Gourmandgrl
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Gourmandgrl
Comparing original formula vs. most recent version
Warm Vanilla Sugar is tied to many memories for me - my best friend wore it growing up, so I always associate it with her.
I recently re-tested Warm Vanilla Sugar and was amazed to see how much of a "play doh" feel this body mist has. It was a fresh batch, recently sold in stores - so it wasn't a matter of spoiling. I've heard others also referring to a "play doh" note in Warm Vanilla Sugar, but this wasn't how I remembered it from when my friend wore this fragrance - so I wanted to try an older version, to see how it compared.
When testing an older bottle (tapered and textured neck, with the specific product name of "body splash" instead of "fine fragrance mist"), the top notes had turned already. But this spoiled opening faded quickly, and I was left with the fragrance composition I'd remembered: beautiful vanilla bourbon and brown sugar. Warm, enveloping, sugary-sweet vanilla.
There might have been a hint of the "play doh" feeling in the OG formula, but it isn't at all like the formulation available in stores today - instead it almost felt like the aftertaste of molasses, or taking in a deep breath of a jar of brown sugar (with the sticky molasses undertones that often come with brown sugar). Testing them side by side, I couldn't believe how much more synthetic and "clay-like" the latest version seemed.
Although this isn't a new thought, I wish Bath and Body Works didn't change their formulas over time - why change a good thing?
P.S. If you want a dupe of the latest Warm Vanilla Sugar formula but in a stronger EDP concentration, check out "Signature - Rare Vanilla Blossom | Jones New York" .
I recently re-tested Warm Vanilla Sugar and was amazed to see how much of a "play doh" feel this body mist has. It was a fresh batch, recently sold in stores - so it wasn't a matter of spoiling. I've heard others also referring to a "play doh" note in Warm Vanilla Sugar, but this wasn't how I remembered it from when my friend wore this fragrance - so I wanted to try an older version, to see how it compared.
When testing an older bottle (tapered and textured neck, with the specific product name of "body splash" instead of "fine fragrance mist"), the top notes had turned already. But this spoiled opening faded quickly, and I was left with the fragrance composition I'd remembered: beautiful vanilla bourbon and brown sugar. Warm, enveloping, sugary-sweet vanilla.
There might have been a hint of the "play doh" feeling in the OG formula, but it isn't at all like the formulation available in stores today - instead it almost felt like the aftertaste of molasses, or taking in a deep breath of a jar of brown sugar (with the sticky molasses undertones that often come with brown sugar). Testing them side by side, I couldn't believe how much more synthetic and "clay-like" the latest version seemed.
Although this isn't a new thought, I wish Bath and Body Works didn't change their formulas over time - why change a good thing?
P.S. If you want a dupe of the latest Warm Vanilla Sugar formula but in a stronger EDP concentration, check out "Signature - Rare Vanilla Blossom | Jones New York" .
A good "basic lactonic vanilla" blend
Despite the notes listed, I didn't detect any coconut milk, mango, or musk. To me, this is mostly just vanilla with lactonic elements - reminding me a lot of the "Bare Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" DNA, but without the musk and caramel.
"Sizzling Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" came across like a combination of:
- bourbon vanilla, but without the sharpness of bourbon and more just the purity of vanilla extract
- condensed milk, but without the tooth-achingly sweet overdose of sugar and more of a "balanced" approach to the creaminess
It's in a similar vein of "Fresh Cream (Eau de Toilette) | Philosophy" (but without the "baby vomit" feel). Pretty on its own, but simple enough that it would do well in layering.
While I enjoy simplicity, I have other vanillas I love more (I prefer "Fresh Vanilla Blossoms | Bath & Body Works" and "Bare Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" over this) - so I think it's a pass for me. But if you're looking for a well-done basic lactonic vanilla, give this a try.
P.S. The name is odd to me, as the word "sizzling" makes me think of meat that you're cooking on a smoker or grill in the summertime - and that there must be some type of smoke, spice, or "heat" to the vanilla... but there's nothing smokey or spicy about this.
"Sizzling Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" came across like a combination of:
- bourbon vanilla, but without the sharpness of bourbon and more just the purity of vanilla extract
- condensed milk, but without the tooth-achingly sweet overdose of sugar and more of a "balanced" approach to the creaminess
It's in a similar vein of "Fresh Cream (Eau de Toilette) | Philosophy" (but without the "baby vomit" feel). Pretty on its own, but simple enough that it would do well in layering.
While I enjoy simplicity, I have other vanillas I love more (I prefer "Fresh Vanilla Blossoms | Bath & Body Works" and "Bare Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" over this) - so I think it's a pass for me. But if you're looking for a well-done basic lactonic vanilla, give this a try.
P.S. The name is odd to me, as the word "sizzling" makes me think of meat that you're cooking on a smoker or grill in the summertime - and that there must be some type of smoke, spice, or "heat" to the vanilla... but there's nothing smokey or spicy about this.
A cute little salted rhubarb + vanilla cream cupcake
I've seen this "Sexy" line from Jean Marc at TJX stores - but I'd never tried one until recently, since I assumed they'd be really cheap or synthetic based on the packaging + price ($10.99-$12.99 USD). So trying this pleasantly surprised me.
