Although they never really went away, vanilla perfumes have been trending on social media during the ‘quiet luxury’ era. And it’s easy to understand why – the scent truly embodies the simple elegance that goes hand in hand with everyday luxury.
Perhaps it is because vanilla elicits a strong sense of the familiar, or because it’s actually a natural aphrodisiac (hot tip, ladies!) but we simply can’t get enough of the scent. It even features in Jennifer Aniston’s favourite perfume — and if it’s good enough for Jen, we’re absolutely sold!
We’ve scoured the internet (and our own fragrance collections) to bring you our must-have winter perfumes and long-lasting scents that all feature vanilla. From sweet to spicy and everything in between, read on for the best vanilla perfumes for every scent profile.
The best vanilla perfumes in Australia
Korres Vanilla Freesia EDT
This fragrance is a beautiful combination of fresh and sweet top and heart notes — think tropical lychee, juicy peach, freesia and tea. A light spritz will leave you with long- lasting notes of sweet vanilla, and musky patchouli.
Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Milk EDP
Designed to evolve with your body heat, this perfume has been created to evoke memories, with milky vanilla notes reminiscent of your childhood staples (milk bottles, anyone?). Thoughtfully created with green chemistry, many of the ingredients are upcycled and renewable, so you know your perfume is doing its part for the environment as well.
$115 at Ellis Brooklyn
Maison Margiela By The Fireplace EDT
The Replica range is designed to transport you to moments in time. Enveloping you in a warm yet spicy scent, ‘By The Fireplace’ is perfect for the cooler months. Smokey gaic wood oil and spicy pepper is then balanced with sweet vanilla and chestnuts (think of them roasting on the fire). Fair warning: this unisex scent is so good your partner will want to steal it!
$245 at MECCA
Juliette Has A Gun Vanilla Vibes EDP
Juliette Has A Gun fragrances are designed to be emblems of style, created for the modern woman (that’s you!). Vanilla Vibes is an ode to adventure – think summertime roadtrips with a beachy salty head note, and contrasting vanilla, orchid heart notes, drying down to a soft sandalwood base. This vanilla scent is one to save for the warmer months.
$175 at Adore Beauty
Sol de Janeiro Sol Cheirosa 62
Hot tip: the absolute cult classic scent from everyone’s favourite Bum Bum Cream (surely you’ve smelt it?) is available in fragrance form, too! Intoxicatingly sweet, this fragrance is perfect for year- round wear, with notes of salted caramel, vanilla, pistachio and a burst of fresh jasmine. The perfect blend of floral and sugary sweet, you’ll be turning headings all day long with this cult classic perfume.
$135 at MECCA
Art Meets Art Sexual Healing EDP
This fragrance offers a relaxed and deeply sensual scent, eliciting the simple pleasures. It opens with a bright spicy honey and ginger note, blossoming into tobacco and seducing you with gourmand vanilla and amber base notes. Sitting close to your skin, the longevity of the scent will impress you.
$236 at Art Meets Art
CIRCA Vanilla Bean & Allspice Soy Candle
If you want to extend the dreamy scent of vanilla throughout your space, this is the chicest candle to do it with. Cosy, calming and gourmand in the coolest way, it’s all about creating a sense of sweet-smelling comfort throughout your home. It has hints of sandalwood, patchouli and bergamot to add sensory interest, but let’s be real: it’s the craving-creating vanilla bean base that keeps us coming back.
$44.95 at CIRCA
Have you tried any of these perfumes? What’s your favourite vanilla fragrance?
I haven’t tried any of these. My favourite vanilla fragrance is A Tahaa Affair by Glasshouse.
I haven’t tried any of these either. I didn’t even know about Vanilla perfumes only candles.
I’d never go for a vanilla fragrance as it doesn’t work with me for some reason. I love the smell of true vanilla essence used in baking but that’s where it stops. Enjoy, those who do love it though.
I just love sol de janeiro cheirosa 62 , its my favourite perfume.
This is perfect because I love vanilla fragrances and I need a new one.
Vanilla in baking and desserts yes, in fragrance not for me
I always love the bottles that the perfumes come in. Always so lovely.
I find it too sweet, I prefer fresh scents.
I find vanilla scents don’t work on my skin, which is annoying as some of them are really lovely
I hardly ever put fragrance directly on my skin. Usually on my clothing or in my hair. That may work for you too @Karma Llama.
I really love the scent of vanilla and apparently it’s very attractive to some men. I could have used this list a while ago in my vanilla phase but Sol de Janeiro Sol Cheirosa 62 is not really traditionally a vanilla fragrance. There is a lot more going on with that one.
I wonder if men like the vanilla scent because it reminds them of food. 😃
TMI Alert: Vanilla is supposedly similar to the female intimate scent.
My girl crazy nephew goes nuts over vanilla, haha!
Annick Goutal used to make a really beautiful, true vanilla fragrance. Sadly, it has been discontinued 🙁
I’d love to test out the Korres Vanilla Freesia. Sounds lovely and is in my price range.
Yes! Want them all 0_0
In replica one, I smell no vanilla, but burn of sensual warm fire
Vanilla has always been a really strong scent for me. Just can’t handle it
Pricey products. I love vanilla and just use a body shop vanilla body mist.
If i was looking for a new perfume I’d never think of trying something that said it was vanilla, although I don’t mind it in shower gel etc. Maybe I should widen my horizons.
I haven’t tried any of these scents, im intrigued to know what they all smell like
I love the scent of Vanilla on others its a little heavy on me and I prefer a fresh citrus scent.
I like 5th Avenue with its vanilla base noes, but it has a low spillage. The Body Shop does a nice single note vanilla.
I haven’t tried any of these but would certainly like to. I like vanilla fragrances.
I would like to trial them all.
The Sol de Janeiro scent is nice but I heard it doesn’t last long. I tried the Juliette Has a Gun vanilla perfume and it was pleasant, but not worth purchasing for me.
I haven’t tried any of these
Nice and warming