Vanilla perfumes

Ember Enigma is an independent UK fragrance guide. We do the legwork on the top ranked fragrances, checking notes and prices, so you don't have to.

Soft, warm and easy to love.

Vanilla is the comfort note of cold weather. On its own it can lean sweet like custard, but most good vanilla fragrances pair it with woods, smoke, rum or spice so it reads warm rather than sugary.

Tonka bean and praline sit close by: tonka smells of almond and hay, praline of toasted sugar. If someone loves cosy jumpers and candlelit evenings, start here.

Bottles on Ember Enigma: Angels' Share by Kilian; La Vie Est Belle by Lancome; Over the Chocolate Shop by 4160 Tuesdays; Blood Orange by Aaron Terence Hughes; 9PM by Afnan; Bake by Akro; Imperial Peacock by Alexandre.J; Material by Amouage; Lunar Vetiver by Amouroud; Triumph of Bacchus by Argos; MOD Vanilla by Ariana Grande; Rouge Smoking Extrait by BDK Parfums; Eilish by Billie Eilish; Greenwich Village by Bond No 9; Lafayette Street by Bond No. 9; Sugar Addict by BORNTOSTANDOUT; Balliamo by Bottega Veneta; Brit by Burberry; La Playa by Carner Barcelona; Pour Un Homme de Caron by Caron; Must de Cartier by Cartier; Quattro Pizzi by Casamorati; J'Adore L'Or Essence de Parfum by Christian Dior; Sublime Vanille by Creed; Vanilla Affair by D'Orsay; Iris Rose by E. Coudray; Spice D'Arno by Electimuss; Camelia K by Ella K; Vanille by Franck Boclet; 1270 by Frapin; Wicked Good by Gallagher Fragrances; Sweetheart by Ghost; L'Homme Ideal Extreme by Guerlain; Mon Guerlain by Guerlain; Tobacco Honey by Guerlain; Tonka Imperiale by Guerlain; Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 by Guerlain; Tabac Nomade by Houbigant; La Bella Le Parfum by Jean Paul Gaultier; Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Does vanilla fragrance last longer in winter? Often, yes. Cool air slows evaporation, and vanilla is a heavier base note, so it tends to sit closer to the skin for longer on cold days.

What is the difference between gourmand and woody vanilla? Gourmand vanilla leans edible, with caramel, praline or cream. Woody vanilla pairs it with sandalwood, cedar or tobacco, so it smells drier and more grown up.