I can't put my finger on it, but every time I wear this vanilla I become annoyed with it about 15 minutes into wearing it. I think it is whatever "dark" note underlies this fragrance, which to my nose is a slightly rancid woody note. Plus there is something slightly stale and syrupy about it.

This is a non-sweet Vanila, I think it's a really woody one actually. It definitely doesn't have that coyingly overpowering artificial vanilla (extract) which can be quite a headache. I would say it's quite a unique scent, but it isn't very me, as I would love a little more floral tone to it...then it would be perfect!

A nice floral vanilla, I can see why Vanilia would be popular. It's easy to wear and unobtrusive, just sweet enough, and soft amber promises just a bit of depth to keep it interesting. A thread of orchid flowers weaves in and out of a smoky, subtly musky accord and keeps this vanilla from summoning associations with food-like extract or pastries. My problem with it is that I find it too floral to give me the cozy comfort I associate with a wonderful vanilla. It's nice though and great for layering.

Vanilia's vanilla is refined and soft, with very little warmth, but plenty of character. It's vanilla bean, not extract, with some of the flower tossed in, with a base of amber and spices--not to complicated or demanding, just kind of soft and fuzzy. Good for non-sweet vanilla lovers.

I try not to read at other's reviews before I review a product but for this one, I can't help to wonder if I'm reviewing the same L'Artisan Vanille perfume. This is not foody, sweet type of vanilla fragrance. This vanilla fragrance is very flowery to me. I detect the heady jasmine right away with a melange of vanilla and musk on the background. The jasmine is so heady, it gives me headache. I can only compare this to Chantecaille Frangipane fragrance, which is a bouquet of white flower with vanilla base. I'm not sure if this is my kind of vanilla, I much prefer vanilla with woodsy base like tonka beans, labdanum, or sandalwood. But for those who love a non-foody, non-sweet vanilla, this is a very good choice.

I found this to be way to ambery and peppery for me, not worth the price IMO. My nose is still itchy after sampling this today.

First off...I have never been a vanilla fan. Blame it on The Body Shop's vanilla line way back when in the 80's and 90's, follow that up with the slew of cloyingly sweet vanilla fragrances that flood the fragrance market today. Perhaps because of this, anything vanilla-like in a fragrance just sent me running.

So, you can imagine, that while at the L'Artisan counter positively swooning over Passage d'Enfer and cradling Premier Figuer, I was completely unprepared for the wonderful salesperson to suggest trying Vanilla.

I told her straight off I don't *do* vanilla in fragrance..but she told me that layered with Figurer it gives the fragrance added depth. As long as it is sprayed first and LIGHTLY, I was into it. So..I tried it. Light, and I mean very light application, then a spritz of Figuer...WOW...

Now..I love Figuer all by itself...so I figured, why not try this Vanilla...maybe it isn't so bad after all..I mean, I did buy the 1.7oz bottle. So...this week..every day, been wearing it..and the consensus is...am LOVING it.

Like I have said before, not a vanilla fan..but this vanilla is not overly sweet..it is elegant, it is a bit smoky..but I don't get any "ashtray" vibe at all..and I gotta admit..the amber vibe really puts it notches above any vanilla scent I have tried..with the exception of I Profumi's Ambra del Nepal..I really love that one too.

This Vanilla is classy and wonderful on it's own..plus it does double duty as a base layer for the Figuer..so I gotta give it 5 lippies..very happy I picked it up and gave it a try.

L'Artisan
Vanilia
is the most unique vanilla based fragrance that I know of with a
fresh, powdery and sparkling feel like no other I've tried. It is
just so light and tender, a description that sounds completely
feminine I know, but some guys could definitely pull this one off.
This one is very unique and I love it. It has a very slight
medicinal metallic edge that gives it a unique bite, but is a very
subtle fresh way. There
is a note in there somewhere that smells like a hotel pillow, but it
blends nicely with the other notes. It is also
the only strong vanilla fragrance I can recall of having a fairly
strong smoky note. Does it have tobacco in it? I can swear that I
smell it in there. The musky dry down is very nice as well. I know
it sounds strange but all of these strange accords together really
works. It does take a little getting used to, but it really smells
great. It wears very transparent and seems to fade away in just a
few hours, so longevity would be my only complaint.

Notes:
vanilla bean, wild orchid, vanilla flower, spices, amber



continued >>

I received a generous sample of this in a swap. On me, the ashtray smell mentioned by another reviewer never went away. It sadly ruined a lush, true vanilla. I'm still on the hunt for a beautiful non-sweet vanilla-- one without cigarettes included.

OK, let me give you my history with vanilla. In high school, my best friend was a girl who worshipped Jim Morrison and was obsessed with babies (no lie). She practically bathed in The Body Shop's very SWEET Vanilla oil, and reeked so strongly of it that I had to fight nausea whenever I was around her. I would literally be holding back the bile and trying to keep my facial expression even as I tried to withstand her smell. We are no longer friends (not because of the vanilla, but because she aggressively tried to convert me to Islam...long story), but I still shudder when I think about suffering through that vanilla hell. I thus avoided vanilla fragrances for a long time, and had NO tolerance for sickly sweet vanilla scents. Serge Lutens' Un Bois Vanille was overpoweringly sweet, and returned me to nauseating Vanilla Hell. L'Artisan's version (sampled thanks to a generous swapper) has completely turned me around with regards to vanillas. It's slightly smokey, and definitely not so sweet that it provokes nausea. It's very pretty, comforting, warm, and soft. In fact, it's very similar to Monyette Paris (!) on my skin, perhaps because of the smokey quality of the bean, or perhaps incense. The only full L'Artisan bottle I own so far is Mure et Musc (although I have great admiration for many fragrances in the line), but I'd be willing to shell out for this one. It's the Vanilla of my dreams.