Cashmere & Vanilla Essence

Beautiful, softly sweet, powdery, woody, warm, floral, soft spicy, slightly fruity and fresh, feminine, romantic, sensual, seductive, sexy, chic, classy, elegant, luxurious, sophisticated, whimsical, enchanting, dreamy, delightful, tempting, addictive, alluring, inviting, cozy, comforting This is such a beautiful and rather unique fragrance. It’s a powdery and woody warm vanilla, yet it also has a fruity and soft spicy opening to it which makes it even more interesting. On me this opens with a fresh and fruity apple and some warm spicy pink pepper. As it starts drying down the powdery violet and lush jasmine bring a delicate and floral feminine feel. Once it has dried down is when it really shines for me. The apple fades into the background leaving behind a soft freshness, while the pink pepper, violet, and jasmine all become much more subtle. The sensual vanilla, the golden warmth of amber, and the rich and woody sandalwood are the real stars here, although they are elegantly intertwined throughout the entire fragrance. They become the most prominent at this point, a warm and powdery woody vanilla that just wraps you in chic, elegant, and cozy luxury. I was introduced to this Cashmere & line by a friend who sent me a travel spray of Cashmere & Palo Santo. I immediately fell in love with it (surprisingly it reminds me strongly of one of my top favorite fragrances, Kayali The Wedding Silk Santal). I knew right away that I needed to try the other fragrances in this line, especially Vanilla Essence and Tiare Flower, as I particularly enjoy both of those notes. I still need to try Tiare Flower, but I finally got a travel spray of Vanilla Essence just the other day. I honestly enjoy Palo Santo and Vanilla Essence pretty much the same, but if I had to choose I just slightly prefer Palo Santo. They do have a similar dna to them, and are both warm and woody vanillas, but they are absolutely different enough to easily own both. I also have to say that these perfumes are extremely underrated, and I truly don’t know why! They deserve so much more attention, and I’m sure they’ll be loved by many! This feels feminine to me, and like it’s suitable for women of any age. I think this is one those fragrances that actually works really well throughout the whole year. It’s very well rounded and balanced, so it’s soft enough for the summer, and just softly sweet so as to never be cloying even in the heat. It’s also warm and cozy enough that it’s perfectly fitting for the colder weather too. I think this would make a lovely signature fragrance, and would work well to wear daily as it’s suitable for all occasions. I get great performance with Cashmere & Vanilla Essence. The longevity is very good, it lasts throughout the entire day on me. The projection is nice, it radiates out about 2-3 feet from me. For reference, some of my other favorite vanilla fragrances include Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow, Kayali The Wedding Silk Santal, Kayali Vanilla 28, Kayali Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar, Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato, PDM Oriana, Kilian LDBS, Valentino DBIR Ivory, Valentino DBIR Pink, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid, Bianco Latte, Celeste, Burberry Goddess, The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods, JPG Classique Pin Up, Gold Sugar, Ellis Brooklyn Marshmallows, Phlur Heavy Cream, SDJ Summer é Amor, SDJ 39, SDJ 62, VS Vanilla Lace, VS Glitter Hustle, BBW Beach Nights, BBW Boardwalk Marshmallow Clouds

