Consider this your reminder that vanilla belongs in every fragrance wardrobe. To say we’re having a vanilla moment is an understatement. Vanilla is everywhere, and so are the best vanilla perfumes: standing next to you on the subway, walking past you in a crowded restaurant, and on the best-seller shelves at your local Sephora and Ulta Beauty. The fragrance world has embraced vanilla in a massive way over the past few years, as evidenced by our trend reports; it’s sweet, cozy, and comforting, no matter the season, and who doesn’t want to smell downright delicious?
Our Top Vanilla Perfumes
Best for Everyday Wear: Octavia Morgan Los Angeles Vanillin Supreme Eau de Parfum, $150
Best Cozy-Hug Vanilla: Eauso Vert Vanilla Embers Eau de Parfum, $185
Best for the Office: Byredo Future Memories, $235
Best Dessert-Like Vanilla: Giardini Di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum, $170
Most Longest-Lasting: Guerlain Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21, $660
Best Woody Vanilla: La Collection Privée Christian Dior Bois Talisman Eau de Parfum, $350
Best for Anytime, Anywhere Touch-Ups: Cyklar Perfume Oil in Vanilla Verve, $24
Before you dismiss the popularity and hype: Vanilla scents are so much more than just one-note, sugary-sweet fragrances. Part of its charm is the nostalgia factor; for many people, vanilla conjures up happy memories and feelings of joy and contentment. “It’s strongly linked to our memories and a signal for pleasure—it’s hard not to feel happy when you smell it,” Meabh McCurtin, a perfumer at International Flavors & Fragrances, simply put it.
Vanilla is also super versatile and plays just as well with florals as it does with musky or spicy scents. It pops up in gourmand-forward body sprays and eau de toilettes for a light, fluffy hint of sweetness; sophisticated, grown-up takes on the classic vanilla; smoky and woody interpretations; and so much more. Thanks to spicy kicks of pink pepper or bright bursts of orange zest, many of our favorite vanillas offer more than meets the…sweet tooth. Keep reading to find mouth-watering scents that are sure to become your new signatures.
Best for Everyday Wear: Octavia Morgan Los Angeles Vanillin Supreme Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: Octavia Morgan’s Vanillin Supreme is a vanilla fragrance that’s anything but staid—it’s made for those who want a scent that is elegant yet impactful, and not to mention, long-lasting. Top notes of spicy rum, sweet vanilla, and earthy sandalwood create an unforgettably rich, sweet-meets-woody opening that calms as it fades, transforming into a blend of jasmine, rose, and cocoa. As it settles onto your skin, you’ll notice hints of bright orange and elemi, which is often described as lemony, in the drydown. Vanillin Supreme has quickly become one of our favorite vanilla fragrances—it’s a 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner, after all—simply because it’s so versatile; it’s an obvious choice for the colder months, but the floral and citrus notes make it work just as well in the heat.
Best Cozy-Hug Vanilla: Eauso Vert Vanilla Embers Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: With a name like Vanilla Embers, it’s no surprise this scent absolutely glows with incandescent warmth. It kicks off with a combo of aquaflora—a green, floral note reminiscent of lily of the valley—and orange flower, but the golden, ember-like heat comes from peppery-yet-sweet cardamom and sandalwood blended with vanilla. As the weather gets cooler and days get shorter, Vanilla Embers begs you to take the night off and bask in its cozy embrace.
Best for the Office: Byredo Future Memories
Why we love it: Vanilla doesn’t have to be soft, powdery, or pillowy. It can get a little weird too! Byredo’s Future Memories opens with a bold—and divisive!—galbanum note; the resin has a bitter, sharp, earthy scent that you either find intriguing or off-putting. But stick with it, because Future Memories smooths and settles down, transitioning from a unique combo of bubbly aldehydes and creamy blackcurrant to a comforting base of iris, amber, and decadent vanilla. You never really know where things are going with this green, earthy scent, which is part of the fun.
Best Dessert-Like Vanilla: Giardini Di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: Go ahead, order dessert first! Or in this case, spritz it. This viral gourmand scent is absolutely delicious, reminiscent of a post-dinner affogato or indulgent coffee drink. Here, luscious vanilla notes are heightened by equally rich caramel and honey that settle and relax into a milky base of tonka and musk. It’s equal parts soft and strong: a scent to snuggle with, with sillage that encourages those around you to come a little bit closer.
