Vanilla Vibration

Dusty Ancient Books On the one hand, I started quite biased with this collection dedicated to vanilla--since in general, I love semi-sweet and gourmand vanilla in desserts and creams, but I prefer spicy dried vanilla in fragrances--on the other hand, I was extremely eager to test the four pieces because of the rare notes of ink, papyrus, hawthorn, and vanilla mousse mixed among the ingredients. After testing them all for a few hours, both on the skin and on the strip of paper, vanilla is not at all cloying, but it is an excuse to build special accords around the smell of this long, black pod. Vanilla Vibration uses an almost harsh vanilla, a little acidic, very dark, mysterious, and sensual. It’s not your typical edible vanilla. For this perfume, ZARA chose a bottle with dark blue liquid, between Oxford Blue and Prussian Blue I would bet. Vanilla Vibration shows a liquor and alcoholic opening, full of nuances of paper and wood, like the smell that permeates the air inside a historic library full of centuries-old books and ancient shelves. Dark, sandy, woody and resinous vanilla. If vanilla were a tree, this would be the dry scent of its bark. There is a powerful papery edge, and dry and woody papyrus influences the behaviour of the perfume. It’s the perfect mix of woody, resinous incense and dry, unsweetened vanilla. The first spray smells faintly of rice paper and newspaper but quickly fades to reveal the beauty beneath. Ancient, dusty books, with parchment sheets and cork covers. Dry, papery and dusty are the facets that emerge most and subdue the vanilla. Yes, because vanilla is not intrusive. Instead, it’s just a vibration, spicy and smoky, a vanilla that doesn’t sweeten. There’s never a moment when sweet or edible nuances escape the essence, and that’s what makes it so enjoyable. After a few minutes, I get a smell of unripe green banana peel, wet and musky earth, chamomile infusion, with aromatic and balsamic tones, green cardamom pods and the smell of rice paper. The presence of wood is so vivid, to the point that on several occasions in its evolution it reminds me of Santal 33 EAU DE PARFUM, in which cedar replaces sandalwood. They have nothing in common, but I perceive the same vibrations emitted by the two blond woods, one creamy and the other semi-resinous. The heart should reveal floral notes of violet and orange blossom. Unfortunately, my nose doesn’t pick up the bittersweet citrus blossom. Instead, both the strip of paper and my warm skin amplify the dewy, powdery sheen of violet leaves and buttery orris root, with no reminiscences of makeup or lipstick. And the dark vanilla is already waiting in the wings to come on stage. The fragrance seems to fade a bit and then emits unburned incense-like qualities in a semi-powdery vanilla base. As the less smoky and more resinous notes fade, aromatic vanilla enters the scene, soft and spicy, neither heavy nor excessively sweet. I don’t detect any sweetness in this fragrance, just woodiness and spiciness. Vanilla is the star here, and it starts spicier and woodier before turning into something more powdery and hazy. Not mentioned, I feel the presence of cedar chips, Iso-E Super I bet, with its dry woodiness. That’s why I like to classify this fragrance as a dry, powdery, woody vanilla. The base transforms into a mixture of woody and savoury nuances. Now the amber offers all its saltiness, an amber closer to ambergris without heat. There is no earth or moss, just wood and salt. The bottom line is, that cardamom, iris and papyrus are the keynotes while all the others support them. I think I can wear it during the cool autumn day, because it represents autumn, with those damp, woody, foliage, papery and dusty reflections. Compared to the other pieces in the Vanilla collection, this is the most intimate. It doesn’t scream, it sticks to the skin and the performance is between weak and moderate. But I haven’t tested it on clothes, which might help make it last a little longer. Totally genderless, floral aspects are not feminine. I’m not put off by vanilla scents, but I like it when it’s soft, spicy and dry, and I’d say it’s curious and wearable, vanilla for adults. It’s fluffy, subtle and intimate with a fairly linear journey, making it perfect for those looking for a pure vanilla that doesn’t get too sweet or cake-like. This fragrance is intoxicating, soft, intense, exotic and resinous. I'm basing my thoughts on a bottle I've owned since September 2023.

