Sweet Vanilla

Vanille Abricot was my signature scent for a few years. After all the rave reviews for Montale’s Sweet Vanilla on Luckyscent, and reading that it had a resemblance to Vanille Abricot, I ordered a sample. My brain lit up like a neon sign when I first smelled Sweet Vanilla. It happens only once every few years that I am moved to immediately order a full bottle of a fragrance after sampling it. Sweet Vanilla had me scrambling to place an order right away. The apricot note is subtle, lightly candied, and adds succulence. Though a nice presence, it stands modestly out of the spotlight of the true star here: vanilla. I have owned many vanilla fragrances over the years- dozens, probably. Some were inexpensive; some so pricey I could only afford samples. Sweet Vanilla does indeed resemble Vanille Abricot, but in the fashion an estate diamond and platinum ring from Van Cleef and Arpels resembles a sparkly zirconia ring you bought for fun at Woolworth’s. Sweet Vanilla is certainly not inexpensive. But it was so glorious, I HAD to have it. After experiencing Sweet Vanilla, it makes total sense why long, dangerous sea voyages were endured to secure this precious substance- this magical orchid's fruit, from deep within the steaming jungle. There are no discordant dark notes in Sweet Vanilla- no smoke, no whiffs of wood, no lurking musk to distract. Vanilla has been elevated by some divine force to its highest form. Is it sweet? Yes, it is. Is it delicious, and long-lasting? Yes, and yes. This vanilla tames beasts. It banishes gloom. The wings of Pegasus waft Sweet Vanilla. Willy Wonka’s factory had a secret room that could only attempt a vanilla this profound. This is also, hands down, the most enduring fragrance I have ever tried. When my sample arrived, I applied a dab about the size of a pea to my left arm in the early afternoon. The next morning, it was easily detectable. Late that evening of the second day, a true echo of Sweet Vanilla still lingered. The fact that you need to only apply a tiny, tiny bit of this fragrance to me more than justifies its price point. Sweet Vanilla will also uplift and enrich fragrances layered over it, and extends their wear time. If you like vanilla, do try a sample. If you love vanilla-- you need this fragrance in your life.

I had to get over my deep discomfort for the terrible packaging that Montale delivers, just to be able to own a full bottle of this delicious, mouthwatering apricot tart. Sweet Vanille is a full blast jam made of perfectly ripen apricots, on a soft buttery base of vanilla, not even a sour note, just one hyperglycemic guilty, sweet fruity pleasure for the nose. It's a playful fragrance, I mostly wear it when I can have some free time with my SO, since he loves this scent to the point of randomingly coming super close to sniff it. You can bet that this fragrance makes a lot of people go mouthwatering, since it basically screams "eat me". In whatever way you're comfortable reading that. Sweet vanille is not a workplace appropriate scent, and I don't feel professional one bit while wearing it. It's a comforter, an intimate, albeit a bit loud, cuddling pleasure. The longevity is absolutely great and worth the price. You won't leave a big trail behind but whoever comes close enough to talk with you will definitely smell this and casually find themselves craving for the nearest bakery. Comparing this to Vanille Absolu, that one is a much simpler vanilla note, perfect for layering, a bit mute and deeper, really simple to wear. Sweet Vanille has a bigger personality on his own, even if it doesn't really develop as time goes by. The only dowside is that Montale keeps doing this thin tin packaging without any cap to protect the nozzle from dust deposits, just a stopper with a charm that will eventually get lost if you're messy enough. The bottle would be perfectly safe on an open shelf, since it's opaque and dark, but no, you're obligated to keep it in a cupboard because the oily nozzle is unprotected from dust and whatever bacteria you might spread around while cleaning the house. You might want to decant any Montale. This goes even for the miniatures bottles, that you're supposed to carry around during the day, staining everything with the oily juice AND getting the nozzle dirty from rolling around in a pochette.