Vanilla, powdery, woody, violet, warm, amber, warm spicy, sweet, fresh, balsamic, luminous, feminine, sensual, seductive, sexy, classy, elegant, sophisticated, charming, whimsical, dreamy, delightful, delicate, alluring, tempting, addictive, intriguing, inviting, cozy, comforting On me this opens with a balanced warm spicy yet fresh opening with a blend of spicy pink pepper and fresh, sweet apple. The heart blooms with sweet and powdery violet, and just a whisper of lush jasmine. The dry down shines as it intertwines sensual vanilla, creamy sandalwood, and warm golden amber. The most prominent notes on me are the vanilla, sandalwood, and then the violet, amber, and pink pepper. This is really such a gorgeous fragrance, and very beautifully done! It has this really lovely kind of delicate feel to it, that almost reads as powdered sugar. Think vanilla powdered sugar swirled with violet and sandalwood with a sprinkle of pink pepper and amber. I have several different ones from this scent profile, but this is definitely one of my favorites! It reminds me a lot of Phlur Vanilla Skin (extremely close), Ariana Grande Plush Vanilla (extremely close), SDJ 59 (more violet, and less warm spicy), Sundays in Rio, VS Bare Sueded Vanilla, Bare Vanilla, BBW Bonfire Bash (obviously lacking a violet note), and even somewhat of Cashmere & Palo Santo (another absolutely gorgeous perfume!) , although it’s definitely the most different of the ones I’ve listed. Maybe the best way to describe it would be to say to imagine a combination of Vanilla Skin and 59 I get good performance with Cashmere & Vanilla Essence. The longevity is on the strong side as it lasts about 7-9 hours on my skin. The projection is moderate as it radiates out about an arm’s length from me. Just a side note, I do get better performance from Cashmere & Palo Santo than I do with Vanilla Essence, it actually has pretty great performance. For reference, some of my other favorites include Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow, Vanilla 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar, The Wedding Silk Santal, Yum Pistachio Gelato, Kilian LDBS, Princess, Sunkissed Goddess, GdT Celeste, Bianco Latte, PdM Oriana, Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, Nest Sunkissed Hibiscus, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid, Burberry Goddess, The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods, YSL Black Opium Le Parfum, Guerlain Mon Guerlain, Rosie Jane Dulce, Skylar Boardwalk Delight, Ellis Brooklyn Marshmallows, Queen’s Caramel, Vanilla Salt, Phlur Heavy Cream, Vanilla Nectar, Beach Skin, SDJ Summer è Amor, 62, 39, VS Vanilla Lace, BBW Beach Nights, Boardwalk Marshmallow Clouds, Whipped Honey & Vanilla, Fireside Flurries

I received this as a sample & became absolutely obsessed. I now own a full bottle. It lasts FOREVER on me. I put it on around 7:45am before work & at 6pm I can still smell the vanilla note. Now it doesn’t travel far- it’s an intimate scent- but it I find myself sniffing my wrist all day long for a little dopamine pick-me-up. I’m sensitive to fragrance headaches, especially with cheap/overly flowery/strong citrus scents. But this doesn’t do that at all. It smells expensive. High quality. When first sprayed, funny, but the thing that comes to mind is “vanilla Sprite” in the best way. Because they are so powdery, I don’t care for the original Cashmere Mist nor any of the other newer DK cashmere scents (Wild Fig, Tunisian Neroli, Tiare Flower), besides Palo Santo. Palo is lovely at first, but I find it almost sickening sweet as it fades. Vanilla Essence has the powder element but when mixed with the vanilla, it becomes a soft, smoky powdered sugar. For those comparing to Phlur Vanilla Skin: it is quite similar, though I’d say the Phlur is more wood-y and the DK leans more vanilla/powdered sugar. The Phlur is great but the DK smells more lush—idk how to explain it— it’s something about the difference between a wonderful, solid perfume and a luxury fragrance. The journey with DK has more layers. It’s worth the higher price point in my opinion.

Ok, I’m apparently collecting this scent profile like Pokémon cards. I have 9 of the scents in the reminds me of section. So here’s how I’d rank the most relevant ones from most straightforward to most complex. SDJ 59: creamy, sugary vanilla milk AG Plush Vanilla: Sugary Sweet Warm Vanilla and whispering woods VS Bare Vanilla Body Mist: sugary sweet vanilla, tame cashmere woods, whispering purple florals Phlur Vanilla Skin: slightly peppery, mildly smoky, sugary sweet warm vanilla VS Bare Sueded Vanilla: Rich warm vanilla, melted sugar, deep creamy sandalwood DK C&VE: mildly fruity, soft florals, sweet ambery golden vanilla, smooth elegant woods Most people should pick their favorite, but I need all but the SDJ in my collection. In comparison to Cashmere & Palo Santo, this is less fruity and much less woody. But they do bear resemblance in the opening in a flanker sort of way. When I tested this it came across as soft, powdery and fleeting. The tester juice was mostly clear. However, the bottle I purchased has dark amber juice and I get the perfect blend of ALL the notes. This is simultaneously delicious and incredibly elegant. Something about this composition just feels lush. The vibe of this scent is an off the shoulder black satin gown at the ball. When he pulls you in, he plants a kiss on your neck and nearly loses his knees.

