There is something slightly sweet, slightly creamy, and oh so delicious in the air. Can you smell it, too? Of course you can. Because if there's one thing we are dousing ourselves in at the moment, it's vanilla perfumes. It may have something to do with the influence of social media (shock horror), where, according to fragrance brand NEST New York, vanilla perfume hashtags have received 20.4M views on average per week, whilst TikTok views of vanilla perfume are up 382.9% since last year.
Fragrance brands have heard the collective 'mmms' and 'ahhhs' of those who are left satisfied by whiffs of the delectable gourmand note, and have appeased the growing demand with a new legion of vanilla perfumes for 2024. French luxury perfume house Parfums de Marly has recently looked to vanilla for inspiration with Palatine, £245, a powdery floral scent rooted in a base of vanilla, while viral fragrance brand Phlur's latest emotion-provoking creation, Vanilla Skin, £99, is a sensual ode to the base note. Even singer-turned-perfumer Ariana Grande has given it the seal of approval with her latest olfactive offering, Lovenotes by Ariana Grande Vanilla Suede, £75, which is laced with bergamont, sandalwood and vanilla bean, and was exclusively formulated only for Grande's UK fanbase. That's certainly one way to say I love you.
Sensory love letter indeed, Grande did her research and is clearly well aware of our obsession with vanilla. But what's causing us to drench ourselves in the stuff? NEST New York says, for many millennials like myself, 'gourmand fragrances are uncomplicated, nostalgic and fun, and recent research has suggested that the uncertainty of recent times has left us pining for something familiar and unchallenging, with 70% of beauty consumers in Brazil, China and the UK saying they enjoy things that remind them of the past.'
In fact, a 2024 trend report from Accupac noted 'Millennials are a nostalgia fuelled generation because they came of age during so much turmoil. Nostalgia romanticises simpler times and gives our lives a feeling of meaning and continuity when so much about the future is unknown.'
It's true, the appeal of vanilla comes from its ability to invoke all that is warm, cosy and familiar, like the feeling of enveloping yourself in a cashmere blanket. While gourmand, meaning pertaining to edible, addictive goodness, it had a unique ability in possessing many different facets. Usually placed right at the bottom of a fragrance formula pyramid, the base, its composition can be dialled up or down with top and middle notes to unveil a sugary, spicy and smoky or animalic, woody and leathery character. Experts say vanilla belongs to amber family of fragrances, but its influence has proven to stretch to chypre, floral and beyond. So yes, you will find vanilla fragrances with a multitude of faces, each promising to be as delicious as the next.
With all that is on offer, we know it can be hard to fight the right kind of juice to satisfy your vanilla fragrance craving. So we've done the hard work for you and whittled it down to the very best. Scroll through our favourite new and iconic vanilla perfumes.
Shop: The Best Vanilla Perfumes 2024
www.selfridges.com
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'TikTok and floral fragrance lovers can attest to this scent's addictive yet delightfully delicate quality. Light damascena rose, tangy lychee and soft vanilla make it sweet and sensual, and totally enchanting. Warning, you'll have to stop yourself from over spritzing.'
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'If creamy, warm gourmand fragrances are your calling, look no further than Phlur's latest launch. It is laced with bright pink pepper, warm cashmere wood, sensual oud and of course the star of the show cosy vanilla for a lasting scent that is guaranteed to make heads turn.'
arabianoud.co.uk
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'My love of oud stems from childhood, when the fragrance note instantly signalled a sense of spiritual calm and purpose. It's the reason why I chose this decadent perfume as my wedding fragrance. Full bodied yet feminine, it is laced with saffron, rose, vanilla and a base of dark chocolate and oud for a confident and memorable gourmand offering.'
www.cultbeauty.co.uk
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Kayali prides itself on indulgent fragrances that last and this is a big example of the brand's unique lure in the fragrance world. it is packed with a blend of vanillas in each level of the note pyramid, as well as tonka bean, amber and musk. This guaranteed crowd pleaser is dedicated to the rich and multifaceted nature of vanilla.'
www.artisanparfumeur.com
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'More proof of vanilla's power. A blend of tarty, sweet fruit liquor and floral notes is balanced with the warmth of honey, soft vanilla, and hearty oud wood for a wholly comforting yet bewitching experience. I reach for this every, single day for all its comforting and enveloping goodness.'
www.cultbeauty.co.uk
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'If you really want your fragrance to stretch in terms of longevity, try a fragrance oil. They are a highly concentrated fragrance product made from essential oils and carrier oils, and thus carry a higher percentage of essential oils that can last even longer on the skin. Case in point, NEST New York's Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil which boasts a coconut base for an uber-creamy and indulgent lasting scent that brings an instant hit of calm.'
victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'In her latest fragrance offering Victoria Beckham has managed to bottle the feeling of renewed energy, clarity and reinvention through a grounding cocktail of creamy vanilla pods, deep tonka beans and crisp cedarwood, which takes us back to 2001 when attention around the end of her music collaboration heightened and caused the beauty and fashion doyen to escape to Java with husband David Beckham where she experienced an enchanted and aromatic catharsis.'
www.marksandspencer.com
Renee Washington, digital fashion & beauty assistant, says: 'As soon as I spritzed it, a sweet, but not overly sweet scent developed, and as it blended into my skin, hints of pear and jasmine start to emerge, adding a subtle depth. Over time, the aroma softened into a warm scent that feels like being wrapped in a blanket, and as it grew I found that it was incredibly reminiscent of Burberry's Goddess, £50 - but significantly more affordable.'
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
