Un Bois Vanille

This is one of those fragrances that is totally influenced by skin chemistry,it's very different on different people's skin As a vanilla lover I couldn't miss this one,so I blindbought it...I find it lovely,adorable and unique,I have tried lots of vanilla dominant fragrances but I can't name anything similar to this one It's definitely sweet but not cloying,delicious but not childish,there is sort of a burnt/smokey undertone,maybe liquorice (not burnt sugar)that balances it's sweetness It opens with a dark vanilla blended gorgeously with honey/beeswax,caramelized benzoin and tonka,and a hint of creamy sandalwood and liquorice..I can't detect any coconut in the opening part..as time passes that burnt undertone fades and it becomes sweeter,now there is more honey and I can get some coconut cream ,also just a little amount of almond shows itself in drydown besides woods that make the scent a tad powdery. so drydown is a tad darker with tonka,balmy woods and almond,it's also warm,smooth and very likable It's not too dry and powdery as I've expected,it's kind of creamy/milky and if you're looking for dominant coconut or woodsy notes or almond,you're probably gonna be disappointed,there is just a hint of mentioned notes blended with honeyed syrupy vanilla..that's exactly why I love it so much,it's well blended and nothing is overdone but if you're not into sweet scents and licorice you may find it gooey,sticky,burnt mess but for me this is a vanilla,honey heaven I enjoy it on autumn more than freezing winter nights,it's warm,sweet and comforting so good for cold temp but when it's too cold,it doesn't project that much.by the way,it leans on the feminine side IMO Longevity is very good but sillage is just a little more than moderate,I wished it projected more This is among my my top five favorite vanilla scents and one of my most beloved serge lutens fragrances(fleur d'oranger and datura noir are my other favorites) This is very delicious,addictive, balanced,sensual and soothing,well done serge lutens 65 dollars I've paid for it is not wasted ❤❤❤❤❤ Edit: I love layering this with Datura Noir. It creates a scent which reminds me of Dior Hypnotic Poison but much better 2nd Edit: After a few months I can pick up a lot more of the coconut and also more waxyness than before. I have a coconut-vanilla candle which smells 80% similar to the dry down of this perfume. I still like it though رد پایی از تمام نتها رو میشه حس کرد که باعث شدن این عطر، فراتر از یه رایحه وانیلی ساده باشه و ابعاد مختلف و عمق داشته باشه برای من وانیل و موم عسل، نتهای غالب هستن که یکم ته بوی سوخته/اسموکی طور بخاطر لیکوریک پیدا کرده که بنظر من، رایحه رو خاص و اعتیادآور میکنه. علاوه بر این نتهای چوبی، خامه نارگیل و بادوم هم محسوسن درکل میشه گفت یه وانیل عسلی، اسموکی، پودری، خامه ای، چوبی، نارگیلی هست. خوشمزه و اعتیادآور.. یکمم حس و حال وکسی داره که باعث میشه یادآور بوی شمع وانیل-نارگیل باشه. درکل اگه شما هم دوستدار عطرهای وانیلی هستین، بشدت توصیه میکنمش چون با عطرهای وانیلی دیگه متفاوته. اگه دنبال ورژن مردونه تر همین رایحه هستید الکساندر جی عود وانیل رو امتحان کنید ضمنا توصیه میکنم اون بویس وانیل رو با داتورا نویر لیر کنید. ترکیبشون یکم شبیه هیپنوتیک پویزن میشه اما خیلی بهتر

I ordered a quarter-ounce travel sprayer from my fragrance-of-the-month club, and I can already tell that I'm going to use this up to the last drop and rue its absence, even though I have at least a dozen good vanilla-centric perfumes in my collection. As others have noted, this isn't similar to most of the other vanilla perfumes. It's a bit drier and woodier, but there is a slightly unctuous accord coming through that must be the beeswax and coconut--it gets creamy, but not nearly as sweet as, say, Libre Intense or Mon Guerlain Intense. I think of all my vanilla perfumes, it reminds me the most of Lalique Le Parfum, although that one has a strong sage note that is absent here. There is a touch of licorice, but I don't notice it nearly as much as I notice it in Lolita Lempicka Lolitaland, for instance. I do understand why some people compare the scent to that of a candle, but that doesn't bother me. I guess I would rather smell like a scented candle than a slice of pie. Either way, if it's a perfume with more than a drop of vanilla in it, my husband will invoke the Pillsbury Doughboy. I'm getting just as much wood, wax, amber, and balsam, but your mileage may vary. If you're iffy about vanilla, you should probably procure a sample before springing for a full bottle. The travel sprayer size is good for me, since it often takes me a few wears to decide if I truly love something. After several hours' wear, it is starting to remind me of Van Cleef & Arpels Orchidée vanille--it's not quite as sweet or as floral, but the bases are quite similar. Update: wearing over the past couple of days in an attempt to use up my smaller amounts and decants, before they go off or evaporate, I am once again impressed by the longevity of this fragrance. It doesn't have much throw--my husband insists that he can't smell it unless his nose is practically touching my skin--but that could be a good thing for many people. I haven't worked in an office with other humans around for years, but when I did I occasionally upset one of my more sensitive colleagues. Well, I can't imagine that happening with this fragrance, unless you aggressively sprayed it on them, and only a truly depraved profligate would waste expensive Lutens juice like that. I can't let myself buy any more perfume this year, and I have already gone over my desired budget, but I will be genuinely sorry when I run out of Un Bois Vanille. I'll have to console myself with one of the dozens of other vanilla-woods fragrances I have, but not one is very much like UBV. Update: Well, there is one that is very much like UBV, and that is Dua Brand A Vanillac Wood. The Dua "impression" is an extrait, so it has a bit more throw, arguably, but they are remarkably similar on the drydown. UBV is likely smoother and more complex, but I don't think many people would be able to tell them apart blindfolded.

