Spiritueuse Double Vanille (2007)
by Guerlain

Today is the 3rd time I'm wearing this scent. Somehow it doesn't work for me -> big disappointment. It smelled sooooo good at the Guerlain counter but somehow it doesn't develop on my skin and stays very linear. Not that I wouldn't like the boozy vanilla with hints of tobacco that reminds me of a nice and sweetly scented Swiss cigarillo (Dannemann's Moods) and I will enjoy it on a cold and rainy or foggy day.

16th December, 2011.

SDV, like Les Nombres d'Or Vanille from Mona di Orio is not of the sickeningly sweet or powdery kind of vanilla making it a welcome rarity among most I have tried. My first impression was of a very mildly sweet rum, natural vanilla bean, and maybe even a bit of tobacco after about 20-30 minutes in. I definitely like it and could see why others would consider it their favorite. It is very similar to MdO's Vanilla, but that one is a bit more dry throughout, and has stronger vanilla bean and dry rum notes, minus the tobacco IMO. SDV is an excellent vanilla to be sure.

24th November, 2011.

Straight out of the vial, while still wet on my skin, Guerlain SPIRITUEUSE DOUBLE VANILLE smells exactly like vanilla extract. High-quality bourbon vanilla extract, but vanilla extract all the same. A few seconds later, a dark and dirty demeanor shows its face—so dark that I thought ever-so briefly that it might be leather, but it appears to have been frankincense. The next somewhat surprising development is the emergence of something sour and unpleasant. I do not know what accounts for it, but it definitely disrupts my positive experience of this perfume for a couple of minutes. After that, all of the excitement dies down, and I find myself wondering whether this was really launched by Guerlain—until I remember that Guerlain is not Guerlain anymore.

I'm not really sure how or why anyone would find this composition similar to TF TOBACCO VANILLE, which opens with far more richness and depth to my nose, and eventually dries down to a primarily raw pipe tobacco perfume. SPIRITUEUSE DOUBLE VANILLE focuses much more, in contrast and as advertised, on vanilla. The drydown is nice enough (the sourness of the midstage has largely subsided), leaving me with the overall, lasting impression that this is a fairly respectable niche vanilla, albeit nothing to get too excited about. Consequently, I'll not be competing for the no doubt limited number of bottles of this perfume in existence. Enjoy!

9th October, 2011.

I've been wanting to try SDV for ages, and finally remembered to add it into a Perfumed Court order. And of course it's delicious and of course I want a bottle. However, it is incredibly similar to Cacheral's Gloria which is unsurprising as they share a number of the same notes. From first spray, to drydown it is almost the same on my skin as Gloria, except it is richer and ever so slightly more floral-rosy. It is a delicious, rich sweet scent, definitely expensive smelling. I don't get all that much vanilla except where it is grounding the spicy nose-tingling deliciousness of the pink pepper and incense, and the deep, deep loveliness of the Bulgarian rose.

While I still have some Gloria left (oh! my declining store of this wonderful discontinued scent) I can make do without SDV, but when that is gone, I may have to venture into the realms of Guerlain's high end.

29th August, 2011.

Despite the complex name, the scent starts with a chord of sweet vanilla, but with a very particular herbal touch. And so it remains for about 1 hour...

After this time the vanilla actually takes its place in the perfume, living up to its name and remains so until the end. But it is not a vanilla screaming in your face. It is a very soft and tasty one.

It is a very nice scent, but not worth the price they charge, in my opinion. I agree with a guy who said" perfect for those who found Tobacco Vanille too strong."

Oh, and longevity is excellent, even though it is a soft fragrance.

21st August, 2011.

Lately, I've been on a quest to find the definitive vanilla fragrance to wear. I've tried them all. Many smell cheap. Many smell fake and plasticky. Many try to deflect from the bad vanilla note they have by masking it with other notes. But if you are looking for a vanilla based fragrance, don't fear: this is, to my nose, the only one worth owning. Is it worth it? Only you can say. I'd go with a yes. I figure it this way: I am not going to wear DV every day; more like once a week at most. At that rate, one bottle will easily last me years. And for something that gives me this much pleasure, I'd say it's worth a buy.

29th July, 2011.