Long time readers will know that I’m a vanilla gourmand girly at heart. It’s the one fragrance note that I cannot get enough of. If I could eternally smell like vanilla candy, I’d die a happy woman. And I’ve had three new vanilla fragrances (well, two new and one recent) come across my desk that I’ve been using and reviewing. Let’s chat about them!
SABRINA CARPENTER SWEET TOOTH – $39.99 for 75ml
NOTES – Top: Marshmallow, Chocolate, Candied Ginger, Bergamot. Middle: Madagascar Vanilla, Coconut Milk, Jasmine. Base: Whipped Cream, Sugar, Musk, Cashmere Wood.
I cannot even begin to tell you how long I’ve been trying to get my hands on this perfume. This was at the top of my fragrance wish list for the longest time. And when I finally spotted it on the Chemist Warehouse website, I fully pounced on it. All this to say that now that I have it, I do kinda feel let down by it.
So, let’s break it down. Does it smell good? Yes. It’s quite reminiscent of the first Eilish by Billie Eilish EDP. There is even some crossover with the notes of both of them. But Sweet Tooth is the lighter of the two scent wise. And that’s the problem. When I wear Eilish, that scent is on me from 7am-7pm. The longevity and projection is some of the best that I’ve tried from a celebrity fragrance. Sweet Tooth, on the other hand, basically disappears on me after a couple hours of wear. And that’s even with me overspraying on my clothing and moisturised skin. It has no projection. It’s almost like I didn’t bother with perfume. And it’s such a shame because I’ve wanted this for so long. I’ll use this up, but I don’t recommend it. Buy Eilish One instead.
OAKCHA X PAUL REACTSS THAT GIRL VIRAL VANILLA – $85.00US for 50ml*
NOTES – Top: Coconut Milk, Caramel. Middle: Tonka Bean, Honey. Base: White Musk, Vanilla, Marshmallow, Amber.
*Em’s Note* This one was very kindly sent to me in PR. I also have a code with Oakcha. Use code EMILY1542 for 10% off your order.
Oakcha’s first collaboration with Paul Reactss was one of my favourite perfume launches of 2023. And I was so excited to hear that they were collaborating again with Viral Vanilla. Basically, the vanilla fragrance of Paul’s dreams. And I have to ask whether Oakcha or Paul made their way into my head as well. Because this is my new gold standard for Gourmand Vanilla’s.
Now, I believe the inspiration behind this was Giardini Di Toscana’s Bianco Latte. Which has been doing the rounds on fragrance TikTok for the last year. And while I can’t speak to how similar they are scent wise (I haven’t tried Bianco Latte yet), I will say that there is a lot of crossover with the notes. With Caramel, Honey, Vanilla, and Musk showing up in both note profiles. But Viral Vanilla has a few stand out notes of it’s own. The Amber gives it an enchanting warmth and the Marshmallow adds a softness to it that makes it so appealing to my nose. Viral Vanilla also has Coconut Milk as a top note, which did worry me as I’m not a coconut girly at all. But I barely notice it when I wear it.
Speaking of the wear, holy shit, the longevity and silage of this is incredible! Like the aforementioned Eilish, I can spray this on at 7am and still smell it on me at 7pm. I get so many compliments when I do wear it. And you only need a couple of spritzes of this to get the full impact. This is an Extract De Parfum, which is more intense then an Eau De Parfum. If you’re in my boat and love a creamy, sweet vanilla, this is one you have to try!
KAYALI VANILLA CANDY ROCK SUGAR 42 – $144.00 for 50ml
NOTES – Top: Vanilla, Pear, Marshmallow, Rum, Violet Leaves, Ylang-Ylang. Middle: Bubblegum, Jellybean, Caramel, Jasmine, Labdanum. Base: Sugar, Patchouli, Tonka, Cashmere Wood, Vetiver, Sandalwood.
Those first two picks definitely lean more towards the creamy vanilla side of the gourmand spectrum. But if you prefer something more on the sugary side, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar is for you!
So, how does this differ from the OG Kayali Vanilla? Good question. The big difference, to me anyway, is the vibe of the sweetness. Where Vanilla 28 is a warm, oozy, brown sugary kind of vanilla, Vanilla Candy is a bright, cotton candy kind of sweetness. For me, it actually starts off a little sharp. But it quickly settles into that Bubblegum, Jellybean kind of vibe. I basically smell like I’ve just walked into one of those old school candy stores. I also find that this one lasts a little bit longer on the skin. The silage is quite impressive. This is another big compliment getter in my fragrance arsenal.
But I can also see this not being for everyone. In fact, the more I think about it, it reminds me more of Yum Pistachio Gelato than anything else (there are similar notes between the two). And while I adore that one, I know that it was extremely divisive within the Kayali fandom. So, I would maybe sniff Vanilla Candy in store before you commit. And if you want a post where I compare all of Kayali’s Vanilla fragrances, just let me know!
And that is a wrap! As always, let me know what vanilla perfumes you’re loving in the comments below! Have a happy Friday and an awesome weekend.
Cheers and love
Emily xo