Vanilla at a glance
The Vanilla note appears across 2,375 published fragrances in our catalog. Use this page to compare how different brands work with Vanilla within the vanilla family.
- Note family
- Vanilla
- Published fragrances
- 2,375
- Frequent brands on this page
- Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Montale
- Common concentrations
- Eau De Parfum, Parfum, Eau De Toilette
Notable Vanilla Fragrances
- 1
Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum combines vanilla with tobacco, tonka, cocoa and dried-fruit notes. It is a spiced, richly sweet interpretation with a distinct tobacco setting.
- 2
Hypnotic Poison Eau de Toilette pairs vanilla with an almond-and-jasmine
- 3
Black Opium Eau de Parfum combines vanilla with coffee and white flowers
- 4
- 5
- 6
Eilish Eau de Parfum surrounds vanilla with cocoa, soft spice, woods
- 7
Angel Eau de Parfum sets vanilla and praline sweetness against patchouli. The earthy contrast is central to its gourmand character.
- 8
Spiritueuse Double Vanille gives vanilla a woody, rum-like setting with cedar
Pairs With
- Tonka Bean
Tonka contributes dry sweetness with an almond-like, hay facet.
- Sandalwood
Sandalwood rounds vanilla with creamy wood.
- Tobacco
Tobacco adds a dry aromatic contrast to sweet vanilla.
- Amber
Resinous amber develops vanilla’s warm, balsamic side.
- Jasmine
Jasmine moves vanilla toward a fuller floral composition.
Forms of Vanilla
About Vanilla
+−
Natural perfumery extracts are made from cured vanilla beans. DSM-Firmenich’s vanilla absolute, for example, is a solvent extract of Vanilla planifolia. The supplier describes sweet, woody and leathery facets. Woody or leathery nuances can therefore come from the vanilla material itself, as well as from other notes around it.
Vanillin is an important odorant in vanilla and is also manufactured as a separate aroma material. It supplies a sweet vanilla note, while a bean extract carries a mixture of aromatic compounds. Using the individual molecule lets a perfumer add that vanilla effect separately from the extract’s other facets. A vanilla accord can combine extracts with individual odorants; the note name does not identify the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vanilla perfume made from vanilla beans?+−
It can contain extracts of cured beans, separate aroma materials or both. The vanilla note alone does not establish which ingredients were used.
Is vanillin the same as vanilla?+−
Vanillin is one important aroma molecule associated with vanilla. Natural vanilla extract contains many compounds, while a vanilla accord is a perfumer’s composition.
Do all vanilla perfumes smell like food?+−
No. Woods, smoke, leather, spice and flowers can take vanilla away from a straightforward dessert impression.
Is natural vanilla better than synthetic vanilla?+−
Origin does not by itself determine the quality of the finished scent. Natural extracts offer a complex profile; individual aroma materials give a perfumer other ways to shape the accord.