Well now, this is different. Normally I’m not a vanilla guy. I have an aversion to sweet things - perfume, food, drinks, you name it. If it’s sweet, I’m going to be extremely picky, and vanilla perfumes are almost always sweet. I never fit-in anywhere; how I wish, sometimes, to not be a weirdo. Un Bois Vanille isn’t sweet. Don’t believe the many. Well, ok, it’s a touch sweet, but UBV is about far more than that. This is one of the stiffest, most strident, bitter, and peppery vanilla+wood perfumes I’ve ever smelled. It wants to pick a fight with someone, and I’m happy to take a gut punch. Riding on the success of Feminite du Bois, which proved that women at the turn of the century could love a wood based perfume, Lutens gave us a stupid number of wood perfumes that are really just flankers to FdB - but, honestly, that’s a bit of a mischaracterization because many are good enough to stand well on their own (and some aren’t), but all have FdB to thank for their inspiration and birth. UBV is not an exception, but it is good enough to stand on its own - great, even. Strong nose-tingling pepper, bitter and unctuous and metallic almonds, and floral and waxy and semisweet beeswax open the perfume. Bam! It hits you square in the nose. Behind these opening notes that are coming at you like a fist, you pick up the muscles and bones of the arm, stiff and strong, of guaiac, benzoin, and anise. Woody and hard like a maple baseball bat, warm spices of high body heat temperatures, earthy and sweaty oily like the hot breath of a boxer. The vanilla is here too, but it’s giving you its vegetal, bitter, and black qualities - saving its gourmand qualities for later. Eventually UBV calms down, the fight is eventually over, and we settle-in for calm, slightly sweet, gourmand vanilla and a creamy and slightly peppery sandalwood (that smells a lot like the old formulations of FdB - cough). The coconut milk facet that the brand, and several online reviewers, have commented on is there but it’s masked. There is something creamy, unctuous, nutty, and coconut-y in UBV but in the opening does it really distinguish itself from nuttiness of the almond? No, not really. In the dry down does it really distinguish itself from the creamy sandalwood? No, not really. I can believe it’s there, maybe like a glue bridging everything, but it doesn’t ever take center stage, preferring instead to work behind the scenes it seems. The first time I wore UBV, I thought “blah.” The second time I wore it I thought “hmm.” The third time I wore it I thought “hey, this is pretty darn good.” The fourth and subsequent times I wore it I thought “this is one of the best vanilla woods I’ve worn.” Give this one time and patience. No one likes being smacked or punched around, but BDSM preferences don’t happen overnight, do they....

Un Bois Vanille smells like fall in a bottle to me. At it's simplest it's a woody vanilla, but it's not at all simple. It is smokey and spiced with a waxy sweetness through out. The sweetness is very slight but because of the beeswax it still feels rich and a little heavy. I don't specifically smell the coconut milk, but it seems to add a smoothness to the composition. The woods are more burning wood than fresh-chopped or dry wood. There is something perfectly fitting wearing this outdoors on a crisp fall day. It blends so beautifully with the fresh air and if you close your eyes you can imagine you are walking through the woods even if you are inthe middle of the city. Because of this, I always think of this as a fall scent. It works just as well in the winter, but there is something magical about wearing it in the fall. Un Bois Vanille is a straight up unisex fragrance for anyone that likes an interesting vanilla. I am surprised to see that so many people here have voted it as more feminine because I would love to smell this on a man as much as I enjoy wearing it myself. Reading some reviews, I think that some people get a lot more sweetness that I do. Perhaps that's why some find it more feminine leaning. My bottle is the currently available black label bottle. The performance is excellent. It lasts forever on clothes and easily 8-10 hours on skin. The projection is also solid. It projects to al least arms length for most of the wear and a bit beyond for the first couple of hours. I find it too heavy if I overspray. I would suggestion starting with a light spray (2-4 sprays) and add a little more if needed. I tend to wear 2 or 3 sprays and add an extra 1 or two late in the day, if I want to wear it well into the night. Serge Lutens is a pretty reasonably price niche house. The retail pricing is quite reasonable anf the deals at discounters can be excellent.

