Caramel Vanilla Praline

Caramel Vanilla Praline is built to smell like a bakery counter: caramelised nuts, buttered toffee popcorn and classic vanilla, with cinnamon and amber underneath. The maker promises a strong, photo-real bakery and toasted macadamia opening that settles after a few minutes into amber, tonka, benzoin and woods. The top is creamy and lactonic with biscuit, sugar, coconut and a touch of tea rose. The centre is nutty and sweet: macadamia, hazelnut, butterscotch and popcorn, with a little rosewood. The base is vanilla, caramel and burnt toffee over amber, benzoin, cinnamon, tonka and cedarwood. Two wearers also pick up a green, patchouli-like note, and one a chocolatey edge, neither of which the maker lists. Reports are sharply divided. One sample reviewer, after letting the bottle rest, found it had developed into a delightful, refined milk chocolate candy. Another enjoyed the popcorn and caramel but wanted more oomph. A third found the first spritz lovely and the dry-down a musty, sickly amber. Buyers who like gourmands call it delicious and say the dry-down lasts for days. It is best in cool weather and suits relaxed daily wear more than a big evening out. Sample it before committing to a full bottle. It is made by hand by Juliet Rose.