TAHITIAN VANILLA Sweet gourmand fragrances have been hugely popular in North America for the past decade. Just look at the sales of Thierry Mugler Angel, Viktor & Rolf BonBon, and Prada Candy. I like to describer these fragrances as a dessert in a bottle with their notes of caramel, benzoin, praline, chocolate, and vanilla. Jessica Simpson first kick-started her empire with a line of ultra-sweet scents over a decade ago called “Jessica Simpsons’s Desserts”.
What started out as syrupy-sweet concoctions has evolved into a more refined palette of gourmand notes for 2015. And there is no better example than the vanilla note. Thanks in part to the popularity of Vanilla Bean frappucinos and vanilla lattes at Starbucks, this note appears in the bulk of scents launching today. Here’s what you need to know about vanilla.
Vanilla: A substance obtained from vanilla beans, derived from orchids or produced artificially and used to flavor sweet foods or to impart a fragrant scent to cosmetic preparations. Unless you are a baker, chef or perfumer you probably do not know that vanilla comes in a variety of flavours, the most popular being Tahitian, Mexican or Bourbon. The extraction process is very expensive and complex. Green vanilla pods remain on branches for nine months before being picked. They then dry for another six months until they produce white crystals which are used for fragrance and cooking. Since this process is so expensive, a synthetic version called vanillin is commonly used fragrances and creates a sweet, cozy feeling.
History: The Totonac people, of the east coast of Mexico were the first to cultivate vanilla. Mexico was the chief producer of vanilla until Edmond Albius, a slave on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion discovered a way to hand-pollinate the plant and cultivate it world wide. The Europeans used in the 17th century as a medicine. Over time, it was considered a powerful aphrodisiac.
“In natural conditions, vanilla flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and insects.”
Tahitian Vanillia: Tahitian vanilla features a floral, fruity, cherry-like flavor. Tahitian vanilla comes from Tahiti or Papua New Guinea. It is the most rare and expensive variety.
Perfumes with Vanilla
Annick Goutal Vanille Exquise
Guerlain Shalimar
Dolce & Gabbana The One
Thierry Mugler Angel
Chloe See by Chloe
49 Comments
Melanie E
October 7, 2015 at 6:54 pmLovely scents, Dave! I would to try them all! @MaraMel
Barbara Alonge
October 7, 2015 at 6:11 pmWould love to try any of these scents.The bottles alone are beautiful
Kathy Hammac
October 7, 2015 at 5:05 pmVanilla scents are soft and sensual. Love them
Laura
October 7, 2015 at 2:49 pmThe first bottle is gorgeous <3
denise
October 7, 2015 at 1:36 pmI have D&G Rose the One and love it
Christine Northrop
October 7, 2015 at 1:03 pmI’ve always liked Guerlain Shalimar but I only have the tiniest amount of the perfume left
Karen Ali
October 7, 2015 at 12:40 pmTruly love vanilla scents! Always,a keeper!
@KarenAli11
Catherine Brown
October 7, 2015 at 12:27 pmLove vanilla
gloria patterson
October 7, 2015 at 11:26 amlove any thing with vanilla
Rozeena Karim
October 7, 2015 at 11:12 amAngel is so Sexy, love it !
Angelehm
October 7, 2015 at 10:24 amGuerlain Shalimar has always been a favorite scent and bottle
Joanne
October 7, 2015 at 10:11 amI have tried Annick Goutal Gardina and loved it. I would love to experience this, sounds yummy!
Cat Forsley
October 7, 2015 at 9:42 amAngel is one of my all time faves
Louisella
October 7, 2015 at 9:22 amNever had an Annick Goutal, was thinking about it lately and here is a new fragrance; will check it out !
Diana D.
October 7, 2015 at 9:20 amI need to try Annick Goutal Vanille Exquise! With that almond note in the drydown, it sounds like it could be a gentler version of Hypnotic Poison.
Evaggelia Zachariadou
October 7, 2015 at 8:53 amI adore vanilla scenes
@litsazachariad1
Velma Sandry
October 7, 2015 at 8:41 amNot only am I crazy about the smell of vanilla, it’s my nick name?. Would be fun to wear it too.
Crystal Porter
October 7, 2015 at 8:38 amVanilla is such a delicious scent!
@crysslovesstuff
Karen
October 7, 2015 at 8:30 amvanilla smells amazing @dolli7
Jo
October 7, 2015 at 8:09 amVanilla is one of my go to scents
Corrina strazzeri
October 7, 2015 at 7:56 amjust love vanilla scent it smells amazing
Mirella Allocca
October 7, 2015 at 7:39 amVanilla scents smell good enough to eat. Rawr!
Renee Gray
October 7, 2015 at 7:31 amVanilla scents are amazing.
Meenal Rathore
October 7, 2015 at 7:31 amI love the Guerlain …. @Meenal_Rathore
Ada Miller
October 7, 2015 at 7:29 amI bet they smell amazing! I just love the vanilla scent!