Best Perfumes With Vanilla Notes In 2023

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It can be argued that perfume is an art form, much like painting or photography. In every fragrance is a meticulously crafted story; its notes evoke different emotions, sensations, and memories. Perfume has been used since at least ancient Egypt: It's believed that Queen Cleopatra and Pharaoh Hatshepsut were so fond of perfume that they were buried with it. It's easy to understand why. Perfume has the unique ability to transform your mood with a simple spritz, and it gives wearers the ability to express themselves without saying a word.

When it comes to the vast gamut of perfume notes, it's safe to say that vanilla is a favorite for many. The sweet, confectionery scent has been used in fragrance for decades. These days, vanilla is used in tons of perfumes, both high and low-end, due to its sweet and comforting scent and its ability to blend well with other notes. Despite the fact that vanilla perfumes have been around for over a century, perfumers are constantly creating new and exciting vanilla concoctions. We're here to take a look at 13 of the best vanilla perfumes to try in 2023.

Aromatic and complex, Eau Duelle is a spicy vanilla perfume that is significantly less gourmand than other vanillas on this list. While many vanilla perfumes rely on heavy sweetness, Eau Duelle does the opposite, utilizing bourbon vanilla, rock rose, spices, and ambroxan to create a perfume that is both light and complex, sweet and spicy. Diptyque's website describes the fragrance as such: "An ode to travel. In Eau Duelle eau de parfum, Bourbon vanilla retains its full duality, revealing a spicy facet of greater intensity. The sweet, sugary notes of vanilla — the fruit of an orchid flower — are joined by luminous calamus accents and smoky cypriol accents. A new addiction."

Though the brand paints a gorgeous picture of Eau Duelle, perfumers' visions don't always translate to buyers. In this case, though, it appears that the "darkness and light" of Eau Duelle shines through. One Fragrantica reviewer described the fragrance as follows: "It's spicy, it's warm, it's clean, it's musky, it's airy, it's sexy, it's inviting YET mysterious, it's vampiric, it's sultry ... A dream, really! Just utterly perfect. It does have an old library vibe as some have mentioned. Not to mention that it's suitable for any season and unapologetically unisex." The only potential downside to Diptyque's Eau Duelle? It's definitely on the pricier side, with a 75 milliliter eau de parfum running for $220. But for those who are looking for a soft, unique vanilla fragrance, this one may be worth saving up for.

Launched in 2022, Vanille Antique is a newer fragrance by Byredo that is for men and women. It has top notes of plum and musk, middle notes of white wood and labdanum, and base notes of amber and vanilla. As you may have gathered based on the main notes in Vanille Antique, this fragrance is a woody, slightly fruity, and decidedly androgynous scent. One of the most unique things about Vanille Antique is that it's made from extracts, which have a higher concentration of perfume oils. This means it has great lasting power, but remains a soft and subtle scent that sticks close to the skin. Tynan Sinks, a writer for Byrdie, tried Vanille Antique and wrote about his experience: "The fragrance sits close to the skin and is detectable only, almost, with skin-to-skin contact, which is an unexpected choice. As a vanilla apologist, I would have preferred something stronger. Still, you realize it's worth the chase when you can smell it."

Moody and long-lasting, Vanille Antique is a unique, complex, and versatile fragrance. It resists trends, which makes it timeless, and will appeal to the vanilla lover who shies away from the cupcake-iest interpretations of the classic scent.

Fans of fresh or green scents may usually avoid vanilla fragrances, but Sci Fi offers the perfect combination of refreshing fruitiness and creamy sweetness. Ellis Brooklyn launched Sci Fi in 2017, and the company's website describes the fragrance as a one-of-a-kind encapsulation of the genre for which it is named. "Sci Fi," the site promises, "will change what you know about vanilla-based fragrances."

Sci Fi does indeed manage to offer the soft comfort of vanilla fragrance alongside a sharper, citrusy orange and green tea combination. The result is a perfume that is sweet, but also slightly bitter, with intriguing fruit and floral undertones. According to one Fragrantica reviewer, "In the summer, this perfume smells like a creamsicle. In the winter, it smells a little more cozy and green, like a welcoming tea shop with plants in the windows and pastries on the counters. It's always pretty." Reviewers also note that the staying power of Sci Fi is decent, with many still smelling the perfume after four to six hours of wear.

This list of vanilla perfumes would not be complete without the iconic Black Opium. Launched in 2014, this dark and sultry fragrance is as popular now as it was at its initial release, and it's easy to see why. The vanilla in Black Opium mixes perfectly with notes of coffee, patchouli, pear, and orange blossom, among others, creating a truly intoxicating scent that is at once floral, spicy, fruity, woody, and sweet -– quite a feat, to say the least.

Nathalie Lorson, the creator of Black Opium, told Look Fantastic that the scent was made to be both unique and addictive. As she put it, "There was already a lot of sweet addictions on the market, including praline and vanilla scents, so we sought something truly original ... We wanted to play with the contrast between black and white, darkness and light, so we juxtaposed the coffee with a white floral bouquet of orange flower and jasmine. ... We also added black vanilla bean and mysterious woody notes of patchouli and cedar to frame the darkness, as well as pink pepper and pear to the enhance the lightness." This scent is perfect for anyone looking for a fragrance that feels bold and hypnotic. Lorson described it as particularly suited towards independent, free-thinking women who aren't afraid to assert themselves, even when it threatens unpopularity.

Some of you may be vanilla purists, looking for perfumes that are very much centered around that classic fragrance, with few or no other notes. And guess what? Outremer's Vanille is exactly that. According to one Fragrantica reviewer, "This is the closest you will get to wearing actual vanilla extract." Some describe Vanille as being cotton-candy-esque, while others find it to be a complex gourmand vanilla with a hint of spice. If you're worried this vanilla may lean too much into saccharine territory, consider this reviewer's experience: "This smells beautiful on me without smelling childish. It's creamy vanilla caramel candy with a hint of something spice but can't put my finger on what. The mystery spicy note is what makes it more of an adult smell. Have a [feeling] this will layer great with some other things I have."

One of the best things about Outremer's Vanille? The price: Most retailers sell the fragrance for around $20. The cute art deco bottle is the cherry on top.

If you like your perfumes a little imperfect — perhaps even with a bit of grit to them — Heretic's Dirty Vanilla is a must-try. This fragrance features several woody notes, including cedar and sandalwood, along with earthy notes like coriander, patchouli, and vetiver. As one Fragrantica reviewer wrote, "Dirty Vanilla is neither gourmand nor syrupy sweet vanilla. More like spice, woods, and patchouli enveloped in a [smoky] vanilla. Star anise and licorice are not listed notes but my nose picks up a root beer vibe that made me fall in love with the fragrance." The same reviewer also added that the fragrance has excellent longevity, making the hefty price tag hurt a little less.

Earthy and rich, Dirty Vanilla works well on its own, but also acts as a great base for layering other perfumes. It's not a super sweet scent, offering instead an intriguing and edgy take on a vanilla fragrance.