Whānui

I’ve been making my way through the Inverso Profumi discovery set slowly and deliberately but Whanui made itself known right away. It’s one of only two I ordered a full bottle of without hesitation, and after a few days of wearing it, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s their best seller. Marketed as a vanilla for people who don’t love vanilla, it delivers on that promise completely. There’s no sweetness overload, no cozy cliché. Instead, it’s aromatic, balsamic, and quietly radiant, vanilla as atmosphere and depth, not dessert. What sets it apart is the direction it takes. So many “non-vanilla vanillas” lean smoky and resinous (Babycat and its kin) but this one moves differently. It’s all herbaceous texture and aromatic lift. And yet, despite all its dimension, it’s one of the easiest, most enjoyable fragrances to just throw on. It’s wonderfully unique, and I’m so glad to have it in the collection. 2026 edit: I no longer have only 2 full bottles from the brand. Currently at four full bottles and three travel bottles. I’m really impressed with their line.

I had the pleasure of buying a bottle of this at Stele in Manhattan and whew... This is a GORGEOUS scent. It has no haters. It is comforting, yet classy. Youthful, yet chic. Geranium and vanilla take scenter (hehe) stage to create something so undeniably feminine, so pretty - that I feel these characteristics in myself emphasized simply by wearing it. Donning Whanui feels like the scent equivalent to adding lace to anything. It is the cherry on top of a present moment, if that cherry was carved from a gem and placed in a dainty gold setting. It would be a crime if I also didn't add how utterly kind the makers of Inverso are. If you have the pleasure of trying their creations, take a whiff of this and Ladri di Fichi ASAP.

This is hilariously interesting. It's a unique, feminine leaning vanilla that borders on being gourmand sweet, but not quite. You could actually wear this everyday in the winter as a guy, but it's probably better for special occasions.