Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
What is Vanilla?
Bean, smoke or vanillin — the note everyone thinks they know until it turns woody or sacred.
EDP vs EDT — what changes?
Concentration is oil in alcohol, not a quality score. EDT (about 5–15%) shows more top; EDP (about 15–20%) shows more heart and base. Houses vary; this is not a lab assay.
How should I wear Vanilla?
One or two sprays on skin or cloth — sternum or hair, not a cloud in a lift. Let it turn an hour before you add more.
Which season fits?
Cool to cold, close to skin. Overdose reads as bakery.
Does skin chemistry change it?
Yes. Warm, moist skin amplifies sweet and spice; dry or cool skin can turn the same juice woody, soapy or short. Test on your skin, not only a blotter.
What about IFRA and oakmoss?
IFRA sets industry limits on some naturals and synthetics. A reformulation is usually a legal edit, not a betrayal. This atlas is not a safety sheet.
The market for Vanilla runs from body mist to otto extrait.
Chanel, Guerlain and niche counters share a family and disagree on dose.
Houses
- Guerlain — Jicky, Shalimar, Spiritueuse.
- Tom Ford — Tobacco Vanille.
- Dior — Hypnotic Poison.
- Mugler — Angel’s vanilla-adjacent sweets.
- Commodity Madagascar — Bean supply, not a couture house.
- IFF / Givaudan — Vanillin as infrastructure.
Price bands
- Vanillin body mist — Candle-adjacent.
- Designer vanilla EDP — Skin or pastry.
- Heritage Guerlain — Night vanilla.
- Bean absolute niche — Priced like the crop year.
Trends
- Skin vanilla — Musk + crystal.
- Named origins — Madagascar, Taha’a.
- Rum-smoke adulting — Against candle.
- Price-driven synth share — When beans spike.
Stats
- Hand pollination — Still required for most commercial vines.
- Vanillin ubiquity — Food plus perfume; the crystal is everywhere.
- Approachability — Among the highest of the 24.
- Complexity — Often low unless absolute and rum/tobacco dress it.
Price is not quality; it is harvest, IFRA and a story about Vanilla.
Origins & milestonesNotes & accordsCraft & methodCulture & meaningIcons & legendsHow to wearMarket & bottles