Vanagloria

What a masterpiece this fragrance is. It’s a challenge to interpret, to capture everything its artistry can evoke. Incense, vanilla, sacred, and profane—but there’s more, something deeper that draws you in. Every ingredient is measured to the milligram, like the brushstrokes of a master painter. The air is warm and thick, like an embrace that fills every corner of an abandoned church, where the dim nave light casts deep shadows. In the back, amidst the mysterious twilight, stands a beautiful, sensual woman, blonde with porcelain skin, emerging from the darkness. She wears a wide-brimmed black hat that conceals part of her face, but her sharp, elegant features peek through. The fragrance’s intensity mingles with the profane, intriguing atmosphere, like a secret dance that challenges the sacredness of the place. The scene is an ode to mystery and desire, suspended between the divine and the earthly. After a few hours, the fragrance settles into a pure, high-quality vanilla absolute that fills the air, strong and intense, like a whisper that never fades. The incense, now softer, leaves behind a trail of warmth and passion, like an indelible memory. The atmosphere thickens with timeless sensuality, an echo of desire that lingers, filling every space with its intensity as the vanilla continues to drift through the air, like a secret promise. Once again, Ropion’s artistry shines through.

Today is my second day wearing this. It puzzles me still at every spray. The opening of this one is very diabetic. Imagine caramelized pineapple soaked in vanilla custard which is delicious. But the incense makes it more dense and gives unbearable weight to the opening. I can only spray this on my arms or on the back of my neck. I won’t have the guts to spray this on my chest because I know this will suffocate me. This sensation stays for a while which is quite a challenge. But the dry down is to die for. I kept sniffing my arm and smelling wafts of it in the air. As pretty as it is, I think I will declutter this one since this is too sweet and dense for my liking. I still don’t understand why a few people think that this leans masculine. Maybe I missed the trend of men loving ultra sweet fragrance. To me, this is unisex leaning feminine. UPDATE 5 December 2022 Oh my... I fell in love with this after a week of wear. The weather (0 deg Celcius) suits the vibe of the perfume too. I now spray this under my ear. Love this! I’m glad I didn’t declutter it. UPDATE 11 January 2023 Since we are facing a hot winter in Western Europe, I realized that this perfume is not the most versatile regardless of its beauty. So, I decided to sell it on eBay. My heart breaks but I need to make space for juices that I can wear most days of the year.

Stunning vanilla. Master perfumer Dominique Ropion, created an Ode to Vanilla with both creations: Babycat, and Vanagloria. With Vanagloria, the first minute you may think: it’s too sugary sweet, but it turns right at you into a smoky/incense note that mixed with the vanilla, balanced off the sweetness of the opening. If you can’t find Babycat, don’t stress over that and get Vanagloria. To put it simple. Imaging both, Babycat and Vanagloria are from the same house. Vanagloria would be an Eau de Parfum, and Babycat, a Parfum. Same scent profile, same perfumer, same longevity. Projection is where I can see the difference. Vanagloria has a great longevity, and projection. 4-5 sprays Longevity: 8-10 hours. Projection: 2-3 feet for 1.5-2 hours, then pull back to a personal bubble. On hour 6-7 it’s closer to the skin. If you spray on clothes, it lives for free for ad few days or until you wash your clothes. Babycat is a bit bolder, and goes straight to the incense. 4 sprays Longevity: +10 hours. Projection: 3-4 feet for 2-3 hours, then pull back to 2 feet on hour 3. After hour 6, personal bubble. On hour 8-9 it’s closer to the skin. Quality: both of them are A+ in quality. Why pay an arm and a leg, or follow the hype of Babycat, when you can get Vanagloria for half of the price? I own both, and this was my humble opinion.

