I Tested 60 Vanilla Perfumes, and These Are the Absolute *Best* (2024)

At first, I thought this was just the corporate version of Warm Vanilla Sugar by Bath and Body Works, thanks to its warm brown sugar and amber notes. But she has range, y’all. This scent has hints of vanilla orchid and jasmine that give it a slightly floral edge, helping to keep it from smelling like food-grade vanilla (IYKYK). If there was a well-rounded vanilla perfume, it would be this one.

• Other key notes: Vanilla orchid, jasmine, brown sugar, amber, musk
• Size: .33 oz., .34 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “This is not your normal vanilla,” writes one tester. “It’s rich, slightly deep, and has a soft, warm feeling. It’s sweet but the right amount. Perfect for layering.”

I’m legit obsessed with Le Monde Gourmande, an affordable line of fragrances that includes this light and sweet vanilla perfume. It’s definitely decadent—hello, vanilla, brown sugar, and apricot—but the amber and jasmine help tone it down a bit from being too rich and heavy. I actually wear this in big crowds a lot without worrying it’ll give someone a headache.

But although this is an eau de parfum (which usually means it is denser and has a stronger scent profile, meaning it’ll last longer), this perfume is fairly weak, which I actually prefer for days when I just want a slight waft of my fragrance. If you like a stronger scent, dab a little Vaseline or Aquaphor on your wrists before spritzing this on to give the perfume something to grip onto and increase the longevity a lil bit.

• Other key notes: Brown sugar, amber, jasmine, apricot
• Size: 1.0 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I love this perfume so much! My friend had it, and I wanted to try it because she always smells good, and it did not disappoint! It smells warm and fresh, and I keep getting complimented on how good I smell!”

I will never stop singing the praises of Ariana Grande’s perfumes, particularly her most popular one, Cloud. It’s a creamy, sweet fragrance with a hint of fruitiness that makes it slightly fresh and fizzy. FWIW, whenever anyone asks me for a safe blind-buy perfume or perfume gift, I always suggest Cloud because I legit haven’t met a single person who didn’t like it. (And it’s often compared to the $$$ Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540—IMO, it’s a bit sweeter and missing the jasmine, but a fab, much less expensive option I love just as much.)

• Other key notes: Lavender, pear, bergamot, coconut, praline, vanilla orchid, musk
• Size: 1.0 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I love this one. Sweet but airy just like a cotton candy cloud! It’s my go-to, and everyone from my fiancé, friends, and clients compliment me on it!”

"I'll admit, I was skeptical that I would like this vanilla grapefruit perfume," Cosmo Editor Olivia Truffuat-Wong reviewed in her citrus perfume roundup. "And yet, this blend of scents totally did it for me. Something about the velvety richness of the vanilla paired with the sparkling notes of grapefruit just works," she says. For a perfume under $50, available via Amazon Prime two-day shipping, I'd say that's a steal.

• Other key notes: Lime, cedarwood, vanilla
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "This fragrance is so beautiful. It has a unique scent that I can honestly say I’ve never smelt before. I’ve been getting a lot of compliments. It’s not overpowering and lasts a long time. I can’t rave enough about this perfume! Also, it’s all natural which is a huge plus. I’m sure the other scents by this company are lovely too."

Out of my ~90 perfumes, this is one of the few scents I actually sprayed on every single day in the fall and winter last year (like, the bottle is half gone right now) because it’s that good. The chocolate and vanilla perfume seemed to envelop my body on super-cold days and somehow made me feel warmer after spritzing it on. And if a chocolate and vanilla perfume sounds artificial to you, don’t worry—it’s also filled with musk and hinoki wood that make the chocolate notes smell like warm and spicy cinnamon to me.

• Other key notes: Chocolate, musk, hinoki wood
• Size: 0.25 oz., 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I’m not kidding you, I still smelled this in my hair the next day. I feel like fragrance never lasts on me, and I smelled this on my skin even after a 12-hour shift at a hospital! It smells so sweet and delicious like vanilla-bean ice cream. Obsessed and a new go-to!”

The Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '62 scent "perfectly encapsulates the essence of joyful summer days," Mary Honkus, a contributing beauty writer, told Cosmo. "It smells warm, nostalgic, and familiar, and though it features just three key sweet notes—pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla—it manages to leave a big impact on the skin without veering into headache-causing territory." It's also one of the few body mists that lasts on my skin and clothes, which says a lot, considering some EDPs don't even last as long. Want to really channel a warm summer mood? Snag the Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream , and you'll be the yummiest-smelling person around.

• Other key notes: Salted caramel, pistachio
• Size: 3.04 oz., 8.1 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "If you're searching for a body spray that embodies the essence of a Brazilian beach getaway, look no further than Sol de Janeiro '62 Body Spray! The fragrance is a perfect fusion of pistachio, almond, vanilla, and salted caramel, creating a sweet and indulgent aroma that's impossible to resist. It's like summer in a bottle, lifting my spirits and transporting me to a state of pure bliss with just a few spritzes."

