Island Vanilla Dunes

Think of Vanilla Dunes by Khadlaj as the cousin of Parfums de Marly Althaïr. If you love the luxurious, spiced vanilla warmth of the comparison but crave a playful, fizzy, room-filling gourmand element, this is your answer. It creates an immediate olfactory illusion: smelling exactly like a frosty, decadent root beer vanilla float melting over dark, smoked wood. The opening hits you with a blast of effervescent cinnamon and creamy vanilla that genuinely sparkles in the air. As it melts into the heart, that soda-fountain fizz smoothly transitions into a rich, toasted praline and dense guaiac wood. By the time it fully settles on the skin, you are left with a mouth-watering dry down of dark caramelized sugar and pillowy musk that feels both nostalgic and highly modern. In terms of real-world performance, this composition does not hold back. It projects incredibly loud for the first few hours, easily filling a room and leaving a massive scent trail in your wake. On skin, you can expect a very solid 7 to 8 hours of longevity, with the sweet woody base clinging to clothing for even longer. This is an absolute powerhouse for gourmand lovers and a very safe blind buy if you enjoy unabashedly sweet, dessert-like fragrances with a quirky edge. Perfectly unisex, it is tailor-made for the bold. You should absolutely wear this on a night out, to a loud party, or on a cold winter evening when you want to feel cozy but commanding.

It's a tad generic and a little linear but its still a decent cozy fragance for fall and winter time. It's not a bad dupe for Althair. But I think most of the fragances of parfums de Marly are incredibly overrated, overhyped, expensive for what they are, often very generic and incredibly non original as well. So why spend hundreds of bucks on a generic linear dull perfume if you can get a decent dupe for 25 that comes pretty close? And it's def not Khadlaj's fault Parfum de Marly makes mostly dull crowd pleasing perfumes. Im sure all the people who bought Althair will have their counterarguments ready of how less synthetic it smells bla bla bla and perhaps the scent is slight better and more in depth. Sure but definitely NOT much. But we all know they mostly just paid for the brand, the idea(!) and mindfuck of luxury and the potential capitalist status thing. But nobody is saying it. Oh well. Anyway. This or liquid brun which are almost exactly the same, and imo youre pretty solid if you like a vanilla, cinnamon and orange blossom dna. It lasts about 6 hours on my skin, longer on clothes. This one is slightly more feminine leaning than liquid brun imo, especially the dry down...and the spray on has something herbal almost screechy lavender/cough drop like, but that's gone after 5 minutes maybe 10 on my skin. For me it's a decent 7 out of 10. I hope the fragance gets more depth after maceration.

Island Vanilla Dunes opens like a warm breeze over sunlit sand with a creamy sweetness that feels immediate and rich. Vanilla rises first, intertwined with cinnamon and cardamom, and brightened by a hint of bergamot that gives the opening a subtle citrus lift. The first moments feel cozy and inviting, like a slow sunset on a desert shore where heat meets spice and softness.  As the fragrance unfolds, orange blossom and guaiac wood begin to shape the heart, adding a floral elegance with a woody warmth beneath it. That warmth is deepened by a whisper of bourbon that feels like shared laughter around an open fire. The scent evolves with a lush complexity that feels both exotic and familiar, a blend of spice and floral glow that refuses to be simple.  In the dry down, praline and amber settle into a sensual foundation. Musk lingers close to the skin, soft and intimate, weaving its warmth into the creamy sweetness that remains. The trail is long and memorable, like the echo of a story told late into the night.  Island Vanilla Dunes feels like a journey through heat and harmony. It is gourmand without being cloying, warm without losing clarity, and it blurs the line between comfort and elegance. The experience is effortless, inviting you to lean into the scent and let it unfold with you.  A fragrance that feels like an oasis of indulgence. Creamy, warm, and deeply resonant.