This scent (and Sebastian from The Perfume Guy on YT) has opened my mind to incense fragrances! Vanagloria is the most gorgeous, sweet incense, ambery-vanilla fragrance with a touch of saffron I have ever experienced. Alongside Babycat by YSL. I have sampled both during a holiday in Milan a couple of times before deciding to purchase Vanagloria and I personally find them very similar, especially in the dry down. This must be hands down one of the best incense-vanilla scents ever created! I have chosen Vanagloria because of the cost! And fun fact, Vanagloria was actually created first by Dominique Ropion, not Babycat. If anyone was curious, Laboratorio Olfattivo didn’t dupe YSL with this perfume. I need to add though that on me Babycat lasted a bit longer. Vanagloria last and projects very well and it’s such an intoxicating smell that I had to have. The mix between the incense and vanilla is pure heaven, very addictive. This fragrance is sultry, alluring, sexy. 100% unisex, I wear it happily and my husband does it too. As a side note, I own Rosendo Mateu No5 and I find it a total different fragrance than Babycat and Vanagloria. Stunning scent for fall and winter season. Very good juice, one of the best, if not the best, gourmand incensy fragrance on the market. Only for incense and vanilla lovers!

The initial opening is a little eeew! very strong incense/saffron, which I don't hate but will tolerate,, this strong opening dwindles quite quickly . Oddly , I don't detect much in the way of pineapple in the opening so assume it is very fleeting. The vanilla is absolutely stunning with a hint of smokiness and that tonka peaking through.. The projection to this is pretty big and at present this is still going very strong 3hrs into the wear. This is a beautiful scent for winter / fall .. Vanagloria is reminscent of Lune Feline and Absolute Aphrodisiac, Vanagloria being much more kinder on the bank balance though. It is a rich opulent sultry smokey vanilla .. Totally unisex, I would love to smell this on my man ;) Update - this fragrance has HUGE staying power. it literally lasts all day and even after showering I could still detect it on my skin... lots of compliments with this

Vanagloria was the first of Dominique Ropion's suede-incense-vanilla triumverate [Vanagloria-2021, Babcat-2022 and Eau the Audacity-2023], and in my view it holds the throne. Audacity is far too light and airy to fit this scent-profile, and Babycat, while appealing, is rather linear. Vanagloria is more nuanced, and sophisticated than either of its siblings. It envelops the wearer in a warm, cozy cloud of mysterious incense-vanilla. While projection is on the moderate side, it draws people in and lasts for hours. In my view it is a masterpiece of the perfumer's art, and accordingly deserves far more love that it has received in the frag community. Not a safe blind buy and probably best suited to fall-winter and evening wear. But I wear it year-round, day or night. Layered with Tonkade, a tonka-bomb also from Laboritorio Oflattivo,it becomes a revelation.

It really IS a potential substitute to BabyCat, the DNA is there, especially considering that the OG Babycat is discontinued and also more expensive, but there are a few differences: for me the opening is sweeter and milder, I guess it's the pineapple, in Babycat the peppers really hit your nose like a punch, and then it mellows down, Vanagloria has a bit softer introduction. However, the drydwon of Vanagloria on me feels VERY incense'y, like churchy-kind of incense'y, and I am wondering if that's cause I have sampled other sweeter more floral/feminine perfumes today and my nose is off, or is it really rougher, more masculine drydown, I get the vanilla but it's not so dominant. My Babycat decant is a bit far away right now to compare them in real time. Sample before you buy but of course if that's your type of perfume and notes it's excellent.

It’s wild to me that people say they can’t smell the pineapple in this, because for me it is by far the strongest note. Fresh sliced pineapple just now put under the broiler with some vanilla beans to caramelize. Smelled right on the skin, I get more incense, and that was almost a dealbreaker for me because I don’t like churchy perfumes... but in the air it’s this divine juicy caramelized pineapple with a hint of smoke and incense floating behind it and I LOVE IT. It’s completely unique. Full bottle for sure. I haven’t worn it in summer but honestly it feels like it would suit in warm but not humid weather... I want to wear it to explore colonial plazas and churches in Mexico City. To me, this bears absolutely no resemblance to Babycat other than they both have an incense note. The vanilla here is more subtle, too.

luxurious toasty vanilla that i got put onto after a tiktok creator suggested this one as a replacement (not dupe) for SDW's incarnate. it starts out super intense and the incense is a bit overwhelming, but let me tell you the payoff for that harsh opening is an edgy, boozy vanilla drydown like no other. it smells less like a catholic church and more like drinking a smoky old fashioned accompanied by a creme brulee in a dimly lit bar in chicago. while it scratches the same itch that incarnate does, Vanagloria is very different and i would say FAR more complex. I actually get compliments on this one, and the projection and longevity are both wonderful. i might have to live off of samples of this for now, but would love to own a full bottle of this once i've finished incarnate.