A fragrant friend of mine sent me a sample of this perfume along with Maison Mataha Escapade Gourmande and Andromeda's Moon Tihota. I sprayed each on different parts of my arm and smelled one at a time. I was immediately drawn to Escapade Gourmande (I now own a full size bottle and am obsessed with it!) and put the other two away because they didn't really do anything to catch my attention much. A couple of weeks later I was messing with samples in my closet and decided to give Montale Sweet Vanilla another go. I sprayed a little on a paper strip and inhaled. And oh my goodness, it was GOOD! I could smell something that was almost lemony at first (looked at the notes and it was apricot..not sure how that read as lemon-like to my nose but it did) mixed with a beautiful vanilla. And then the dry down of that beautiful, sweet vanilla came through and I decided that I had to have it. I ordered a bottle and while I was waiting for that to come, I wore the sample and realized that, although I loved the smell of Sweet Vanilla, that glorious opening fades after a few minutes and then I am left with that lovely, but hard to detect, sweet vanilla scent. I have to put my nose right to where I sprayed the fragrance to actually smell it, and really try to smell it, which is a bummer. I have read and heard so much about this fragrance being a projector and I didn't even get a scent bubble from it, which would have been ideal. I will still use Sweet Vanilla because it's such a lovely scent, but I will be layering it with some of my other vanillas so I am not left with the sense that I am not even wearing perfume. Edit (1/6/23): I decided to spray Sweet Vanilla on after over a month and now I can smell it much better!! Wow, it lasts way longer now!! I love it!!

I had to update my review after wearing this for a week. SV is an apricot orangey creamsicle vanilla. When The Mr. was questioned, after MUCH contemplation, he diagnosed “vanilla... [10 mins later] ...cookie... [20 mins later] ...dough?” For him, that’s freaking poetry. An hour or two later, the dry down is 100% = to Vanilla Absolu (Montale’s other most popular vanilla). Wonderful!! I tested them side by side on wrists, and wore Arabians Tonka on my arm, just to gauge performance of all 3. That’s when things took a turn. Be the end of the day, AT was still a cotton candy cashmere cloud, sweet but very clean (thanks, saffron!), like an after shower fresh musk cuddle scent (but still projecting). Although I hadn’t noticed any spiciness all day, both SV and VA faded to the exact same clove scent by nighttime. The dry down hadn’t bothered me at all in the days before - but now I had AT’s sugary vanillic tonka bean still lingering to compare. SV and VA didn’t feel warm and cozy, or even slightly vanillic at this last stage, they felt stale - like a linty clove cigarette you don’t remember smoking, but found under an old couch cushion. To be fair, SV and VA were skin scents at this point, so I really had to dig my nose in there, but what I smelled was way more acrid than I anticipated. Or appreciated. That said, the first several hours, SV and VA were exactly what I wanted them to be with superb performance, so no shade! The initial apricot in SV does kind of give chewable vitamin if you look for it, but it’s still lovely. Going forward, I’ll just rinse or respray before things take a turn at the end. 9/10

This perfume smells exactly how I wanted it to smell. When you spray it, it smells like a vanilla fruity scented candle, it has that Montale synthetic smell which I personally like and when it dries down it smells like a freshly opened bag of gummie bears, as somebody already mentioned in the comments. It’s a very simple perfume, it’s sweet and vanilla with a touch of fruitiness from the apricot. I am OBSESSED with vanilla so I adore fragrances that have strong vanilla notes in them and this is an absolute dream for all vanilla lovers. I’d wear this fragrance in any season but It also looks like a perfect fragrance to wear in the winter, especially the holidays as it’s so cozy and sweet, kinda festive to be honest. Reminds me of all the sweets I would get for the holidays in december as a kid. Over all, Sweet Vanilla by Montale is a very sweet and cozy vanilla gourmand and i love it. Edit: I went out recently and wore this perfume and I kept getting whiffs of fanta or carbonated sugary drinks even though there were none in sight. I soon realised it’s just this perfume. Lol

I didn't expect to like this that much because I have never tried nor cared to try an apricot perfume, but as soon as I smelled a sample I knew I needed a full bottle. You can clearly pick out the two different notes, but they are very well blended. Upon first spray, you get hit with a burst of jammy apricot which then dries down to a beautiful vanilla reminiscent of other famous ones like Vanille West Indies, Vaniglia, and Vanille by Outremer. It is very sweet but the freshness of the apricot keeps it from being cloying. The performance is also really good. The first day I wore it, I got a compliment on it after about 10 hours of wear, and I smelled it subtly on the shirt I sprayed it on for days to come. I don't percieve any smokiness, and it is not overwhelmingly synthetic imo. I think this is a safe blind buy for anyone who likes those aforementioned super sweet candied types of vanillas. It has quickly become a staple in my collection.

