Vanille West Indies

I tried this ten years ago, as I adore the brand, and have been using the line since at least 2010. It’s been frustrating to see their prices raise so quickly, as this was never cheap, I think it was around $130-150 at the time. It’s now close to $200, but if you compare that to a Tom ford, a kilian, even van cleefs orchard vanille, they are all more expensive, (though yes, you get more bang for your buck w van cleefs). I think the two reasons I never bought this was because I was also semi interested in van cleefs vanille, but am one of the most indecisive people out there. Also, I found it a bit too sweet, and didn’t realize the caramel note but now after being more aware of it, I see why, I don’t hate caramel. But I don’t want it to be the star. I think it had 60/40 vanilla:caramel ratio. Still, it’s over 10 yrs later and remains as something as I think I must own, for the sake that it’s HTF and it isn’t like a lot of vanillas out there (I’ve tried most of the comparisons, with indult and carmello vanilla by new notes as the final two I haven’t sampled yet, need to order CV, and will try indult tonight after I shower. S Noire seems to resemble V.W.I. very closely, in fact, I may like it more, it smells amazing on my skin, it’s not cloying and smells like a perfect sugary vanilla without going into gourmand territory where I find it nauseating. It’s hard to tell w out a current sample of V.W.I., but I plan on building my own vanilla collection, it will just take some time, as I can’t afford all the wonderful perfumes on my wish list all at once. The other one with most similarities is Vanigilia by Mazzolari and really like it, but its longevity and silage lack in comparison to what V.W.I. carries and priced similarly, so at least with V.W.I., unless the formulation changed, it should remain rather strong and thick, and project the way I want. I think Vaniglia would work better in spring and summer as it’s not nearly as heavy as what I recall V.W.I. to be. If I had unlimited funds, I’d buy both, but for now, I am going with the one that’s stuck with me all these years. I imagine it will smell quite heavenly in these colder months ahead, and if sprayed with a coconut frag over it in the warmer months, it could smell like a coco vanilla dream.

Vanille West Indies is a beautiful, warm, cozy, creamy, delicious, gooey, caramel & vanilla fluffy cloud. Nothing in this composition is synthetic smelling. VWI smells like a photorealistic vanilla bundt cake that came straight out of the oven – not overly sweet but the perfect amount of sweetness and density that you just want to eat the whole cake. It’s drizzled with warm caramel sauce on top that seeps through the cake making it super moist. It’s not a decadent vanilla & caramel cake but think of a fluffy vanilla bundt cake that has that full bodied vanilla flavour. Also I find there is a lactonic quality to it which gives it this creamy milky touch - think of those creamy caramel squares & white chocolate being melted at low heat. In the dry down it very much does remind me of the scent that Cabbage Patch Dolls had - a powdery creamy vanilla scent. VWI is in the same wheelhouse as Outremer Vanille & Mazzolari Vaniliga however Outremer Vanille lacks the sillage & longevity and Vaniligia is more vanilla dominant, it's sweeter & the orchid note is more prominent (which gives off a bit of a synthetic vanilla vibe - but in the best way possible). This fragrance is oil based so it will last awhile on skin however the sillage & projection is moderate. Regardless, VWI is in my top most complimented fragrances ever. Yes - vanilla is perfect for those cooler days however I find that it radiates beautifully in the heat & layers perfectly with other vanilla fragrances because it’s not overpowering but people will be wondering where is the vanilla cake that they are smelling is coming from. VWI is in my top 5 vanilla fragrances of all time. I’m already on my 2nd bottle and I’ve only had it for just over a year. If you are a vanilla lover or know anyone who loves vanilla, don’t hesitate to blind buy this. You wont be disappointed!

