Island Vanilla

Okay I'll admit it. I've been on a crazy vanilla hunt recently. After Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille recharged my hope for the note, I have been looking for an exceptional, affordable vanilla. Pacifica Island Vanilla is everything I wanted. It has none of the artificial, "this isn't lime and vanilla, it's fruity plastic!" of Burberry Brit, Jessica Simpson Fancy, and even Viva la Juicy (my favorite of the vanillic generic trio.) It does not fly at your throat and sinuses and try to strangle you like Lush's Vanillary or Sud Pacifique's Vanille Extreme . It doesn't have that sugar on steroids quality that Pink Sugar has (fun, but not appropriate in many situations). You do not have to wait for the dry down to love Island Vanilla. It's great from beginning to end. Island Vanilla is milkier and more complex than the vanilla essential oils you might have resorted to after a long and dissapointing quest to find the affordable vanilla of your dreams. This my friends, is honey vanilla paradise. From the moment I sprayed Island Vanilla on my skin at whole Foods, I knew it was exactly what I wanted in a vanilla for $20/bottle. I normally can't stand Pacifica. Their Mexican Cocoa made me run to the nearest sink, and Wakiki makes me feel physically ill. Wakiki Pikake reminds me of car air freshener. But Island Vanilla is as far as I can tell (and I have smelled most of their fragrances) one of the few exceptions. From the opening, Island Vanilla smells soft, sweet, milky, fresh, and damp. There is something very natural and intimate about it. The slight traces of fruitiness at the opening, as well as the absence of musk (thank God), and the absence of powder, all make me think of the flavored fruity vanilla milk I used to drink when I was in China nine years ago. The fruits are mere suggestions, the way wine can smell from leather without a belt strap soaking in it. It's not actual fruit smell. It's a fruity quality. Fruity as opposed to smoky, etc. but NOT actual fruits. I say flavored milk, but this was NOT AT ALL like the super sugary brands of sweetened flavored milk in America. The flavored milk in China was not any one particular "fruit". It was just gently sweetened, with a very mild, ambiguously vanilla/fruity element. When imbibed straight from the refrigerator, it was so incredibly refreshing on a hot summer day. Summer vanilla at its best and most accessible! Island vanilla is smooth, sweet but not too sweet, vaguely fruity, with a very prominent sweet milk note. The honey listed in the notes is like the vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with honey, that I use to eat as a girl. The ice cream would melt as the honey chilled and became chewy like caramel. I straight up love Island Vanilla. This may sound corny, but when I first smelled it, I thought, it's a kiss from a beautiful girl who has been drinking vanilla milk! I can't believe it has received so few reviews on this forum. I strongly encourage anyone that loves vanilla with access to this brand to go out and give it a try. It shocked me into buying it at first sniff, and I still love it just as much after wearing it for a solid week. This would be amazing for layering, but I prefer it on it's own. While I am saving my money for a more upscale niche vanilla, I am thrilled and relieved to have this in my collection.

Sweet, vanilla, honey, powdery, green, luminous, feminine, sensual, seductive, flirty, charming, whimsical, dreamy, delicate, delightful, alluring, tempting, addictive, inviting, cozy, comforting Oh my goodness this is gorgeous! I always forget just how very much I love this one until I go to use it again. It’s such a delightfully delicate powdery vanilla laced with sweet honey. The tea adds a lovely green freshness to it that keeps it from becoming decadent. I mainly really just get those 3 notes, the vanilla, honey, and tea. Surprisingly, this actually reminds me quite a bit of Kilian Princess (one of my top favorites!). I imagine it’s because they’re both sweet and powdery vanilla scents with tea notes, but they both also have this delicacy to them as well as a slightly herbaceous green scent thanks to the tea note. The only fragrances that I own from the “reminds me” section are Vanilla Bean Noel and Vanilla 28, neither of which I find similar to Island Vanilla. To me this feels ultra-feminine, and suitable for women of any age. I think this works best during the spring and summer because of its delicate feel and lack of strong depth. This feels most suitable for casual occasions as well as work/school. Overall, I get moderate performance with Island Vanilla. It’s very affordable, so I think it’s a great value though. For reference, some of my other favorite fragrances include Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow, Vanilla 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Candy, Yum Pistachio Gelato, Kilian LDBS, Princess, Sunkissed Goddess, GdT Celeste, Bianco Latte, PdM Oriana, Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, Nest Sunkissed Hibiscus, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid, Burberry Goddess, The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods, YSL Black Opium Le Parfum, Guerlain Mon Guerlain, JHAG Powder Love, Summer Fridays Sunlit Vanilla, LSF Secret Crush, Vanilla Twirl, Coach Dreams Starlight, Ellis Brooklyn Marshmallows, Queen’s Caramel, Vanilla Salt, Forever Pistachio, Phlur Honey Moon, Heavy Cream, Vanilla Nectar, Beach Skin, SDJ Summer é Amor, 62, 39, Limonada Gelada, VS Vanilla Lace, BBW Beach Nights, Cotton Candy Clouds, Boardwalk Marshmallow Clouds, Whipped Honey & Vanilla, Fireside Flurries, Love Unleashed, Coastal Dreaming

