Vanille Givree de Antilles

La Maison de la Vanille showcases the world's greatest vanillas, from Madagascar, Tahiti, Mexico, Réunion, and the Caribbean. I've used up several bottles of Givree and I may just buy another one of these days. Vanille Givrée is a type of cured vanilla pods(in this case "Caribbean" vanilla) used for spice and fragrance. When dry vanilla pods are stored properly in arid conditions at the right temperature, vanilla is exuded from the pod, and it crystallizes. The crystallization is called Givrée"(or "cristallisée"), and it indicates that there is enough moisture to keep flavor in the preserved pods. These pods are considered to be the most outstanding of commercially preserved vanillas for scent and appearance, because they retain the most intense, and delicate fragrance. They don't necessarily have the best flavor, and are usually used by chefs for garnish. On me, Givree, as a perfume, is the heaviest of all LMvlVs, it has the most sillage, and it's the deepest. I was surprised to see that patchouli isn't mentioned in the notes here on Fragrantica, because I think the patchouli in Givree is nearly as potent as the vanilla! For me this is all about vanilla-patchouli, and I don't notice any mainline floral notes, such as are in Tahiti and Tropiques. The Maison-de-la-Vanille website lists Givree's notes as Bergamot, Tangerine, Lavender, Rose, Tuberose, Vanilla, Patchouli, Oppoponax, and Tonka Bean, so there must be a little patchouli in there. I notice heavy Tonka in Mexique, but I notice only hints of Patchouli in Mexique, but the fragrances have several notes in common. I feel Givree des Antilles is the least "gourmand" of the 5 vanillas, and the most Oriental. I can see why people notice similarities to Angel, because the vanilla and patchouli are prominent, but the rest of this fragrance is milder, warmer, and much creamier than Angel. Givree stays sweet on me, but Angel definitely does not. Givree is a feminine, womanly, alluring fragrance that radiates a boldness not found in the others from this line. With all that patchouli, this is a "sexy" type scent for me. If my husband liked vanilla fragrances, I'd be happy to wear it on date nights, but NOooo, he likes violet and jasmine...sigh.

Vanille Givree de Antilles opens on me as pure and sweet honey, despite not being a listed note, with a slight beeswax tinge. It remains this way through most of the scent’s progression. I am surprised that I haven’t read reviews referencing honey because it is definitely the stand-out element to me. I know that other notes must be combining to create this honey-esque vibe. I can definitely get the patchouli and vanilla combination though and, as I’ve come to expect of this set, it’s great. I think they must be the main notes creating this mock-honey note for me. After about half an hour the honey-esque element soften a bit and it freshens up a touch with, what I believe to be, a subtle bergamot and lavender combination. Many people have compared this to Angel, which was bound to happen with a patchouli/vanilla combo, but it’s much softer and subtler than Angel. It’s a lighter, warmer and happier scent in my opinion than Angel. The patchouli darkens and deepens as it goes on and the Tonka bean comes into play. It’s a touch powdery and rather earthy, almost woody, which gives it a natural feel. I don’t really get any floral notes, maybe tuberose, but I do get a slight whiff of oppoponax in the base which gives it a touch of mystery. It’s elegant and soothing. It’s a sweet scent but not too much so. It smells of smiles and sunlight and the colour yellow and happiness in a bottle. It’s easily wearable. It reminds me of Chuck from Pushing Daisies. I don’t get much vanilla from Antilles to be honest but I think this set is making perfumes based around vanilla.

One of my all time favs. Originally bought it for $5 years ago when Sephora was discontinuing it. I've repurchased two times. This starts as a bright, sunshiney, sweet citrus mixed with vanilla. A vanilla that smells like straight vanilla extract, but not sweet like cake. As it warms up, the Tonka and patchouli and myrrh meld together in such a perfect way, that I can't detect their individual notes. To me, the Tonka and myrrh seem stronger than the patch. I'm a patchouli lover and I can barely smell it in this. I mean it's there, but it's blended so nicely that I barely notice it. This perfume garners compliments ever time I wear it. If you like vanilla and sweet citrus, it's a must try. It's Not cloying or food like. My big issue is it turns after about a year. What was once a light and bright vanilla turns into a skanky, heavy syrup. The bottles are painted with a metallic silver and are impervious to light, and I keep my perfumes in a dark room away from humidity. So buyer beware. I think if you smell a well worn tester, you won't get the original brightness and lightness I love so much about it. Next purchase I'm going to try and get a smaller bottle as it's a waste. Also I hate Angel and I see no similarities on my skin between the two.

Since I have worn Thierry Mugler Angel edP almost every day since 1994, I know exactly what Angel smells like...and honestly this does smell very similar, but with a few differences. The initial spray of Givree de Antilles, on my skin, is a little sour (and not in the best way). Luckily within mins the sourness goes away and Angel edP makes its grand entrance. It stays very close to Angel for a while and then a very warm and cozy toasty cocoa notes comes in and stays. I would not say I like this more than Angel, but I like it A LOT and is a very happy Blind Buy. If you want a softer, less patchouli smelling Angel, this might be perfect for you. Like with ALL fragrances this is very unisex, but of course there are some scents that are more unisex than others....and this is 100% unisex.

daje con la vaniglia! anche questa, come le altre de la maison, ha la sua personalità. stavolta c'è vaniglia sì, ma anche fave di tonka e patchouli. un accordo più caldo e resinoso, rispetto agli altri della famiglia, peraltro assai simile al blasonato Angel di TM (noto come primo profumo gourmand mai pensato). a differenza di quest'ultimo peò, in cui spicca una caratteristica nota di cioccolato amaro, la vaniglia delle Antille è più monocorde, meno complessa ma godibilissima. la persistenza è notevole così come il sillage. molto buono.