A brilliant take on vanilla, with a noticeable support of leathery saffron and tobacco-ish tonka and that manages to avoid the usual ultra sweet cliche. One can nearly feel the powdery feel of a vanilla bean just cut in two, bitter and woody. Some fruitiness in the top will be noticeable, but no worries, this time the pineapple accord is not really identifiable, and will not ruin this gem into a vulgar smelt-many-times-before thing. Same for the tonka, which result extra dry (no Chanel/Armani bro thing, no worries). Possibly the best expression of natural vanilla, but only who has already smelt a real vanilla bean will manage to fully appreciate (definitely not a Layton or Code styled pastry-like synthetic vanilla) A love for me.

I always love to try different variations of this DNA. My favorites are a tie between this beauty & Salas Bianco Eterno. I will admit, I found the opening of Vanagloria to be somewhat challenging due to the pineapple. Sometimes I find pineapple to be dusty and I experienced it here in the opening, but once the dry-down commenced I was immediately mesmerized. When it comes to this DNA Vanagloria is definitely the driest—The vanilla is more dry vs sweet, an inherent quality of Bourbon Vanilla. I truly appreciate how this makes it stand out from its counterparts. It has pretty good projection and creates a comforting cloud. I’d say it’s slightly less spicy than Babycat and lacks the burnt tire smell of Ros5. This is wonderful!!

I love the work of Dominique Ropion. I gravitate to a lot of his work without even realising. This is delicious. Liberty still sell the original and it’s still in production. There is a nod to Babycat for sure. They are not the same though. Focussing on Vanagloria this is sweet but not cloying, light but very present, airy but incense and vanilla forward. It’s got a play doh note that I like. This is a gourmand that is summer friendly because of the deft and subtle balance managed by Dominique Ropion’s mastery. I love this. I’ve had it in my collection for a couple of years and find myself reaching for it a lot recently. A clean confection. Restrained and beautiful. Lovely.

This is not a straightforward and immediate love when I first tried it on paper, but I gave it another go and sprayed it on skin and now I want a bottle. Smokey, leathery vanilla, combined with the sweet fruit note gave me tobacco vibes. It's a dark sexy vanilla, swirling in incense, with the pineapple cutting through it with some brightness. I'm not a huge fan of saffron or leather notes, but those are the notes that really stood out to me on the paper testing strip. However, the leather actually melds with warm skin really beautifully and the effect is surprisingly lovely. Wears well with good sillage and longevity. Great cold weather (and scarf) fragrance!

If you know Rosendo Mateu N5, remove a little bit of its strong sweet vanilla (it’s still sweet) and add incense. For those who haven’t smelled RM5, Vanagloria is such a forward thinking perfume... It’s 50% modern molecular sweetness and 50% incense. The combination is just perfection, and it has something addictive to it that makes it smell really different and modern. Try to imagine you dip an incense stick into sugar and add some weird molecules from 2056 Longevity and projection are way beyond normal perfumes. Packaging is wonderful, the bottle very heavy and the sprayer is top notch. This is sexy as hell.

I wanna smell like... Velvet. Warm and unctuous and unmistakable. This is a texture that purrs for plenty and steers others away. Whether it's rooted in foolish thought or not –– I own both the original Masters Collection formulation and the newly bottled Intense version. The former feels as though the Olibanum was dosed heavier, the latter as though it's been dialed back. Irregardless, either bottle the composition still lulls me. Never tried Baby Cat. Rosendo 5 (which I adore) is a gentler interpretation of Vanagloria. Either way, this fragrance is beyond a siren song –– it's a whole symphony.

Holy vanilla what a scent this is. This is a smoky vanilla all the way, so smooth and cozy, this is perfect for the cold weather! This stuff lasts all day long and projects really strong off my skin. I have smelled Babycat which i also wanted to buy but obviously they were out of stock unfortunately, but i have to say they smell really similar , if you're having trouble trying to get Babycat i would get this one and save some money unless you are a collector cause i think it doesn't make sense to own both.... Once I finish my bottle i'll be definitely picking up Babycat.

