The other day I was watching an episode of a cable television series in which one of the characters confessed to dabbing vanilla extract behind his ears every day. The other characters kept remarking on the scent of chocolate chip cookies whenever he was around, so he had no choice but to sheepishly admit to this activity. I had a flashback to a Saturday I spent years ago with a co-worker who came up with the idea to bake homemade cookies, package them in tins, and give them as holiday gifts to all our friends. During that day, I accidentally spilled some vanilla extract on myself. Later on, my boyfriend and his best friend picked me up from her apartment and were both enthralled with how I smelled.
Vanilla notes in fragrances are nothing new, but there are countless variations of them, smelling like everything from cotton candy to meringue, and almondy marzipan, and everything in-between. I think that cookie-baking day was what got me started on the vanilla trail, and over the years, it has turned into so much more. My love for vanilla has expanded to include "gourmand" scents of all kinds, including fruits, booze, spices, honey, coconut, pumpkin, you name it. I'm not saying I always want to smell like freshly baked cookies, or a fancy dessert, but on some days, it's just what the doctor ordered.
In the spirit of food, I thought I'd share some of my favorites in that category, in no particular order:
Lostmarc'h Lan-Ael: As God is my witness, this smells like a bowl of oatmeal topped with milk and apples. Before you laugh at me for wanting to smell like breakfast, I, and many others look to this scent as one of the most comforting, cozy scents ever made.
Serge Lutens Rahat Loukhoum: This is the one Serge Lutens fragrance I would replace tomorrow if I could. Anyone heading to Paris any time soon?
Rahat Loukoum is Turkish Delight candy, redolent of almonds, vanilla, cherries and rosewater. If given a choice between this and chocolate, I'd choose chocolate, but as a scent, this is nothing short of sublime.
Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Abricot: When vanilla fragrances became trendy about 20 years ago, this one was at the top of the pile. There have been many imitators, but no other fragrance house has ever come close. CSP Vanille Abricot is one of those scents that manages to be both sexy and innocent at the same time.
Aftelier Perfumes Cacao: Natural perfumer Mandy Aftel has created the most perfect chocolate scent ever. Notes of blood orange, grapefruit and vanilla mesh beautifully, but the inclusion of two types of jasmine give the scent an almost dirty quality that spawned reams of both positive and negative comments all over the Internet. I'm in the positive camp; I've used up three 1/4 oz. bottles.
A Lab on Fire What We Do in Paris is Secret: This is a new discovery of mine, that is very similar to Rahat Loukoum, but with the addition of honey, sandalwood and a smidge of ambergris. When you want your Turkish Delight with a side of sophistication, this is what you reach for.
Yosh Ginger Ciao: Yosh Han is a ridiculously talented niche perfumer who has created a small line of scents that are akin to boutique wines or one-of-a-kind couture creations. My favorite scent in her line, Ginger Ciao, is a breathtaking amalgamation of black coconut, orange blossom, ginger, night queen, and lily. It is available in both eau de parfum and perfume oil. I'd go for the oil, because it lasts for days, and when you smell this good, you want it to last as long as possible.
This six are just a smattering of gourmand scents I love. What are some of your favorites?
Nava