So, I've been on a quest for several months now to procure a few different vanilla-centric fragrances. I love Bianco Latte (although the last few 100 ml bottles I bought didn't smell as delightful as the first 3-4 bottles). I like Profumum Roma "Gioiosa." I LOVE Jovoy "Fire At Will." I like to change things up and try different fragrances. Not sure why but I held off sampling Vanille West Indies until recently. There was something in the majority of reviews, as well as in the listing notes that created reluctancy on my part to try out this fragrance. So, IMHO this fragrance is really quite delightful! And despite my anticipation that Vanille West Indies would be just like all the other vanilla fragrances I own, or have sampled...it is NOT similar at all. For whatever reasons, I would place VWI in a vanilla class all by itself! It's hard to describe but VWI opens with a strong and prominent, clearly identifiable vanilla note but wears in a fluffy, ethereal, veil-like manner. The fragrance is vanilla-forward but the overall feeling of the fragrance is translucent and dreamy. The vanilla notes in this fragrance are not thin, or ethereal, or veil-like. The vanilla is front-stage present. But the fragrance never feels thick, heavy, or suffocating. And the base does develop some powderiness; however, the powdery note is never thick, nor does it overtake the vanilla and orchid notes. And like the mimosa in Fire At Will, I think the addition of orchid adds a nice dimension to this fragrance. Wish the price point wasn't as high as it is for a full bottle. Love it! May try snagging a full bottle!!

This is DIVINE, if you are looking for a concentrated, straightforward, decadent vanilla with no artificial aftertaste. There are no other big players here to distract from the comforting, cozy, sweet vanilla. It is MY perfect vanilla. What a joy to have found it at last after many decants of wrong vanillas. There many fragrances out there in this vein - Outremer Vanilla (yuck, so chemically and cheap), Sucre Noir (very “white”, less rich and deep, quite short-lived ), Vaniglia Mazzolari (a twin to Sucre noir, juice from a test-tube, not from the vanilla pod), Tihota (the strong, nose-tickling musk ruins the vanilla), etc. Some are cheaper, some are more expensive. However, none of them are Vanille West Indies. No, there is no dupe to this gorgeous scent. They all fall short. If you have tested vanillas, you know that subtle nuances make a world of difference and can make or break your enjoyment of a fragrance. Vanille West Indies is pure perfection to my taste. The juice is rich in oil, so it sticks around and creates a beautiful trail. I crave this classy, gorgeous fragrance, and next time I restock it, I am buying two bottles. Why not? It is the queen of all vanillas in my book. If you are looking for a fabulous, uncomplicated, unadulterated vanilla that smells of QUALITY, this is it. A must-try, if you are on a vanilla-testing bender. This may just be your dream vanilla. Imagine that!

If you're a vanilla lover like me, this one is definitely worth the hype. It's luscious, pillowy vanilla warmth that never gets too sweet or cloying. It melds into your skin and projects a delicious warm and huggable vanilla caramel. Similar to Tihota, but Tihota still wins for me. This is a beautiful runner up though, more caramel and sweet, a touch floral, where Tihota ranges into more dry vanilla extract territory, leaning slightly darker than this. I tried St Barth's against my sample of Mazzolari Vaniglia and yep. They are the exact same scent, I couldn't tell them apart at all. The smallest difference between the two was that St Barth's stayed melded with my skin chemistry, while I could tell Vaniglia was lightly fading away. I also found Vaniglia to have more orchid in the opening. Sometimes I find that Vaniglia can get too cloying once in a while, but I haven't found that with St. Barth's so far. After wearing this one for a few weeks now I think I'm a little bit anosmic to an ingredient in here because after about an hour or so, I find it barely noticeable unless I press my nose right into my wrist or if a scarf I'm wearing has rubbed against it. The same thing happened with my Bourbon Vanille. A shame because I live for these types of vanillas!

As a self-professed vanilla junkie, I knew I had to get my hands on this after reading the amazing reviews. It was yet another blind buy (from Beautyhabit), and an absolutely stellar one at that. The others are right - Vanille West Indies is amazing, and I believe an absolute must for any vanilla lover. It’s quite sweet - sweeter than what I had imagined, and I’m more than okay with that because it’s a high quality sweet. Smooth, rich - no sharp edges here. There’s no synthetic sweetness, nor are there any bad moments in this beauty. From start to finish, you get quality. I’m really not great at discerning various notes, however my husband walked in the house and the first thing he said was ‘it smells amazing in here, what is that? Is that chocolate?’ So that leads me to my two next and final points: this does actually smell like chocolate, and the projection is fantastic. I had only sprayed one spray on my wrist, and he smelled it as soon as he walked in the door. Yes and yes! I am always searching for that one vanilla that will steal my heart. Ladies, I believe this is it. Highly recommend, and highly recommend as a safe blind buy for all vanilla lovers, or lovers of rich, sweet, quality perfume. So glad I got my hands on this.