I get so many compliments. Everyone who comes in like 3 feet of me says I smell so good. It lasts all day and your dirty laundry hamper will smell of vanilla until you wash your clothes. The vanilla at first spray gives off a metallic scent; very faint which lasts about 5 seconds before it dries, It compliments the fragrance so well I can’t really explain it (probably why it’s listed as a unisex fragrance). The apricot gives it a faint smell of sweet tarts candies which allows you to wear it in the springtime. You know the spring time that still has the chill in the air. Once the apricot fades (but doesn’t completely fade) you’re left with a light vanilla fragrance that’s not too heavy but strong enough for you to light up a small room. This was a Blind buy and I’m halfway through the bottle. I just keep spraying it and it is my favorite vanilla perfume, so sweet and slightly fruity. Montale may be my favorite brand of perfumes.

HOLY SHIT THIS IS SOOOO YUMMMMYYYY!! WHATTT!??!?! Pure decadence in a bottle. Such a deliciously addictive syrupy fruity creamy vanilla.. this is my exact vibe in perfume. I'm OBSESSED Edit: this is genuinely amazing!! Literally smells like pink starburst or those sweet cotton candy-esque pumps of syrup that people put in their Starbucks drinks or whatever (makes me imagine what the pink drink would smell like if there was an apricot version) which I LOVE. I can’t stop sniffing it every time I spray it.. to me it’s almost slightlyyyy more fruity leaning than vanilla but honestly both are balanced sooooo well. Neither overpowering the other.. just beautifully intertwined. Wish the bottle wasn’t gold tho lol. I’m a silver girly! Update: it lasts sooooo long. Literally 10+ hours and projects like crazy too. Like allllll day lol it’s insane! So happy that a scent I love this much performs so well.. ugh I just love this <3

smells like almost identical to outremer vanille! a soft, slightly cotton candy like apricot appears heavily in the opening. its not quite a jammy apricot though, not like a marmalade. it’s more like a juicy fruit gum kind of fruity, in a soft powdery way. the vanilla really opens up at the end, and it’s truly delicious! it has the sugary vanilla of outremer vanille without the poor longevity. the dry down is a soft, whipped vanilla with a background of a sweet apricot. wonderfully crafted scent. i’ve so far not been disappointed by any of montale’s scents. for the price, i do wish the longevity was a BIT longer, but it’s very yummy and i love it anyway. this works the best in cold weather for me, but i think this could be a good light vanilla for the summer too. pair this with the eos vanilla cashmere lotion and you’ve got a great layering combo 🍨

Lately, perfumes have lost their longevity and sillage strengths on my skin, so I decided to give the Montale house a try. After all, I’m familiar with the Mancera house (also by Pierre Montale), so I thought, “Why not? Might as well give it a shot.” I went with Sweet Vanilla as my first choice, and I gotta say - I’m extremely impressed with it! It’s creamy (to the point where it feels lactonic), intoxicating and classy. I’m honestly shocked as to how only 2 notes are in here! Nevertheless, it’s done majestically, to say the least. I also felt a bit of incense in its drydown, which is addicting! It has this “smoky vanilla” vibe, and I’m loving it! The durability of this perfume is absolutely fantastic, which gives me the Beast Mode I've been longing for. I’m looking forward to experiencing more scents from Montale. Excellent performance! 13/10

This one is an instant favourite for me. I’m always on the lookout for the ultimate sexy, but classy, vanilla. Strangely, I don’t get any apricot in this, but I do pick up a refreshing lemon/citrus hit upon spraying it. That brightness combines sublimely with a genuine powdered sugar scent that is just delicious. The vanilla at its heart is not cheap, nor particularly synthetic to my nose. It’s quite linear, and that suits me just fine, as I live in a hot, humid climate, and gourmand fragrances always run the risk of blooming into something less appealing in the heat. This doesn’t do that at all. It stays true all day, and that citrus note keeps it fresh and not cloying. I can’t wait til next Winter, where I know I’ll be the ultimate Sweater Girl in this scent ❤️

This is really pretty, i love it. I'm not a vanilla person at all but the jammy, citrus, apricot lemony tart in this is divine and really blooms on my skin chemistry. Its this warm jam pastry experience thats delectable and not too sugary. The only fragrences from Montale I like are the chocolate greedy and the vanillas but they are awesome. I dislike the akward flimsy plastic bottles Montale does, with weak atomizers, especially for the price point so I get travel sizes in heavier bottles. The projection on skin is not big for me but its so airey with the lemon apricot marmalade I could wear it on clothes and at work. Super happy with it. I have the absolut one and I want to try the vanilla cake next. They all have different notes.

