Vanilla Grapefruit

I have tried Vanilla/Coconut and Vanilla and enjoyed limited success with them. But I very much enjoyed the fragrance this mixture deployed. A Sephora SA suggested the grapefruit one to me after I had talked about the limited longevity of the other two I had tried. I was hesitant, but took her suggestion and gave this one a try. I was very pleasantly surprised. This one has staying power and a deliciously refreshing summer scent. A mix of vanilla and grapefruit, I never thought possible. Five hours into my initial spray, I wasn't bored at all. I was still enjoying LaVanilla Grapefruit. It doesn't matter what age you are to enjoy this light, airy fragrance for the summer or spring. When you want something unobtrusive, that has lasting power, yet is still light enough this just might be for you. The notes that stood out for me were lime, patchouli, bergamot and sandalwood. All in a delicious mix. Now this doesn't remind me of anything grapefruit at all. It's just a heavenly, dreamy, warm, inviting, creamy, vanilla. I'm an original Body Shop vanilla person and I adore true vanilla scents that blend well with the right notes. This one does and belies its name. Even tho I have the plain vanilla, I prefer this one called grapefruit. Go figure. A good sport fragrance, a leisure frag, a scent that that is just there to make you feel good. That's what this one is about. I doubt it's destined to be a powerhouse perfume, go down in history or be written in the annals of the history of decadent perfumes. But if you're longing for a feel-good scent in the warmer weather or one to go to bed and be cozy with, Vanilla Grapefruit might be your ticket.

I bought the eau de parfum, and I really love it. I am very attracted to vanilla scents, but I was unsure of how I would feel about the citrus. Let me just say that the vanilla and grapefruit together smell great. The vanilla is warm and rich; it’s not a cheap sweet, sticky smell. The grapefruit is light and refreshing, which gives the perfect kick to start off my day. When I first spray the perfume, the aroma of citruses is very present, and I can faintly smell the creamy, inviting vanilla lingering behind the bitter grapefruit. However, the citruses fade rather quickly on my skin, about 1 hour or so after applying. The vanilla, on the other hand, is definitely the star in this perfume and lasts for many hours. When the perfume is sprayed on my clothing though, the citrus scent will persist for a while longer than when it is on my skin. I also love how this perfume is not packed with so many ingredients and chemicals and that the simplicity of the scent does not compromise the uniqueness of this perfume. It’s light enough to wear on a daily basis and is so inviting. My only wish is that the citrus would last longer or at least have a better blend with the vanilla. I have also tried on the Pure Vanilla, which is deliciously creamy and warm, but I prefer the Vanilla Grapefruit because the splash of citrus adds some texture to the vanilla and is a heavenly combination—it’s the best of both worlds. Definitely give this perfume a try. 5/5

THERE IS NO PATCHOULI IN THIS. There is also ZERO PATCHOULI in Lavanila's Pure Vanilla scent. Just go to their official website and read the dang notes/ingredients. I love patchouli, I have a bunch of straight patchouli oils as well as fruit-chouli fragrances, so trust me when I say that there has been a mistake. Okay. Sorry 'bout that. Vanilla Grapefruit is a good year-round scent but it is very sweet, so if you can't do big sweetness in summer, take note. I love this scent because it goes through a truly surprising transformation, as other reviewers have observed. It starts out edible pretty, and naturally sweet grapefruit, but before long it transforms into a delicious vanilla pastry supported by a detectable level of milky sandalwood, with all citrus at a minimum. My boyfriend LOVES the drydown, and always compliments me when he leans in close. Longevity and projection are both good. This is the very first fragrance where I did that thing that so many people on this site have talked about: Smelling something great yet mysterious, and then realizing that something, is you! I was riding the subway and thinking, "wow! Someone smells insanely good. What are the odds that I should be seated next to a fellow vanilla lover..." Then on a hunch, I raised my wrist to my nose and went, "I don't believe it. It was me all along." I actually laughed out loud. Love you Vanilla Grapefruit! A multi-layered pastry directly from heaven.