I walked into my favorite Seattle niche perfume store, and walked out with one single spritz to the wrist of Vanille West Indies. Three hours and 4 compliments later — including one from my husband who has turned into quite a harsh perfume critic (he has to be since he lives with me and must put up with my constant obsession) — I’m warming up to the idea of adding this to my collection. It’s not too sweet, unique or challenging in any way. It doesn’t make me think of cake or dessert. It smells like a dry “sweet” if that makes sense. It’s now 28 hours later. I have gone out to happy hour, walked the dogs, gone grocery shopping, washed up for sleep, slept in it for 7 plus hours, had breakfast and I’m still picking up this devine, creamy sweet vanilla. Kind of remarkable albeit it’s a skin scent, it’s still with me and my dry, perfume sucking skin. On the higher end of the price I like to pay too. Oh well, I have a new addiction.

Probably the best vanilla perfume. It's is photorealistic, straightforward, vanilla. No lactonic-ness, no caramel. Vanilla, and maybe a little vanilla island flower if that makes sense. I'd say, it is not worth the price. It doesn't last too long unless it's on clothes, but due to it's oiliness, it's risky because it will leave a grease stain. However, when I am able to spray a lot of it without fear of staining clothes (the scent performs great on synthetic fabrics where it will live for like three washes, but any cotton thing will get stained), I get a lot of compliments. People say it smells like mini eggs, or baking. Like it's great, but again it's so oily. Probably good in the winter. I paid probs over 200 CAD and am almost out of it. If you want the same effect for cheap, just buy choco musk straight up (or and lataffa eclair variation). It's only a little more synthetic but lasts and the sillage is better.

I just have to post another comment about this sensational fragrance, after receiving numerous compliments from colleagues and strangers alike (this never happens, so something must be said, again). Vanille West Indies has quickly moved to my absolute favourite fragrance, and that's saying a lot since I have never been able to pick a favourite out of my collection in all these years. I have been wearing it every single day, and it's absolutely heavenly. SO rich, SO heady, so luxurious and incredibly addictive. I had to pay a fairly pretty penny to get this imported into Canada through Beautyhabit and UPS, and I wouldn't hesitate to pay it again, and more. Absolutely stunning fragrance, and an absolute MUST BUY for any vanilla lover. I can't say enough about it - Vanille West Indies has stolen my heart!

Mmmm I absolutely love this vanilla. It smells like homemade vanilla bean marshmallows. It distinctly smells like raw vanilla beans. I have a bag of fresh vanilla (not the pods, but the tiny black seeds that have been scraped out of their pods), and Vanille West Indies smells so much like them. In their raw state, vanilla beans smell oddly rubbery and perhaps a tad smoky. Here some sweetness has definitely been added, and voila! I wore it in both hot weather and in moderate weather, and I never found it to be cloying. Instead the beautiful scent of vanilla bean marshmallows softly make their way to my nose throughout the day, for about 8 hours before I felt like I might need a touch-up. Delicious yet, surprisingly, rather elegant.

I'm 21 and it's the first perfume everrrr that I liked on my skin and just overall, adored even I'd say. Made me realize that I was looking for wrong perfumes and wrong scents all this time. Everything gave me headaches, but VWI? Neverrrrrrrrrr no matter how much I oversprayed it on myself. Gotta warn that it's very oily, can stain clothes, and the sprayer isn't the best honestly. When applying I recommend to hold your breath as the perfume is very bitter. But aside that it's just such an amazing perfume. Simple yet so delicious... Sweet warm, a bit caramel-y, vanilla. Expensive for what it is, but tbh? the other vanillas are as expensive as this one, more or less, so I GUESS It's fine :( even though I wish it was cheaper...

The scent is vanilla, marshmallow, and slightly melted and rich caramel. It is a sweet and fascinating scent as if you are in a dessert cafe with your lover enjoying a moment with a black tea, during the date. Base notes are very sweet. It's like melted chocolate and caramel. The caramel that first started melting on a date-which mentioned before-as the atmosphere ripes around the evening, it begins to melt with each other, and it become one rich sweet bedtime. Vanilla reveals its presence as if appealing to me so that I can know who I am with again. This is my favorite vanilla perfume that I bought blind. If you like vanilla or roasted / baked desserts, I recommend you to try it at least once.