Most Longest-Lasting: Guerlain Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21
Why we love it: Here’s a fun fact: The “21” in Guerlain’s Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 refers to the number of days the vanilla planifolia is cold-soaked in alcohol in order to transform into a luxurious, potent tincture. It’s vanilla in one of its purest forms: comforting, luxurious, intimate, with a tinge of gentle sweetness. Quick fragrance lesson: Extraits are the most concentrated, reaching upwards of 22% to 30% fragrance oils. (By comparison, eau de toilettes typically fall in the 7 to 12% range and eau de parfums land around 15 to 20%.) Add musk to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a long-lasting perfume that some say even lingers post-shower.
Best Woody Vanilla: La Collection Privée Christian Dior Bois Talisman Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: According to the house of Dior, founder Christian Dior slipped a lucky piece of wood into the lining of his outfit for the day. Bois Talisman is inspired by that daily ritual, with an additional nod to Dior perfumer Francis Kurkdijan’s own personal lucky charm, a sugar cube in his jacket pocket. Thus, the fragrance is a lush, rich blend of cedarwood, sugar, and yep, you guessed it—vanilla! (Three types of vanilla, to be exact.) While we believe that all perfumes are unisex and anyone can wear whatever they want, Bois Talisman is a great way for people who wear traditionally “masculine” scents to dip their toes—or is it their nose?—into the wonderful world of vanilla perfume. Like all of the Dior Collection Privée scents, Bois Talisman is dramatic, bold, and long-lasting.
Best for People Who Don’t Like Vanilla: Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: Created by expert perfumer Aurélien Guichard, the Matiere Premiere line is all about using raw, natural materials to their fullest potential, and its scents are known for their intense sillage and projection. Vanilla Powder is one such scent: a powerful blast of rich, dark vanilla and coconut tempered by grounding, woody palo santo. It’s ideal for anyone looking for a muskier, spicier spin on the trending fragrance note.
Best for Anytime, Anywhere Touch-Ups: Cyklar Perfume Oil in Vanilla Verve
Why we love it: For something that stays closer to the skin than a traditional eau de toilette or eau de parfum spray, try a fragrance oil. Cyklar’s Perfume Oil in Vanilla Verve is a lush blend that lingers for hours. Fresh bergamot and green cardamom keep it crisp, while tonka bean, amber, and musk melt into lingering notes of vanilla, heliotrope, and ambrette seed. Some of our editors even treat it as a base for perfume cocktailing. Oh, and we can’t forget to mention that Vanilla Verve won a 2025 Best of Beauty Award for Best Perfume Oil, so you know it’s legit. (You can also scoop up the scent in various body-care products.)
Best Vanilla Fragrance Mist: Phlur Vanilla Skin Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
Why we love it: Shocker: The standout note of Phlur’s Vanilla Skin is vanilla, but what makes this 2024 Best of Beauty-winning hair and body mist interesting are the additions that elevate its sweet, warm base. Hints of pink pepper, pink apple, lily, jasmine petals, sandalwood, and cashmere wood peek through for intrigue. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” Chriselle Lim, founder of Phlur, previously said of the original Vanilla Skin EDP. “We wanted to make sure that it was paired with some unexpected notes to add more depth to a universally loved scent.” The body mist is slightly toned down, as you can imagine, so it depends on your intensity preferences.
Best Spicy Vanilla: YSL Babycat Reno Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: If your vanilla vibe is more rock star than pretty princess, try YSL’s viral (and Best of Beauty-winning) Babycat, a spicy, glamorously bold bourbon vanilla. According to the brand, the evocatively named fragrance was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s love of leopard print, and that makes total sense; it’s a vanilla with claws. While the bourbon vanilla base definitely grabs your attention, pink and black pepper, saffron, and cedarwood are swirled in to give it a palpable kick. Babycat is a “big night out” kind of fragrance, one you spritz on after piling on the black eyeliner and slipping into your highest heels.
Best Refreshing Vanilla: Armani Power of You Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: Passionfruit may be the key note in Armani’s viral hit Power of You, but it doesn’t claim the only starring role. In fact, Power of You shines because it’s a dreamy duo of both tart, juicy passionfruit and plush, soft vanilla notes. It’s definitely more fruity than gourmand, with lots of brightness up top and a shampoo-y clean, fresh opening that fizzes and sparkles. Later, however, Power of You relaxes into warm vanilla base notes, which help the passionfruit notes radiate without overpowering them.
Spice up your fragrance collection with these Allure editor-approved picks:
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