My Hunt for a Holy Grail Vanilla, Pt. 2
Hi again everyone. I posted this previously and since then, I have tried some new samples (outlined below). The problem with my last post was that I didn't specify what KIND of vanilla I wanted.
I want something gourmand, but not childish. I want pure vanilla, but with a touch of spice (cinnamon, ginger, etc) or a brown sugar element. I would love to smell like a cinnamon bun or a brown sugar cookie. I have loved Fresh Cream Warm Sugar and BBW Warm Vanilla Sugar for these reasons, but they are super fleeting or discontinued. Perhaps Fire at Will is more what I'm looking for?
I received so many great recommendations, but I didn't order samples for many of them because they were non-gourmand or contained heavy lavender, cedar, mint, or licorice. These are all notes I am not keen on.
Here is what I have tried and my thoughts:
- Tihota Indult - Amazing, but I think I wish it had just a touch of spice (cinnamon, ginger, etc) or some brown sugar elements. To me, this is pure vanilla extract or vanilla frosting. I would buy still buy this though.
- Bianco Latte Giardini Di Toscana - Starbucks caramel frappuccino, but with a slightly melted plastic cup. This was more noticeable in the beginning. The coumarin was also very bitter, surprisingly (but not in the way coffee is bitter)
- Pas de chat Odette - SO COZY, but tragically I think I had an actual allergic reaction to this. I'm not joking. My throat began to get really scratchy and it felt like it was swelling. I didn't get as much vanilla as I would have wanted, but still really enjoyed prior to the reaction.
- Vanilla Planifolia Chloé - Cosmetic vanilla w/ banana peel start and playdoh. I am hoping for less playdoh, perhaps a touch more gourmand. Out of all of my vanilla samples, this is the one I originally enjoyed most and it has been growing on me.
- Spiritueuse Double Vanille Guerlain - Sweet incense. An experiment in: what if vanilla grew on cedar trees? I hate cedar and vanilla isn't the star.
- Vanille de Molinard - Medicinal vanilla with some cola qualities.
- Un Bois Vanille Serge Lutens - This threw me. Loved at first, but then got hit with super strong salt and metallic elements that I can't ignore. Became nauseating and mouth began salivating in a super... bizarre (not yummy) way.
- La nuit trésor vanille noire Lancôme - Cute. Smells like a candy, but for some reason it heavily reminds me of Absolutely Blooming from Dior, which I used HEAVILY in my 20s and I just feel its time to mature a bit and move on.
- Mon Guerlain EDP Guerlain - I am so so sorry but... bug spray. Herbal, sage and lavender bug spray. I'm sorry I have no taste.
- Hypnose Lancome - Crumbly lemon-vanilla biscuit! Cute! But I need to inject vanilla straight into my veins.
Edit: again, my post is getting downvoted and I'm really unsure why. I didn't think my post was mean. I'm just going to limit my replies but thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey so far.