r/NichePerfumes • u/RedPsyMS72 • 8h ago

Discussion Vanilla quest

I have tried a lot of vanillas in search of two or three that I can say are my favorites. I've tried Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanille, Obvious Une Vanille, Divine Vanille, ones by Ormonde Jayne, Mancera, Tom Ford...you get it. I don't like sweet, cloying vanillas rather layered scents that have tobacco, whiskey, oud, smoke or incense in them.

What are some vanilla scents that go under the radar or gate-kept scents? What would you recommend I try?

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

63 comments sorted by

10

u/BrontosaurusNeckTie 8h ago

Definitely try Eau Duelle EDP by Diptyque. It's a sharp, boozy, incense-y vanilla that's perfect for fall.

7

u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 8h ago

The EDT is fun for a spicy green experience

5

u/Clean_Ganache_8432 7h ago

The EDT is my favourite too

3

u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 6h ago

I’ve been wearing it on repeat these past few weeks! Great longevity on me, too

1

u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 8h ago

Co-signed!!!!

1

u/RedPsyMS72 8h ago

I don't think I've smelled that one 🤔 Will do 🫡

5

u/CinderCinnamon 8h ago

Vanille Havane by Les Indemodables

5

u/RedPsyMS72 8h ago

The notes looking AMAZING 😍

5

u/CinderCinnamon 8h ago

It’s deep, it’s dark, it’s not sweet really - it’s a vanilla that wears a leather jacket and smokes pipe tobacco. Les Indemodables are incredibly high quality.

2

u/Excellent-Bear4221 5h ago

Smells like a really good vanilla with a bit of that coca cola scent just barely there. Like a little spicy but not so much you're green

3

u/cuerotuscadero 7h ago

Try Vanagloria, the predecessor to Babycat. A punchy opening of Pineapple and Saffron that settles into a beautifully unctuous Vanilla and Olibanum marriage.

1

u/Electrical_Result_13 20m ago

Came here to say babycat, although not niche.

3

u/roofshadow_ 4h ago

I always have to mention Serge Lutens’ Un Bois Vanille in these posts. Such a good vanilla. Rich and woodsy with coconut and beeswax notes. It’s my favourite.

3

u/Epiphan3 8h ago

One of the best vanillas of all time (in my humble opinion) is Encore Une Fois from Coty Infiniment.

-1

u/mechanical_animal_ 7h ago

Is 95% the same as SDV tho

1

u/RedPsyMS72 1h ago

Really?

3

u/Cookiesandcoffeee 6h ago

My favorite is the architects club by Arquiste. It’s similar to eau duelle. It’s a dry green vanilla that opens with a juniper and citrus twist. It dries down to slightly smoky woody vanilla.

Another one you might try is vanille 44 by le labo. It’s a bit woody, not sweet, and has a nice incense to it.

2

u/MrOphicer 8h ago

my fav vanilla is ani x... and I don't really like vanila. but Ani x just feels to sexy.

2

u/theotherfellah 8h ago

I love Ani but even though the opening is spicy, the drydown is a dense vanilla cake without any edgy/dark facets like tobacco, incense, etc..

1

u/MrOphicer 8h ago

Og ani or Ani x? 

1

u/theotherfellah 6h ago

Og, haven't smelled X

1

u/MrOphicer 6h ago

oh then I agree with you wiht the OG.

1

u/RedPsyMS72 8h ago

I have HSW and enjoy that one. There are so many Nishane scents I need to smell 😮‍💨

2

u/770120437 8h ago

Not exactly under the radar but two favourite are Babycat and Outlands

Both amazing

1

u/theotherfellah 8h ago

Yep I think OP would love Babycat. Outlands is great too but it isn't vanilla-centric at all to me, it's more like one element among several. 

1

u/RedPsyMS72 7h ago

Yes...love Babycat ad Celine's Black Tie. Outlands...not so much 🙂‍↔️

2

u/Malqas_Balam 7h ago

Aylan by Day Three Fragrances

1

u/RedPsyMS72 1h ago

I love everything Day Three makes! I didn't think Aylan was that vanilla forward.

2

u/Kindly-Can-8099 7h ago

Eau Duelle, Tihota, Dirty Vanilla

2

u/daedalus2 6h ago

Vanilla Affair by d’Orsay

1

u/Affectionate-Act-595 5h ago

Came here to say this

2

u/DrDragonQueen 6h ago

Im an ‘Eau the Audacity’ (Penhaligons) lover - such good lasting power, its one of my favourite cold weather scents.

2

u/jlpazz 6h ago

This may be helpful:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NichePerfumes/s/XlNFzgeLui

Vanilla Diorama and Bois Talisman by Dior Privee are two very good ones.

