What florals are to grandmas, vanilla is to millennials. No, seriously. When it comes to fragrance families, this one is hitting it out of the park, and is anything but…well, vanilla. There’s something about the saccharine sweet scent that brings back memories of shimmer-laden body mists and sprays from the mid-2000s. That’s not the only thing that defines the vanilla family. Moving away from the sweet, headache-inducing scent we often associate it with (no offence to the 2000s), the best vanilla perfumes strike the right balance—sweet, sensuous, and everything in between.
Retiring last year’s rose (at least for now), vanilla-scented perfumes are here to take over the tag of the hottest fragrance this summer. This fragrance family is often associated with cosy winters what with its warmth and sweetness. When it comes to vanilla scents for the summer - think vanilla with fresh, aquatic, or green notes that’ll add a splash of ‘cool’ to your warm (read: boiling hot) summer days. Take your pick from some of the best vanilla perfumes to add to your collection this season.
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1. Paco Rabanne Olympéa Intense Eau de Parfum
Sugar, spice, and everything nice—Paco Rabanne Olympéa Intense plays with notes of salty vanilla, grapefruit flower, orange blossoms, and white pepper that come together with base notes of white amber, ambergris accord, and cedar. It’s warm, sweet, and sensual – making for the perfect summer fragrance. A modern take on the cult classic, the Olympéa bottle, too, is one for the collector’s shelves.
2. BOSS Femme Eau de Parfum
If you’re one to gravitate towards feminine yet modern scents, then BOSS Femme speaks your language. A great everyday perfume, the vanilla in this one is subtle but hard to ignore. The floral fruitiness is greeted by a hint of vanilla that adds subtle warmth and sweetness to the fragrance. It’s comfortable, not too overpowering, and makes for the perfect handbag staple even for those long workdays.
3. Versace Eros Eau de Toilette
This vanilla fragrance for men brings together two worlds seamlessly— it’s refreshing and cool while also being intensely spicy. It’s a fresh scent that combines the intensity of mint leaves, Italian lemon zest, and green apple with the embracing notes of ambroxan amber, geranium flower, and Madagascar vanilla. This perfume is a go-to for the men (and women) looking for a summer staple that will instantly refresh the senses. The bonus? The bottle is one you’d want to show off on your shelf!
4. Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl Eau de Parfum
When it comes to top perfumes, how can we skip this iconic high-heeled scent? Deemed one of TikTok’s most viral fragrances, the Very Good Girl is one for the body and the shelves. The signature stiletto bottle houses complex notes of red currant, lychee, rose, vetiver, and vanilla—giving the scent a playful floral and fruity accord. The hint of vanilla in its base notes adds a lingering depth to the fragrance, making it a great summer go-to. Very Good Girl is a perfect AM to PM perfume.
There’s no reason to be intimidated by a bit of vanilla in your everyday fragrance. The charm lies in its complexities; you’ll find notes of vanilla layered with muskier, woodier, greener, and fresher notes that give the once heavily sugar-coated fragrance a rich and alluring embrace. Doesn’t that sound nice?