The lightest colored juice in my, so far four strong Serge Lutens collection. The opening is entirely dominated by the beeswax note. Sweet, but fresh, light floral honey covering the waxy surface - these bees have being gathering fresh pollen from spring and summer flowers for their hive and have not been fed any sugar water. Once the beeswax note starts to calm down, the bitter tones come out - people think "coconut milk" would smell like coconut flakes, hence why some reviewers in here are trying to mindbend themselves into feeling "coconut note" which isn't there - coconut milk smells bitter-sweet and slightly lactonic, which will be a better descriptor to the note that comes into play after the opening (mind that none of these are official notes provided by the house, aside from vanilla, black licorice and sandalwood, so we are all using our experience and not in small part our imagination here). In the drydown, the scent goes into more of a smooth, creamy direction with the vanilla and sweet woods, but i am not ready to call it "balsamic" or "woody" yet - the beeswax and the bitter lactonic notes are still there, albeit much subdued. This type of fresh sweetness for me wouldn't work the greatest during the winter chill or in the high summer heat - but for every other weather, it fits. For me, this is a more unisex scent than the rest of my SL bottles - even the rose bomb that is Santal Majuscule. This is not a "Sir Michael Caine in his 50s" type of scent, more of a "David Beckham in his late 40s (or even Victoria)" All and all - another different, complex, multidimensional scent from a great niche house. Not for every taste, not for every occasion - but if it works for you it will be a gem in your collection.

This, to my nose, is a fragrance that truly differs when aerosolized vs when dabbed onto the skin. Since the Serge Lutens' square bottles (whatever they're called now, I know them as the "Export Line") come with both the option to attach a sprayer or use as a splash bottle, I have tried both application methods at length. And yes, while the scents largely end up at the same place, the path to get there varies quite a bit, and I think explains some of the reviews here. First, I will briefly explain what I smell when spraying: a quite screechy, play-dohy vanilla with shrieking wood and coconut running through. It lacks the depth of what you would expect from a Serge Lutens fragrance, and seems to be a straightforward Vanilla-Coconut-Wood. However, by dabbing this fragrance on your pulse points, you are met with a truly wonderful mix of coconut sugar cookies, vanilla, and something slightly salty (the licorice). There is a touch of those very classic Serge Luten's spices at play here, and keep the fragrance from going entirely gourmand. The vanilla is much less prominent here, and is very smoothly blended. It also is not as loud (of course, depending on whether you're dabbing out a whole bottle's worth, or being a bit more conservative). As it dries on the skin, a wonderful, slightly animalic, honey/beeswax gives the gourmand scent a bit of "texture." In the end, after letting this sit on your skin for a bit, you get a very nice "salty" vanilla and honey poured over white woods. But, if you want to skip the synthetic, play-doh aspects, skip the sprayer!

It took times to review this perfume for these reasons: - I have tried earlier older formula and it was SO amazing. This is as well but I wish I never smelled the old one. - I was waiting if this will change after letting it sit for a while but it didn’t yet. I was waiting for some depth from the old formula. Maybe after one year or so. Yet, this is one of the best vanillas. What do I love the most in it, is the natural Vanilla smell which is not too sweet even if I think there is Beeswax as well. Secondly I love that heavenly smoky cloud from burnt woods over Vanilla. It’s gorgeous. Some may find this a little bit powdery as well. An older formula was mysterious and darker but this one is more linear and bright with it’s somewhat simple clean musky base. Un Bois Vanille is a mature Vanilla, not girly juvenile stuff which you can’t take seriously. This works even with a suit, especially creamy white or light beige colors. It matches with the softest Cashmere jumper hugging you in the chilly autumn evening. Serge Lutens only mentions Mexican black Vanilla, Sandalwood and Liquorice in their site and they never offer “a full list of notes”. Coconut, Almond, Benzoin, Tonka Bean, Musk and Guaiac Wood pop out in many sources and it all make sense but honestly I don’t detect any of those separately. Thank you for reading, I hope my review was helpful. I would appreciate a lot if you want to follow me on IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more. 🤗

“Scenes from the Forest” Me and UBV have been buds for a long time. At first, about 15 years ago, I bought a bottle, used it up, loving every moment, thinking it was the best vanilla ever. Then the in-between years came. During these years I only liked edgy incense, moss and dark smoky woods. Things no one else actually thought smelled good as I walked past, but I adored and was in the dark phase. It’s been a long time since I had a bottle of UBV, but I’m back on vanillas and sweet scents so we’re reunited but it smells different now. Now I smell the beeswax and honeycomb so prominently. UBV seems to only hint at vanilla after it dries down, and it becomes much more about the idea of honey & beeswax. It does not smell like honey to me, but more like all things related to honey; tranquil things in the forest, I imagine all the little critters and parts of nature that must exist for beeswax and honeycomb to come into being. Now I see how UBV is so natural and evocative. UBV isn’t really about vanilla extract at all, it’s tree bark, bees, honeycomb and beeswax. UBV is a scene, a feeling, a natural state of being in the world. UBV was well before it’s time in 2003. I’m now giving Uncle Serge credit for an exceptional fragrance which I had originally dismissed as a good vanilla, but easy and pedestrian. Now I think it’s phenomenal. And I’ve tried and had all sorts of vanillas over these past almost 20 years. Happy 18th Birthday Un Bois Vanille. You’re still amazing. 10/10 #SLUBVForever