Damn, this is really gorgeous. Bought blindly upon reading it's similar to Babycat that I got hyped on and suddenly needed in my life. I got the 30ml from the official site (and got pleasantly surprised by the fast service btw) and now I'm thinking I should have gotten the 100ml. Anyways, the only one I can compare it to is Encens Suave. It's similar, but this is slightly more fruity - I expected to dislike the pineapple note, but it's humble caramelised presence fits this fragrance so well. And it's sexy, not so churchy as ES. 110% satisfied with this blind buy.

Sexy Dark Mysterious On the first notes you get the dark leather accord but it soon blends and fades into this rich, deep, and smoky vanilla. The vanilla smells very dark yet warm, and woody with a tiny bit of sweetness. One of the most intense, raw vanilla scents. Smelling this for the first time i pictured leather strips dipped in the darkest vanilla extract and enlaced with incense. This scent is totally unisex although i feel that it fits perfectly on a dominatrix. Wearing this fragrance i feel super confident and in control (also a bit bitchy).

If you want a vanilla scent that smells grown up this is for you. It is proof that you can make vanilla smell unisex. What makes it interesting is that despite its vanilla core, it smells very masterful and almost intellectual in a way. As if it is trying to reveal a secret about this ingredient. It manages to smell a little mysterious without immediately verging on erotic. This is great for when you want to smell hot and attractive but you don't want anyone to know that that was your intention.

It has been a minute since I have smelled a perfume and immediately fallen in love with it. I can't stop wearing this since I got the decant two days ago. The vanilla that sneaks through is gloriously surrounded by just enough smoke and incense. I love most any scent that has saffron, and this one opens with the right amount of saffron to suit me. Now that the weather here has turned to fall, this scent will definitely be the one I wear the most throughout the coming months.

I got a little free sample of this with a bunch of other samples that I ordered, and I think I like it more than all of the others lol. Starts off 50/50 vanilla and frankincense and slowly the incense fades and the vanilla just floats there forever. I wore it overnight, had a morning shower, and could still vaguely smell it. Awesome performance and really addictive unisex vanilla scent. Now to find somewhere to buy it in Australia. Even online I'm having trouble.

Vainilla y plástico nuevo es lo que percibo desde su salida hasta que se asienta en la piel. Cada que muevo el brazo me llegan ligeras ráfagas del aroma pero si nos ponemos objetivos, esto no es ninguna de las mejores vainillas en el mercado ni nada por el estilo. Es un aroma unisex, realmente no tiene género. Es un aroma y ya, como si lo compraras para tu auto. Creo que esta casa tiene un bombo publicitario.

It's wonderful. Understated, dry vanilla. Pineapple - what? where? And I've smelled way smokier/leatherier frags than this. I don't even know what to say about these supposed notes. Lasts all day without being loud. Soft sillage. A beautifully constructed perfume, it's sophisticated in it's subtlety. It works some magic on the skin and many hours in, it's still there as a quiet, confident, lovely complement.

A creamier, softer (still nuclear), vanilla-centric version of Babycat. To me, what differentiates the two; Babycat is more explosive, the woody, smokiness is more present and intoxicating. Vanagloria is more of a day scent - lunch date, work etc. - Babycat is more of a night time scent - the evening cold will make it a bit more sensual and less harsh in my opinion. Both phenomenal fragrances - 9.5/10

Holy vanilla! I feel in love with Babycat this year. Really strange as I have adamantly stated many times that I don't like saffron as it comes off oudy/leathery to me. I don't seem to mind it as much anymore if it's not the main note I smell. Vanagloria is Babycat without the black pepper and the vanilla is ampred up times × 100. I love this and will be getting a full bottle 💜.

I've only had a 2ml sample but after almost a year I still keep smelling the cap. Almost makes my eyes roll back, such a delicious smell. Hard to find in my country sadly. EDIT: By some twist of fate, I found a seller on a Facebook swap/sell page and got it within the week! Wore it for the first time last night and got multiple compliments. Good juice.

