Collection: Vanilla perfumes at the Clarens Parfumerie

Vanilla perfume can be far more varied than its reputation suggests. Depending on what surrounds it, vanilla can smell creamy and comforting, dry and woody, softly powdery, smoky, musky or deliciously gourmand. If you usually avoid very sweet perfume, don't rule vanilla out: some of the most elegant vanilla fragrances use it as warmth and texture rather than as sugar.

What does vanilla perfume smell like?

In fragrance, vanilla is often paired with musk for a soft, skin-like effect; woods and amber for something warmer and deeper; or florals and fruits for a lighter, more playful scent. Gourmand vanilla perfumes may lean towards caramel, chocolate, coffee or baked notes, while woody vanillas tend to feel smoother and less obviously sweet.

Choose a vanilla perfume if you enjoy: warm, inviting scents; soft skin musks; cosy fragrances; sweet-but-sophisticated perfumes; or scents that become especially beautiful as they settle on the skin.

For a fresher vanilla, look for citrus, green or floral notes. For something richer, look for amber, tonka, woods or gourmand notes.

Explore our original vanilla perfumes, composed and made in Clarens, South Africa.