Vanilla & Anise

I absolutely adore vanilla & anise. I am quite a bit English, and when I wear this I feel more so. It's gorgeous, smooth, and dry. A semi-sweet vanilla with the anise that has a light, spicy, warm feel to it. I think there is something about the scent that smells like it has a hint of freshly grated ginger in it. I'm in love with the dash of cloves in here reminding me of my favorite hot drinks. There is a hint of a creamy white tuberose in here. I'm not a big tuberose person but it compliments the dry spicyness of the rest of the fragrance so well. If this scent were a day it would be Sunday. Relaxing but a little dressy. The kind of scent I imagined wearing while my mom carved a roasted chicken while my grandparents were over for our monthly Sunday dinner. If it were a time it would be two o'clock in the afternoon. Just when your eyes are getting a bit heavy, and all your hear is the clock ticking in the corner and the birds chirping faintly outside. When the afghan in the corner of the room starts to look inviting and you settle down with a cup of tea and a book.

I love the fennel opening of this scent, it gives the fragrance a lovely crisp herbaceous feel. The fennel opening gradually gives way to the vanilla mixed with spice. This is not a typical heavily gourmand vanilla, but a more cool and refined vanilla paired with spices. I find it interesting that the description here on Fragrantica mentions it is supposed to be a summer scent. I like wearing it year round as it seems to change on me depending on the weather. In the summer it is never too cloying or strong like some vanilla scents can be. And in the winter, it seems to get warmer and more spicy, perfect for cooler temperatures. A perfume worthy of a sniff and a place on my shelf because it is well executed and a different take on vanilla. It also plays well with others and layers beautifully. The longevity is excellent, at least 6-8 hours and it is a skin-scent, but still noticeable. It isn't a sillage monster, but for me, that is just fine.

Looks like I’m in the minority once again as I love a scent that people are beating into submission in the reviews lol. If you’re looking for a gourmand or rich boozy vanilla you will not find it here. This scent opens quite vegetal, the fennel and Anise are fully dominating the opening, making the first 10 mins rather gross tbh BUT hang in there mi gente because what unfolds is a fairly unique vanilla. The vanilla is not heavy or dense, nor is it edible or sweet in any way, it has the tiniest sprinkle of clove running underneath and some delicate powdery sweetened florals that are in perfect balance with the vanilla. I find it sensual, seductive but sophisticated. There’s also this underlying clean vibe, making it feel quite classy. I really like it and just purchased a full size bottle!

A delicate and refined vanilla that isn't sweet. Not sweet enough for me, but I admit my nose is altered from wearing only sweet vanilla perfumes. I purchased this the other day, and despite a few initial reservations, I'm glad I did. Despite the lack of vanilla absolute, the other major notes, like anise and fennel, scream european bakery, keeping it in the foody category. I got Hypnotic Poison the same day, and they're like the lady and the tramp. It depends on what image you want to project that day. If you like your vanilla foody and sweet, you may be disappointed, but if you want to dial it back a notch and a try a quieter scent that's still in the warm spicy vanilla category, this is a good choice. A refined and ladylike vanilla that doesn't scream, it purrs.

I have a TON of Jo Malone and this one is at the top of my favorites list. It’s very anise and not a sweet or cloying vanilla at all, which is part of the reason I like it so much. I can’t believe a vanilla could smell ‘fresh’ but the dominant anise makes it so. To me this is truly a unisex scent, totally genderless and because of a lack of advertising free of preconceptions. Discontinued, it’s come back at JM boutiques and Bloomingdales for limited runs. JM is big on ‘fragrance combining’ and this one has mixed well with any of the others I’ve worn it with (Nutmeg & Ginger or Redcurrant & Cream particularly). It’s also the JM scent I get the most compliments on. Sillage isn’t huge but those close can smell it and it does last a good 5-6 hours easily.