Oh, how I love this fragrance. It’s so lovely. A spicy, sophisticated vanilla, amber-musk scent. I hate to compare it to any other vanillas because it is so much more than that and I haven’t found any vanilla on par with Donna Karan Cashmere and Vanilla Essence. I haven’t tried Tom Ford’s line yet, but want to. Back to Donna... imagine a warm, spicy, creamy Oriental vanilla with some incense vibes and sophistication. I absolutely love wearing this. As soon as I opened the bottle (it was a blind buy), I knew I had done good. I couldn’t stop sniffing and couldn’t wait to wear her. This is one I don’t want to waste. I save this for when I’m going out. I’ll splash my Chanel no5, my signature fragrance, at bedtime, but not my Donna. And I know Chanel is more pricey, but Donna is extra special. This is the most underrated perfume I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. For anyone who enjoys a good vanilla fragrance, THIS IS IT! The cream of the crop.

A warm hug wrapped in cashmere. Tender and comforting. Imagine the moody orange glow of embers dancing in a fireplace, casting shadows that whisper sweet nothings in the dark. This isn’t your sugar sweet vanilla. She’s a rich, deep, grown up vanilla bean. Decadent enough to swirl into cake batter, but cocooned in layers of smoky woods. There's some kind of liquor note in there, almost like warm rum. A soothing little night cap. The scent lingers like a memory. Long lasting and hypnotic. It radiates off of my skin for hours, and I could fall asleep in its arms. Warm and smoky, she's more of a autumn weather lady, but I'm going to wear her in the summer time. Wearing her, I feel like HER, the confident, grounded woman I always hope to be. <3

A stunning vanilla perfume, this is a much better version then Phlur vanilla skin and I do like her very much but cashmere vanilla is the it girl smoother and sweeter, I layer her with sol 59 body butter along with Phlur vanilla skin body oil and mist, can not get enough of this combo absolutely beautiful ladies! Edit: layering combo up grade for any over the top EXTRA layering ladies. Sol 59 shower gel Sol 59 body butter Brown sugar babe creame de la creame + Phlur vanilla skin body oil combined Phlur vanilla skin body mist Donna karan chasmere vanilla essence Kayali 28.

I love this!! So soft and delicately feminine. No, not a big projector, but not all scents are meant to be beasts. Compared to vanilla skin, this is less spicy and woody, more powdery. They’re cousins not sisters. Also in the family is bare suede vanilla and plush vanilla, but they’re not as similar. This reminds me of a dusting of powdered sugar with a tiny bit of creamy sandalwood, and powdery iris. Absolutely lovely.

This is a grown up vanilla without being smokey. It's lightly floral, creamy, and smells like vanilla bean essence. I love this. Reminds me of Vanilla Sex. In fact, smells just like it and would gladly say it's a more affordable dupe. They both have that wild, humid, floral take on vanilla. It smells like a vanilla flower that's alive in a ginormous rain forest. I love it so much. A wild vanilla, floral fragrance.

This instantly became my top 5 perfume, im surprised that it’s not more popular especially among gourmand lovers. To me this is a little more grown up gourmand escapade with violets. I think if you love gourmand escapade and dama Bianca you’ll probably also like this perfume. This is a beautiful sweet vanilla with slightly powdery violets. Very feminine. I don’t get apple, pepper or patchouli (thank god 🙏).

The smell is good , like vanilla skin exactly , but performance is very bad , no silage and no longevity. I bought the bottle and finished in 3 days only imagine!!!, I over sprayed too much so I can smell it , but still it faded quickly , it is waste of money if you are searching for good performance in spite the scent is good. I will not buying again.