OK, so this really surprised me I have bought this fragrance next to Liquid Brun just to test it but, ohh man I fell in love with this Vanilla dunes. Basically, I want you to picture that Liquid Brun focuses more on the Orange Blossom and the cinnamon so because of that, it comes off more like a manly smell. (And a bit harsh to my nose) For Vanilla dunes to my nose, it basically focuses more on the vanilla (the cinnamon note is still present, but more in the background) and I got this really nice vanilla smell that's edible and every time I smelled my wrist this fragrance filled me with joy and calm vibes. I have wore this to school, parties, and in the winter mostly, and I can say that it's not as recognizable and not as strong as Liquid Brun. But it's more a subtle present around you. If you want to get a really nice and present vanilla fragrance, I would advise you this one because I haven't smelled a better vanilla fragrance yet and this is just awesome. I want to reach for this every single day without a doubt. I hope I brought my opinion clearly to you and you could decide if you want to buy this fragrance or not. Again, this is my nose and my taste. Your taste may be different so please just trust your nose. I hope everyone has a great day and everyone finds their favorite fragrance. See ya 🩵

Blind buy review Initial blast is masculine As it begins to dry it becomes more unisex And i get an overall scent that is similar to a combination of the following 3 fragrances Khamrah Qahwa by Lataffa Fursan white by Khadlaj Casablanca by Swiss Arabian Not saying it smells exactly or similar to any one of these in particular, it is like a mixture of those three It’s nice Until the deeper dry down i get a lot of similarity to Casablanca, which is not one that i love and have considered decluttering So we shall see how this opinion changes over time. 2 weeks later This is nice! Muuuch better. Not so much of that apple smell in the beginning that reminds me of SA Casablanca. The opening is fresh for a second but immediately becomes sweet which now makes me change my mind that it’s not too masculine. This, similar to Khamrah and Angela share is a perfectly down the middle unisex warm, cozy, boozy gourmand fall and winter time fragrance but does not smell like any of those two. It’s very unique (besides its inspiration of course and the others also inspired by althair) i don’t feel the need to try the others. This is very satisfying, and it layers beautifully with love don’t be shy or any of its dupes. The added orange blossom makes it even better!

I finally decided to pull the trigger after plenty of testing and sampling hopefully this helps anyone still on the fence. The heart of this scent is the orange blossom. Without it, you just have another vanilla woody cinnamon fragrance, and there are plenty of those on the market. The orange blossom is what truly sets this DNA apart from other fragrances. If you want the highest quality orange blossom and can afford it, go with the OG PDM Althair it’s smooth, consistent, and beautifully transitions from top to base notes. If the price is a stretch, Liquid Brun offers an excellent 1:1 scent profile, though the orange blossom quality is a touch lower.(maybe 2 touches) I chose Vanilla Dunes because its orange blossom feels closer to the OG ,rich and refined. It also fixes the issue of Althair and Liquid Brun being overly sweet up top. Instead of hitting you with orange blossom right away, Vanilla Dunes opens with vanilla, cardamom, bergamot, and cinnamon, then settles into that signature orange blossom at the middle. The result is smoother, more balanced, and a well-executed evolution of the Althair DNA. This is also the latest iteration of the DNA so research was done to give the consumer a better product. Enjoy!

Was eager to get my hands on this since I loved the original Island so much, top notch quality for a bargain, easily my most lasting fragrance. Now onto this one - I've not smelled PDM itself or other clones like LB or Art of Nature, I had no expectations for this DNA, this was supposed to be my entry into it. Definitely a warm cozy scent, even if it opens a bit fresh and wearable I think it might be overkill for summer or spring. Right of the bat the bergamot freshness comes off strong for me, wrapped in the cardamom spiciness of it all. It then turns into a warm resinous vanilla that leans just a tad masculine. Don't know if it's crazy to say but it reminds me of SWY intensely+absolutely, I get a depth that's seen in absolutely's booziness for me. Been wearing for about 3 hours now and most of what I get from it is the woodiness with a hint of vanilla that sits close to the skin. Might be just my skin chemistry but I expected a bit more vanilla in the drydown but I'm actually very fond of the woodiness as well. I think this is a SAFE blind buy for everyone, it's hard to beat this and the OG, decent looking, premium-feeling bottle, insanely good atomizer, high concentration, great longevity and projection.

Warning - This is not something everybody will like. I got this a couple of days ago and I LOVE it. My first spray was VERY cardamom-heavy, made me reconsider the purchase. But I let it macerate for literally one day. ONE DAY, and its opening is now alot more pleasant, smooth. I smell the amber and orange blossom more now. Its drydown is beautiful! Projects about 6ft for the first 45mins, then gradually comes down to roughly 2.5ft and stays there for 90 minutes. The dry down is very amber + vanilla heavy, i kind of smell a bit of caramel there too. It lasted 11 hours on me, first 6 hours were decent sillage, then skin scent. I can smell it on my hoodie after 48hrs of spraying it on there. If you live in a warm weather, please DONT go over 2 sprays, you'll ruin someone's day. But if its really cold, even then 6 sprays MAX. IDK about others, but my bottle is strong. 4 sprays gave my friend a horrible headache. Not the most versatile, but how can it be if it's a winter fragrance? Overall, This is for those who want a cosy sweet-amber scent that easily lasts 9+ hours. 9/10. only thing i'd want improved is the synthetic opening

