Note Vanillée

Love this fragrance! For the longest time I was dying to try Guerlain's Spiritueuse Double Vanille. I had my hopes up so high for that one, hearing all the praise it gets and such. When I finally got a chance to try it out I was a bit underwhelmed. It's a great scent, but not as vanilla centered as I would have hoped. The vanilla note itself was beautiful, not too sweet, not too dry, "Double Vanille", so I suspect a mix of two vanilla notes(duh), and blended nicely with the rest of the notes... Which brings me to my point, the other notes. The woody, spicy, and boozy notes rounded it out and kind of detracted from that awesome vanilla. Not making it a bad scent but just not what I expected/wanted. Also worth note, to me, it is not AS boozy as everyone makes it out to be. It's more of a light backdrop of rum. Anyway, onto Note Vanillee. M. Micallef Note Vanillee is what I expected GSDV to be like. Straight up vanilla and booze, with some notes of subtlety to round it out. The vanilla, is sweet, gourmand, yummy, delicious. Everything I want in a vanilla. The cognac stands out more than the rum which is nice for me as I prefer the note of cognac over rum, but it is mixed superbly. But I guess I should mention the immediate top. I do get a nice light orangey note, not sure if it's strictly mandarin or some kinda mix, its almost tangerine-like, but it's light so doesn't take away from the vanilla. Kind of just makes the nose wonder, hey what's that, just to keep you interested after the vanilla smack to the face. After the top notes dispel, the heart sticks around for a few hours, 4-8 on me depending on circumstances(weather, activities, etc.) and it's that gorgeous vanilla, cognac, and even some soft soft sandalwood. The sandalwood never really picks up too much for me, but that's exactly what I want, just enough to keep it rounded and interesting. I don't really get much floral notes either, maaaaaybe some white florals that soften it up a tiny bit, but I would attribute that to the sandalwood so, eh. No biggie there either. Finally the long drydown, still pretty much the same, of course softer than earlier on in the fragrance but still a vanilla boozy core,just now with a little more sandalwood and amber. Though perhaps just a little more benzoin than amber, but, components of the whole... So yes it's a somewhat linear fragrance, with subtle changes throughout, to keep you interested and make sure it's not too cloying, if you don't like sweet ones though you still may not like this one though. But it's exactly what I was looking for in a vanilla scent. For comparison, I have Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille as well, and it's almost as sweet, just a little more airy and powdery. The wood notes, licorice and musky notes balance the sweetness in SLUBV. Performance with Note Vanillee is great on me. All day. I can put this on at 8am, and will smell it on my skin still before I shower at night, getting sweet wafts throughout the day. The projection is above average as well. As stated earlier, I get a good 4-8hrs depending on the conditions, then a close to body, more than skin, scent for the rest of the wearing. I never really wear it long enough for it to become a strict skin scent, which speaks to how great it performs. Of course your results may vary. Price is the only gripe with this one. It is a little on the pricey side, but I was able to nab it for an amazing deal, probly an over 95% full 100ml bottle for $135 USD. There's just an engraving of "Christine" on the bottle, but I can just say I bought it for my sister(actually named Christine) and she didn't like it. Btlut at retail price, I'm not sure I would have purchased so soon; I would have eventually but only after collecting some extra income. Nonetheless, I have my bottle and can enter the land of boozy vanilla bliss whenever I want. I think the only other vanilla that I would think to buy next would be Indult Tihota, but that is in the same price range, if not more, and though it's a heavenly vanilla, it is a little less interesting and more strictly vanilla, so I'm in no rush to purchase that one yet. Overall - 10/10 (keep in mind I love gourmand, sweet fragrances not to mention the note of vanilla)