Un Bois Vanille smells like a deconstructed gingerbread to me. There’s a deep, molassesy, softly spiced vanilla supported by a balmy, at times almost soapy, beeswax. I think I appreciate it now at 35 more than I did at 28 when it first entered my collection. The licorice note in here is really so unique, I pick up spiced facets reminiscent of cinnamon and anise seed, and something a little brown sugary. I don’t really get the coconut milk at all. I wouldn’t call this quite gourmand, but it wears deliciously for a good 8 or so hours; becoming more warmed and honeyed and almost cookieish in the deep dry down. The bitter almond I think also reads a bit soapy to me, making this a very comforting fragrance after a shower and helps it keep the fragrance from getting cloying- at least from fall through early spring, I don’t think I’ve worn this in warmer weather yet. The sandalwood and musk seem to add some elevation and backbone, which in my opinion gives it a nostalgic “grown up” feel and keep it firmly out of sugary sweet territory. It’s pretty and classy but not at all overbearing. Though there’s no coffee note in it, it makes me think of a coffee shop date on a rainy day. 🍯🫚🌫️☕️🥐 Bonus: The fluffy clean musk, marshmallowy vanilla, and brown sugar notes in Jovoy’s Fire at Will compliment this beautifully. Image: the sexy 90s office siren shows up to the company Christmas party dressed as a gingerbread woman in a marshmallow party dress 🎄🧁👠

Oh dear heavens, what a great scent this is! A wonderful take on vanilla! It's been on my want-list for a long time, because it's always sold out at my local perfume counter (no wonder!) but I'll soon get my hands on this beauty! On me Un Bois Vanille starts out with a rather unpleasant sour/bitterness and I was worried that my skin chemistry was causing it. Luckily I was told by the SA to give it more time and only 10 minutes later I was blown away! It changes into something utterly magnificent that made me go: "MMMMMMHHH!" out loud. A gorgeous vanilla-honey-tonka that is perfectly balanced with smokiness and woody notes to make sure it's not overly sweet or boring. The combination of notes makes it more edgy and interesting than the usual vanilla cake scent and I LOVE that about it. In my opinion it's unique and intriguing and you're totally sniffworthy when wearing it. Lasts a long time on my skin too! It is a "sticky vanilla" but in a very positive way! I brought a friend with me to the shop trying this out and after the bitter top notes had faded I made her smell my wrist and her comment was: "wow, that is SO GOOOOD, can I please copy you? I need this" We both agreed that this is DIVINE and I'm happily adding this to my collection for Winter. Soon Merry Christmas to me! <3

Obviously really sexy and gourmand and exactly what the name tells you. I bought this last winter and adored the scent but struggled with the longevity and projection. I felt like it would be unnoticeable after like...eleven minutes...and it would frustrate me to no end. I stopped wearing it come summer for this reason, and because it's definitely one for the colder months, but I recently picked it up again (January) and am shocked by how well it's doing. Was I just nose blind before? Or has it miraculously found its strength over time? Unsure. It's been several hours and the smell is so strong and amazing to me that I had to open fragranatica for the first time in a year just to talk about it. I'm really glad because I love this fragrance so much. I am someone who believes in signature scents and likes to wear one perfume at a time, and for most of the year it's Jicky by Guerlain, but this proves a beautiful supplement for the darker and colder days when the halitosis is hitting a little too hard and you need something that smells like a sophisticated yankee candle to keep you warm and cosy. Excited to see how my feelings develop over the next few wears.

I do believe this is one of the best unisex vanillas out there. The contrast between soft and rough is what makes it achieve those heights, and at the same time makes it interesting. Now, I have a bit of a history with this one. I had a sample of it seven years ago, had a bottle at my reach about ten years ago, and I have a sample now at my disposal. It feels like it did changed a bit. I definitely don't remember licorice being as prominent, yet if you wait a bit (15-30 min) it will settle down, and all the medicine associations will go away. Then it's quite lovely, something that I personally would like to feel on my skin at all times. It can handle cool weather, but also can handle heat, even if it's not perfect for the latter, it still behaves very well. It's absolutely headache safe - both not headache inducing and perfectly non irritating during it or other not-feeling-wells (I tested it all, not on purpose, though). It's one of the best things to feel when you just wake up - and yes, it's the kind of lover that stays and hangouts for a while without sudden disappearings. Lasts a long time. Gentle, sexy, comforting - lovely for everyday wear.

Holy smokes, this is insane! I would never expect Serge Lutens to have a fragrance like this. While other perfumes from the brand are kind of gothic, melancholic, and difficult - this one is light, solar, happy, and fucking tasty! The combination of rich vanilla, licorice, and beeswax creates this glossy, delicious, and comforting scent bubble that feels insanely addictive. Usual offenders in other fragrances, like almond and coconut, feel amazing here. The benzoin adds a little Coke fizziness to the blend. I could go on and on, but to keep this short - everything is done exceptionally well here! I would also disagree that this smells vintage, it's not to the point that I was shocked that this got released in 2003. My first thought was, "No way this has been available for 23 years?" Absolutely no way. I could see this being worn by any age group without feeling unnatural (yes, even by kids! but only rich kids; it's important). It is also suitable for any gender, though I might be a little egoistic, but I would love to smell this on a woman so that I don't have to smell my arm every 5 minutes. Gorgeous and timeless.

