Niche vanilla perfumes: 7 ways to wear it

Everyone thinks they know vanilla. Cake, candles, custard. But in niche perfume it changes completely depending on what surrounds it: wood, fruit, spice, rose. The right vanilla for you is the one wrapped in notes you already love.

Here are seven perfumes from our catalogue where vanilla plays a real part, sorted by style. The notes we mention are the ones on our product pages, nothing more.

If you love wood: Un Bois Vanille, Serge Lutens

Launched in 2003, Un Bois Vanille lives up to its name. On our page, vanilla sits with liquorice, coconut, almond, sandalwood and benzoin. The sandalwood and benzoin pull the vanilla towards something drier and warmer, and the liquorice gives it a dark, unexpected edge. This is the vanilla for people who find most vanillas too sweet. See Un Bois Vanille.

If you want fruit: Vanilla Extasy, Montale

Vanilla Extasy opens on bergamot, peach and apricot, moves through a heart of lavender, jasmine and ylang-ylang, then settles on sandalwood, vanilla, benzoin, amber and musk. The fruit comes first and the vanilla takes over later. A good way in if you like bright, soft perfumes. See Vanilla Extasy.

If you love spice: Dark Vanilla, Montale

Don't be fooled by the name: Dark Vanilla starts with a lot of spice. Pink pepper, saffron, cumin, cardamom, lemon and coriander. In the heart, sandalwood, leather, oud and patchouli. Vanilla and amber only arrive at the base. This is a vanilla with real character, darker and woodier, perfect for cool evenings. See Dark Vanilla.

If you're team gourmand: Xplicit Vanille, Mancera

No shyness here. Xplicit Vanille opens on Mexican vanilla and chocolate, continues with brown sugar, oud, sandalwood and cedar, then finishes on amber, tonka bean and benzoin. Gourmand, yes, but with wood to hold it together. If you want a vanilla people notice, this is it. See Xplicit Vanille.

If you dream of holidays: Coco Vanille, Mancera

Two notes on our page: coconut and vanilla. That's the whole idea. A simple, sunny duo that feels like the beach even in November. Wear it when you want something light and soft, no overthinking. See Coco Vanille.

If you love rose: Roses Vanille, Mancera

Roses Vanille, released in 2011, brings together lemon, rose, vanilla, sugar, white musk and cedar. The lemon adds freshness at the start, then rose and vanilla share the lead. A more floral vanilla, tender and easy to wear during the day. See Roses Vanille.

If you want the grand version: Vanille Edesia, Electimuss

The richest on this list. Vanille Edesia opens on bergamot, mandarin, bitter almond, heliotrope, pink pepper and incense. In the heart, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, centifolia rose and ylang-ylang. At the base, vanilla arrives with patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, cedar and amberwood. It's a vanilla built like a big perfume, with lots of layers. Try it when simple vanillas no longer do it for you. See Vanille Edesia.

How to choose your vanilla

• Dry and woody: Un Bois Vanille.
• Fruity: Vanilla Extasy.
• Spicy and dark: Dark Vanilla.
• Gourmand: Xplicit Vanille or Coco Vanille.
• Floral: Roses Vanille.
• Rich and complex: Vanille Edesia.

One tip: always test on skin. Vanilla reacts a lot to body heat, and it really shows itself after an hour. On every product page you can see the shops that sell the perfume and set a price alert to hear when it drops.

Love yourself. Spread it around. Even in vanilla.