The best and most unique from the Vanilla collection, surpassing even Black Tie and Babycat/Vanagloria for my taste since it gets much more earthy and green while remaining warm, vanillic and only lightly smoky. That blend of papyrus plus cardamom and powdery notes was magical. Such a bewitching smell. I didn't personally find the cardamom so minty here (usually Zara cardamom is always minty/fresh and often paired with their sandalwood, for coconut effect). Vanilla Vibration also somehow shares a bit of the smokiness of Bohemian Oud from Zara, another favorite of mine. Why did they discontinue it? So sad, I only have a 30ml and I recently acquired 80ml bottle, I hope Zara will bring it back with Starlight Vanilla (and maybe another round of that wonderful doll head smell that was Angelic Vanilla), but I doubt it. Edit: not similar at all to Tom Ford Noir (og, Pour Femme), I have the last 10ml of Noir and I compared them. Not similar to Zara, Totally Terrific, that is a serious cold iris on woods with aromatics, and subtle vanilla, much more masculine. But very close to Loubirouge, although Vanilla Vibration seems even more green to me.

I ordered vanilla vibration a few weeks ago. On the first spray i got the smell of mouthfreshers .. that mix of cardamom, fennel seeds coated with mint and sugar syrup and it reminded me of my grandma who took them with her betel leaves. I didnt hate it but i didnt love it either. Dejected, i let it rest. Today i wore it sort of to just “.. meh.. lets try it..” and i love it. I love it better than that baccarat rouge DNA. More subdued and not so sharp. Also i must add that the weather is cool, a little humid. It has been raining for 3 days. I really want to spray this on my mom and hug her all day. It’s very cozy. I do not get any minty-ness now (i did the first time i had sprayed it). Overall, love it. My sister gave an interesting perspective on this fragrance. If you are a devotee of Lord Jagannath and have had the spiced sweet rice (Kanika) that is served in Puri as prashad, the fennel seeds and cardamom notes take you there. Very nostalgic! PS. I cant believe this! I sprayed once on my clothes in the evening yesterday and its around noon today and i can still smell it on my clothes. One spray! Amazing job Zara!

very surprised. When I saw some of the notes in the formula I knew I would like this, it is fantastic. It has a nice balance of incense smoke, unsweetened vanilla, and cardamom. The smoke and vanilla seem to peek out alternately, but maybe if I let the bottle sit a little longer it will mellow out. I personally feel it is similar to Tomford noir's top notes of violet and base without the animalic part. It is even monastic. It is not that complex and the top quickly transitions to a drydown, but it is a soft, warm spicy vanilla that is not too sweet. It's not modern, it's even classic territory, but it's not outdated. The most notable thing about it is its staying power. I think it works well with my skin, and it is clearly fragrant for more than 12 hours. This is amazing. It is also very good for layering with perfumes that do not have a heavy base. The performance and scent is incredible considering the price. The most amazing thing I have seen in the last few months.

Didn't quite like the other 3 releases but this one is special. It reminds me so strongly of something that I've smelled before but I cant quite put my finger on it. I think my nose gets a combination of Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille and Noir pour Femme, maybe a little bit of Tuscan Leather thrown in, topped off with Bare Vanilla VS mist 😉 If you told me this was a Tom Ford perfume I would not question it for a second. I smell a creamy yet dry vanilla with a touch of smoke, and I love it! I find it to be unisex, maybe leaning a tad on the masculine side, but as a woman it makes me feel so very sexy and cozy. It smells ah-mazing on my boyfriend also. Perfect Fall/Winter scent with very good longevity (it sticks to clothes so well, I can still smell it the next day). It sits closer to the skin but I do get whiffs of it while moving around. Not a powerhouse, but I prefer my perfumes to be more personal so thats a plus for me!

Lightly smoked loose leaf papyrus assam tea, syrupy vanilla bean paste in warm milk, candied violets, powdery iris, orange blossom water, and grated black cardamom. Definitely a spicy, smoky green vanilla. Perfect for channeling cozy dark academia vibes for the colder days in the fall and winter. Something about this makes it feel a little Victorian to me as well. Super sweet and feminine leaning, but with a bit of a witchy and gothic edge. Very niche for Zara. Got a little greedy and bought a backup 80 ML bottle because she’s that special to me. EDIT: I picked up Liam Grey by Lattafa and I want to say that Vanilla Vibrations is in the same family of fragrances as Liam Grey and Gris Charnel (and subsequent dupes). Vanilla Vibrations is more feminine leaning, has no fig note, and is syrupy and floral.