The blueprint vanilla perfume for me. Something that will never be out of fashion. Woody, gooey vanilla with a slightly salty edge and a touch of smoke. An instant crush that never goes away, I'm smelling it now and god, does it do something good to my brain. It makes me feel instant pleasure, like a cup of very good coffee, or a beautiful view. A piece of art, in all its simplicity. On a less positive note, my previous bottle from more than ten years ago (probably the year 2010) was stronger. I remember how I just bought it and sprayed on my wrist. It was a winter day in Zurich and my then boyfriend told me "Whoa, that's strong, haven't you oversprayed?" :) And it was just one spray on my wrist under my thick winter coat sleeve. Needless to say the coat smelled of woody vanilla until the spring came. Now the potency of it is much more modest. However, still a perfume that is here to make you happy. Plus, no vanilla comes close to it in terms of balance and beauty. I also love Eau Duelle, but it's a different story.

It took a year long hiatus and a vanilla so eye-rollingly good to get me reviewing again. This beauty thing, unlike anything I’ve ever worn, made me rewrite everything I thought I knew about vanillas. It’s not at all like the loud, sugar scream vanilla I’m used to. This one is quieted, dimmed, and mellowed into something far more intimate. It wears quite dry to the touch, with a sweet waxen texture at its core. There’s a muted smoke that curls through it all, gently wrapping everything in an impossibly comforting way. This is a memory fading in dusk/low light or the lasting comfort of an embrace from the person who means the most. Clearly, this calls for subdued weather and a naturally understated wearer (someone who quite literally never raises their voice). If you’re a vanilla lover, grown enough to want more (with a grown up budget to match), and ready to cross into niche...start here. It’s familiar territory, but stripped of all clichés. It’s vanilla redefined. 10/10

I finally got a sample and I am OBSESSED. This is not your usual vanilla, no. This is something that instantly teleported me to an old, elegantly decorated french maison from 17th century. It's dusty and quiet, maybe too quiet for my liking and it's already dark outside, so the room I'm in is illuminated by a few candles. I'm sitting in a velvet chair, reading a really old looking book. There are portraits of aristocrats staring at me from the walls, but I feel oddly at peace. Maybe it's the candles, the warmth that radiates from them... or it's the room itself, frozen in time, allowing me to feel that stillness in my bones. The room whispers to me its many secrets, things that happened behind those walls, things no one else will ever know. It should be unsettling, but it isn't. I immerse myself in this fragment in time and it finally clicks: I've been here before. In a past life, perhaps.

I have a bottle from the 2025 production batch. On my skin, the fragrance opens with guaiac wood, giving the composition a subtle smokiness and an elegant bittersweet woody character. As it develops, it gradually softens and becomes sweeter. A beautiful vanilla takes center stage, slightly waxy, with a delicate nutty nuance. All the notes blend together so seamlessly that none of them stands out or overwhelms the others. The composition feels incredibly smooth, well-balanced, and wonderfully refined. I’d also like to mention how beautifully Un Bois Vanille performs in warm weather. Despite its gourmand character, it never feels heavy or overly sweet. Instead, the warmth makes it feel more airy, while the woody facets become even softer and more elegant. In my opinion, this is a fragrance that can be worn all year round, the only thing you need is the right mood.

Very fresh and sweet scent. I got this as a gift, and now that I've checked the notes I'm surprised! I was sure this perfume had some sort of citrus in it. It might be the coconut, but it isn't the usual coco-nutty note were it's so overpowering- it's very subtle. It is a super sweet scent, but it isn't a headache inducing kind of sweet. It honestly smells like sweet grass on me. It is very much a spring and summer scent on me! The dry down smells very different, it still retains the grassy sweet freshness- but is now replaced by a very warm and comforting vanilla, woody and musky smell. It is so good. The longevity isn't my preference, as it only lasted on my wrist for about 4 hours tops. However the projection is good. I am really perplexed as to why it smells like grass! I think it must be my skin chem, but regardless... amazing perfume and worth the money.

Re-reviewing this one. My first review is a few reviews down. That was based off the tester I smelled in a niche perfumery in Colmar, France. Perhaps their tester was aged, it had time to mature, blossom, grow up, whatever perfumes do to change and improve. I’ve now bought my own bottle and a smell I can keep smelling, very strongly, is baby wipes. Like absolutely, one hundred percent, I smell super clean and powdery like a baby wipe. It mellows and then the sweet vanilla wafts through, followed by some spiciness and even a cacao type smell. I hope mine too, matures, grows up, has it’s 21st birthday in perfume years (something like dog years but the length of time a perfume needs to change it’s colour I guess), and end up like the tester I smelled, because that I do believe, was divine. I see it’s potential, I believe in my bottle.