Review starts on second paragraph: Queen Victoria is said to have paved the way for the white wedding dress craze that is the prevailing choice of attire for western brides to this day. Her wedding gown was made of Spitalfield silk and an intricate lace flounce. Later the pattern used to create the lace was destroyed so nobody else could have the same finely woven lace as the queen (gatekeeping much? Lol). She also decided to forgo the typical regalia of a jeweled crown and instead donned a wreath of orange blossoms and myrtle. You would think that over the years brides would become tired of the this tradition, yet this custom is alive and well today and we see an incredible variation of the white dress, some even reaching an iconic status. I own a bottle of this fragrance in its newly revamped bottle. To me this scent is like an exquisite royal wedding gown. White dresses and vanilla perfume have both been done before, but it’s the design, the structure, and the craftsmanship that makes this perfume stand out. It’s definitely a more demure style of scent, the opening starts off like an illusion neckline made of silk tulle it’s sheer but dimensional because of the floral notes which are first seen in small hand-stitched clusters. Soon glimmering floral appliqué becomes bountiful as you reach the heart notes of the fragrance or what I consider the bodice of the dress. It carries that same delicate floral vanilla but is now swathed in an amber dressing which creates a shapeliness and form, like a corset covered in French Chantilly lace. From here we meet the final dégradé of this scent as it descends to its base or the skirt of this haute de couture wedding ensemble, like a gradient organza it begins with a boozy drop-waist and gradually fades into a soft, mellow sandalwood train. I’m surprised that fragrantica reviews call this a deep/bold vanilla, perhaps mine still needs to macerate (age). For me this carries all the dialed-back airy elegance of an altar-ready white dress rather than a full-glam look parading a red carpet. Perfume Realm 💙

So as someone who works really hard not to get sucked into the hype, I got sucked in, but it was worth it. This fragrance is straight up addicting. Not a power house like Love & crime but enough to literally make you want to smell yourself all day. The citrus opening is fleeting at the top but quickly dries down to a boozy vanilla. Not ground break or earth shattering, but smooth as hell. The cognac hits just right to give it a spice but not over do it. Doesn't scream Christmas or a holiday which makes it versatile IMO. How it opens down to how it dries, its just cozy. So well blended so delicate yet not, if that makes sense!! The juice is gorgeous. I have an army full of vanillas but this is a new FB NEED. I can see this being used at any time of year. I also am someone who will wear oud for greatness to the dentist though so maybe I don’t help in that area. I did reach out to M.Micaleef and they said Feb 1 is the restock, I believe a new bottle but same juice...so they say. We shall see!! Also for the price, I am on the fence. I only say yes to the price because this company hand paints the bottles with care and they are stunning, along with stellar customer service and wonderful owners. **Edit, I bought a full bottle of the new one that was released last month. New packaging but said the same formula. I hate to say it, but it does not smell the same as my sample :( it is wayyy softer. The color is almost clear. Almost cream soda vibe. I am hoping it needs to macerate or sit for awhile to get that deep amber color. I will be super sad if it does not. The new bottle design is gorgeous. Contrary to a few others, I prefer the new bottle. It looks stunning on display. They also give you a travel spray in a nice pouch when you purchase directly from them.

I love this! From the name alone, I thought that this would be a very gourmand and creamy vanilla centred fragrance. But it is so much more than that! This is a powdery, and extremely boozy vanilla with alot of depth to it. It’s very warm and sophisticated. Now I know that this may sound weird but it also has a Vanilla Coca cola quality to it. A warm powdery vanilla flavoured Coca Cola. I know this might sound a bit off-putting but it actually really works and I mean it in the best way possible. It’s like a warm cozy boozy hug of vanilla. I can smell the citrus notes slightly, but more of a creamy mandarin or orange, not sharp or lemony citrus.🍷🍦🍊 I can see why some people are saying that it smells mature but I don’t really think it smells “grandma-ish”. Yes it is mature but in a sophisticated, elegant and boozy powdery way, not in an out dated way if that makes sense. I usually love super sweet, delicious, decadent and over the top gourmand vanilla fragrances, but I’m completely in love with this! It’s semi-sweet (not too sweet at all) but it has the most addictive quality to it. Once again, M.micallef never disappoints with their high quality fragrances. I know many are saying the longevity is not great after reformulation, and I sadly never got to try out the pre formulated fragrance, but this current one seems to last pretty well on my skin. The sillage is not huge but the longevity is definitely great. Also, there is a new note vanille nectar which smells the same but is much stronger, so maybe check that one out if you are upset about the longevity of the reformulated one you if you are having problems with the longevity.

