Hypnotic Vanilla Cloud

This one is a love for me, even more then Hypnotic Vanilla Bloom! It's extremely well blended, refined and so, so good, it truly has a cloud effect! Long lasting too, more so on clothes. The opening is almost the same as Hypnotic Vanilla and Hypnotic Vanilla Bloom, so we have that Hypnotic Poison/Moncler Femme/Valentina Poudree dna impression, but much, much more etherial and fluffly. As it was for Hypnotic Vanilla Bloom, here we also have a strong flower component, in this case the delicate apricot blossom is much more present and well blended with the jasmine (treated in the same manner as in Hypnotic Poison, so a clean and round jasmine note, soaked in heliotrope) and at the edge of it the marshmellow, which doesn't smell gourmand or super sweet, adds that type of cushion-y, celestial vibe. The true novelty of this Cloud version is in the mid though. I don't pick up any type of osmanthus, but a strong bitter almond note. This is what puts this version a bit far away in the Hypnotic scale: instead of sweet, play doh-y and doll head heliotrope, we have in the middle a beautiful note of bitter almond, still very powdery but not so sweet, actually I would say that I almost capture a cyanide aspect in this almond (forget gourmamd, or nutty or classic almondy or plasticky heliotrope). At the base a strong vanillic presence makes way (more so then in HV and HVB) but the composition is kept light and etherial with lots of musk, and what I suspect to be cashmeran, so the result is creamy and clean, and powdery. This is a very etherial fragrance and it closes with a truly special touch: a sandalwood note which is extremely creamy and lactonic to the point of reminding me of the sandalwood in L'Artisan Le chant de camargue, or Kenzo Amour, and Zara's Driftwood Sandalwood or Nuit for a moment, I could swear a pinch of rice pudding was here just like in Zara Gleam of the Moon. All in all I can say that I really liked this new flanker, it has complexity; the Hypnotic dna is preserved, the musky component is strong to the point that the fragrance reminds me of Zara Merino Musk too, it smells very clean, lightly sweet and powdery, very sophisticate, light and airy. It has a subtlety which I think misses from the og Hypnotic Vanilla, and the base is more complete. Very long lasting, moderately projecting but offers a very pleasant sillage bubble. Full bottle worthy as it was for Hypnotic Vanilla Bloom. About the marshmellow note, I would say it is very similar to the one in Zara Barbie, but different then the one in Zara Rose Marshmellow Candy and Velvet Shadow, which had, shall we say a more "solid" and sweet marshmellow, while here it is fleeting and light, airy and cozy, and spongy!

Zara doesn't have lots of fragrances that are really top notch but these 3 are so worth having in your collection - this very particular Hypnotic Vanilla Cloud, Hypnotic Vanilla Bloom, and Violet Blossom (Not Intense!). Not sure which of those t I am obsessed with more.. definitely not with my buddy Rick whose calls i kept declining while writing all this. By the way, is it too embarrassing to admit that i bought 15 large bottles of the Cloud when heard that it was discontinued? And not a day goes by that I am not thinking what a smart move it was. Vanilla Cloud is wonderfully unique though yes it reminds Dior's HP but it smells like.. imagine being in Paris.... inside Chanel Fragrance and Beauty boutique that has a small area inside where some pretty French mademoiselle Charlotte is baking croissant for you.. so there is that combo smell there - luxe perfume, fresh pastry.. and Paris (aka love) of course..

I was not getting the hype at first, but this perfume is one of those where the dry down is where it’s at. It’s a musky, vanilla, sandalwood marshmallow dream. I layered it with Miimic 166 lotion, a YBM dupe, Walmart Better Frag. Coconut Marsh. body spray and S+F Cream sugar oil. It’s the following morning and I smell delicious. I own Hypnotic Vanilla, Hypnotic Vanilla Bloom and this and I must say if there’s any more flankers I will be on the hunt. Just wish I had a closer Zara. Don’t sleep on Zara’s vanillas or ambers.

I don’t generally like vanilla based scents but surprisingly I enjoyed this. During the Zara winter sales it was even on -30% discount. It’s just crazy how they can make such good fragrances with these lower retail prices. Totally reminds me of my childhood when mom was making butter cake and asked me to measure 2 teaspoons of gorgeously fragrant vanilla essence to add to the batter. Wow!! Now I’m curious how close this scent is to PDM’s Pegasus?!

Sprayed now in store, and have just ordered the big bottle today, it is beautiful! It smells exactly, and I mean exactly like Victoria's Secret Tease Creme Cloud, at least to my nose, but with less of the peppery note and more musk. I have the VS rollerball, and side by side they are almost identical. I am surprised no one has mentioned it yet, I am pretty sure that is exactly the perfume Zara were trying to "Dupe" with this one...