This is be-ootiful! I mean, really! I held off for a few years on buying Island Vanilla, because I thought it would be like a generic vanilla extract — but it's not. I am so glad I bought this! I paid $13.50 for the 1-ounce spray. Not only is this an amazing deal, but you will never find another well-known and quality vanilla like this for that price. It smells WAY more expensive. I am impressed by the quality and the layers of this fragrance. Island Vanilla, on first spray, is a very cool, fresh vanilla. Cold and milky and dreamy, like ice cream. After half on hour on my skin, it slowly changes to a rich, honeyed, bourbon vanilla with some fruity qualities. This scent is not a powerhouse, but it's no weak thing. It is winter now but I am guessing it will be even better in spring (or fall). Island Vanilla is compared to VS Wicked on the "reminds me of" bar here. They are very similar in scent, yes they are. Both are great fragrances, and perform well, but... I loved Island Vanilla at first spray. With Wicked, I thought, "Oh, pretty... maybe I'll buy it." Then, after buying it some time later, I got bored within a week and sold it. Island Vanilla has a distinct "coolness" to it. It is a milky vanilla, and has honey richness. Wicked has more musk, a fluffy quality to it. I usually suppress my desire for vanilla fragrances with a mental reminder: "I already have two large bottles of Pink Sugar." Well, no matter how carefully you store it, Pink Sugar expires after a couple of years, as I am unhappily discovering (not just the color — the scent goes bad). Pink Sugar also has a blatant black licorice note, a slightly burnt smell. I wanted something just as rich and pretty as Pink Sugar without the unwanted qualities. Island Vanilla is still less sweet than Pink Sugar — which I'd classify as cotton-candy vanilla with loads of white sugar dumped on it, set on fire then blown out, and garnished with black licorice. I disliked Prada Candy. A lot. To me, Candy was in no way even a gourmand. It was like a musty, sweet-smelling funeral home, with emphasis on the funeral home. But, I digress: You need Island Vanilla in your life if you love vanilla.

Sweet, vanilla, honey, powdery, feminine, sensual, flirty, playful, charming, whimsical, dreamy, delightful, uplifting, cozy, comforting A sweet, powdery, honeyed vanilla. It’s lovely! I have the OG formula in the perfume and mist, but I haven’t tried the new reformulated version yet. It’s quite close to a rich vanilla extract, but with some honey swirled throughout, and with the prettiest marshmallow-y quality. There’s a nice touch of freshness in the opening from the tea, but I don’t get anything fruity or floral. I feel like there also might be some amber, and maybe even just a hint of vetiver here in its base. The dry down gets more warm and rich, and I think there’s a hint of something woody. It’s just so pretty! I was surprised to realize that I actually find this quite similar to one of my favorites, Kilian Princess. It’s got a similar sweet and powdery marshmallow scent along with a fresh and green tea note. This is super underrated, and definitely not talked about enough. It’s super affordable too, so that’s always a plus too. I’ve had this for wow around 20 years, and I still really enjoy it! This feels very feminine to me, and like it would suit women of all ages. I can see why some people might think it has a slightly youthful vibe to it, but really it’s nothing juvenile at all. I tend to wear this the most in the spring, summer, and fall, but it could easily be worn year round. It’s perfect for casual occasions as well as for work and/or school. The performance is ok for a mist. The longevity is about 4-5 hours, and the projection is between intimate and moderate. I’m a huge vanilla lover, so for reference, some of my favorite vanillas include: Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow, The Wedding Silk Santal, Vanilla 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar, PDM Oriana, Kilian LDBS, Princess, Bianco Latte, Celeste, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid, Burberry Goddess, The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods, D&G The One Desire, Ellis Brooklyn Marshmallows, SDJ Summer é Amor, SDJ 62, SDJ 39, VS Vanilla Lace, B&BW Beach Nights, Boardwalk Marshmallow Clouds, Fireside Flurries