I’m jumping back into the fray because of the reviews immediately below. One of the biggest points I can make about Note Vanillée is that you mustn’t go into it expecting a sweet, juicy, dessert-like fragrance. No. To me, the vanilla note is like a double bourbon vanilla versus how vanilla smells once it has been sweetened to make desserts and pastries. And it’s boozy because of the liqueur notes, versus smelling like an alcoholic beverage. I suspect some people dub it “powdery” to describe that it is neither juicy nor sweet. Decanting fragrances can change notes, too. Indeed, my decant of this fragrance smelled like body odor on me. While it doesn't smell like Angel's Share or Baccarat Rouge 540, I'd put it in the same category for warm richness and complexity. Finally, Note Vanillée is magic when it has macerated and turned a nice dark color. It should then smell dramatically different from fresher/newer product. I love mine more than ever now at the two-year point. The folks at M. Micallef verified that this is the same formula as before, but that letting it evolve and mature results in an ideal aromatic presentation. Let yours macerate. It will be worth it. It was for me.

I finally tried Note Vanillée from the bottle versus my decant and experienced a beautifully different fragrance. Indeed, it is so gorgeous I sprayed myself down quite thoroughly. The off notes I experienced with a decant are gone. I wonder if they were caused by typical decant oxidation. My experience with the EDP out of the original bottle is a beautiful, warm, and elegant fragrance. I never thought I'd love a vanilla gourmand but I do because this is so smooth and so well done. The citrus notes add a bit of a zing, but they're gone in a split second on me. The floral notes are beautifully subtle because the overall composition is well-blended. The base of vanilla, cognac, rum, amber, and sandalwood is stunning and has a lovely hint of warm spiciness. It is not woody on me. The overall effect is enveloping and addictive. If you have a decant or an older bottle that may have oxidized, a happy workaround for the body odor off-note is to spray only behind your knees and possibly on your stomach, and spray well before you leave the house. This may help you enjoy the true beauty of this fragrance and fall in love with it

I got a 1mL sample of this from The Perfumed Court for almost $10 because this is a hard to find and expensive perfume. The notes listed and the positive reviews here convinced me to try it. I dabbed a tiny bit of my tiny sample on more than 8 hours ago. When I first put it on, I got a rum/non descriptive alcohol-like smell that alarmed me slightly. Then something magical happened and it turned into a lovely warm lightly spiced vanilla. I guess this is the difference between mass-produced perfumes and 'niche' perfumes- the quality of this perfume is pretty obvious. Sillage is moderate and longevity is excellent (since it's been about 8 or so hours since I put this on now). I've always wondered what the old Australian version of Original Vanilla by The Body Shop smelled like and I'm thinking that it might have smelled something like this- albeit Note Vanillee does have a kind of herbal note lingering in the background (the amber and citrus?). This is a lovely, creamy vanilla without any hint of being synthetic. It's too bad that I'll never have the opportunity to get a full bottle of this wonderful perfume.

I have the formulation in the cube bottle, it's a dark orange color like brandy. It's a very strong boozy vanilla with orange at the tip-top like a cocktail, lasts a good bit and projects for several hours. At the end (about 5 or 6 hours) it's lighter and airy, I can sense the sandalwood. Overall it does remind me of cognac but I wish it had even more orange. Perfect for Fall and Winter when you want to be enveloped in a dense sweet (but not too sweet) vanilla cloud. Feels thick/deep at first and then dissipates slowly. Gourmand, warm, smells like it came from the kitchen. Sometimes I love layering it with something more spicy. Stronger than SpiriteuseDV and more complex than Vanilla 28 to my nose. I don't get any floral or much powder at all so from reading the comments I'm pretty certain that this was reformulated. Maybe a cube bottle can be found online somewhere if someone would rather have this version. I remember that the cube bottle was said to be a reformulation as well, and I've never tried the original nor the newest version, but maybe in the future :)

