Vaniglia

This was my absolute favorite fragrance I smelt after spending close to 2 hours in the Via Della Scala store. I couldn’t leave without buying a full bottle.. I knew I would heavily regret it if I did. The lovely woman that was assisting me also adores this fragrance, but informed me that it’s really not popular. I guess I felt surprised to learn that, for it is incredibly beautiful. I’m not going to pretend that I know everything about the history of this perfumery, but I believe that this is one of their oldest, original formulations. To me it is timeless. The warmth that this scent exudes is intoxicating. Yes, as others here have pointed out, there is an animatic quality to it... and that is what makes it so intoxicating. There is no sugary, syrupy sweetness to be found here. Nothing artificial or cloying. Just a very full-bodied true vanilla with a hint of spice and dark liquor. So rounded and smooth. Modern-day vanillas never appeal to me because they are always so creamy, sugary and sticky. What makes this so appealing is that it is so far removed from all of that. There is no stickiness that gives me a headache. It is luxurious without being too in your face. It is very sensual. I cannot stop smelling my wrists. I cannot stop spraying it onto myself. The cloud that it surrounds me in makes me feel so good. Whilst I was walking around in the blazing hot Florence sun, emanating a lot of natural scent of my own, it melded and morphed into something even more rich. It strikes me as being totally suitable to wear in any sort of weather... icy, humid, dry, overcast... doesn’t matter. It will provide joy and comfort regardless. The longevity/projection aren’t out of this world. After a few hours of wear it leaves a wonderful skin scent, which to me is more meaningful and seductive than a beast that still projects after several hours of wear. I’m very delighted. It’s my new favorite... I think I feel at home in it.

This was a blind buy for me so it took me on a bit of a journey and it's taken me a while to collect my thoughts. I've been intrigued with the fragrance and could not find a sample anywhere. I heavily considered flying to LA to visit a store but decided it would be more cost effective to just blind buy, so I did. Upon initial sniff I was a little disappointed. I was expecting a more 'vanilla' experience and it has ZERO sweetness/gourmand qualities. I wasn't really sure what to think about it but went in for a skin test. I received 4 compliments over the next two days of wearing. Someone asked me if that was my deodorant and 3 others just said I smelled so good, and they couldn't tell if it was just me or if I was wearing something. The initial spray is a tiny bit sharp which throws you off but once it dries down it really is the most natural almost garden fresh or green vanilla. There is something so natural about the scent and it is completely unique, unlike anything I've ever worn. A few days of owning it and now my husband and I are both wearing it and making quite the dent. It is fresh, clean, while still being warm and a tiny bit spicy. Such an interesting and addictive scent. It is not your average vanilla and as a vanilla collector I am just feeling so very lucky to have this in my collection as it brings something completely unique to my nose. My husband says it reminds him of a campfire. It reminds me of summer camp in the hill country and I love that such a light scent that is unisex brings up joyful memories for us both. If you can, get your nose on this but definitely do a skin test as I was not sold until it sunk into my skin. Extra points for packaging! I genuinely cannot wait to take this little bottle on a trip!

Finally. A primarily Vanilla fragrance that I love. No, scratch that.... Adore!!! Vaniglia is my latest exploration of the House of Santa Maria Novella. These are all such natural, slightly unusual fragrances. Vaniglia is a beautiful, very slightly sweet vanilla, touched by cocoa and spices. It really (really) smells like a high quality vanilla extrait being poured into a sublime batter of extra special cookies or cakes. These cookies are the one's made at our in-house bakery... only the best spices, butter... maybe decorated with edible gold... branches of vanilla pod, perhaps? It is not gourmand, to me, more Oriental with a capital "O". Do I sense some distant resemblance to Shalimar Original? A bit, yes. That is a Good Thing.

When first applying it, this scent was seemed alcoholic, like a spicy gin cocktail with lemon in the topnotes. However, the progress of this fragrance is adoring. The middle notes and base notes start to come out and when the scent dries down, I can feel the intens vanilla with cacao in the background. The cacao gives the scent this dark incense quality that is unique in my experience. Overall, I do not find this scent too sweet. It's very darkly soft and has good longevity, surprising for a cologne. The vanilla is really beautiful, strong like an actual vanilla pod, but without the sugar. I like this fragrance more each time I put it on. It has surprising depth for a cologne.

This vanilla is a beautiful representation of the old world. It holds a special place on the shelf due to its thick and lusciousness. However, it is not a modern-day vanilla, it is aged, beautifully aged. This scent is extremely good overall, I love it. I believe that this scent favors the female more than the average, on the contrary, a male with an understanding of the primordial gracefulness that comes with the scent would be able to pull it off. Vaniglia is beautiful and very simple, it is not all over the place, I would highly recommend it for an aristocrat of the soul - worth $150.

This is not a light/cakey vanilla like you'll find in many modern formulas. This vanilla is thick, almost oily like a vanilla bean paste. As Vaniglia opens there's something animalic in the scent profile but it disappears pretty quickly so don't panic. There is a hint of smoke that lingers throughout and the cocoa takes some time to unfold but by the dry down it's fully revealed itself and is a beautiful complement to the vanilla. Vaniglia is a stunner IF you're looking for an old fashioned vanilla. If you want something sweet/fluffy, you should sample before you buy.

