Vanilla Suede

Okay, this is officially my new 'wear-it-to-bed' fragrance. After a handful of really dumb blind-buys, I actually tested this one when I was in town recently. I spritzed it on a cardboard strip which I could tell wasn't really doing the notes justice; so knowing this was going to have to be smelled on skin to get the full effect, I rolled up my sleeve and spritzed the tester into the crook of my elbow (because that's where I could be sure I'd have no other scents already on that area of skin) and waited until I got home to see what it truly smelled like. I made sure to wash off what little was left of the 'Sweet Tooth' by Sabrina Carpenter I still had on my wrist, then rolled up my sleeve...aaand...immediately fell in love! This isn't an altogether "new" scent to me. I mean, it is in that I've only now smelled this offering from the Ariana Grande collection, but it's not the first time I've smelled a fragrance that smells very like this perfume. It definitely smells similar-ish to MFK's 'Gentle Fluidity Gold' (I have the remnants of a small sample size of it that I ordered from MFK along with a couple of other scents from his house, because I've known, loved and owned 'Rouge Baccarat 540' for a long time now and have owned many bottles, but even I'm not cray-cray enough to just drop that much money on any of his other scents without at least getting to try them out first - and there isn't anywhere where I live that has MFK fragrances on any counter where I could get a tester spritz) but what it also reminded me of is 'Feminine' by Dolce & Gabbana. I don't actually know if that D&G perfume is even still in production anymore, but I remember it having that similar mix of gentle musk and gentle citrus with a light touch of underlying woodiness; but whilst 'Feminine' was still a gentler scent than a lot of other perfumes out back in the 2001-ish time when I used to wear it, I know it wasn't AS soft or AS subtle as this 'Vanilla Suede' scent that Ariana Grande's people brought out recently. 'Feminine' was a fragrance that I wasn't sure I liked when I first blind-bought it and got it home (yes I've been this ridiculous in blind-buying perfumes for as long as I can remember), but then after wearing it around the house for a few days it really grew on me. It wasn't a 'clubbing' scent though, so I definitely didn't wear it out when I was having one of those 72 hour long MDMA binges, lol. But it was comforting to put on when I came home and wanted something gentler and that felt like it was more in keeping with my own body chemistry. It was an unobtrusive scent. Then one day I was heading to my job at The Hilton Hotel and running late after getting out of the shower and taking care to dry my long, straight, hair perfectly and then putting on my make-up. I just grabbed the first bottle on my bedside table as I headed out, spritzed it all over and threw it in my bag as I was running out the door. I didn't think much about it until one of the guys who worked in the same hotel but in a different department, came over to where I was stood in the back office of our reception, and after standing next to me, leant in, sniffed me, and said he really loved whatever perfume I was wearing. It took me a minute to remember what I'd sprayed on me in my rush to get to work, but when it occurred to me what it was, I was actually quite surprised; because I'd thought of it as a really subtle, unobtrusive scent that wouldn't really register much with anyone else. But this guy really liked it. And a few weeks later I was getting together with another guy after a few weeks of flirting, and he told me that he REALLY loved whatever perfume I had on. Turns out guys really loved that perfume, because over the following couple of years, whilst I was always buying new fragrances and rotating them throughout the week, that D&G 'Feminine' one got more compliments than any other perfume I wore with any regularity. And this 'Vanilla Suede' perfume has that very similar musk/citrus/woods DNA that 'Feminine' had. It's not the same, so when I created another entry for 'This Fragrance Reminds Me Of' it's not because I think they're identical. They're not. Just as it's not identical to 'Gentle Fluidity'. (I do wonder sometimes if people realise that "reminds me of" doesn't have to mean that we think that two fragrances are carbon copies of one another - memories can be triggered by a single note, a combination of notes, a note and a bottle with some similar advertising, the effervescent feeling that scents might share...despite having zero actual notes in common, or the resulting similar brew that also happens to take place despite two fragrances not having any of the same notes listed on here...#JustSaying.) But all three have some notes in common, and all three definitely share a vibe. Even if 'Feminine' would probably be considered harsher and stronger by comparison today: back in 2000/2001 it was seen as being a gentler perfume (although it's sillage was stronger than many others today - 'Vanilla Suede' included) in relation to a lot of the other scents on the market at the time. I think maybe a bit of white floral possibly contributed to 'Feminine' being less gentle than 'Vanilla Suede' or 'Gentle Fluidity' but it was very different kind of fragrance - when compared to what most other scents were popular - way back in the day. My three previous reviews on here were all either 'meh' or 'bleh' based on my having blind-bought three perfumes because I'm an idiot and just assuming I'd love them based on the other reviews they'd gotten...or my having spritzed one onto my wrist when I already had another scent on, which completely messed up how it actually smelled on its own. So, trying to be 'Captain Sensible' this time around, I went to find a tester of 'Vanilla Suede' after seeing the reviews on here and immediately thinking that this was going to be totally in my wheelhouse, when it comes to having a really nice, gentle, skin-scent. And this time around there actually WAS a tester to try out. I was right about it not really giving much away on the paper strip I spritzed it onto (trust me, you really need to get this one onto your skin to find out how it's going to work with your own skin chemistry, or whether or not you're going to like/love it) and I'm really glad I sprayed some into the crook of my elbow, because by the time I got home (about half an hour later) it had really settled in well and I immediately loved it, wanted it...and of course, wished I'd just gone ahead and bought it then and there! But, if I'd bought it, chances are the fates would've conspired to somehow make it so that the damn thing ended up smelling like cat-pee on me or something (such is the kind of luck I've been having with blind-buys of late) so I really shouldn't be too mad. I was easily able to find a bottle on eBay (I paid about £90 which included the P&P so not really that much more than I think it was on sale for in store - I *think* it was about £79 in store, but TBH I wasn't paying all that much attention, so it may have been more, may have been less...don't take my word for the RRP, check the price-tag beforehand; and definitely try it out first, because I imagine it'll be quite a divisive one...even for those of y'all who are absolute Ariana devotees). Now I just have to wait for it to get here, which should be anytime in the next few days. AND I SERIOUSLY CANNOT WAIT!! When I got the other half to sniff that inside crook of my elbow, his response was: "Mmmm...I REALLY like that one...that's lovely." And he was incredibly surprised when I told him that I hadn't actually bought a bottle. Partly because it's gorgeous, I think it's gorgeous, he thinks it's gorgeous and it obviously really just *works* on me; but partly also because he knows how much of an impulsive nutter I am when it comes to fragrances, buying them without even knowing what they smell like, and then telling him that I'm annoyed that I don't like them either that much or AT ALL. To be fair, he soon realised that this was just a different way of my cray-cray displaying itself but he's looking forward to me getting this one in the post, because he really loves how feminine and soft and good it smells on my skin. So, on the plus side, I at least know he likes it already. And now I DEFINITELY know what I'm going to be wearing to bed every night as soon as it gets here, lol.

