Vanille Absolument is simply gorgeous: A radiant, vibrant warm masterpiece, created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour. I own and love several Vanilla gourmand perfumes, SDV, Cuir Beluga, Vanille Galante, to name a few favorites. Vanille Absolument is a wonderful comforting fragrance for cooler temperatures.
Notes: Rum, cloves, dried fruit in the top, helichrysum, narcissus and tonk a bean in the middle, and a delicious base composed of vanilla, sandalwood, moss and balsamic notes.
The rum is present on my skin throughout all stages, lasting power is very good - about 8 hours - and the play between the vanilla and the other notes is intriguingly beautiful.
What a lovely addition to my scent wardrobe, and a definite repurchase.
Price: $165 for the 3.4 oz spray bottle.

Imagine yourself at a fall gathering on a sunny day with your best friends on a hay ride, as the wagon drives by the country house where Grandma is baking sweets. The hay ride continues, and you pass by the dried up corn fields. You stop to get some foddershock for Grandma's porch. The wagon finally drops you off at the fresh pumpkin patch, where you pick out the pumpkin that you are going to carve into a jack-o-lantern later that evening.... Oh what fun! Vanille Absolument takes me to this place in my mind! :-)


Vanille Absolument, formerly know as Havana Vanille, is a somewhat sweet, creamy, fresh green scent. I believe what is interpreted by some reviewers as "moldy pumpkin" is actually a mixture of clove, green tobacco, rum, and vanilla. Leather is listed as one of the notes, but it is really super light. While this is not my absolute favorite fall vanilla (that would be CJScents Vanilla Autumn), I am very excited to have it in my collection; it is one of the best and most interesting vanilla fragrances in my opinion and is PERFECT for fall! Do try this fragrance for yourself; I think you will like it! :-)


Notes: (Fragrantica)
"At the soul of this infusion is Mexican vanilla pod soaked in aged rum which contains a Top Note of clove and crystallized dried fruit. Its leathery characteristics are rounded off by a ball of vanilla and powder. The Heart Note, a subtle alliance of narcissus, everlasting flower and tonka bean is reminiscent of freshly picked tobacco leaves, both honey-sweet and narcotic. The Base Note blend of balms, smoked woods and musks around a vanilla absolute make the fragrance creamy, mellow and addictive." continued >>