Fun, light-hearted non-gourmand vanilla. There is something incredibly nostalgic and comforting about Un Bois Vanille- it takes me back to fuzzy, warm teenage memories of not having a care in the world. They say a perfume is a "love" when it brings out happy feelings. Though Un Bois Vanille is new-to-me, it instantly struck me as familiar as soon as I sprayed it. With it being released in 2003 I can certainly see how it inspired many of the trendy sweet, balsamic, vanillas that we all know and love today. It is not nearly as challenging or complex as some of these reviews suggest. The coconut and beeswax really warm up the blend and the sweet woods begin to emerge as it dries down. It reads as a lighter scent on the initial spray, but it gets stronger as it dries down. 100% safe blind-buy if you like sweet, balsamic vanillas.

This might be one of the most beautiful vanillas in existence. Bittersweet, rich and honeyed, there's something almost nostalgic about this scent. The honey and beeswax give it such an interesting depth that really sets it apart from other similar fragrances. What I love about Serge Lutens' fragrances is how well the notes work together. Rarely does one overpower the rest, instead they all melt together, creating a harmonious blend. Although one time when I was wearing it, a coworker asked who smelled like almonds when I walked by lol. If you love vanilla frags but want something unique that won't smell like everyone else, this is it. I'm staunchly anti-gatekeeping, but there is a part of me that wants to keep this hidden from the mainstream so I can keep all the bottles for myself.

My kind of vanilla. Even at it's sweetest, during the opening, it is not cloying or sugary. I can detect the coconut, but again, it doesn't knock you out or give this a tropical impression. I'd say it mostly contributes to the lactonic quality of the scent, with wisps of raw coconut peeking through. As it dries down, other elements emerge and work cohesively, providing a base, and the woody notes that add the "bois" to the "vanille". I'm particularly fond of the sandalwood. I also love the addition of bitter almond. Overall, I get the impression of a non-gourmand vanilla with woods and other notes that emphasize the nature of vanilla without making it particularly edible. I think it's beautiful and sophisticated, but cupcake lovers should stay clear if that's what you're expecting.

Really a stunning confection of woody notes, Un Bois Vanille manages to leverage its (rather detectably) synthetic components to nevertheless smooth and balance out the profile such that nothing stands out too much. The liquorice, vanilla, woods and beeswax all harmonise as if effortlessly to create a sense of lazing on a temperate day in a wooden house in some mountainous landscape somewhere. Easygoing, recumbent, sweet but smooth and polished. Smelling it makes me want to go to sleep without setting an alarm. Its enduring popularity (and broad unisex appeal) speaks to the artistry and skill with which it was originally composed - while my tastes are less for the vanillic-sweet these days, when I return to this I remember just why I so loved vanilla early in my perfume journey.

I'm wearing Un Bois Vanille today, and I'm thinking about the most common criticism of this beauty, that it smells like a candle, but if it is a candle, it is a magical poetic candle in a sunken cathedral in the depths of an enchanted sea. At any rate, it's funny to me that people would rather smell like a photorealistic jelly donut than a candle, and I don't concede that this gives pure candle anyway. Yes, there is beeswax, which is going to remind many people of a candle, but there are many other notes, including the most gloriously creamy sandalwood, that remind me of other things. But if am going to smell like something inanimate, I would much rather smell like polished antique furniture or a fine old candle than a jelly donut.

This is an honestly melancholic vanilla, one that feels a little bittersweet. Reminds me of those memories we all have, those you can’t quite shake but wouldn’t want to. It’s elegantly creamy and honeyed, but there’s a deep bitterness running through it, grounding the sweetness in a way that feels genuinely human. I get this nut liqueur-like quality to it too—warm, rich, and spiced, but in a soul-touching, reflective way. There's a comforting aspect, yes, but not the fluffy kind. Comforting in the sense of laying on the floor in contemplation, half your body on the velvet carpet, the other half on smooth, polished wood. With just a hint of something wistful lingering in the air, oh the power of vanilla booze on a cold rainy night.

A beautiful woody vanilla with just the faintest whisper of smokiness. You get powdery, bitter almond notes and just a touch of cream from coconut. There is a tiny amount of an herbal colognishness (this is a small aspect and keeps the almond and vanilla dry and interesting versus making it "masculine") from the interaction of the tonka liquorice and beeswax, all wrapped in a barely perceptible musk. Definitive bitter accents are working as foils to the overall cosy and warm, but firmly a dry vanilla (not gourmand territory, but definitely in cosy/woody territory). I think any vanilla lover could appreciate it. I’ve had it in my collection for years now, and I’m not sure I could live without it at this point.

This is a dark and dirty honeyed vanilla, and thank goodness for that! It needed this quality to carry that unmistakable Serge Lutens DNA, and I really appreciate it. Even though it’s not officially listed, I can clearly pick up a coconut milk note alongside the vanilla, which makes me think they haven’t disclosed everything. Combined with the licorice, it becomes an incredibly deep vanilla. I also sensed a hint of bitter almond and something reminiscent of anise... or maybe it’s just the licorice. Just when I thought I was completely over vanilla, this one truly surprised me. I loved that someone finally managed to make the vanilla sun set properly; and drag it into the dark. Dark, whimsical, thick vanilla.