The opening was a bit sharp + synthetic "sugar", but within a few minutes it had softened to be less screechy. What I mostly get when wearing is:
(40%) rhubarb cake (more cake than rhubarb, but it definitely has the "tart red fruit" feel of rhubarb)
(50%) sweet vanilla cream
(5%) almond blossom
(5%) a hint of acidic orange (the acidity in the orange almost makes it feel like a slightly salted rhubarb cake, but it works well - similar to the way salt helps balance the sweetness in salted caramel)
Reminds me a lot of "Velvet Sugar (Fragrance Mist) | Bath & Body Works". Overall it's still a tiny bit synthetic if you sniff your arm too closely - but from further away it's sweet, creamy, comforting, and feels like a "cute" (instead of "sexy", "mature", or "sophisticated", it's a more "carefree" or "youthful") cupcake.
The opening was a bit sharp + synthetic "sugar", but within a few minutes it had softened to be less screechy. What I mostly get when wearing is:
(40%) rhubarb cake (more cake than rhubarb, but it definitely has the "tart red fruit" feel of rhubarb)
(50%) sweet vanilla cream
(5%) almond blossom
(5%) a hint of acidic orange (the acidity in the orange almost makes it feel like a slightly salted rhubarb cake, but it works well - similar to the way salt helps balance the sweetness in salted caramel)
Reminds me a lot of "Velvet Sugar (Fragrance Mist) | Bath & Body Works". Overall it's still a tiny bit synthetic if you sniff your arm too closely - but from further away it's sweet, creamy, comforting, and feels like a "cute" (instead of "sexy", "mature", or "sophisticated", it's a more "carefree" or "youthful") cupcake.
The coconut custard flan of my dreams
Picture an eggy, creamy, vanilla-coconut custard blended beautifully and bottled up - like a delicious flan. All notes are present: the egg whites, vanilla, sugar, and coconut. It's a light, fluffy, sweet gourmand combo that I've been craving for years, but haven't been able to find anywhere else.
This feels like something that would be sold at Victoria's Secret, along the lines of "Bare Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" and "Vanilla Lace (Fragrance Mist) | Victoria's Secret" - but even MORE gourmand. It's realistic, but also sexy and wears like a dream (nothing weird about the egg notes - just adds to the richness/custard feel).
Only downside: it dried down to a faint whisper of the opening within an hour of wearing, which is normal with Demeter fragrances. But considering the price and unique deliciousness, it has still become one of my favorites.
P.S. This review was originally written a while ago, and I'm now seeing that there does seem to be consistency issues between batches. I'd only had a sample which was beautiful, but recently ordered more of Angel Food from them and noticed a "vinegar" like undertone to the blend - so I'm hoping this goes away with maceration, but will come back to update if it does not. Would recommend ordering a sample from them first, before blind-buying a full bottle.
This feels like something that would be sold at Victoria's Secret, along the lines of "Bare Vanilla | Victoria's Secret" and "Vanilla Lace (Fragrance Mist) | Victoria's Secret" - but even MORE gourmand. It's realistic, but also sexy and wears like a dream (nothing weird about the egg notes - just adds to the richness/custard feel).
Only downside: it dried down to a faint whisper of the opening within an hour of wearing, which is normal with Demeter fragrances. But considering the price and unique deliciousness, it has still become one of my favorites.
P.S. This review was originally written a while ago, and I'm now seeing that there does seem to be consistency issues between batches. I'd only had a sample which was beautiful, but recently ordered more of Angel Food from them and noticed a "vinegar" like undertone to the blend - so I'm hoping this goes away with maceration, but will come back to update if it does not. Would recommend ordering a sample from them first, before blind-buying a full bottle.
Powdery-fresh apple blossom + "shampoo"
You must love "powder" to enjoy - but to me this is absolutely one of the most gorgeous scents VS has ever created, and one of my favorite scents of all time.
This is signature scent-worthy, something that a "clean girl" would wear - it's effortless, clean, refreshing, feminine, and timeless. To my nose, it's:
- apple blossom mixed with faint white florals
- a splash of watery green apple
- powdery-fresh "shampoo" notes
Some cheap dupes, since it's hard to find/super pricey now with it being discontinued:
- "Beautiful Day (Eau de Toilette) | Bath & Body Works" (the mist released in 2023 is closer than previous versions - it's just a bit more powdery/floral than Endless Love is in dry down)
- "Wild Lime & Gardenia | Bath & Body Works" (this one is SO close to Endless Love in dry down, just not quite as strong in projection as Endless Love)
This is signature scent-worthy, something that a "clean girl" would wear - it's effortless, clean, refreshing, feminine, and timeless. To my nose, it's:
- apple blossom mixed with faint white florals
- a splash of watery green apple
- powdery-fresh "shampoo" notes
Some cheap dupes, since it's hard to find/super pricey now with it being discontinued:
- "Beautiful Day (Eau de Toilette) | Bath & Body Works" (the mist released in 2023 is closer than previous versions - it's just a bit more powdery/floral than Endless Love is in dry down)
- "Wild Lime & Gardenia | Bath & Body Works" (this one is SO close to Endless Love in dry down, just not quite as strong in projection as Endless Love)