Stunning fragrance. The spiciness is definitely there, however, my nose picks one of the notes in this fragrance up as a sort of herbal or tea note. I envision myself sitting in an old, dark library with a cup of tea. It is probably the papyrus and cardamom cnotes that give me this tea-scent. It is slightly powdery because of the violet and iris with a lovely sweetness from the vanilla. It is definitely the most unique scent of the zara vanilla line. In the fragrantica accords is says that this perfume has a leathery feel to it, which I am actually not picking up on.

A beautiful and sophisticated vanilla with a hint of green and a delicious dose of cardamom. I haven't seen many affordable perfumes with a cardamom note, I would normally associate it with very high end fragrances like Starlight and Changing Constance, so I'm pleasantly surprised to see Zara come out with these elevated compositions. For me, Vanilla Vibration is the standout from this collection. As for similarities, I would not say it's close to Eau Duelle, but it does remind me of Tom Ford - Noir Pour Femme a bit.

OMG! This is so good! I tried it in Zara and immediately liked it. It's rich, warm, spicy, woody. It reminds me of another scent but I don't know which. I had Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme before but I don't think this smells like TF. The cardamom is very prominent in this one. I bought a 30 ml bottle because it's more practical to carry around with me . Although the longevity is somewhat weak/moderate it's a delicious scent for autumn and winter and a great value for money! My favourite from Zara's vanilla collection.

Zara perfected its perfume formulations and this is the fruit of their hard work. This easily could be a designer perfume. Opening is bright and flowery, dries to a sweet, sugary vanilla with a hint of spice. I bought it a month ago and already made a considerable dent. Extremely long lasting and my sister says it doesn't bother her and is quite pleasant, which it surprising because she hates anything with vanilla and spices and only wears citrus scents.

Wow, this is amazing. The blast of cardamom at the opening won me over, it is a shame it quickly dissipates. I get spicy, smokey, incense-y vanilla, and there's an almost church-like quality to it which makes it very sensual and complex. It reminds me a lot of Diptyque's Vanille candle. Do I wish it lasted longer? Yes. Is this worth the money? Absolutely. I'm thinking of layering this with another spicy/cardamom-y scent to amp it up.

Great, great, GREAT fragrance! The opening is very fresh and aromatic, definitely unisex. After a while the vanilla starts to come through but still remaining aromatic and somewhat fresh but spicy! To me this is the star of this vanilla infused collection. The projection is good and the longevity is moderate! For the price... this is A STUNNER! But I would buy it even if it was more expensive, it's just that nice!!!

Said to be similar to Eau Duelle, but I am finding it quite original, in the way that vanilla is treated, especially towards the drydown, after the papyrus has faded and it starts to warm on the skin. It is actually a green, spicy vanilla, which I could actually see being released at bigger houses. Eau Duelle is more resinous and this does not go into that direction. I am quite happy with this release from Zara.

Spicy green vanilla. Very unusual for Zara. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but smells quite good if you’re into green vanillas. It does have a cool, minty feel to it which is probably from the cardamom. I feel like this would’ve smelt great if the sweetness was toned down a bit but that’s just me as I prefer my green vanillas less sweet. This would complement really well with spicy tea/chai fragrances.

vanilla vibration really surprised me! the notes of cardamom, vanilla and iris are so well blended! :O i almost didn't get this one because of a couple of negative reviews on tiktok. thank goodness i didn't listen to them lol! this is for sure my favorite from the vanilla collection. i got a good 5 hour wear from this! i just wished the orange blossom and silk stood out more :/

When I first sprayed this I thought I made a big mistake, it opens immediately with a weird menthol-pickle note, but that settled down really fast. Within 15 minutes, it becomes a creamy, slightly smokey, exotic woodsy vanilla. It's softly sweet, subtle, and sultry. Just ordered a bigger bottle before they're all gone.