I got Island Vanilla looking for an uncomplicated vanilla (based on reviews), and not only did I get that, but I got something even better! This particular scent reminds me of the drydown of one of my favorite / signature scents - Love Don't Be Shy By Kilian. I love the way LDBS smells on me, and I especially love how the scent evolves in several different distinct ways depending on where I spray it (skin, clothes, hair, etc.) For me, IV reminds me of the scent form that only appears in the late drydown of LDBS on my skin. It's quite elusive compared to the more straightforward, bolder drydown on my clothes, but I friggin love & crave catching whiffs of that "golden hour" skin drydown segment. And if you took that elusive drydown and removed all the orange blossom / neroli parts, you'd have IV. Performance-wise, I think this is ok. I would say it's comparable to designer EDT - EDC quality. However, IV still performs better than my elusive LDBS drydown skinscent, so it's a win-win for me. Plus, I can play around and layer this with other scents to my heart's content! I'm giddy just thinking of all the possibilities ✨️ *edit* I went out and got the alcohol-free hair/body mist version too, and surprisingly, I feel like the hair/body mist might actually perform better than the regular one! I used the body mist before bed the last 2 nights, and I could still smell it on my sheets in the morning. Even on my skin, it has better sillage than the regular version. And I really enjoy the sprayer -- it has this long misting effect so you don't have to keep pumping it. If you're having performance issues with the regular version, consider trying the alcohol-free version! The little 2oz. version is only like $5.

Caramel BUBBLE TEA! Opens with a burst of full-bodied vanilla that has honey, beer, chocolate and caramel nuances and transitions to a heart of vanilla tea/dewdrops resting on rooty vanilla-tapioca pearl base. Seekers and collectors of vanilla scents won't be disappointed. Contrast to Lira Xerjoff: These are very different, but similar in that they are both vanilla-forward scents. IV doesn't have the citus prominent in Lira. Lira is lemon-vanilla poundcake melting into cinnamon-caramel. Contrast to Vanille Bourbon Laurence Dumont: Different scents but the most similar of vanilla scents I've had my nose on. Both have vanilla nuanced by honey, beer, chocolate and caramel that becomes slightly rootyas it dries down. I find VB slightly more animalic than Island Vanilla. Both require several months in dark storage to develop performance. Contrast to Cake Heavy Cream Body Balm: Both vanilla forward scents but Island Vanilla doesn't have the vanilla butter-cream icing with coconut & cinnamon vibe present in Cake Heavy Cream. Overall: Average performance that becomes beast mode if layered over its matching body lotion. The body lotion has a mocha colour that disappears into the skin. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

Such a pretty, sweet, simple, and beachy vanilla... I love it! I definitely get some beach vibes from this, which I absolutely love! I don’t see coconut listed in the notes, but I feel like there is a little coconut blended in with this beautiful vanilla! I also pick up on some soft florals and fruits, but the sweet vanilla is absolutely the star of this fragrance! Island Vanilla is a lovely fragrance all on its own, but it’s also great for layering, especially for newbies! The sweet, simple vanilla goes well with a lot of different scents! I personally love layering it with Indian Coconut Nectar! I typically get great longevity with my fragrances (even body mists!), and Island Vanilla is no exception... it lasts all day on me! The projection is nice, it radiates out about an arm’s length from me! I’m a huge fan of beachy fragrances, so for reference here are some of my favorites: Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, Replica Beach Walk, Nest Sunkissed Hibiscus, Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess, JHAG Lust For Sun, JHAG Vanilla Vibes, and Kate Spade Live Colorfully. I also own and love another Pacifica fragrance, Indian Coconut Nectar! It’s another rather simple yet pretty beachy fragrance!