Sample off lucky & its a gorgeous sweet scent ~ Last a long long time...others below mentioned this being similar to fancy ...kinda of...if you took that ugly note out of fancy..when first sprayed..similar, because with fancy JS. .it takes 30 mins for me to smell nice,this one smells nice right away...it also has a similar note to pink sugar...but not gross like pink sugar...to sum it up,this would be both fancy& pink sugar...if you take the gross notes out of those 2....I can't stand pink sugar..but yet I like if not love this sweet candy gem...but it is very similar to those mentioned....so I wouldn't buy a full bottle,it also is similar to la vie est belle....but its ,its own perfume~i wouldn't buy a fb...tho,but this is the finer juice with great longevity....buy sample,its definitely sweet& smooth compared to perfumes mentioned, tho...beter....if you took the cheap notes out of theses others& created a pretty masterpiece in those styles...if this makes sense¿

Note Vanillee is so much more than vanilla. This is a very rich and filling scent, rum-y and golden. To me a thick, a bit animalic, warm honey with very slight hints of jasmine, with a boozy, woody, dry and coarse touch from the cognac and rum, a tiny hint of licorice. No specific spices that I can put my finger on, but with the character of a warm spicy, mature gourmand. Compare to Hermessence Ambre Narguile (overall most similiar) for the animalic aspect of the honey, compare to Ginestet Botrytis for the more jasmine leaning aspect of the honey. Compare to Jessica Simpson Fancy for the sweet warmth, and to Spiritueuse Double Vanille for the dark, woody feel. I immediately fell for this fragrance, it's incredibly lush, rich, narcotic and captivating, although I won't try to find a full bottle because Note Vanillee is essentially a mix of the other, very beloved, scents mentioned above. My decant will be highly treasured.

This vanilla is one of my all-time favorites, and it's going to take something truly exceptional to dethrone it. It's ridiculously smooth, with a character that's reminiscent of Guerlain's vanillas but with an added depth. Compared to SDV, which is often mentioned in the same breath, I find this one more unique with a distinct character that suits my taste better. The boozy notes blend beautifully with the woody sandalwood, adding a subtle smokiness and incense quality, all wrapped up in a gorgeous amber base. It's so delicious and perfectly unisex. It’s incredibly sexy on both men and women. The performance only gets better with time, lasting over 7 hours on me with moderate projection. Honestly, this scent deserves way more love. Most people expect a straightforward sweet vanilla-essence type of a scent, but this one's more grown up and complex. Go in with an open mind, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Mmmmmmmm...this is delicious in the most naughty way...I don’t know why this evokes mischievousness and plotting teenagers trying to get into the expensive booze cabinet😬 Not that this is a scent for young people, because it isn’t at all but it’s the illicit or the “forbidden” way this smells (to me)... Anyway....................................... This does start a little green but it quickly becomes warm, sweet (but not tooth achingly sweet) and VERY boozy. To me, this is the most perfect Autumn scent. It is very cozy because of its warmth but also very grown up because of its liquor quality. Perhaps more of an evening-sexy-date-night with one’s partner...to me, this is more of an intimate experience. Something I’d wear only for me and my husband. This is very sexy and a tad naughty... Decent longevity, intimate projection and a must have if you love boozy vanilla.

I’m not sure how many reformulations this has gone through, but my sample from Luckyscent smelled like sweet dried fruit + vanilla + Christmas (smells good) and the bottle I recently purchased from the M. Micallef website smelled like LOTS of booze + vanilla + sandalwood (smells even better). My sample was also pink juice and my full bottle had pale yellow juice (now turned a lovely golden brown). I’ve seen two different colors in pictures online, too. Anyways, I’m very happy with the bottle I got, it is a beautiful spicy vanilla without being overly gourmand. It’s going to be wonderful for the upcoming cold weather... I think it’s sultry but I’ll be wearing it during the day too. Edit: My bottle is the older cubic one, not this new rectangular one. I don’t know if this is now a third reformulation or not.

A very fruity and warm vanilla fragrance, with a big hit of booziness. I feel like those three scents mix together quite evenly for me, I can pick them out easily. It’s not a heavy or cloying fragrance, like many wintertime vanillas are, but I do find it’s best in cooler weather because of the booze notes. It’s still nice in spring, but the booze turns the fruit into more of a ripened compot. It’s very sweet all around and the vanilla is light and comforting. I really enjoy this fragrance but I get bored because it doesn’t develop and after a while I want something richer than what this offers. It’s straight forward and doesn’t change from the first spray. A sweet and fruity vanilla with a hint of darkness from the booze. Very nice, not worth the price tag though. Worth a try for vanilla seekers like me.