Lovely new addition by Zara! In short, I would describe Vanilla Vibration like that: it got some aspects of Tom Ford Oud Wood + some sweet and sexy violet / iris notes. On me, it got very good performance. If you can find it on a good offer(in that moment it is between 40-50% off), don't think twice.

this smells like pure vanilla extract with spices which personally i LOVE. so beautiful and expensive smelling. i got it for just $9 so i’ll have to stock up lol. definitely a winter only scent. it’s definitely more masc or unisex so not really what i’d wear personally but still smells heavenly

If you need to choose one of Zara’s new vanillas this is it! I love Memo Paris Winter Palace, but it’s very pricey, Vanilla vibration reminds me of it. Warm and spicy, it apparently has neither citrus nor tea notes but somehow it still gives that same warmth. Smells expensive. Can recommend 👍🏼

Exquisite! Soft and green. The green notes here combined with the vanilla remind me of unripe green banana freshly cut; not really sweet yet, but not bitter either. If Zara ever brings this back, I'm buying a liter. This is that good. In the meanwhile, I would love to find a dupe for this.

This one is very close to skin. "Intimate" sillage. I basically love all vanillas - but I have to be able to smell them to enjoy them. This is for someone who want a lighter wearing vanilla. It does seem to last a bit, but it is soft. It smells good otherwise.

honestly it did not deserve all the bashing it received. Unconventional, yes. Green, yes. But very beautiful. And to have it discontinued?! Zara! :< I am lucky to have blind bought a 30 ml bottle. I wish i had gotten the bigger one. :( BRING HER BACK!

Underrated gem, I hope it stays that way lol. Smells wayyy more expensive. Reminds me of Tom Ford Noir Extreme for men but softer. Sweet, Spicy and powdery vanilla. Lasts all day. Doesn’t project much but up close it’s absolutely divine on skin.

If you like Gris Charnel type of DNA, you'll love this. Pair this with Versace Crystal Noir and you will be the best smelling person in the room. Lovely, comforting and perfect for the upcoming cooler months. I love this!

This is sooo unusual and interesting perfume! I can barely smell vanilla, but smell cardamom, some watery notes and some wood. I does not develop, but stays within its magnificent mystical charm. A true treasure!

Warm, spicy and dry vanilla with a nice dose of black tea. Warm and exotic like a cup of spicy, black chai. Like Starlight Vanilla, this one is unisex, but leans feminine. A gorgeous and unique scent.

Guys, for me... This is Zara’s exelent interpretation of Tom Ford Ombre Leather mixed with just a vanilla from Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. Exelent parfume!! 10/10

Beautiful vanilla/iris/spicy fragrance. This one really projects. Not terribly complicated, but extremely pleasant and a steal for the price.

Just got this one today, and I really like it, my favorite from the collection! ...it's not too sweet, I even get some citrus/fresh notes.

Amazing sophisticated scent, smell like an expensive niche fragrance. You can definitely wear this to a fancy event or work dinner or so

I love it but it gave me a headache ..I kept trying it and again was nauseous so it’s a no for me nuts it’s lovely 😔

Love this one very soft even though it has cardamom

Dupe of The Only One 2 by Dolce Gabbana

I have mixed feelings about this one. First of all I went to Zara store to try it with great hopes for this to be dupe of Eau Duelle (which I love and own a bottle). This wasn't very Vanilla in the beginnings... ages ago I used to have this fragrance called BERGAMOT from Topshop. It was cheap but good. That's the smell I detected when I sprayed Vanilla Vibration - of that Bergamot from Topshop. Dry down is more powdery vanilla like but don't let it fool you - the very end dry down, when it gets close to skin - this is the moment when it makes some similarities to Eau Duelle and is very Vanilla and it fades away.... unfortunately. I would still recommend this but don't catch this just because it has some slight shadow of Eau Duelle, buy it for Vanilla Vibration and its own charm.

First of all: I own Christian Louboutin Loubirouge and Vanilla Vibration is NOT similar to it... Loubirouge has similar smell like Totally Terrific from Zara. The opening of Vanilla Vibration is earthy Woody Iris with cedar, cypriol and this strange (on a good way) dark Vanilla with a small sunlight spot, but 3 mins after the first spray, it is very very similar to Eau Duelle EDP (which I also own) with papyrus, extra woody notes and of course cardamom, dark Woody Vanilla. Not similar to Tuesday at all.. unfortunately, because I love that but has no lasting power. Vanilla Vibration is a really nice alternative in case you love Duelle but you can't find or buy it. Longlasting and medium sillage. Good blend. I don't feel orange Blossom and Violet in it.

