Gourmand

Vanilla

Note Profile

Botanical 16,793 perfumes

Also Known As

Black Vanilla, Black Vanilla Husk, Bourbon Vanilla, light vanilla, Madagascan Vanilla, Madagascar Vanilla, Mexican Vanilla, Natural Vanilla, Papua New Guinean Vanilla, Salted Vanilla, soft vanilla, Vanilla Bean, vanilla bean ice cream, Vanilla Bourbon, Vanilla Caramel, Vanilla Cream, Vanilla Infusion, vanilla milk, Vanilla Orchid, Vanilla sugar, Vanilla Tincture, Vanille, vanillic florals, warm vanilla, Whipped Vanilla

About

Sweet, warm vanilla

Scent Profile

Vanilla has a sweet, creamy, and warm aroma with subtle balsamic and slightly spicy undertones. Its scent can evoke nuances of caramel and soft woods, developing a rich, comforting depth as it lingers. Over time, it mellows into a smooth, enveloping base note.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~48h lasting

Family Sweet & Gourmand

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

WorldSee it in Note Island

ScentArt

What is ScentArt?

What this is made of

vanillin

Principally this

CAS 121-33-5

Vanillin is the main odorant of vanilla and carries most of the note. The natural extract is the separate note vanilla-absolute.

Declarable allergen: Named in EU Annex III as Vanillin products must list this name above a set concentration

These are facts about the substance, not about any perfume with this note.

Why that matters

A perfume that names Vanilla can use a different extract, a reformulated version, or a synthetic reconstruction. It can also hold less than the amount that requires a declaration. We cannot tell which applies. These rows cover only the substances we hold a link for.

How the layers join

Origin

Vanilla is primarily sourced from the cured seed pods of Vanilla planifolia orchids, grown in tropical regions such as Madagascar, Mexico, and Tahiti. The pods undergo a lengthy curing process before extraction, with vanillin as the principal aromatic compound. Extraction is typically done via solvent or CO2 methods to produce vanilla absolute or resinoid for perfumery.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use vanilla mainly as a base note, providing warmth, sweetness, and longevity to compositions. It blends well with florals, spices, woods, and other gourmand notes, often serving as a fixative and softening element in both oriental and modern gourmand fragrances. Vanilla is valued for its ability to round out sharp edges and add depth to blends.