I am so weird! I set out to choose between Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere and V&R Flowerbomb La Vie en Rose. At Macy's I sprayed both on either wrist and set off to do some more shopping. The guy helping me actually caught up with me and tried pushing Alien Extraordinare, which is also nice so I sprayed in on my inner elbow! Then I went into Sephora and my little distractible by perfume mind got side-tracked yet again, and I started sniffing around the Hermes line. I'm so glad I decided to get samples of some of the ones I thought I'd love instead going for a FB of anything. But then, I saw the Lavanila.....the rest is history! I have Guerlain AA Pamplelune and I do like it a lot. However, that is a summer citrus blast where this is probably more year round. The top notes are juicy red grapefruit that morph into a lime-esque citrus. It is so nice and would lead one to believe it's a summer only scent. But the dry down is a magnificent vanilla that is so rich and beautiful. I agree that it's something for vanilla lovers who want something with an added twist. The grapefruit does make it unique and luscious but then the vanilla becomes velvety and sweet. With such a huge range of options on my mind today, I have to admit, I'm shocked I left with this above all the others! But it is so modern and delicious at the same time. I am positive I will love it for years to come.

This is such an uplifting perfume with the citrus and warm, comforting vanilla that envelopes you in its embrace. I also love that the ingredients are all natural - no synthetics to get it the way or induce headaches! The only qualm I have with this fragrance is that it's just on the verge of being too sickly sweet when I wear it. It makes me feel sick to the stomach if I haven't eaten in awhile, but I am a reactive hypoglycemic with an incredibly fast metabolism, so I think that may be the reason why I can't stand fragrances that are too sweet/foodie, because I'm ALWAYS hungry. :/ But, I digress. This is a lovely perfume with an ingenious combination of notes. I haven't smelled anything like it, and it always makes the sun shine a little brighter! It's so comforting, I can imagine wearing this on a warm, summer day under an citrus tree reading a book and feeling the warm breeze caress my face. EDIT: Yesterday I wore this, and on my way to my family's house, I kept thinking about fresh donuts, and when I arrived, my little sisters kept commenting on how it smelled like fresh, delicious donuts and melting marshmallows. I put two and two together and let them smell my arm, and we all realized what it was - this perfume! This has GOT to be my next perfume purchase (as I have a small sample of it right now). In love!

I’ve been much more impressed with the Lavanila line than I expected to be. Of the 7 Lavanila fragrances I have tested so far, I enjoyed 4 of them enough to place them on my want list. And Vanilla Grapefruit is easily one of those wants. Grapefruit is one of those notes in a perfume that I can usually take or leave – it’s rarely a make it or break it note. So I didn’t necessarily expect to feel strongly about Vanilla Grapefruit...but I love it! The combination of grapefruit and juicy lime is wonderful on the rich vanilla base. There is something just a hint masculine that balances out the sweetness, yet I don’t hesitate to describe this overall as warm, feminine, and even sensuous. This is a delicious yet sophisticated offering...I couldn’t think of a more appropriate category for this than citrus gourmand. And despite the gourmand quality, it is still a grown-up scent. This fragrance is inviting, tropical, and zesty – I would almost say I smell a bit of coconut in the creamy base. I would definitely choose Vanilla Grapefruit over Lavanila’s more recent offering, Vanilla Summer. Although the latter contains more of the typical tropical notes, Vanilla Grapefruit does a better job of capturing that warm, relaxing, tropical vacation feel. Delicious!

This is such a delicious fragrance! I am not a big fan of gourmand fragrances tend to go for more fruity or fresh scents, especially if they are citrusy. I got a sample of this and figured I'd like it due to the grapefruit, but I love the vanilla!! On me the vanilla is very prominent and the citrus makes a short appearance at the beginning. I put it on yesterday out of the shower after I had already applied a bath and body works vanilla lotion. I came downstairs and from far away my fiance said I smelled sweet (he's particular about scents, he tends to like sweet perfumes). This was at 2 and when I got back home around 9 he commented and said that he could still smell the vanilla and that it smelled nice. I have many sweet perfumes and this is the first he's commented on. It is strong though, so he advisesd to not overdo it. I personally love it, it is the purest most natural vanilla perfume that I have and I could still smell it on my chest the next morning. It is feminine and the citrus helps give it an edge. Amazing, will purchase soon w/lotion! Please note that the vanilla lotion I layered with it hardly has any lasting power or smell, so it had nothing to do with the sillage/longevity of the perfume.

