien Goddess Eau de Parfum
Mugler
sephora.com
$170.00
Bergamot and heart of jasmine are grounded by bourbon vanilla to create a warm yet floral scent you'll want to wear every day.
Notes
Top: Bergamot essence
Heart: Jasmine grandiflorum
Base: Bourbon vanilla
8) Dulce Eau de Parfum
By Rosie Jane
byrosiejane.com
$70.00
Fragrance has a way of bringing back memories, and this scent is all about reminiscing on all of the sweetness life has to offer. Tip: Because the formula is clean, spritz all over instead of rubbing or dabbing into skin.
Notes
Top: vanilla
Heart: hinoki wood
Base: nude musk
9) Dirty Vanilla Eau de Parfum
HERETIC
sephora.com
$165.00
Vanilla is the heart of this fragrance, blending a mix of both sweet and spicy as well as warm and woody to make an elevated vanilla scent. They call it dirty, we call it delicious.
Top: cedar, coriander, ho wood
Heart: vanilla
Base: patchouli, sandalwood, styrax, vetiver
10) Tangier Vanille
AERIN
sephora.com
$145.00
Inspired by Morocco, Madagascar vanilla slices through notes of bergamot and Bulgarian rose, while sandalwood, amber, and musk anchor this fragrance.
Top: Italian bergamot, Bulgarian eose
Heart: Madagascar vanilla
Base: amber, sandalwood, musk
11) Paris-Venise Les Eaux de CHANEL Eau de Toilette Spray
Chanel
chanel.com
$90.00
This fragrance is meant to evoke a sense of comfort. In fact, it was inspired by Venice, one of the cities Gabrielle Chanel fell in love with after the death of her lover, Boy Capel. Think of it as a fresh vanilla hug.
Notes: neroli, amber, vanilla and tonka
12) Vanilla & Anise Cologne
Jo Malone
jomalone.com
$866.00
Hints of anise and clove add spiciness to the purple vanilla orchid notes in this cologne. It's meant to be a "modern story of vanilla."
Notes
Top: star anise
Heart: purple vanilla orchid
Base: vanilla bourbon
13) Vanilla Milk Eau de Parfum
Ellis Brooklyn
sephora.com
$105.00
This perfume does double duty with vanilla using both bourbon vanilla bean and Madagascar vanilla bean extract with a touch of florals. The bst part? It's designed to get better with your body's heat and chemistry.
Notes
Top: creamy milk accord, frangipani, peony rose
Heart: bourbon vanilla bean, Madagascar vanilla bean extract, upcycled cocoa shell extract
Base: benzoin resinoid, amyris, sandalwood, musk
14) Eau Duelle
Diptyque
bergdorfgoodman.com
$180.00
The sweetness of bourbon vanilla is accompanied by pink peppercorn, cardamom, and vetiver to add a warm spiciness to this take on a vanilla fragrance.
Notes: Pink peppercorn, juniper berry, green cardamom, elemi, olibanum, calamus, black ceylon tea, bourbon vanilla, haitian vetiver, cypriol.
15) Dark is Night Eau de Parfum
HENRY ROSE
nordstrom.com
$35.00
While the initial notes exude freshness, once this scent dries down the patchouli and vanilla come out to play. The result is a sensual, skin-like warmth.
Notes
Top: green grass
Heart: vetiver, freesia
Base: patchouli, vanilla bean
There’s a reason vanilla is so popular in fragrances. It is instantly comforting. Vanilla is known to be a mood enhancer. So in my opinion, can never go wrong with a great vanilla perfume.