Vanilj

The word I said to myself as I sprayed this perfume was "YES". It fitted the idea I had of it in my head, only a bit smokier. As a swede myself, imagine this: you're burning incense in kitchen, while you're kneading a dough of Swedish cinnamon buns. The dough is raw (because this doesn't smell like cooked cinnamon buns, rather the uncooked dough), you get a whiff of icing sugar into your nostrils. In this scenario you're especially proud because you used freshly mortared cardamom instead of ready-made powdered cardamom. Ironically, crushing fresh cardamom makes the dough more "perfumey" :D Although, I had still anticipated/wished some more cinnamon in this perfume (it sounds funny but swedish cinnamon buns usually have cinnamon AND cardamom, so cardamom for me smells like cinnamon buns). I also miss some full fat milkiness or cream in this composition. But I do understand that this perfume is not made to make you smell like a baked good. It's sweet but it's not overly sweet, it's feminine in a mature way, a bit smokey, fancy, elegant, beautiful, and stand-alone. I imagine myself wearing this during cold winter days when it's dark outside all the time (like now in Sweden) or out in a fancy restaurant by the evening. It's cozy and I just want to wear it in a darkly lit room, while drinking red wine with your girlfriends. Fantastic!

As a Swede myself, I was immediately lured by the description of this - Swedish cardemum buns, a more mature and sexy vanilla with that touch of sandalwood. And scent-wise, I was not disappointed. This is probably one of my favorite scents ever, and every single person who've sniffed this has also loved it. Even those who proclaim themselves anti-vanilla has adored Vanilj. Since it's such a warm scent I'd probably say it's better for the colder months, but try separating me from this scent. You can't. However, and this is what really saddens me, the longevity on this one isn't that great for me. That said, I do have a problem with scents lasting on me, and yes, I've tried moisturising before. It just doesn't last as long as I would like it to, especially when I want this to last forever on my skin. I'll probably still get a full bottle of this as that's how in love I am - I can't get enough of this warm, comforting and inviting vanilla.

I have regularly heard this described as a cardemom bun (including by the reviewer below), but to my nose Vanilj is not quite as edible as all that. I am saying this because the reference to the bun put me off this scent, and it shouldn't have - and so I hope to invite any other gourmand-wary readers to try this. To my nose the cardemom competes with the cedarwood: Vanilj is fresh spicy and dusty wood chippings supported by a dry and warm vanilla that never veers too sweet. There is a rugged texture to this scent that I find very pleasurable: this is a vanilla with a personality. It could accompany you on the couch or on a hike on an autumn day. Definitely one to check out even when you're wary of vanilla scents (as I often am) - I have a decant for now, but can really see myself buying a full bottle once I finish that, for Vanilj is very addictive and versatile.

Haven’t bought it but it’s on my list. This perfume is gorgeous and so sophisticated, clean and great for daytime everyday wear. The cardamom note is really vibrant never medicinal , and same with the cedar which can be like toilet cleaner in some perfumes. It’s not a sweet vanilla whatsoever and really falls to the back of the other notes, holding them together. It’s really comforting and subtle, but the green notes perk you up on a cold winters day when you feel dull. I’ve not tried it in spring but I think it would work in warmer weather. When you first spray it it’s a bit sharp but when it’s warmed up it has medium projection and lasts about 6 hours. I would almost describe it as having a glowy quality. Like having a nice cardamom bun in front of Christmas tree on a snowy crisp night in a woolly scarf.

I’ve been searching for a cardamom forward vanilla fragrance, and this is by my favorite. It feels like the scent of home, a soft hug, a favorite sweater, an evening outside looking at the stars with a cup of cardamom chai in hand. There is no bonfire, no marshmallows, just the crispness of the surrounding wood your slightly lactonic spiced tea and a waft of vanilla coming from inside the glowing cabin next to you. It’s not a tea scent, but I can’t help but think of the comfort of tea. The vanilla is snuggly but round, no powder whatsoever. The patchouli is stronger to my nose than the cedar, but it’s a gloriously round patchouli with an almost herbal edge. The cardamom is the key player, no smoke, just cold beautiful spices.

Absolutely my signature scent. The most un-boring vanilla ever. In fact, I'd say it's mainly a beautiful, spicy, warm cardamom and amber fragrance, but so perfectly balanced that the vanilla creeps in without you even really noticing it. Sort of like a familiar friend watching over you without saying anything. It's just the best. It's definitely a cold-weather fragrance, but I've even been known to wear it in summer too, just because I love it so much and never want to go a day without wearing it. I wish Maya would make a candle of this scent because I would burn it at home all the time. I get so many compliments when I wear it too! Far more than with any other perfume. And I feel delicious!