This is the most realistic tea scent i've ever encountered. And no tea note is listed. This smells straight up like black, black currant/cassis tea I usually have for breakfast. It's remarkable! I wouldn't be able to tell them apart to be honest. I guess what I really pick up is the cardamom. It's a very nice and calming perfume with a powdery touch from the iris. I wouldn't say the vanilla is prominent here, I can slightly detect it during the dry down. The title is therefore a little misleading, if you want a vanilla forward perfume this is not really it. But nevertheless it's a very nice, balanced and invigorating everyday scent. Longevity is alright, lasts around 5 hours on my skin.

I just received this in the mail today and was very excited to try it. As soon as I sprayed it, it reminded me of something strongly. After a while it hit me - Raghba from Lattafa. Sprayed them side by side and sure enough - pretty similar, even though the note structure does not give that away. For those not familiar with Raghba, Zara Vanilla Vibration is a vanilla accompanied by dry woods, which to my nose smell like sandalwood and pine (could be the papyrus note). It is not a sweet vanilla, nor gourmand, but a dry woody even powdery vanilla.

My least favourite of the 4 in this collection but that isn't a bad thing, it just happens to be spice-forward in the initial spray, which isn't my cup of tea. However the dry down is a lovely, comfy vanilla. Edit: This has moved up a place to 3rd favourite in this line, meaning hypnotic vanilla is now my least favourite. There is something addictive about the balance of the spice in this. Went ahead and got a 30ml bottle, going to test it out more once the colder weather sets in.

For the price it’s a nice daytime/lunch date scent, I would layer this with TF noir or something along those lines. I get a heavy vanilla with some cardamom which gives it a lovely spice. Not the most powerful perfume but it does stick to my clothes well. I’d say this is the nicest out of the range imo. I also have to commend them on the bottle design as I feel the deeper shades look really elegant on my stand, which I personally prefer to the brighter ones.

This was a big surprise for me. I ordered it along with starlight and supreme, and based on notes and comments this was the least exciting one. Boy I was wrong! I like this the most. It’s not strong or loud, it’s just .. cozy. Bit sweet, not much vanilla at first but a good blend on my skin. Unfortunately I will return supreme, it has better comments but it almost made me puke!

Smells like a better version of Zara Tuesday (owned). It immediately reminded me of Tuesday, but the cardamom is less in your face, the Iris is more obvious, and there is vanilla rounding out the composition. It is more complex, and the fragrance notes seem like they are in better balance with each other. Another one that I would recommend to niche lovers.

This was not my favorite one from the vanilla line by zara but i wore it on a rainy spring day and i finally fall in love with this one too. I really hope zara will release full bottle of this again. Its an interesting spicy vanilla for colder days. The notes are so blended i can hardly seperate them. Very interesting perfume!

i don’t get any of the listed notes. from opening to dry down, all i smell is an unripe/green banana. or like banana cream made with green bananas. it wasn’t what i was expecting, but it isn’t bad by any means. it feels smooth and fresh more than cozy and warm to me. i like it!

This is lovely. Dusty, spiced vanilla with a chai tea feel. Super cozy. Might be the first Zara perfume I buy. Best of the line for me with Supreme Vanilla being a close second. Hated the other two.

A green spicy vanilla. Smells like vanilla black tea leaves, the papyrus is strong on my skin and I love the cardamom in the head notes. Very long lasting. Such a shame it’s discontinued!

I own Christian Louboutin Loubirouge and Vanilla Vibration is NOT similar to it... Loubirouge has similar smell like Totally Terrific from Zara.

It’s Zara 9.0 with a lot of vanilla in the opening and then with much less of it in the dry down. Not awful but nothing extraordinary.

It smells delicious but this one had the worst longevity on my skin I'm afraid....

@peachhhfuzzz THANK YOU! I smell banana, as well, I thought I was going crazy!

After a while, it reminds me a lot of Stronger With You by Armani