At first spray this hits you with vanilla powder..like wow!! Luckily its not unpleasant talkc powder but very sweet vanilla like opening vanilla candy marsmallow pack. Once it calms down the appricot comes in. Honestly, i never knew i like perfumes with appricot so much until I tried this one. I also agree that its similiar to SDP Vanille apricot but that one is sweeter and does not lat long. Sweet vanilla has decent longevity (like all Montales) its not a beast projection (which I prefer). Its very easy inoffensive perfume,can be worn all year! You will not attrack attention but people around you will notice sweet scent. I love it so much that I already purchased 2nd bottle

I wanted a beast mode, hyper sweet Vanilla. The new black opium wasn't doing it for me so I went to the niche parfumerie 😇and after explaining what I was looking for the lady gave me 2 perfumes to try. The Montale sweet vanilla and the Byredo one I forgot the name. I got the Montale one bc it is an "on your face " fragrance 😅. Loved the Byredo as well but it was more elegant and subtle and spicier. I wanted to smell like the monster I am in bed, yeah the Cookie Monster. Oh and by the way I am surprised I like this Montale bc I dislike Vanille Absolue and hate Sweet oriental dream, have to layer both to wear them. Hope this helps someone. Yours truly StinkyKat

At first spray, the fragrance leans quite synthetic, in the beginning I couldn't smell much vanilla. Instead, it gives off a sweet citrusy, medicinal vibe and reminded me of a throat lozenge. The apricot note feels a little artificial and stands out more than I’d like. As it dries down, though, the transformation is lovely. The vanilla finally takes center stage, developing into a warm, gourmand sweetness that reminds me of a fluffy cake layered with vanilla cream and a little apricot marmalade. The initial sharpness of the apricot fades away and blends more smoothly into the background. What’s left is cozy, delicious, and super yummy!

Apparently this scent is polarizing, who knew... Got a sample of this and fell in LOVE. Lasts all day on my skin and clothes. It smells syrupy sweet and there’s something very “golden” about it. Rich, thick, and in dry down it gets slightly powdery in a powdered sugar kind of way. I went into Sephora when I heard they carry them now and sprayed this all over for for an official wear test and continued my shopping through the mall. Compliments left and right and one woman held me hostage while she wrote down exactly what it was. That was yesterday. Today, the full bottle is on its way to me. 😂

This smells basically identical to Vanille Abricot by Comptoir Sud Pacifique. The apricot note is so deliciously juicy, it reminds me of apricot jam or compote. Even though the perfume name would not suggest it, Sweet Vanilla is an absolute must-try for apricot lovers! The vanilla has a light smoky facet that gets more pronounced during drydown while the apricot never fully disappears. Luckily, Sweet Vanilla does not get overbearingly sweet and lactonic, so that I do not risk a headache. Moreover, many Montale fragrances are too sharp for me, but this one is smooth and well-blended.

Initial spray is, like i’ve encountered with other montale fragrances, very harsh, but that harshiness really dissappears in about 2-3 mins. Kinda has that pink bubblegummy smell. Turns into very nice, powdery and somewhat boozy sweet vanilla, it really stands up to it’s name :) - imagine nice vanilla extract or vanilla sugar, smells really edible! Maybe leans to more feminine side Longevity and sillage(on my skin) are amazing, really long lasting and never had any complaints, only compliments Fairly priced on some discounters’ sites like notino Thumbs up for this one!

I deleted my previous review on this as I judged this way too harshly when I first smelt it. It's very sweet, but I wasn't expecting that subtle smokiness in the dry down when I first tested it, which threw me. Now I really like it and appreciate that nuance. I struggle with very sweet perfumes in general, but this doesn't feel sickly sweet to me at all. The soft smoky/woody dry-down adds just enough depth to balance the sweetness, and while it’s subtle, it’s definitely noticeable. Edit: 12/08 and now it's a love! What a journey this has taken me on.

I love this scent for both cold and warm seasons.... It is very versatile! I personally also use it as aromatherapy when I need a relaxing vanilla moment, since the vanilla is natural and the notes are high quality. It is also really useful for layering since it is a simple gourmand vanilla and has high persistency! The only downside is that the apricot note tends to turn into synthetic gummy candy smell on my skin over time.. but overall it remains an extremely pleasant vanilla, certainly for those who like Gourmand fragrances!