Okay, so take this review with a grain of salt since I haven't tried this on skin just yet, HOWEVER my God this is heavenly. Since Maya grew up in Sweden, I will give a description for all the Swedish gals here: this smells EXACTLY like the bakery at Skansen, specifically their vanilla cardamom buns. It is one of the (to me) best smells in the world to step in there, like yo, BLISS! You feel the smell of the old wood of the building, the darling people baking these delicious goods, the childlike happiness from your parents' promise of a custard filled pastry with crispy sugar on the rim. I would be fine drowning in this, yes yes

Beware: this is not a pure vanilla scent in the way Vanille Haze by Fugazzi is or Tom Ford's vanilla sex, for example. Not safe as a blind buy if you're looking for a (pure or sweet) vanilla perfume. But I love this one. Very modest and quite unique. On my skin, it opens as a lovely warm scent of sweet milk or bread dough, with plenty of cardamom, a little vanilla and some pine resin. It stays very soft on me and, after around three hours, becomes more of a skin scent. A warm woollen blanket beside the Christmas tree ... something like that.

Maya Njie describes Vanilj as sort of a flanker of Nordic Cedar, with an added note of vanilla. Vanilj improves upon Nordic Cedar in my opinion, by amplifying the subtle sweetness of the cardamom, and adding a warm vanilla note. Vanilj is not nearly sweet enough to be a gourmand, and in fact remains very unisex. It is a great scent for when you'd like to smell clean and cozy, and perfectly suitable for offices, doctor's offices, movie theaters, etc. I found Nordic Cedar and Vanilj to be sort of like "Jo Malone goes Scandinavian."

I ordered a 7.5 ml of this to test it out, and I'm thoroughly in love. I lived in Sweden for a year and inhaled many a Kanelbullar during my time there, so I was hoping this would give that, as many have described. And? A few sprays of this instantly transport me to a Swedish bakery, mid-winter, comforted by a warm, cozy, cardamom-y Swedish cinnamon bun. HEAVEN. I'll soon have to upgrade to a 50 ml :-)

So good. It's warm and spicy, but there's no baked or cookie note that I can detect, much more like raw ingredients than a sugar punch. Lives up to its unisex description I think. Not really sure why the naming note is vanilla, it's nice in the mix, but I would call it a cardamom perfume above all.

This is a softer, sweeter version of Nordic Cedar. It opens with a smooth cardamom and becomes a sweetly spiced vanilla with a subtle powdery patchouli and deep woods. The amber here adds a comforting warmth and the musks ground everything in the dry down to become a comforting, woody, sweetness.

the most delicious vanilla ever. honestly, I thought I hated wearing vanilla scents, but this is perfect. warm, toasty, spicy, sexy but not shouty, and not cloying at all. I especially love it in the winter

I love this! Spicy cardamom with smooth vanilla. Perfect for fall and winter. The cardamom its a bit peppert but the vanilla notes make it creamier.

Wow this is delicious! Normally I am not so big on vanilla, but this one is just beautifully balanced. Vanilla is present but in a soft subtle way.

wow! smoked vanilla. smoky wood and cardamom that is so warm and comforting. better than eau duelle

Smells how cardamom buns taste, I absolutely love it, great vanilla cardamom scent

First spray I got a huge blast of just cardamom and got nervous. What have I gotten myself into? Then it quickly settles into the most lovely, warm cardamom vanilla scent. It’s like a soft cardamom vanilla bun straight from the oven, delicious! The scent is linear and stays until next day. I can’t get enough of this one, had to order the full bottle immediately after trying the tester. The vanilla in this is not sweet, it’s there to add warmth and additional spicyness to this perfume. It is very unique, haven’t smelled anything like this in another perfume. It’s a fresh and modern take on a vanilla perfume. Very cozy and warm scent!

In the opening - heavy cardamom. Straight up just cardamom. Then it gets more woody and calms down. The vanilla is very old fashioned, not necessarily in a bad way. This fragrance reminds me of how my great grandmother's apartment smelled like. It's giving old antique store / fancy older lady vibe. This brought back some memories for me. In a pleasant way. But I'm not sure I would wear this fragrance myself. Maybe just for comfort. The more I smell it, the more I like it.

This is one of the few fragrances I get compliments for, its an earthy but still pretty fresh fragrance with some warmth but its not cloying or sweet! It fits pretty well both at the workplace and at the bar, I wouldnt wear it to the gym or an intimate date though, because its not very sexy! The easiest way to describe it is that it smells kind of like a fancy scented candle that you find at expensive hotels, yes, it smells kind of expensive!