When I heard Rihanna wore this perfume (before she launched her own Fenty Perfume, ofc), I ordered it without ever smelling it. And now I see why people say Rihanna is one of the best-smelling celebs. When I first sprayed it on my skin, it kind of smelled like a bubblegum-flavored marshmallow—but once it dried, I got hints of spicy pink pepper, coriander, and musk that gave it some rich depth. I get an ever-so-slight whisper of the orange blossom, but it essentially just supports all the sweet goodness throughout.

• Other key notes: Pink pepper, orange blossom, coriander, sugar, caramel, musk
• Size: 0.24 oz., 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I’m not usually a fan of sweet scents, but I CANNOT get enough of this perfume. It’s a blend of delicate orange blossom and gourmand vanilla that settles into a lush and warm musky vanilla that lingers all day long. A few spritzed in the morning and I never have to touch it up! Absolutely lives up to the hype.”

Vanilla perfumes are back, baby, and that means the iconic Viva La Juicy is too. This deliciously warm blend of vanilla caramel and amber is perfectly balanced with sweet notes of fruit and honeysuckle, creating the most fun, playful scent that has been loved for years. But don't worry about it smelling too juvenile, the perfume exudes, what I like to call, a "grownup sweet" that is more ~sophisticated~ than its super candied predecessors.

• Other key notes: Berries, honeysuckle, mandarin
• Size: 1.0 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz., 6.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "One of the longest-running lines of perfumes for a reason. Great smell and an overall nicer after scent. Whatever they put in this must work as the perfume gathers compliments every time my mom goes out. This is a welcome addition to any woman's collection and is a great gift overall."

When this sample first arrived at the Cosmo office, I spritzed it on at my desk, loved the scent, and went on with my day. Throughout the next few hours, five different staffers crowded my desk asking what I was wearing. Someone raved about how it smells like what they imagine a “rich person’s living room” to smell like, probably due to the mix of sandalwood, musk, and vanilla. And ya know what? I have to agree—the woodsy vibes def smell like a cabin Airbnb I couldn’t afford.

• Other key notes: Sandalwood, musk, cedar, jasmine, bergamot
• Size: 0.32 oz., 1.7 oz.,

Glowing Customer Review: “It has a pleasant woody scent with a hint of sweetness and a touch of spice. It just makes me want to cuddle next to a warm fire. I’ve gotten many compliments when I wear it!”

You’d think this fragrance would leave you smelling like an explosion of flowers because, well, that’s how it’s marketed. But lemme tell ya, it’s much more complex than that. Sure, you get a fresh orchid, freesia, jasmine, and rose scent, but what makes it interesting (and oh-so-yummy) are the subtle notes of sweet vanilla and spicy patchouli.

• Other key notes: Bergamot, freesia, orchid, jasmine, rose, patchouli
• Size: 0.33 oz., 0.68 oz., 1.0 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz., 5 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I’m normally a gourmand girl, but as soon as I gave this a sniff, I knew I had to have it,” writes one tester. “This is a sweet floral scent, with touches of vanilla. SO GOOD!”

Here’s the thing: Cherry, almond, and vanilla notes have such a lovely nostalgic scent profile, although they can easily smell artificial and cheap. But that’s not the case with Lost Cherry by Tom Ford. Instead, this perfume combines the three notes with woods, spices, and rich liquor to give it a ton of depth, making it smell ~expensive~. Yes, I’m aware it’s also actually pricey, but I do wear mine constantly with other perfumes to make them smell a bit sweeter (and I legit always opt for the mini size or pick up a bottle during sales to protect my wallet a lil).

• Other key notes: Liquor, plum, tonka bean, cinnamon, sandalwood, cloves, vetiver
• Size: 0.33 oz., 1.0 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I love this perfume! It is so original and smells like luxury. It gives me so much confidence when I wear it. I would definitely recommend this to someone! it is not overpowering but still strong and lasts.”

This is technically marketed for men, but fragrance has no gender, which is why I proudly wear this spicy perfume myself. But tbh, I actually gifted this to a guy I was dating once because I wanted my partner to smell like it too. Why? Because it’s filled with a blend of v-spicy notes—cinnamon, pepper, incense, patchouli, tobacco—that are all blended with ultra-sweet vanilla to make this scent practically ~irresistible.~ (Fyi, we did break up, but he def still remembers me every time he smells this rich fragrance).