Vanilla isn’t an easy go-to for me. Often too sweet, too predictable, too edible. But when Sheldrake and Lutens take it on, you know it can’t be that simple. This one opens like a slow exhale: warm, resinous, quietly intriguing. Not a dessert, but a memory. It’s vanilla aged in cedar, touched with beeswax and coconut shavings. There’s something candlelit about it, like polished wood warmed by skin and time. It wears soft but has presence. Cozy, but never naïve. One of those scents that settles in and deepens hour by hour, blending comfort with shadow. Almost feels like tracing your fingers along an old wooden desk, still holding the ghost of someone’s perfume... intimate and mature, yet just out of reach.

A real crush on this Bois Vanille, which offers an intense, deep, sweet vanilla - almost dark and mysterious. There’s something rich and syrupy about it - or at least, that’s the impression it gives me. It’s hard to put this sensation into words, but it really reminds me of a thick, sweet liqueur in which black vanilla pods have been steeped - almost like a potion. It’s a beautiful vanilla scent, very different from the ones I usually wear. It has real character and a world of its own - I need it! Edit: I bought it, and now that I wear it regularly, I clearly pick up the woody notes, the coconut, and a slightly spicy touch (maybe pink pepper?). It smells so good.

I agree with everything xaarth said in their review. This may be the best vanilla fragrance I have ever smelled. It leans a bit feminine, but as a guy, I would wear this. I do not think it is vintage. It is an airy, carmelized, woody, slightly boozy and smoky vanilla. It is a much easier wear than any other Lutens fragrance I have ever smelled. It reminds me a bit of Kayali Vanilla 28. Perhaps not as dark and rich. It is more of a daytime fragrance to me. Wearable fall, winter and spring. Or maybe a bit like a less green Angelique Noire. After sampling this over the past 24 hours, I am already looking for a bottle. 9/10 and a Fragrantica score of 4.4 from me.

It was a blind buy for me because I love vanilla and the rest of the notes also resonated, and I found it discounted. Based on the notes, reviews, the house and the fact that this creation is over 20 years old, it is exactly what I had expected. Soft, dry vanilla and coconut against a woody background. A bit retro, quiet, feminine, warm, perfect for winter/fall or chilly evenings it's not a modern gourmand playful-girly kind of vanilla, it's rather more mature I don't get any baby lotion/sunscreen references, this is much deeper and the woodsy notes come through quite quickly I'd say a must-try for vanilla lovers, it's very classy

As all Serge Lutens fragrances I have tried so far, this is exceptionally well blended and refined. Everything is in perfect balance here: the vanilla-coconut-beeswax make the scent sweet, but the liquorice-guaiac wood-bitter almond prevents it to be cloyingly sweet and too gourmand, the tonka makes it a bit powdery, and the sandalwood and benzoin give it some light creaminess. It is a perfect equilibrium of sweetness, woodiness, powderiness, and creaminesse. Warm and comforting, never foody or childish, completely unisex. Perfection for colder months and maybe also in the warmer ones.

This stuff is like a journey into a forest full of honey! Being a vanilla addict, I bought it blindly and it did not disappoint. The opening has a scent of vanilla blended with honey, beeswax and caramelized goodness. It's like getting lost in a beehive! There's a hint of licorice that balances the sweetness and adds a smoky note. As it dries, the vanilla fades into the background and honey and coconut milk emerge. It's not too powdery, more creamy and milky, with a touch of almond and warm woods to give it some strength. it will always be with me.

I am a certified vanilla fragrance addict. This is one of my most elegant vanilla in my collection. The opening is thick and licorice forward but not cloying. It’s hard to explain. Thick and airy at the same time. The mid is sweet and little bit waxy. Not a candle like but more of a sophisticated lipstick smell. The dry down is where the magic happens. The vanilla blooms on your skin. It’s creamy and little bit woody because of the sandalwood. Very date night appropriate. Fall - Winter scent but also try in the summer heat.

Close, but no cigar. I love smoky, dark vanillas, so this sounded (and is) right up my alley. It is a beautiful scent, just a tad too dense— dense in a heavy and sweet way, whereas I am finding I like perfumes that are dense in an enveloping, fluffy way. I feel like I will love this in the biting cold of winter, but even in fall on milder days it has too much sweetness. Not the signature-scent material I had imagined. Pity. Again, no shade whatsoever on the perfume. A must-try vanilla from Serge Lutens.