Why is this perfume so good? It easily got into my favorites. Mouthwatering, smoky, incense-like, dark vanila. Sweetness covered in smoke. Very refined scent. It tastes like a sweet dessert but it has some church vibes to it. Very intense, too. Great perfume to wear in fall, winter, cold weather. Nothing "sunny" about this. :)

A super resinous, incense fragrance. It's very good. A beautiful smoked vanilla and a hint of pineapple, along with creamy, smooth suede. Personally I think the pineapple wasn't needed but it does add to the smoothness of the suede. To me, the pineapple isn’t noticeable itself, but the sweetness definitely adds to the vanilla

One of the best vanilla fragrances I have ever smelt, perfect representation of my favourite note with this lightly burned background...oh lord. Definitely recommend to everyone who is enjoying vanilla scents with mild sweetness. Good job Dominique! Scent: 10/10 Sillage: 9/10 Longevity: 9/10 Presentation: 9/10 Overall: 9.5/10

I’m a huge DR fan. I didn’t realise I was but I notice I gravitate towards his creations and this is divine. It’s smooth and creamy. Vanilla/tonka and smoke. A fruity note that’s probably pineapple although it’s very ripe and sweet not sharp at all. This has no rough edges it’s blended beautifully and smells so lush. Yum

Was this reformulated? I have a 2024 bottle same packaging and it’s sweeter than my 2021 bottle. Immediately the pineapple and vanilla jump out then the olibanum. My older (almost empty bottle) was more olibanum heavy. I’m not unhappy, it’s gorgeous I’m just wondering if it’s me of if anyone else perceives a difference?

Use a light hand with this one. The first time I tried it I got rubber tires in the opening and it lasted...for eons. I tried it on my husband and same thing. With a light hand though, I'm sitting in a comforting bubble of creamy vanilla and wafting incense, a bit dry and austere but in a cozy sort of way. Gorgeous.

To my nose this is a sweeter and more vanilla forward Babycat. I don’t pick up the pineapple at all. Really enjoyable and couldn’t stop sniffing where I applied it. However, I can’t see the value in owning a full bottle of Vanagloria and Babycat at the same time, so I’ll stick with a decant of this for now.

I was really turned off by this at first, however, once it had dried down on my skin I found it irresistible. Sweet, smoky incense which gradually recedes as the most gorgeous vanilla becomes more prominent. I left the store disappointed and ordered one as soon as I got home an hour and a half later!

Discontinued from Laboratorio Olfattivo’s website. The new one is a Parfum Intense concentration, not Eau de Parfum. Another change: it’s no longer part of Master’s collection but the Extreme Collection. Who know if the formula has been tweaked.

A fantastic alternative to Babycat, with much better price, and way easier to get hands on (at least in my part of the world). Amazing vanilla saffron suede scent, with outstanding longevity. Definitely a sexy night scent in my opinion.

Amazing perfume. It is an experience and I love everything about it. It is very close to Babycat with much better pricing. It is not everyone's cup of tea but a profile anyone with interest in perfumes should own.

Ok, that’s it. This is the perfect YSL Babycat replacement 👋🏻 😃 Although, the opening is much sharper than with Babycat, overall it’s verrry similar. In the end, I prefer Vanagloria. Performance is also great!

Grainy frankincense encrusted with crystalline vanilla sugar and nose tingling saffron and pineapple. Amazing smell and a performance beast! Sexy on men and women alike!

Smokey Vanilla.. so smooth! If you find RM 5 opening is challenging try this!! This is similar with RM 5 in the dry down without the weird opening..

Beautifully crafted fragrance that exudes maturity and balance. The vanilla is neither too sweet nor overpowering, making it perfectly unisex.

@Jtaimeniche Almost right— Ropion makes Vanagloria over and over again. Vanagloria was first (and is the most interesting, if you ask me). 🖤✨

holy s**t it’s almost babycat with a plastic opening. i will definitely be enjoying this as i am not dropping $300+ on a bottle of babycat.

No need to say much, just a SEXY ASF vanilla fragrance. Probably in the top 3 best vanilla fragrances I've and you'll ever smell. 9,5/10

Horrible opening, unbelievably good dry-down. Ultimately it's full bottle worthy for me because that opening doesn't last very long.

Rubber tires spinning on pavement, twigs soaked in vanilla extract then set on fire, a wisp of incense in a dimly lit room.

So nice smells like pineapple upside down cake in the opening and on the dry down the saffron shines through beautifully

Total saffron bomb: light, airy, and very present. Gentle wafts of sweet pineapple. Mesmerising 🥰

This has become liquid gold to me. That's what it smells like. Just don't overspray it.

This is hands down the most captivating, sexy perfume I’ve ever encountered!