This IS my Holy Grail vanilla! I started using the sample yesterday and kept using it today. Kept reapplying every 5 hours or so because it is SO GOOD. First I used Les Couvent des Minimes, which is very good. Then I tried Guerlain's SDV and had to buy a decant. But then this happened...And it's so good I have already bought a full bottle. It starts out sweet, rummy, and then for a few minutes only, it made me a little scared because it reminded me of Salome, and I hate that one! But it only lasted a few minutes thank God. After that it's the warmest, spiciest delicious, boozy vanilla. If I smelled this on someone, I would want to taste them! I don't ever ever want to be without this one. This one took a lot of my money. I might be homeless one day, but at least I'll smell good.

I am SO happy I didn’t let the bad reviews saying this smells like old lady deter me from buying this lol it’s almost 81° here today on a windy day in FL and right off the bat when I opened my package I could smell some booziness and sophisticated powderiness and light vanilla. This does not smell overly powdery or heavily floral . It’s just a well balanced vanilla, that isn’t too sweet, just perfect with a warm cup of bourbon and brown sugar sprinkled in there. The florals and powderiness are in the distance to add a lot of class to this beautiful perfume. I’d say it’s a mix of sophisticated sexy feminine fragrance. Love it , and I can wear it year round too. So far it’s lasted four hours. Projection is very minimal but I get wafts of it in the air every now and then

To me, this is everything Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille should have been. This is smoother and boozier, plus SDV performs about as poor as a fragrance can possibly get and is grossly expensive. Performance here is... well, it's not great either but it's passable. Strong, boozy vanilla with a gentle splash of citrus on top and the faintest hint of creamy-yet-powdery sandalwood beneath, all elevated by an airy jasmine. The jasmine blooms over time and, for better or worse, eventually becomes the dominant accord deep in the drydown. I like jasmine, but I'm not sure how I feel about it taking over everything else over time because the boozy vanilla is what I came for. Oh well. Moderate-soft projection for 2-3hr, longevity 5-6hr.

I’ve been waiting to get Note Vanillée for over a year and she finally showed up at fragrancenet for a really good price so I snagged her right away! She’s everything my favorite YouTube reviewers said she would be! I’m in love! She’s so well balanced! This is the type of vanilla I like, not gourmandy, not too sweet! It opens with an ethereal freshness about it with delicate floral notes, a slight powderiness and that vanilla! Oh dear me! The vanilla is so smooth and silky. The image I get is of a beautiful waltz where the woman wears these beautiful flowy slightly sparkly dresses that twirl and swoosh as she turns. You know what I mean! Anyway, this is a 10/10 stunner! I’m so happy I finally have her in my collection!

I recently discovered perfume house by M Micallef and I am blown away by their creations. Note Vanilla is PERFECT vanilla centered scent. I love that it is blended with rum and cognac...they are the main players... Citrus and flower notes toned down and blend with this deep, smooth and sensual scent of boozy vanilla that is warmed up by amber and sandalwood. It is also a very comforting, warming and cozy scent. I associate it with Christmas holidays or Thanksgiving. Performance is decent. I get 6-8 hours on skin but it sits closer to skin which I don’t mind. I think it is definitely better than Spiritueuse Double Vanille Guerlain and worth the splurge.

This is hands down one of the BEST vanilla fragrances I have ever had a chance to try. I am wearing my sample right now and I am in a sweet, boozy, slightly smokey vanilla heaven! Like a delicious, sophisticated but strictly grown-up vanilla dessert. It has serious depth and lasting power. Sillage is not huge but every now and then I get a yummy whiff of this precious elixir as a gentle reminder whispering "I`m still here" I like my perfumes with rather noticeable sillage so I have decided that to me Note Vanille is a bit too shy to justify the high pricetag, but it is definitely beautiful and seriously worth trying.