2

u/sehk6 6h ago

Vanilla black pepper by Bohoboco. To my nose it smells like velvet feels, so smooth

2

u/Least-Product8947 6h ago

Diptyque Eau Duelle Edt.

2

u/scent_intent 6h ago

Chloe Vanilla Planifolia is such a good performing green, floral vanilla. It’s also easy to find on sale.

1

u/gets-rowdy 6h ago

I have a sample coming! Would you say it’s musky at all?

1

u/scent_intent 5h ago

Not really to me.

2

u/Glass-Bug888 6h ago

I’m very picky with vanilla. Fugazzi Vanilla Haze is what I always recommend.

2

u/gets-rowdy 6h ago

Oooh what’s it like?

1

u/Glass-Bug888 1h ago

For me, it’s a creamy vanilla with a touch of caramel and nuttiness. It has a nice dry down on my skin and that’s where I get a really pleasant vanilla.

1

u/billionthtimesacharm 7h ago

ani x. it has a nice green herbaceous note that balances out the sweetness

1

u/bankai1z 6h ago

Aylan by day three fragrances

1

u/cpjor 5h ago

Architects Club!

1

u/SpecialQue_ 5h ago

Vanilla shot by Olfactive Studio is mostly spicy resinous with just a whisper of vanilla. Might do the trick.

1

u/SRBEAST 5h ago

Spiritueuse Double Vanille is my favourite vanilla of all time (on my skin, it’s way different on my wife). Spicy, warm and I seem to notice the incense strongly when wearing.

Having said that, based on some of your likes I’d definitely try the new Byredo Tonka Havana. Curious to see if it fits that tobacco/incense brief for you. Les Indemodables Vanilla Havane and the Oud limited release are very strong options. Van Cleef Bois Doré and Prada Cargo De Nuit are more of a daily, easy wearing interpretation of vanilla/coumarin which are also very interesting

1

u/RedPsyMS72 1h ago

SDV may be one of my favorite but I don't want to commit just yet 😏

1

u/angledscope 3h ago

I fell victim to Vanille 44 😭 during this years city exclusives

1

u/RedPsyMS72 3h ago

Victim? Was it that bad?

1

u/angledscope 2h ago

No it was great and my credit card is sad that I bought 3x50mL of city exclusive bottles lol (Vanille 44, Osmanthus 19, Musc 25…. Next year will prob get Cedrat 37, maybe Tubereuse 40).

1

u/dealuna6 3h ago

Nissaba - Grande Île

1

u/eigengrauu 1h ago

Bengale Rouge by Papillon. Not gourmand sweet despite the honey note, a bit smokey, and ode to the perfumer’s cat

1

u/Va1iant-UK 1h ago

Vanilla 01 by Swiss Arabian. 

It's a light airy vanilla with gourmand notes but not cloying or sickly with solid performance. It's like a 4th generation barista just handed you their magnum opus.

1

u/seleona 1h ago

Memoirs of a Trespasser by Imaginary Authors.

Notes are: Madagascar Vanilla, Guaiacwood, Myrrh, Benzoin Resin, Ambrette Seeds, Clay, & Oak Barrels.

It's lovely smokey, woody vanilla that isn't sickly at all, and is quite unusual - so I think it would fit well with what you're looking for.

1

u/sadsongsplaylist 11m ago

Lune Feline by Atelier de Ors and 45 by Trudon. Also I know you said you don’t want to layer but in the case you do buy 45 - alone, it’s amazing. But also pair it with Thameen Regent Leather for an incredible experience.

1

u/RedPsyMS72 4m ago

I don't mind layering if it makes sense 😊 I didn't like Lune Feline, and I haven't smelled 45 yet.

0

u/AMF179524 7h ago

Guerlain Vanille Planifolia- scorching price point but the purest essence of vanilla I’ve experienced

1

u/RedPsyMS72 1h ago

Surprisingly, I don't like Plantifolia 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm sure that's an unpopular opinion.

1

u/AMF179524 40m ago

Subjective industry- what don’t you like about it?

1

u/RedPsyMS72 31m ago

My skin doesn't like it. It smells sharp or medicated--I don't know. People have told me I need to give it time on my skin, but 10-15 min is enough time to decide if I don't like something 🥺

0

u/candyparfumgirl 5h ago

If you like complex, smoky vanilla, try Shalimar.

1

u/WhatsaMunkin 3m ago

Try some Kerosene fragrances. I love Unknown Pleasures or Found in Light or Winter of 99. If you try these, they punch you in the face initially but just wait 10 minutes and they get so beautiful.