Ok. I’ve been wearing the Island Vanilla in the pink glass bottle, but after reading the comments on the disappointment over that, I ordered a bottle of the original version to try both side by side. Here’s what I discovered: Except for ambroxan and something vaguely lime-like in the opening notes of the new version, these two are extremely close in smell when completely dried down. The ambroxan and lime smell in the new formulation fade quickly, within about 5 minutes. After that, it’s difficult to tell them apart without smelling them side by side, like I have. The performance of both is pretty much the same. Although Pacifica labels them as “parfum,” they don’t last much longer than two hours. Whatever type of vanilla is being used in both is exactly the same. EXACTLY the same. But the two aforementioned notes in the pink bottle give it more of a “fresh” vibe, whereas the original has more of a subtle “marshmallow” scent, making it a tad deeper in sweetness. While I love both, now that I can compare side by side, I can definitely understand why devotees of the og were so pissed off, because after smelling it, I happen to prefer the og too!

Just got the roller ball today - & I LOVE it!!!!! Beautiful soft, slightly floral, sweet vanilla. Light enough for the summer (which is just what I wanted) but I can imagine it being a little too light for the winter. It is similar to Yves Rocher Vanille, but it has a fresher feel - I think Yves Rocher has a musky note which sets these two apart. This scent is the closest I have ever come to the wonderful aroma of the `Mock Orange` bush when in flower - gorgeous :) Now I would like the whole range of products in this line! PS. The packaging is just sooo pretty from this brand & the price so reasonable, any of the products would make the perfect gift. Update: If you have lots of perfumes & only use the roller balls occasionally, I would recommend getting the spray or solid instead - got mine out today & it has gone a rather funny colour & may be a little 'off', still smells ok on my skin but it doesn't look nice anymore. Whilst I haven't got this particular fragrance in solid I have 2 other Pacifica solids which seem to last & last - the first one may even be 2 yrs old now, just a thought.

Pacifica makes good cheapies that smell high quality for the price. With that comes expectations, and one cannot really expect high performance. I don't think I've ever gotten more than a few hours out of Island Vanilla, but that aside, I think it blows most I've tried in its price range out of the water. It really does smell like good vanilla extract, and while it doesn't have any other noticeable notes going on, I find it to be somewhat variable, depending on skin chemistry. When I first sampled it years ago, I thought it was a dead ringer for yogurt covered raisins, in the most comforting and nostalgic way. Other times, especially in cold weather, I find this going almost smoky on me. Sometimes it will remind me of Lucky Charms cereal. Though I find it enough on its own, I also like layering Island Vanilla with frags that are a little rough at the top. It's also a great go-to when I have to get up really early in the morning or when I'm not feeling too well. I feel comfortable saying it shouldn't bother anybody sensitive, and I also could see it being a good starter perfume for kids.

17/03/24: Reviews on the PACIFICA website for the reinvented version are saying that they have butchered the beautiful original! Pretty much everyone hates it & wants the original to come back! My review of the original is below. ---------------------------------------------- I ordered the hair & body mist first as it was cheaper than the edt for a blind buy. I find the mist very strong! If anything, too strong & synthetic! Can smell it all day in my hair & on clothes! I went on to order the edt & I MUCH prefer it! My goodness, it's beautiful! It's light but very present. I can pick out all of the notes, they're all there & beautifully done. It really is a honeyed, floral vanilla but not at all sickly or headache inducing. Lasts for hours on my skin & clothes. You'll know it's there, those close enough to you & maybe even hug you will love it because you'll be fragrantly delightful without choking them! I've stocked up on this version. I'm dreading the reinvented one for this year 2024. But also quietly excited in case it's even more gorgeous! 😉🙏🏻

I was on Ulta's website and I was trying to find something to use my birthday discount on and thought what the heck, this has good reviews and looks like a scent I would like so i bought the Body and Hair mist. When i got it and sprayed it on my arms, it was heaven!! It smelled EXACTLY like what i thought Philosophy's Fresh Cream was supposed to smell like. But Fresh Cream turned into a sour milk scent on me and I was so disappointed and couldn't wear it. This, however, is a dream!! I smell like vanilla cupcakes!! This body and hair mist does not have the alcohol in it that Bath and Body Works mists do, so it doesn't have that alcohol smell and lasts all day on me too! Sometimes I will spray this on my arms and chest and sometimes my hair and then apply one spritz of Armani Si Fiori or two spritzes of Narciso Poudree. And then i am on cloud nine alllllll day. I cannot recommend this enough if you want to smell like vanilla cupcakes!