On my skin this turned out to be a soft vanilla fragrance with just a bit of spicy chocolate thrown in. It reminds me of a Tootsie Roll :)) It's only slightly sweet, and it is smooth and delicious. My skin chemistry is such that I do not get any of the smokiness or extreme sweetness that some of the other reviewers experienced - or maybe I am strangely anosmic to those qualities, I don't know. Anyway, on me Vaniglia lies extremely close to the skin and lasts a long time. I found it to be a nice, yummy, warm personal fragrance.

One of my favorite vanilla frags. Actually, one of my favorite fragrances, ever. The opening is quite pungent, almost like nail polish remover. I don't find it off-putting, but I can imagine others might not enjoy it. However, once you get past that stage, it turns into an intoxicatingly beautiful vanilla fragrance. I received a few compliments while wearing it, which surprised me because of its projection, I thought other people could barely smell it on me. Scent: 10/10 Projection: 7/10 Longevity: 9/10

I love it. I wish I discovered it before. It's a really pleasant and interesting, scent. It is "different vanilla" but still vanilla and it's not a cheap scent vibe, and indeed its not cheap. I really feel I am wearing an exclusive cologne. It's not so weak, but it's not an annoying scent neither, just so lovely.. It's sweet but thanks to spices, it's well balanced. If you love vanilla and want to feel that you are wearing something above the "average", go for it!

Yes, the perfect vanilla is right! People are paying much more and missing this house. This goes on a blast of alcohol, booze and sweet vanilla but in seconds dries down to a dry vanilla cooking vanilla. So smooth and rounded with the cocao in it. Vanilla without being overtly gourmand. This is a vanilla haters vanilla and a vanilla lovers heaven. P.S. I have the vintage with the foil label not the modern pictured above. Not sure if formulas have changed.

I am a vanilla lover and think this may just be that "perfect vanilla" I've been searching may whole life for...I don't want to smell like candy or a child, and this vanilla is definitely grown up, unisex, and as close to 100% vanilla with no filler as I've found...SMN perfumes seem to be up my alley, now that I have two including this one...SMN also has a direct website now you can order from in the U.S., making these perfumes easier to get now...

This is, as others have said, the perfect vanilla. It’s grown-up without being fusty — not a cheap-smelling or teenage vanilla at all. There’s definitely a boozy note in it that keeps me from wearing it to the office, but it’s perfect for a cashmere sweater, glass of neat bourbon, and a roaring fire. Practically heaven for cool months.

Absolutely charming and unusual. I would not call it gourmand at all. It is rather a vanilla which landed by mistake in some artist's atelier and soaked with some interesting chemical and herbal ingrediens. It is quiet, non-arogant and stays very close to my skin. Ideal scen for a nice, Sunday strolls in early Autumn. Love.

I’m sampling from a Lucky Scent sample dauber vial, so I may not be getting the full experience...because the opening was a smooth transition into a sugar-free, spicey, vanilla cloud. And I’m here for it. I really enjoyed my time with this relaxing beauty. Would not hesitate to try it again.

This is melted Mexican Vanilla ice cream mixed with chocolate liqueur and topped with sweetened whipped cream. A delight for some, too rich for others...

I bought a sample of this, because I didn't think I would like it based on the reviews. I was wrong. It's actually a very interesting vanilla. I read that it isn't sweet, and I don't agree with that. It's sweet mixed with other things. I get a very smoky note in the beginning stages that reminds me of By the Fireplace, which is a perfume I strongly dislike. The smoky note from Fireplace never fully goes away on me, but it does eventually with Vaniglia. It dries down into a sweet (but not overly so) vanilla with interesting spicy, chocolate nuances. I tend to not like unisex fragrances, but that tends to not apply when it comes to vanilla. Another favorite of mine is Vanille Fatale from Tom Ford. I can see how this could be considered a unisex fragrance, but I do think it is sweet (which I am happy about).

On me, I get a ton of vanilla, but also something smokey in the background. I don't get any sweet notes from this. Slightly powdery. I would not purchase again, and probably will sell this off. It's not feminine enough for me. It smells like old men at the pool hall with their fedora's on, cigar smoke lingering in the air in the back of the pool tables. Yep, I visited the pool halls only to purchase comic books when I was younger, I was too afraid to look in the back, but when I got older, I used to hang out in another one, and this cologne reminds me of that. I think it's better suited for a man. Not a young man either, this is old man's elixir.

This one needs to macerate. When I first got it, I barely smelled anything and what I did smell was straight incense. I gave it to my husband to use up. Today I randomly decided to give it a sniff and took it straight back. It’s a cold, powdery vanilla. It’s complex and unique. I agree with another reviewer if you like Eau Duelle from Diptyque, you’ll probably like this too.

A realistic vanilla, woodsy and a little spice, more dry , not creamy or gourmand, definitely shared . A grown up vanilla , close to the skin scent suitable for summer, spring and fall. Not enough projection for colder weather. I’m definitely in like! Reminds me of Diptyque Eau Duelle EDP .

The vanilla is not too sweet and I smelled something like incense in the fragrance. For a minute, it reminded me of Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens, but without the heavy smoky notes. The lasting power in this was excellent and I am very surprised because it's a cologne.