Citrus and Vanilla are two of my favorite notes so I blind bought the rollerball size of this and have no regrets. It's not a complicated or sophisticated perfume but it makes me happy. It opens with a zest of grapefruit and then the vanilla comes in to mellow it out. The grapefruit morphs into more of a bright orange which is fine with me and I do agree with other reviews that it can smell like an orange creamsicle as it dries. It's refreshing, bright, and creamy but I don't find it obnoxiously sweet. It reminds me of sunshine. Like I'm basking in the morning rays while enjoying sorbet. I like to wear this year round, especially in the fall and winter because it reminds me that the sun will be back out again. It's the only fragrance my boyfriend has said anything about so far as he's complimented it twice. It's not signature scent status for me but I do tend to wear it often. For it's price, I find the longevity to be decent. I can usually get six hours of wear from it. I wouldn't write home about the projection but if you're next to me, you'll smell it. I plan on purchasing the full bottle when the roller is out.

UPDATE: (04/03/2010) I kept trying this and it's really starting to grow on me. I layered the rollerball version with Fantasy spray (one of the few I ever have received compliments on) and that for me was a winning combination. The lavanila with it's vanilla and grapefruit notes rounds out the Fantasy and tones down the sweetness of it just a tad. I found it a beautiful layering combo and had 3 men sniff me the night I was out and told me I smelled wonderful:) I was disappointed. Maybe it's just my chemistry, but I didn't get ANY citrus zing or crispness. It is a very warm spicy scent on me and I can't see wearing this on a hot day, as it would seem too heavy and cloying. When it dries down, it does soften some, but at the same time fades out to where I can't barely even smell it. Which I thought was odd for an oil based roller-ball. Based on the reviews I was hoping for something that was unique, didn't need to be refreshed every couple hours and had the perfect blend of citrus without smelling like a fruit salad and vanilla without smelling like a spicy oriental...guess I have to keep on searching:)

I make no pretense about my obsession with vanilla fragrances. The biggest issue that comes with loving such scents is finding ones with unique notes blended into a vanilla base to keep it from being too saccharin and sickly sweet. Vanilla Grapefruit is one of the most beautiful vanilla scents I own. It is like Shalimar's sweeter, cuter teenage sister. The scent opens with a bite of pink citrus and settles into more of a lime note. You get more of the cedar wood notes in the drydown but the vanilla softens it and keeps it sweet and delicious. The vanilla note is not a super foody cupcake vanilla, nor is it a flat powdery floral vanilla-- more of a true vanilla bean pod freshly opened. It is extremely creamy and smells absolutely gorgeous once the scent has been worn for a few hours. For those that want to capitalize on the "freshness" of grapefruit, this is not for you. This fragrance errs much more on the side of gourmand than zesty citrus and the grapefruit note becomes more of a backdrop for the vanilla. But if you love vanilla scents with a twist, this is for you.

About 15 years ago, I discovered LaVanila at Sephora and started using their natural deodorants. Vanilla Grapefruit was my favorite, so I purchased a rollerball of the fragrance. I used it occasionally until I forgot about it, and it sat in a drawer with other perfume samples. I recently started purging my fragrances and figured this would be discarded. I mean, it’s over a decade old. Yet, I rolled it on, and it was still the scent I remembered. Maybe even better, richer. It’s not a cloying sweet vanilla, but a deep, well-balanced citrus vanilla. I don’t get any strong woody notes from the cedar, unlike an earlier reviewer who said her bottle has become more cedar-forward with age. In the 15 years since I first purchased it, I’ve become more adept at layering and feel this would be a great fragrance to layer with some of my screechier florals that tend to be ignored. Also, it has great longevity and good sillage.

I love this so much. I keep a rollerball of it in my drawer at work so I can freshen up. It's very safe for work, and layers very well with Dolce & Gabbana Devotion, Sand + Fog Vanilla Musk, or Aquolina Pink Sugar. My boyfriend who hates musky or Oriental scents including all of my favorites (Angel, Hypnotic Poison, Fendi, etc.) said to me when I asked him to smell my wrist,"This is a good compromise." meaning he doesn't hate it and won't make comments about the way I smell. I would say that makes it safe to wear just about everywhere. This scent makes me feel comforted and positive. Not the greatest longevity but it's not expensive and there is always someone selling it for a good price on eBay so I am always stocked up.