Category: Powdery, vanilla, fruity Notes: Very pleasant from first spray, I immediately pick up the sandalwood and vanilla, and “rice” if rice just means powder. There’s something very juicy and a little sour in the mix, perhaps its the bergamot, but - and call me crazy if you want - to me, it reads exactly like a ripe cherry, unmistakably so in fact. This goes through phases; it starts out medium powdery, with time gets incredibly powdery, only for the powderiness to subside significantly. In that medium stage I can also see where the “suede” aspect of this fragrance comes from, as it is almost reminiscent of leather or tobacco - a very deep & musty, yet smooth smell. That juicy, ripe cherry that I’m picking up on only gets stronger with time, and the scent eventually lands in what I’d describe as a sweet, mildly powdery cherry-vanilla scent. The overall scent impression reads to me like a cherry chapstick once it reaches its final stage, or an expensive face powder - not the vintage 70s kind, definitely something more modern and wearable - for the first two, more powdery stages. Vibe: Resort vacation. Cherry chapstick. Face powder. Raisins and other dried fruits. Using your mothers make-up. Candle lit dinner at an Italian restaurant. Felt. Silk nightgown. Pearl necklace. Blowing bubbles with gum. Waking up on the couch after a cozy nap. Quilts. Fireflies on a hot summer evening. Sillage: 5/10. Very middle of the road kind of sillage. Not quite a skin scent, but definitely on the intimate side. No major projection, just enough to be present and waft over if you’re passing by or leaning in close. Longevity: 5/10. Remains noticeable on skin for about 4-5 hours, but quickly dissipates after that. I can still faintly pick up on it about 7 hours later but it's more intimate than a skin scent and barely there so I wouldn't really factor that as performance beyond the 5-ish hours. Wear: Day or night, leaning day. I’d say this fragrance likely works all year round, but probably best suited for spring and fall. Definitely office wear approved as it is very sweet, mild and inoffensive. For an Ariana Grande fragrance this is surprisingly mature - I’d say the most appropriate age range for this fragrance is anywhere between 25-50 but could definitely range further up as well. I’d say this leans quite feminine, but could definitely work on a man with the right aura or if layered with something more masculine. Overall rating: 6.5/10. What an intriguing fragrance... I went from liking it, to unsure, to kind of disliking it, back to liking it and now? It might even be a love, honestly. Although there’s officially no cherry in the mix, I can't help but smell it - it's there, loud and clear - bright, juicy and youthful without ever feeling juvenile. Quite a complex fragrance development; we start out with a distinctly modern powder and end on a luscious, sweet and deliciously tart fruity vanilla. In between the start and finish you get this deep, musty, smooth almost leather-like impression which is what I suspect earned the fragrance its name - vanilla suede. Much more grown up and well-rounded than some of Ariana's other fragrances, this fills a niche in her consumer base previously uncatered to. On a more personal note, I am not a fan of powdery notes. That's an understatement, I genuinely cannot stand anything that comes even close to baby powder, talcum powder or vintage face powders. I either feel like a baby or a grandma and neither are a vibe. Vanilla Suede however is perhaps the first truly powdery perfume that I have come across to really appeal to me. When looking at rice notes in perfumery I compare everything to the queen of photorealistic rice notes - Robert Piguet Zazen - and this is as far from a realistic rice note as they come. The rice is just powder, but it is ripe and fizzy in a way that lends it a particularly modern and adult feel without leaning either baby or grandma. The powder here reminds me more of a Korean setting powder with some cutesy packaging rolling around in some 29 year olds handbag on a night out with the girls. Eventually the powder settles and that beautiful, mysterious tartness that I am convinced is a hidden cherry gets to shine. This is when the scent reaches its fullest potential and my god is it good. My only gripe with this scent is its longevity which leaves much to be desired, and ultimately knocks the overall score down by a few points. The projection could also have been better but it isn't abysmal. While I haven't tried it out yet myself I can imagine this being perfect for layering, perhaps with something the likes of Amouage Love Tuberose or Armani Acqua di Gioia. Overall a great fragrance that I definitely think is worth adding to your collection if you don't mind topping up your fragrance every now and then. It's going on my wishlist and will without a doubt be filling a massive hole in my collection once I get it as this is the first ever truly powdery fragrance I've come across that really appeals to me. Who would wear it?: Cameron Diaz in The Sweetest Thing (2002).