Smooth buttery vanilla. Very lightweight. The vanilla almost disappears after putting it on and then you get a sweet fuzzy high quality natural musk reminiscent of Xerjoff's Dama Bianca. Simple and easy to wear. Smelled this at Nordstrom. It was my favorite out of the set. Smell: 10 out of 10 Strength: 5 out of 10 Feminine For reference, I'm female.

I really like this. I'm also a fan of cashmere and palo santo. I wouldn't call this "powdery" at all Not sure how that accord got there. I dislike powdery scents and realy like this one. It's a bit of a green dry vanilla with some woods. Lovely. While not important to the scent, the bottle is also beautiful.

It is lovely!😍 opens with crispy green apple and pink pepper, then gentle flowers joining the party. Queen of the scent is of course woody vanilla, beautiful and sophisticated. Such a good scent. Yes, it is simmilar to vanilla skin but so much better quality. And that bottle is stunning as hell!

Indeed very similar to Phlur Vanilla Skin. However Vanilla Essence has a crispness that feels more defined, whereas Vanilla Skin goes a flat and woodsy. Vanilla Essence also gets significantly better with time.. just in a matter of months, this smells weightier to my nose.

This new fragrance seems to be getting some hype. To me it smells very similar to the Cashmere and palo santo, with more vanilla. It is a good fragrance, but it is too sweet for me. I like vanillas with some sweetness, but not edible. This vanilla is absolutely gourmand.

This is really really beautiful. I do feel that its is different enough from Bare sueded vanilla to own both. This is straight out of the box, I will update more once I've done a full wear test.

I love this perfume, and I don't think people talk about it enough. It is similar to Phlur Vanilla Skin. It's a simple, sweet Vanilla, though not too sweet and great for everyday wear.

Came here to see who else thought this was almost identical to Phlur Vanilla Skin! I'll stick with Phlur, given the $$ difference. Love both, though :)

This is a grown vanilla; imagine Bare Vanilla / Vanilla 28 merged with a bit of Vanilla Planifolia by Guerlain. It is a definite love.

Sugary vanilla with a hint of sandalwood and spice, reminds me of the smell of baking vanilla in a good way

Having experience with three Donna Karan Cashmere fragrances, I've observed a consistent foundation of cashmere wood that elegantly enhances the floral notes. This particular fragrance opens with an unexpected, yet intriguing, fruity accord of crisp green apple slices and tart berries. The initial berry note possesses a slightly bitter, almost medicinal quality, as my wife aptly described it. However, upon dry down, the vanilla emerges, revealing notes of rum and a subtle cotton candy sweetness. The fragrance culminates in a velvety, fruity, and comforting wood accord, a signature characteristic of the DK Cashmere line that, in my opinion, lends itself particularly well to evening wear or cooler weather. The bottle design is notably impressive, featuring a high-quality, heavy metal magnetic cap that securely snaps into place. While the price point of this line may be considered premium, the quality of the composition and presentation justifies the investment.

A cashmere sweater that still smells of yesterday's perfume with violet and jasmine notes over which you accidentally drop a packet full of powdered sugar when trying to ice a fresh batch of vanilla cookies. I guess that's it, for me 😅 that said, it's smooth and calming, Id wear it with fluffy sweaters, on quiet days when the weather gets chilly and the leaves turn orange, but I admit it's a little redundant for me and I wouldn't buy a full bottle - I have too many delicious frags for cold weather that blow my mind!

A very green, woody, warm spicy vanilla––completely comforting, a little waxy (crayon-like) and powdery as it dries down. Reminds me a lot of of Chloe's Vanilla Planifolia, but I think I'm liking this one more, it's a little softer, fuzzier, more layered. The sandalwood, pink pepper, amber, and violet come through for me, but I don't get much from the apple or jasmine

VERY similar to Vanilla Skin, although I honestly prefer Dossier's Dupe, Powdery Vanilla, as it's more affordable with better performance. This is still a lovely and gentle, non-offensive vanilla suitable for any occasion. Maybe a tad more upscale than Vanilla Skin? I also don't consider this DNA to be similar to that of SDJ 59. They're cousins at best.