This is a perfect marriage of dry blond wood and sweet waxy vanilla. Most gentle duet, noone is shouting here. I can’t imagine anyone get tired of it or find it irritating, I feel it can be worn any season, I find it very soft and comforting. I would say it is dry woods, dry vanilla yet the whole composition is very airy, ethereal. In the winter I wear it with Ambre Sultan to make the AS softer. I had a bottle in earlier 2000s and just purchased one a few months ago. Loveliest wood fragrance

This was love at first sniff for me. On my skin it starts with coconut and ends with vanilla. On my clothes I smell mostly beeswax. The sillage is pretty good. I sprayed it four to five times on my clothes this morning, and that for me was overspraying. I was smelling beeswax all throughout the day--easily 12 hours, and the scent is still there, so it has excellent longevity. I haven't found anything else like Un Bois Vanille. I'm glad to have it in my collection.

I don’t know what else I can add to this beauty that others haven’t said. It truly is one of the most gorgeous vanilla scents I’ve smelt. I love it . I have about 25 bottles of various Serge Lutens perfumes. One of my favorite perfume houses. If you love this one you must try Santal de Mysore. It’s the most breathtaking perfume I’ve ever smelt. A bottle is very expensive but it’s so worth it. Try to get a sample. You’re welcome.....

This is such a gorgeous vanilla! It's not gourmand or overly sweet though. I get a smokey, slightly green vanilla. It's a unique beauty amongst the sea of vanilla fragrances on the market. It's somewhat unique, but still crowd pleasing. The performance is solid as well. I hope to always have a bottle of this in my collection. I can't wait to explore more from Serge Lutens. Longevity: 7.5/10 Projection: 7/10 Overall Experience: 9/10

Un bois Vanille is one of my favourite vanillas. It’s not too sweet. I don’t know why coconut is in the notes list. It’s very misleading. Don’t expect it there at all! It’s beeswax (this waxed animalistic honey feel) prominent for me. It’s very complex. I do feel something green and woody in it, almost unnoticeable. Definitely don’t buy it before testing, because I don’t think that notes are good for understanding how it smells.

It's really delicious aroma, but not too much. The heart of it made from caramel crust, coconut candy, melted vanilla ice cream and spices (maybe wormwood). Also it smells like when you set fire to paper. For some reason it also seems to me that it smells a little like burnt wiring, especially at the beginning, and it's my favorite minutes of its life. I didn't know that I love vanilla and burning paper so much!

This scent, a woody, smoky vanilla - not some sickly sweet affair, but a subdued seductress. Could be unisex. It’s warm, it's cozy, a soft spoken secret. Not a loud fragrance. Longevity is great but soft projection. And coconut? Yeah, I’m tired of that overused note, but here it's different. It blends seamlessly, a ghostly note among the vanilla's smoky embrace. No cliché, no frills. Just damn fine fragrance.

Smells like a combination of liquorice all-sorts and Elnett hairspray when first spritzed, and I mean that in the best way. It's a beautiful more mature vanilla that reveals more sweetness and depth the longer it's worn. I am not a lover of vanilla fragrances (The only one I own being Sol De Janeiro 62), but this is so delicious and unique! I only got a 2ml sample so I'll have to savour it lol.

One of the best vanilla perfumes. I think Byredo tried to make something similar with Vanille Antique. This is coconut, vanilla, burned caramel and a warm woody scent. It is well balanced. It is suitable also for warm weather because of the coconut. Smells high quality and very sophisticated. Just use in moderation, too much and it does get heady. One small spray works best. 9/10

This is delicious to me. The vanilla is raw, creamy and aromatic. There is a soft honey-like sweetness which surrounds and supports the vanilla aroma without overpowering it. There is a simplicity and authenticity to this scent that is difficult to find in many mainstream perfume brands which contain so many different notes that it can be difficult to tell one from a other.

Au revoir my dark, twisted and exciting friend! You’ve warmed me up for quite some years you were with me, enveloping me in the dark vanilla incense ... as if you were coming directly from an alternate universe where magic exists. A truly unique fragrance, definitely not for everyone, definitely not for everyday but I’ve enjoyed it a lot. Sprayed the very last bit today 💔

Un Bois Vanille is lovely. It starts very heavy on the coconut, but let it dry down and the vanilla and beeswax become the stars. Licorice (a note I sometimes struggle with) balances the sweetness, while the sandalwood, almond and tonka are soft in the background. Projection is intimate to moderate and longevity is moderate. It's a scent for you and those close to you.

This is your sweet sugary vanilla scent you’ve been searching for. Can’t get any more bang on the money. It does dry down to a sweet cacao like vanilla. The only vanillas that rival this for me is Vanilla Planifloria Extrait by Guerlain and Vanilla Powder by Matinere. Those live in the same family. All gorgeous, all indulgent, all gourmand and definitely sweet.

This is certainly interesting, eventhough not what I anticipated for a vanilla fragrance. It's unique and not overly sweet, leaning a bit herbal medicinal. I can't wait till it's below 20°C to bust this out. Definitely a must-try for vanilla lovers, while not blind buy safe. It's heavy and can be suffocating if oversprayed.

Soooo addictive once you wear it and understand it. Wow, it's uniquely beautiful a' la Serge Lutens. I feel that some reviewers forget that Bois is wood, so I feel this is what they smell when they are getting a burning note? I think it's beautiful. To me this is a eyes roll to the back of my head sent. A love for me. ❣️