Fragrance note

Vanilla fragrances and their dupes

Vanilla is a base note that smells warm, sweet and creamy, like vanilla pod and sugar with a soft balsamic edge. The closest vanilla dupe in our data is Lattafa Ishq Al Shuyukh, an 89% note match for Rosendo Mateu Olfactive Expressions No. 5, at $32 instead of $240.

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What vanilla smells like

Warm, sweet and creamy, like vanilla pod and sugar with a soft balsamic edge. It is the most comforting note in perfumery and the backbone of most gourmands.

Vanilla is a heavy base molecule, so it clings to skin for hours and does a lot of the heavy lifting on longevity. Because so many designer and niche scents lean on it, a shared vanilla base is often the first thing that makes a dupe read as close to the original.

In the fragrance pyramid, vanilla is typically a base note in the gourmand family.

The 43 fragrances we track with vanilla, and their dupes

Ranked by note match. Average match 82%, average saving $141 a bottle. A ✓ marks a dupe that shares the vanilla note itself.

01  Olfactive Expressions No. 5 → Lattafa Ishq Al Shuyukh ✓89%
$240 → $32 · save $208Shop the dupe, $32
02  My Way → Dossier Fruity Neroli ✓88%
$135 → $29 · save $106Find it on Amazon
03  Erba Pura → Armaf Club de Nuit Milestone ✓88%
$240 → $40 · save $200Shop the dupe, $40
04  Tobacco Vanille → Zara Tobacco Rich Warm Addictive ✓86%
$330 → $26 · save $304Find it on Amazon
05  Grand Soir → Lattafa Eternal Oud ✓86%
$325 → $32 · save $293Shop the dupe, $32
06  Coco Mademoiselle → Armaf Club de Nuit Woman85%
$150 → $30 · save $120Shop the dupe, $30
07  Le Male → Maison Alhambra Glacier Pour Homme ✓85%
$95 → $25 · save $70Shop the dupe, $25
08  By the Fireplace → Dossier Woody Chestnut85%
$165 → $29 · save $136Find it on Amazon
09  Devotion → Lattafa Victoria ✓85%
$120 → $30 · save $90Shop the dupe, $30
10  Stronger With You Intensely → Dossier Ambery Caramel ✓85%
$92 → $32 · save $60Find it on Amazon
11  Bitter Peach → ALT Peach Smash85%
$290 → $39 · save $251Find it on Amazon
12  Libre → Maison Alhambra Léonie ✓84%
$140 → $25 · save $115Shop the dupe, $25
13  Ultra Male → Lattafa Ramz Lattafa Silver ✓84%
$100 → $30 · save $70Shop the dupe, $30
14  Roses Vanille → Lattafa Lahdath ✓84%
$135 → $30 · save $105Shop the dupe, $30
15  Goddess → Lattafa Angham ✓84%
$130 → $30 · save $100Shop the dupe, $30
16  Bianco Latte → Lattafa Eclaire ✓84%
$180 → $28 · save $152Shop the dupe, $28
17  Vanilla 28 → Dossier Woody Vanilla ✓84%
$138 → $32 · save $106Find it on Amazon
18  Eilish → Lattafa Nebras ✓83%
$68 → $30 · save $38Shop the dupe, $30
19  Phantom → Lattafa Hayaati Al Maleky ✓83%
$95 → $28 · save $67Shop the dupe, $28
20  Black Opium → Dossier Ambery Vanilla ✓83%
$130 → $29 · save $101Find it on Amazon
21  Love, Don't Be Shy → Dossier Floral Marshmallow ✓83%
$260 → $39 · save $221Find it on Amazon
22  Replica Jazz Club → Dossier Woody Tobacco ✓83%
$165 → $49 · save $116Find it on Amazon
23  Vanilla Skin → Dossier Powdery Vanilla ✓83%
$99 → $32 · save $67Find it on Amazon
24  Oud Satin Mood → Oakcha Blue Velvet ✓83%
$320 → $34 · save $286Find it on Amazon
25  Gentle Fluidity Gold → Oakcha Kalon ✓83%
$300 → $34 · save $266Find it on Amazon
26  Delina → Lattafa Mayar ✓82%
$335 → $25 · save $310Find it on Amazon
27  Uomo Born in Roma Intense → Maison Alhambra Extravagant Lover82%
$145 → $30 · save $115Shop the dupe, $30
28  Oriana → Lattafa Ansaam Gold ✓82%
$335 → $32 · save $303Shop the dupe, $32
29  Chocolate Greedy → Lattafa Choco Overdose ✓82%
$120 → $28 · save $92Shop the dupe, $28
30  Viva La Juicy → Lattafa Haya ✓82%
$100 → $28 · save $72Shop the dupe, $28
31  Vanilla Sex → Lattafa Sehr ✓82%
$270 → $30 · save $240Shop the dupe, $30
32  Donna Born in Roma → Dossier Ambery Jasmine ✓82%
$135 → $39 · save $96Find it on Amazon
33  Angel → Dossier Gourmand Patchouli ✓82%
$135 → $39 · save $96Find it on Amazon
34  La Vie Est Belle → Dossier Gourmand Orange Blossom ✓81%
$110 → $39 · save $71Find it on Amazon
35  Sì → Dossier Woody Freesia ✓81%
$132 → $39 · save $93Find it on Amazon
36  I Want Choo → Dossier Powdery Peach ✓81%
$128 → $39 · save $89Find it on Amazon
37  Flowerbomb → Maison Alhambra Victoria Flower Orchid ✓80%
$170 → $28 · save $142Shop the dupe, $28
38  Althaïr → Lattafa Art of Nature II ✓79%
$355 → $32 · save $323Shop the dupe, $32
39  Eros → Lattafa Blue Sapphire77%
$100 → $26 · save $74Shop the dupe, $26
40  Yum Boujee Marshmallow 81 → Lattafa Yara Elixir ✓77%
$138 → $32 · save $106Shop the dupe, $32
41  Flora Gorgeous Orchid → Lattafa Atheeri ✓74%
$130 → $30 · save $100Shop the dupe, $30
42  Black Sugar → Lattafa Khurafi ✓74%
$40 → $25 · save $15Find it on Amazon
43  Gentleman Réserve Privée → Lattafa Qaa'ed Intense ✓70%
$120 → $30 · save $90Find it on Amazon

Vanilla in fragrance, answered

What does vanilla smell like in perfume?

Warm, sweet and creamy, like vanilla pod and sugar with a soft balsamic edge. It is the most comforting note in perfumery and the backbone of most gourmands. Vanilla is a heavy base molecule, so it clings to skin for hours and does a lot of the heavy lifting on longevity. Because so many designer and niche scents lean on it, a shared vanilla base is often the first thing that makes a dupe read as close to the original.

Is vanilla a top, heart or base note?

Vanilla usually sits as a base note, in the gourmand family. Base notes last longest and anchor the dry-down for hours.

What is the closest vanilla fragrance dupe?

Lattafa Ishq Al Shuyukh, an 89% note match for Olfactive Expressions No. 5, at $32 instead of $240.

What is the cheapest vanilla dupe?

Maison Alhambra Glacier Pour Homme at $25, a dupe for Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male.

Related notes
TonkaAmberPralineCocoaAll notesFind a dupe for any fragrance
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