So this arrived today, it reminds me very much nearly identical to phulrs cashmere skin body mist, it’s ok but is very mild not strong at all even after like 15 sprays, unfortunately it has no staying power, I actually think the body mist by plus might be stronger , so it’s just ok, I do love the bottle tho

It’s a lovely woody vanilla with a fresh almost faint citrus note which must be the apple. It’s really is very similar to vanilla woods if I don’t have that i would probably buy this but longevity isn’t great maybe max 4 hours. Vanilla skin is a better performer.

Very sweet. Not sure why this was released now... definitely an autumn/winter scent. Nice though... but go light on the spays 😁

Fruity sweetness at first spray. Then straight up vanilla bean for hours.

I don’t like phlur so I can’t compare this to vanilla skin. An odd analogy but you know that lovely sweet smell that a box of mint tic tacs has when you smell it after flipping the lid? It’s that exact type of sweetness. It’s like if vanilla bean tic tacs were a thing but with LOTS of pink pepper and sandalwood, to the point if borders on burnt. The vanilla reminds me of the burts bees lip balm (which I love). I personally don’t think this is worth the money, I think there’s many similar scents from affordable gourmand perfume houses in the east. Unfortunately unoriginal. I think I prefer this when it’s slightly faded away and the spice has died down. However I do like this but I think it really is a bit too much spice for me. My boyfriend also hates it, which is rare for him and scents. I get a tiny bit of apple and violet but no where near enough like other reviews are mentioning.

Ugh, it’s barely there on my skin and it’s been done again and again 🙄🙄 If you want a better vanilla with some backbone in it, go for: • Chloé Vanilla Planifolia (if you prefer your vanilla to be green) • Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille (if you prefer your vanilla to be boozy) • Arte Profumi Sucre Noir (if you prefer your vanilla to be rich and creamy) • Indult Tihota (if you prefer your vanilla to be musky) • Majouri Imperial Vanilla (if you prefer your vanilla to be woodsy). This one is just meh and not worth the bother. Try it first, if able...

UPDATE: I swore this fragrance off but I am back to say, I was wrong! Yes it still reminds me of Vanilla skin but the longevity & projection are decent. This has become a staple in my collection! This fragrance is a touch sweeter than Vanilla Skin, yet it delivers a performance reminiscent of the previously mentioned body mist. Its scent is delicately soft and subtly inviting. However, given the price point, I anticipated a more captivating experience.

Something must be wrong with my nose. I only smell 2 notes; a very heavy synthetic moleculelar base (Cashmeran?) and a bit of vanilla. It's a no for me because of that overwhelming molecular base.

This is a surprisingly cool and mature vanilla. I'm looking for something warmer and more alluring...I'm glad I only bought a small decant of this, and not the full bottle.

Strong on vanilla, I don’t get any other flowers, maybe just hint of jasmine, tiny bit of spice. It’s inoffensive, easy to wear, masculine on my skin.

My wife just got this. The scent is great. It's dinged because you might need 10 sprays of this. So please set your expectations. Really poor performer. Poorest shes experienced so far. To put this into perspective its even weaker than phlur cashmere body mist.

LET THIS SETTLE BEFORE RATING IT!!! first few seconds, genuine medicine cabinet because of the violet for me. i was so adamant on letting this go i pretty much put it up for sale instantly. then after some time i keep revisiting it, damn its starting to fade w the violet and it smells like straightup vanilla extract... wait nah the violet's still there i dont fw it. but its definitely changing. idk i was SO CONFUSED the first test it ended up selling that night, and the next morning i gave it a full wear before packing it up to ship out. the violet is there still but im getting used to it and the vanilla nuances are coming out WAY more. im smelling my wrist so often and i cant tell why but something is addicting in this. i message the guy and tell him bruh i think im liking this a lot and he was dope so he was like no worries at all keep it if you like it, and now today im loving it. that vanilla is deadass just florally sweetened by the violet in the way carnation does in RMNO5 (not saying they smell similar but the floral nuances do the same work on both) however drydown is just vanilla extract simple as that i love it. this is GREAT!! let it settle if the violet annoys you at first though bottle is beautiful too. much bigger than i expected, heavy thick glass and the cap is beautiful and magnetic. one of my favorites so far