I bought this before I joined Fragrantica a few years ago at Anthropoligie. I know that I tested all four of the Lavanila frags - and fell in love with this one. However, I had no idea what I was buying at the time. So, I put the bottle in where I store my fragrances, in a shoe box in an a/c closet. Then I moved, and couldn't find the box. So, the other day I was looking for a certain pair of shoes, and found the whole box of perfumes I thought had been lost in the move. So, I got my Lavanila Vanilla Grapefruit bottle back, and I love it just as much as ever. The grapefruit cuts the sweetness of the vanilla. It's a perfect summer fragrance, fresh but not too sweet.

this fragrance is soooo addicting, i had never seen the combination of grapefruit/lime with vanilla before but it really does work if you enjoy sweet citrus scents! it genuinely smells like key lime pie on the skin, the grapefruit is fleeting and the heart notes leave you with the beautiful dance of lime and vanilla. it’s so rich and smells almost custardy on my skin at room temperature, i immediately crave something sweet as soon as i apply it LOL this feels like a very That Girl perfume, if i smelled somebody else wearing this at an event or at the club or something i’d just HAVE to ask what it is, my nose is addicted and i can’t keep from smelling myself!!

I discovered this scent after a blind buy from Sephora. It's my favorite of the Lavanila line. I purchased the rollerball and loved the combo of fresh and sweet (as did my beau-- he once commented, "mm, is this your secret?" Another side note, studies on scent have shown most men respond positively to vanilla and grapefruit. Of course, I realize every person is different and processes scents individually!) I bought the full spray to add as a companion to my rollerball, and I was surpisingly disappointed. I have no idea why the rollerball and spray differ so much on me. The rollerball is cheaper, though, and so easy to transport, so it all turned out good!

Lavanila Grapefruit rollerballs—my two daughters would beg me for them in the checkout line at Sephora back when first released in 2007. It was a scent upon which we all agreed, somehow both mouthwateringly fresh AND cozy. Like my Norah Jones debut CD, there’s no telling how many of these I bought through the years as mine kept disappearing into bookbags en route back to my ex-husband’s house. This prescient, gourmand vanilla perfectly showcases zesty citrus, and feels very much of the moment nearly two decades later. It is a delicious journey down an olfactory path hardwired to some of my most precious memories.

Mmmmm...creamy grapefruit. This will not be a zesty, candy-like fragrance. If you want that, you should look at Babydoll by YSL. This is a lot more natural, soft, and clean. As for some comments about not being able to smell the grapefruit etc...if you smell the other fragrances first and compare, the grapefruit will be easily noticeable. So that tells you that when you are wearing this fragrance, other people who might not be into sour scents might not even realize you are wearing grapefruit. I am one of the people who does NOT like tart perfume. Lavanila makes grapefruit extremely wearable and natural.

Oh my goodness I'm obsessed with this fragrance! I need to purchase a full bottle ASAP. The grapefruit is pretty strong in the opening but quickly dries down to a more blended vanilla/sugar/grapefruit scent. It makes me think of roasted grapefruit topped with caramelized brown sugar and vanilla bean ice cream. There's a tiny hint of lime in there as well. This is just a unique scent I haven't really smelled before. I'm not generally into citrus scents as they can go quite alcoholic on me, but this just blends to a very sweet, innocent scent. Almost powdery in the drydown, or perhaps milky. Give it a try!

Just found this in the oil version. I recently bought the coconut one from QVC and am still paying it off, when of course i went to TJ Maxx and found Lavanila perfume for 19.99 (which is the equivalant of 1 qvc payment) and the roll on oil for 9.99. TJ Maxx has great buys on perfume just that its hit or miss. Anyway I digress, I didn't think I would like the grapefruit but its very subtle , vanilla is much more dominant, i even like it better than the coconut which is surprising since i always love coconut, so i was very happy to get this one on my shelf!

For reference: I’m a woman in her late 40’s. I originally got this as a sample size, but liked it enough to buy a larger size. Opens with a powerful grapefruit note and light vanilla. Dries down to a soft, fresh, citrusy, vanilla. Nice fragrance trail of a few feet for the first hour, then is more intimate. Lasts for 2-3 hours on skin. Lavanila makes my favorite vanilla scents, so far. I have this one (Vanilla Grapefuit), as well as Vanilla Coconut and Pure Vanilla. They just smell yummy and last a good while, unlike most that fade pretty quickly.