I think of this as my summer vanilla because it's light and floats on air. It leaves such a beautiful scent trail. The vanilla is fresh and the orchid in the background just gives it a little something extra. I work with all men - master mechanics and firemen, and I have to tell you, I don't think I've ever received so many compliments on a fragrance as I did today. Literally every single single person who walked past my office today said, "YUM!! I smell ice cream!" or "Wow! Something smells so good!" "OMG what is that delicious smell??" I finally put the bottle on the corner of my desk so the guys could write down the name and buy it for their wives. This is definitely a crowd pleaser.

This is extremely oily so I use it as such. I spray it into my hands and rub on my skin. I would never spray on my clothes. As far as the scent, I get a very warm and gooey cotton candy flavored frosting. It is the epitome of gourmand. I don’t get any fruits, florals, musk, powder or woods just a simple very, VERY, sweet linear fragrance. I have Outremer Vanille and I find them to be almost identical but this doesn’t contain the metallic notes, lasts 10x longer. It is also much smoother and warm. I like to use Outremer to spritz on top of other fragrances that I want to sweeten up. West Indies is yummy by itself or used as a base!

First off, I absolutely love the simplicity of this perfume bottle. It is chic and stunning on my vanity. The perfume itself is a gorgeous cotton candy vanilla, almost exactly like Outremer Vanille (which I adore!), only with better longevity and oilier. I do get more of the orchid on the dry down and it's beautiful. I spray my perfumes on my clothes to get the max wear out of them and this one is oily so I have to be careful when spraying this one. Vanille West Indies is one of my favorite vanillas in my collection and I will always repurchase since it lasts way longer and smells almost exactly like my beloved Outremer Vanille!

What I really love about this Vanilla fragrance and makes it stand out from the millions of vanilla fragrances we have out there, is the consistency of this one. It is more oily than a regular perfume so this really sticks and adheres to your skin to last all day. I normally use this as a base for other Vanilla heavy perfumes. This week I have been layering it with Escapade Gourmande by Maison Mataha and have been smelling like a cake that was just baked in the oven. Warm, sweet, fluffy and so cozy. If you are a big fan of vanilla, I think this and Indult by Tihota are the 2 main vanilla fragrances you need in your collection.

Okay, I finally feel that I can rest. I’ve been madly searching for the perfect vanilla fragrance for me. I wanted a true vanilla specimen that: • Wouldn’t be crowded with too many other notes. • Slightly sweet & a comforting true vanilla scent. • Moderate to strong projection. • Lasting power of at least 4 + hours. There are many vanilla frags that smell beautiful for about 5 minutes then they disappear. I’ve had the most expensive to the least & finding the scent is not the problem - having it last beyond an hour has been my challenge. I’m still testing this but so far it’s looking like I may have finally found my Vanilla.

I really really love this fragrance. It’s very sweet and pleasant on me. It gives off a creamy chocolate note to my nose but others who smell me say it’s a very gourmand vanilla. I get compliments from women and men on this perfume but the men are really obsessed lol. Everyone is always trying to find out where the dessert smell is coming from. If you’re not looking for a very sweet and dessert-like vanilla fragrance I would not recommend this!! It’s definitely for those who prefer a sweet and gourmand type fragrance. It’s long lasting and once sprayed on clothes it can be detected for weeks!!

One of the best sweet sugary caramel, A bit smoky vanillas, I love how addicting it smells on the skin, the dry down is so pretty a bit powdery smoky from orchid caramel vanilla. This is a true cake essence vanilla, the quality is outstanding. I would say its very much equal to Tihota Indult. I love both and they’re pretty similar in my opinion. Vanille West Indie compared to Vaniglia Mazzolari but there is something that makes it a bit cloying in Vaniglia and not as good as this one. I did let go of my Vaniglia, but super happy to have Vanille West Indie.

Vanille West Indies, Tihota, & Dulcis in Fundo are the three top vanilla fragrances of all time. It’s an aromatherapeutuc vanilla cloud, with a strong trail. Lasts forever. I find that with VWI & Dulcis in particular, because of their high perfume oil content, get really intense when my body heat goes up. Heat reactivates them to the point they can fill a room 12 hours after spraying! Photorealistic perfection.