This is a nice fragrance that is very similar to Phlurs Vanilla Skin as well as AGs Plush Vanilla and the many similar vanilla fragrances with this profile that have been coming out frequently. I prefer this one over Vanilla Skin and Plush Vanilla because it has a lovely slight nuance of violet quietly whispering in the background. It feels more elevated and refined and is a bit more powdery and less sweet than Vanilla Skin and Plush Vanilla. Cashmere Vanilla lasts the longest out of all the similar vanillas I have tried and I have gotten more compliments with this one. The bottle is very beautiful and well made too. Although I only have the travel size. I personally don’t feel the differences are pronounced enough for me to purchase this over the much more affordable Plush Vanilla, however if price was taken out of the game, this is my favorite of the 3 i mentioned. I will note that these types of vanillas with this pungent wood base that are so trendy now, are not my favorite types of vanilla in general but I do like them for layering. If I loved these vanillas enough to use them alone I would likely be willing to spend more and get Cashmere Vanilla as it is the most refined and elegant version of this scent profile in my opinion, with the best performance.

Cashmere & Vanilla Essence is certainly the full and fresh vanilla flanker in Donna Karan's Cashmere Collection, ...though if it didn't exist, Cashmere & Palo Santo would serve adequately enough in its place. And yes, the woody aspect is light, almost minimalist. There's just enough cashmeran and synthetic sandalwood in the base to add the adjective 'woody' to this vanilla fragrance, instead of 'ambery', or 'gourmand'. Though in truth, the adjective 'fresh' would also fit, as there is a clear aspect of breezy airiness about this vanilla. The note pyramid seems to express this by listing the subtle, but present, notes of pink pepper and violet. Overall, Cashmere & Vanilla Essence makes for a pleasantly rich and refreshing vanilla fragrance. Though with so many variously intriguing vanillas to choose from in the marketplace, one must stop far short of calling it extraordinary or essential.

I’m so disappointed, the reviews were so positive for the most part! Thank goodness I got a decent and didn’t blow lots of money on it. I’m not a huge fan of the line in general - I think the original Cashmere Mist smells like 80’s deodorant - but I had some hopes that this would be a good quality vanilla. Nope! I’m not getting much of anything like the descriptions here. I smell an overwhelming artificial, smoky, wood coupled with a sickly-sweet vanilla...as if I were eating a vanilla cupcake while everyone around me smokes ‘em ‘cause they got ‘em. As it dries down I smell none of the complexity suggested by the notes but instead get a headache-inducing powder that smells both grandmotherly and generic. But thumbs down.

A gourmand bakery vanilla with brown sugar & woody tones. I’m actually shocked at how eerily similar this is to Phlurs Vanilla Skin. It’s literally the same juice in a different bottle. If I examine the scent very closely, the DK pulls a bit more floral but the difference is negligible and wouldn’t be noticed unless you’re a trained nose. Interesting

Vanilla Skin with less of the smokiness going on, I also think it lasts better I can smell it on my night clothes two days later. I think I will be buying this when I finish my bottle of VS because while I love it I definitely had issues with longevity. This is a grown up vanilla for sure not candied, but also not too mature or going masculine.

This is what the Vanilla Skin by Phlur perfume should have been. It’s very similar to the body mist version, which is sweeter and softer than thenVanilla Skin perfume. Testing performance today, will come back to update.

This couldn’t smell more like Phlur Vanilla Skin if it tried. I like Vanilla Skin so that’s not a bad thing, but I’m shocked by the similarity.

anyone want my bottle of this? have done hundreds of sales, dm me on ig @mihirpxtel will send info you want! sold it thanks 🙏

Lovely at first, but ultimately your average patchouli dry-down vanilla. Nest Madagascar Vanilla does it better.

I dont get the hype tbh. Just a dry woody vanilla 😅 I cant even comment because I feel it is non-consequential

This is an exact copy of Phlur Vanilla skin EDP. There's nothing else to say about it.

This is Vanilla Skin in a different botttle.