• Other key notes: Cinnamon, pepper, musk, patchouli, incense, tobacco leaf
• Size: 4.2 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “This is primarily marketed as a men’s scent, but as a woman, I love it SO much! I spritz myself day & night. It feels rich & luxurious while I’m wearing a nice top and sweatpants on my Zoom calls, and it’s super cozy when I spritz myself and slip under my duvet at night.”

If you love how your hair smells after you go camping, then I guarantee you’ll love this fragrance. It combines all those earthy notes you love (tobacco leaves, pine, incense, and cedarwood) with warm vanilla. But trust: This fragrance isn’t actually sweet at all—instead, it’s actually very sheer and meant to be a skin scent, meaning it sits really close to your skin and smells like you, but better.

• Other key notes: Tobacco leaves, redwood pine, incense, white cedarwood
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “Easily my favorite discovery of the past year or so, and my favorite from Liis. Love at first sniff, thanks to the woodsy vibes. Try this one.”

Not all vanilla perfumes have to have a strong, projecting sillage. Enter: Eauso Vert’s Vanilla Embers, which combines sweet vanilla bean with a mix of woodsy and spicy notes to tone down the sugared factor. It makes this perfume so low-key and chill to wear every day. But you could easily layer it with other stronger perfumes to pump up the sweetness when you want it.

• Other key notes: Cardamom, jasmine, sandalwood, turmeric Root
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "Every single time I wear this around my best friend, she asks me what I’m wearing. And when I tell her, she’s shocked, because she can’t believe a vanilla perfume is so light. I love how smooth and simple it is for every day, but I also mix it with deeper woodsy perfumes in my collection to make it a bit more intense too."

If you want to legit smell like you doused yourself in the purest of vanilla extracts, try this creamy vanilla perfume from Ellis Brooklyn. TBH, the first thing you’ll smell is milk, but with the addition of vanilla and cacao pod, you’ll get a sweet, condensed-milk vibe, not a cold, sour-milk scent. And it lasts forever—spritz this syrupy fragrance on your clothes, and they’ll be covered until you throw them in the wash.

• Other key notes: Milk, frangipani, cacao pod, sandalwood, musk
• Size: 0.25 oz., 0.33 oz., 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I can’t stop smelling myself—this is so wonderful. It’s a warm, smokey vanilla. I definitely smell the milkiness, and it’s so pleasant. I want to bathe in this, I’m OBSESSED!”

I’m already planning to bring this vanilla perfume on a tropical vacay this summer because it smells exactly like the person I want to be on the beach: breezy, bright, fun, and fresh. It’s filled with tropical white florals (like freesia, gardenia, and orange blossom), along with fresh bergamot and creamy vanilla and coconut that blend together to basically smell like grown-up sunscreen.

• Other key notes: Coconut, freesia, gardenia, and orange blossom, bergamot
• Size: 0.33 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.3 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I really like this fragrance. It reminds me of summertime at my grandmother’s house in the country. It’s a very in-your-face gardenia and magnolia-floral fragrance at first—but in a good way. It’s a very warm, sweet floral, but after a few hours of it drying down, I can smell the slightly sweet coconut and vanilla notes.”

Consider your fragrance preference

Vanilla perfumes are most often thought of as gourmands (i.e., sweet perfumes that smell good enough to eat), but they can also be floral, fresh, tropical, clean—you name it. If you know you hate a sickly-sweet scent but like the warmth of a vanilla note, opt for a vanilla perfume with a lot of fresh citrus or bright florals in the opening notes. But if you do like an ultra-sugary vanilla fragrance, look for a perfume with supporting notes of chocolate, brown sugar, and honey.

Determine the intensity level

Do you want a perfume that smells strictly of vanilla or has a faint whisper of sweetness from a vanilla note? If the vanilla notes in your perfume are in the foundation with eight other base notes, it likely won’t have that strong of a vanilla scent. On the other hand, if you want to really smell the vanilla, look for a perfume with only a few other notes throughout, one that only includes one or two other base notes, or that includes vanilla in the middle or opening. You can also look for a vanilla perfume that combines a few types of vanilla, like vanilla orchid or vanilla bourbon.

Decide on the type

If you want a perfume that will smell strong for hours and hours, you should definitely opt for an eau de parfum (EDP), which has a stronger concentration of perfume oils than an eau de toilette (EDT). For reference, most of the perfumes above are EDPs, whereas body sprays and light-vanilla perfumes are often EDTs.

Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty, with over three years of experience writing in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces. She’s an expert at researching and writing fragrance stories, like the best Jo Malone fragrances and the top sweet perfumes. She wear-tested every perfume on this list and consulted other Cosmopolitan editors to compile this list of vanilla perfumes.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing perfume and beauty stories that range from stretch-mark creams to hair-removal creams. She’s an authority in all perfume categories but an expert when it comes to vanilla perfumes after sniffing, testing, and reviewing nearly every perfume launch over the last year.