After trying Cloud Pink and Angels Kiss, I wasn't looking forward to trying this one or had high hopes for it. (Cloud Pink not being that good and extremely bad at first and Angels Kiss being fine but underwhelming for me - like it lacked that signature scent). So I was originally in search of something that was hyper and just pure vanilla smelling (and Kayali's Vanilla 28 and Lake & Skye's 11 11 Vanilla ended up being exactly what I wanted because they were just vanilla) and unfortunately this wasn't exactly what I was looking for but I'm so glad I found it. This is still very vanilla however the only catch for me was that it is extremely sugary. I actually like the sugary sweetness of this, although not what I had bargained for, I fell in love. I didn't really have plans on getting more than two vanilla perfumes but this one really became an exception for me. Definitely wearing this and buying more. When spraying this onto my skin it started smelling a tad bit minty but that went away almost instantly. It really smells sugary sweet but in a GOOD way. A lot of sugary smelling perfumes can really overdo it or just be sickening and this one is absolutely not! To me it sort of smells like petit filous vanilla yoghurts or halfvolle vanille vla if you had added an excess amount sugar into it and added a small blend of cherry. I have to admit, it's more sugary than vanilla but the vanilla is still so easily identifiable. It's like a vanilla mixed with a faint cherry without having cherry in it. The longevity is quite moderate. For sillage, it's between intimate and moderate - I speculate that it's more difficult to pick up the more clothes you are wearing and you do have to be quite close to someone to smell this but it's really good and shines for enclosed environments or settings. I'm kind of surprised this has a high winter season rating and low summer because I will say it's quite versatile in that I think it works with any season. Love it so much!

I love this fragrance and wear it almost everyday. I got it when it first came out and at first the longevity wasn't the best, but after a few months it became so much stronger and sweeter. I mainly smell a powdery vanilla with a milky undertone that kind of reminds me of oat milk. I can always still smell it throughout the day and when I spray at night it still lingers in the morning especially on clothes. I think the people saying it doesn't last long should wait a few months because it really becomes stronger, although it's sad you have to wait. I love to spray this all over kind of like a body mist (the scent is very gentle and not overpowering so it doesn't feel like much) and then layer with other scents, especially ari ♡ feels more sophisticated and expensive than ariana's other scents and more like a continuation of her first 3 fragrances (ari, sweet like candy, and moonlight) that were a lot softer, rather than the more plasticky strong perfumes like all the clouds, thank u nexts, rems, and the mods, so if you dislike those because they seem cheap I would really recommend this to ariana fans (because unless you are biased towards her already I feel like this scent isn't that distinct or revolutionary that the average person would really want or need it, but as a fan I find it exciting). also it kind of reminds me of britney spears fantasy intimate just without the fantasy/cupcake/sugar dna because of the soft powdery aspect 🌫️🍨🌾

This might honestly be my new favourite perfume!🍨💕 It’s absolutely incredible! one of the most beautiful and addictive vanilla fragrances I’ve ever experienced!! I’m someone who usually gravitates toward very sweet, almost headache-inducing gourmand scents, so this feels like such a lovely way to switch things up while still staying firmly within that comforting gourmand realm!! 😆 It’s a gorgeous, more mature interpretation of vanilla, not “mature” in an old-fashioned sense, but refined and effortlessly elegant. To me it smells like someone who is perfectly put together and completely confident in their own style. The lactonic facets blend seamlessly throughout the fragrance, giving it this incredibly smooth, creamy texture that unfolds in such an elegant way on the skin. I get a soft, lightly powdered vanilla with a comforting rice pudding nuance, and there’s even a subtle hint that reminds me of a cherry Bakewell tart which all together just smells absolutely GORGEOUS!! 💖 It’s honestly stunning, and Ariana has absolutely done it again with this fragrance. I would highly recommend getting your hands on it if you can!