Surprised at how close this gets to Althair. I'm weird with my seasonal preferences and I like wearing these vanilla forward fragrances in warmer weather, so take my ratings with a pinch of salt. For the price, you wont find a better fresh/vanilla fragrance for most people. The orange blossom makes the wear bright and airy on my skin and I really enjoy Island Dunes similarly to how I enjoy something like JPG le male parfum: daytime in the spring. Most niche fragrances are definitely smoother and smell of better quality than clones, but not enough to justify the delta between this and something like the PDM. Clone houses have come a long way the last few years and they've put both PDM and Creed to shame and I'm not at all bothered by it. It's stupid how much those two charge for good quality, but nothing ground-breaking, and I don't think they deserve the notoriety. Except for Herod... Herod is one of the best fragrances of all time (in my opinion). Nishane and Xerjoff, on the other hand, are generally worth the price of admission. Just two pesos for anyone looking to start exploring niche houses.

This is a very nice warm fragrance that avoids one of the major issues that I often find myself having with these fragrances. Island Vanilla Dunes is more complex and subtle then I feel these fragrances normally are. The opening and the dry down are near identical. The opening just has a little more sweet spice in it than the dry down. It is a very pleasant combination of sweet spicy vanilla. It however smell slightly edible. Performance was very much middle of the road regarding longevity and projection. I got around 6 hours of wear on my skin and probably 7 hours on my clothes. Interestingly only about the first 3 hours where strong, the next 3 have a noticeable reduced presence. A 6/10 overall. Projection was strong for the first 3 hours, just outside of arms length. The next 3 hours had projection falling off a cliff. A 5/10 here. Island Vanilla Dunes is a shockingly good fragrance that hits well outside its price point. It’s a very enjoyable cold weather fragrance that’s super easy to wear. If you want an easy to wear more mellow sweet spice fragrance this is a great one. A 8/10 overall!

This was an excellent blind buy fragrance. It smells very close to PMD Althair, although it is not an exact match. The scent features a smooth, spicy opening with a rich vanilla and woodsy dry-down. The main differences I notice between this fragrance and Althair are performance and projection. This one doesn't seem to be as strong or as sharp in the opening as Althair, lacking some of the spicy kick. In the opening, it also reminds me of Gris Charnel, minus the fig and tea notes. I get about 7 to 8 hours of wear before it becomes a skin scent. The projection is very pronounced for the first hour, then shifts to a moderate level. I find this fragrance lighter and more airy compared to Liquid Brun. It leans more feminine and unisex, while Liquid Brun and Althair lean more masculine. Overall, it offers a softer take on both of those DNA profiles. I prefer this fragrance over the original and Liquid Brun, as I found both of them to be slightly harsher in comparison.

I’m obsessed with Island Vanilla Dunes by Khadlaj Perfumes! This unisex gem is warm, cozy, and feels like a big hug from a gourmand dream. It kicks off with sweet vanilla, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and zesty bergamot, then slides into a floral woody heart with orange blossom and bourbon. The praline, amber, and musk base lingers for hours, and the atomizer’s fine mist makes every spritz perfect. It’s got serious staying power and smells way more expensive than it is. It’s crazy how close this is to Parfums de Marly’s Althaïr, like 95% similar, with that same creamy vanilla vibe but a touch greener. Althaïr might have a slight edge in projection, but for the price, Island Vanilla Dunes is a steal. It’s versatile enough for casual days or date nights, and I love how it feels on me. The only tiny quirk is a slight oily feel at first, but it fades fast. Honestly, this fragrance is a must try if you want luxury without the hefty price tag!