This vanilla perfume is severely underrated. It's amazingly well-done, yet also affordable. I jokingly call it the poor man's Tihota, but honestly the two do smell remarkably similar (see my review on Tihota for a full breakdown of their similarities and differences). Pacifica is a honeyed vanilla, without pulling excessively syrupy or saccharine. It's sweet with a bit of amber depth. To be fair, my bottle has been macerating for almost a full year at this point. So some of the alcohol has definitely evaporated and the scent has matured quite a bit, making it feel far richer and more luxurious than it was initially. If you want the true Tihota Lite experience, I'd suggest buying a bottle of Pacifica's Island Vanilla, spraying it about five or six times to introduce oxygen, then sticking it on a shelf in a cold dark closet for at least 9 months, or until the liquid is a deep golden color. I promise, you won't regret it.

I came across this perfume by accident while looking for “cleaner” perfumes, but I am very happy I did! I’ve always been a vanilla wearer, even when changing up my scents, I always used it as a layer, but my go to for 10+ years changed so I was on the lookout for a new one. I sprayed it in the car and as soon as I got home, my daughter was like “you smell like cupcakes!” And my older daughter who doesn’t typically like sweet smells, even said it was nice. It’s definitely on the sweeter side, but I don’t mind it because I layer with an amber oil and it smells divine! I know some have said the longevity isn’t great, but I find it to last on me very long. I spray it on before bed and I can still smell it in the morning! Can’t go wrong with this scent especially at the price point!

I pray and hope that they will realize they’ve made a mistake by discontinuing this, this used to be my holy Grail for layering perfumes with a touch of sweetness it was a part of my signature scent that always got me compliments. It is the best vanilla I’ve ever tried. Before this I didn’t even think I liked vanilla scents. I have gone on a quest to find something that is similar to this in anyway, and I for the life of me cannot it ended up taking me down a vanilla rabbit hole that I couldn’t get out of for almost a year because I just wanted to find something similar. If you like summery vanilla perfumes that aren’t too cakey and smell like vanilla extract but better this is your girl. Pacifica I’m begging, bring this back around!

I call this vanilla my "barbie vanilla". It smells cool and fruity, and just like a vanilla scented barbie doll I had from the 90's. She was supposed to be lemon scented, but smelled more vanillay than lemon. There is something about this that reminds me of philosophy's fresh cream, but this is more fruity and has a soft plastic edge that gives me a bit of doll head. This is very addictive to wear, and while it's very basic it isn't boring. I really love bourbon vanillas, but there is something extra special about this unusually cold and fruity Tahitian vanilla. I just wish it was made a bit better, the longevity & projection seems fair for $20. I would rather pay $60 for something double strength honestly though.

Probably the first perfume i picked out for myself ever, and many fragrances now still can’t compare!! At first the smell is very alcoholic, but once you wave your hands round it’s such a beautiful true honey vanilla extract! I was sad when i saw the changed the formula but they brought it back i think? Only complaint is this DOES NOT LAST, lasts maybe an hour if that. I would spray it in the morning before middle school and by the time i was in 1st hour with my friend she said she couldn’t tell i was wearing perfume💔 The best true vanilla extract vanilla i’ve been able to find besides this is solinotes vanille and lasts longer and is cheap!

Initially I didn't think this lasted, but I've since realized that it really does last a long time. It's not overpowering, and you might not be aware of it, but other people will still smell it on you hours after the initial application. It's a wonderful vanilla that smells like real vanilla beans to me versus something too sweet or synthetic. I like to layer Pacifica's French Lilac over this to approximate the discontinued Stila Creme Bouquet. It's a very close dupe. (Thanks Libra73 for the tip). I think this would be a very good layering fragrance for any number of scents. Great scent. Good value.

I am absolutely devastated that they discontinued this scent and replaced it with a basic vanilla amber (I hate vanilla with amber or woodsy/smoky notes) this was an awesome perfume to layer with other perfumes to give a slight sweet kick it was part of my signature scent for years. Now for the past couple of months I’ve been looking anywhere and everywhere for a dupe or something similar only to be disappointed every time if anyone finds a dupe let me know but I doubt it because when you search up the notes on here nothing else pops up this was simple but truly unique it will be missed

This is a really interesting vanilla fragrance, because it smells like actual vanilla beans versus a cupcake or something sugary sweet. The juice is very natural smelling, but longevity and projection aren't that great. It's more of a skin scent that lasts only a few scant hours. I bought the roller ball version for only $12.00 dollars, so it's not like I'm really disappointed or anything. I do like this fragrance. I especially like the fact that all of this company's products are vegan and cruelty free. It's just not love. I'm still on the lookout for a better vanilla.