While in Paris, I decided to visit the Guerlain boutique to investigate this, based on the recommendation of a fellow Basenoter. My first impression was a faint vanilla and rum scent that underwhelmed me - I was expecting it to be much stronger. Undeterred, I proceeded to apply four spritzes to my body - one to either side of my neck and another two to my chest (under my shirt). I then left the store and continued shopping elsewhere.
For the first hour, I wasn't really detecting that much but, when I did, I smelt some similarities to Hermèssence Ambre Narguilé. I continued testing other fragrances elsewhere and eventually went home. At this point, I had more or less written off Spiritueuse Double Vanille for being too subtle to my nose (much like Hermèssence Ambre Narguilé) and forgot about purchasing a bottle.
And then a funny thing happened: throughout the day, I could smell this heavenly aroma around me. At first, I thought it was another fragrance that I tested on my wrist but I eventually came to the conclusion that this wasnt the case. I then forgot about it and had a lunchtime siesta. During the periods when I was awake, I could still detect this enveloping aroma - much to the point where it was driving me crazy not knowing which scent it was. It was just so warm and dead sexy!
After waking up, the aroma was still there. I then decided to have a shower and removed my shirt. As soon as I did this, I realised that the scent was on my shirt too and instantly knew that the heavenly scent was Spiritueuse Double Vanille. I was absolutely amazed! There was even a faint trace of it in the apartment for several hours. Out of curiosity, I decided to wear the same shirt again, when bumming around the apartment the following day. The scent was still evident and I knew then that I had to buy a bottle of this elixir at the next opportunity.
A couple of days later, I returned to the Guerlain boutique, tested the juice again and, sure enough, the same scent that had captivated me for the last two days was in that very bottle. I swiftly located one of the SAs and told her I wanted to purchase a bottle, whipped out my debit card, paid and left with a big smile on my face.
However, soon after returning to London, I found myself in a conundrum - I now had two vanilla scents in a wardrobe where everything else is unique and distinctive. The other vanilla scent I owned was Givenchy's Pi EDP (also a limited edition and now very rare). After some deliberation, I decided to pit them against each other by spraying one on either arm before going to bed. Up until now, my Pi EDP was the best vanilla scent I had ever come across. However, when compared to Spiritueuse Double Vanille, it appeared to be synthetic and flat.
When I woke up, Spiritueuse Double Vanille was still evident on my arm and stayed that way for a good 12 hours (it probably would have been more had I not been sleeping). As for Pi, it had more or less disappeared from my skin. As a result, it was pretty obvious that my bottle of Pi had to go. My all-time favourite vanilla fragrance trumped with panache? I just couldnt believe it! Even now I don't feel bad about kicking it out but that was certainly an achievement in itself.
Spiritueuse Double Vanille is a very Luten-esque scent that is worthy of the title of possibly the best Guerlain release for the last 80 years. This is certainly not an overstatement and I urge you to investigate this olfactory miracle at the soonest opportunity. $200 may be a lot of money for a 75ml vanilla scent but, believe me when I say that this is THE BEST vanilla scent ever made. It is sheer heaven and only gets better as it develops further on the skin. Its an amazing creation and is now my pride and joy.
Give it a go, before its too late, or you may just live to regret it.
For the first hour, I wasn't really detecting that much but, when I did, I smelt some similarities to Hermèssence Ambre Narguilé. I continued testing other fragrances elsewhere and eventually went home. At this point, I had more or less written off Spiritueuse Double Vanille for being too subtle to my nose (much like Hermèssence Ambre Narguilé) and forgot about purchasing a bottle.
And then a funny thing happened: throughout the day, I could smell this heavenly aroma around me. At first, I thought it was another fragrance that I tested on my wrist but I eventually came to the conclusion that this wasnt the case. I then forgot about it and had a lunchtime siesta. During the periods when I was awake, I could still detect this enveloping aroma - much to the point where it was driving me crazy not knowing which scent it was. It was just so warm and dead sexy!
After waking up, the aroma was still there. I then decided to have a shower and removed my shirt. As soon as I did this, I realised that the scent was on my shirt too and instantly knew that the heavenly scent was Spiritueuse Double Vanille. I was absolutely amazed! There was even a faint trace of it in the apartment for several hours. Out of curiosity, I decided to wear the same shirt again, when bumming around the apartment the following day. The scent was still evident and I knew then that I had to buy a bottle of this elixir at the next opportunity.
A couple of days later, I returned to the Guerlain boutique, tested the juice again and, sure enough, the same scent that had captivated me for the last two days was in that very bottle. I swiftly located one of the SAs and told her I wanted to purchase a bottle, whipped out my debit card, paid and left with a big smile on my face.
However, soon after returning to London, I found myself in a conundrum - I now had two vanilla scents in a wardrobe where everything else is unique and distinctive. The other vanilla scent I owned was Givenchy's Pi EDP (also a limited edition and now very rare). After some deliberation, I decided to pit them against each other by spraying one on either arm before going to bed. Up until now, my Pi EDP was the best vanilla scent I had ever come across. However, when compared to Spiritueuse Double Vanille, it appeared to be synthetic and flat.
When I woke up, Spiritueuse Double Vanille was still evident on my arm and stayed that way for a good 12 hours (it probably would have been more had I not been sleeping). As for Pi, it had more or less disappeared from my skin. As a result, it was pretty obvious that my bottle of Pi had to go. My all-time favourite vanilla fragrance trumped with panache? I just couldnt believe it! Even now I don't feel bad about kicking it out but that was certainly an achievement in itself.
Spiritueuse Double Vanille is a very Luten-esque scent that is worthy of the title of possibly the best Guerlain release for the last 80 years. This is certainly not an overstatement and I urge you to investigate this olfactory miracle at the soonest opportunity. $200 may be a lot of money for a 75ml vanilla scent but, believe me when I say that this is THE BEST vanilla scent ever made. It is sheer heaven and only gets better as it develops further on the skin. Its an amazing creation and is now my pride and joy.
Give it a go, before its too late, or you may just live to regret it.
Each to their own, I suppose. At least you gave it a shot, even if you didn't end up liking it.