First impression - photorealistic chai latte! Notes: Cardamom, cinnamon, lactonic vanilla with a complex background of wood, amber and musk. Tiny bit or orange blossom/neroli adds an unexpected North African tint. Impression: soft, not too sweet, very smooth without sharp edges, well blended. Layered, unique and sophisticated. Truly unisex. Something mysterious about the whiff of the spices hidden underneath the fluffy milky layer. Very confident without being too punchy, like a strong silent river current or a good CEO, who knows how to lead instead of dictate. Very versatile, suitable for work and school as well as more special occasions, depending on how much you spray. Could easily be a recognisable all season signature scent. Stays on clothes for days, on skin for several hours. The drydown as it fades retains the unique soft DNA. 10/10 in my book. Similar to: Althair

Honest opinion: I ordered this when it first came out in about February 2025 and I was truly disappointed because it smelled horribly synthetic almost like sharpies and gave me a headache every time I smelled it. Fast forward to October of 2025 I let it sit on my shelf over the summer and when I picked it up and sprayed it, I was amazed by the beautiful scent it had become. An amazing natural vanilla orange creamsicle with some amazing fall winter/spices. Gets so many compliments and I get about 5-8 hours of longevity depending if I spray it on my skin or my clothes. I 100% recommend this for anyone looking for a fall or winter fragrance especially if you can find it at a good price(should be no problem) I got mine for around $45.

A sugary, vanilla scent with some cinnamon is how I can explain this. If you want to smell like cinnabon cinnamon buns, please buy this. A great dupe to the OG, for a fraction of the price. I have never tried Liquid brun, but from what I hear this Khadlaj dupe is alot more smooth. Longevity, ok, projection, ok. Mass appealing scent. DO NOT OVERSPRAY. Very sweet. Perfect in the fall, those cold evenings where you want to smell nice, this is what you need. A cozy, warm and gourmand fragrance perfect for school (IF YOU DONT OVERSPRAY), and to sleep in! All these positives, yes I know it may seem I am glazing it. It does smell, quite basic. No overly unique drydown and I can link the doctors office smell with this. 😂

@Atremashhad Art of nature 2 is very good, maybe like 85% close to Althair. To my nose Island Vanilla Dunes is 95% closer, the opening is more alcoholic but it's understandable for this price but after that they became so similar that you cannot distinguish which one is which. Also to add the fact that Art of nature 2 it's not very long lasting, atleast on my skin is like 7-8 h. maximum yet even that is good for the price. You can buy Art of nature 2 to replace Althair, most people will not underdstand that you're using clone fragrance. I have Althair, Liqud Brun , Art of Nature 2 and Island Vanilla Dunes, they are all redundant to each other but I just love this (Althair) DNA.

This stuff is absolutely phenomenal. Just bought a 2 combo with island dreams, and from first impressions vanilla dunes is definitely the winner. It feels like im in the desert, reaching an arabian mosque and I smell a candle there. Warm, invting, calm, cinnamon vanilla with cardamom. It feels like what PDM Althair would smell like (even though Ive never smelled it) with its own arabian twist to it, unlike a 1 to 1 that Liquid Brun achieves and does. Also at the back of the box it says it has...lavender as a top note? Which has not been listed here on fragrantica, but I could smell it right at the start of the opening. Also it leans more male, its not unisex!

As a Malaysian, my sister said that I smell edible and like Kuih Akok 😂. Anyway it smell really good tho as it project from my skin and doesn't need to wait for the dry down because the opening is also great. As on clothes it smell is bjt weird for me and need to wait for the dry down to make it smell better. Anyway for me it's a great blind buy for me for the scent and longevity. My tips is to let is macerate first for a month because in early use the citrus and orange smell is a bit overpowering and after maceration it become smoother and the vanilla will become more prominent.

This dupe of PDM Althair smells pretty incredible. I was worried it'd be one of those cloyingly sweet vanilla fragrances but it's more of a dry dusty sand dune kind of vanilla. It has a bright citrus and pie spice floral opening that slowly goes through multiple phases like the sweet orange blossom phase, a boozy smoky woods phase, then when we finally get to the actual base the woods take on a slightly sweet nuttiness along with musky amberish warm. It never felt too heavy, making me rethink just how many days a year this could actually be worn in my desert climate.

My signature fragrance, would love to try the OG but this one is genuinely so delicious so I don't mind rocking this forever. In my head it smells like a sugar cookie sprinkled with cinnamon, vanilla, and a dash of orange blossom. Ridiculously inviting, warm, and intimate. I can see why it was hyped up to death on TikTok, and it quickly became my all time favorite for a good reason. If you're a gourmand, vanilla, or orange blossom lover pick this up ASAP! Easy 10/10 from me, love this scent to death and it makes me wanna try liquid brun and the OG pdm so bad. ^_^