Masculine Gourmand/Vanilla, Suggestions?

[Miket]

I love vanilla in fragrances, and though I'm not a huge fan my fiance seems to really enjoy anything gourmand (yet she isn't much of a fragrance fan in general); even fairly unimpressive stuff makes her happy, but the no.1 for her that I also love to wear myself is Spiritueuse Double Vanille, though I know it isn't really what most would call a gourmand.

The catch is it costs me $360 a bottle, base-price, plus postage and whatever an accompanying bottle of Cologne du 68 is going for (I always layer it with 68's drydown) which can be anything from 50-90 sans postage,
and while I don't mind laying that sort of money down if I know it'll last between her stealing it, and the way my fussy skin consumes fragrance this is not something that works for me as a daily-wear. Even if I was willing to cut back on buying other fragrances the situation is still not satisfactory because this is one that is very special to me and I don't want to ruin that by wearing it all the time.

So what I'm looking for is a solid, high-end vanilla fragrance, or a gourmand (with a prominant vanilla note to make it more palatable for me), and solid longevity and sillage are must-haves, while the price needs to be reasonable for something I might end up wearing quite frequently for all but the warmest months. To me that means niche or high-end designer prices (i.e Montale, Annick Goutal, CDG, Dior, etc) are fine, but designer exclusives, etc., not so much. I'm perfectly comfortable wearing "femenine," scents so don't hold back if you know of one. She's enjoyed Mont Blanc Individuel, Lanvin Avant Garde, Chopard Casran, and Sables (which I don't find gourmandish, but each to their own) and, oddly enough, Diesel Plus Plus femenine, aside from Double Vanille, and Vanille Exquise also seems to go down well but only when we're nice and cozy as it's bassically a skin scent on me which is a shame because it would be perfect if it projected and lasted longer.

This isn't something I'm normally inclined to do, but these are extenuating circumstances as I'm getting married in less than three weeks and during the short holiday we're going to be taking afterwards I would love to surprise her with something new. So, any suggestions?

[Jack Hunter]

Tom Fords Tobacco Vanille.

[Candide]

Blue Amber (Montale)
...a gourmand or strictly vanilla fragrance will never smell masculine.

[hednic]

Les Senteurs Gourmandes Vanille Bourbon

[StylinLA]

My favorite straight up vanilla is Eau Duelle. Reasonably priced. good longevity for me.

[döfä91]

Baldessarini Strictly Private - not really gourmand but spicy oriental + gourmandish. On me this smells like masculine vanilla though i've seen totally opposite opinions too.

[kalli]

One to sniff is Fahrenheit 32 by Dior.

[mspa]

first thing to come in mind should be the good old Caron Pour Homme - not gourmandish.
otherwise TV by tom ford is very satisfying, however it is even higher priced than mona di orio vanilla which might be the better crafted scent - i have not tried it but know some of the house.

[onethinline]

How about Dior Hypnotic Poison, which offers a warm almond and vanilla accord? Easily unisex, too.

[Kybid]

+1 for Eau Duelle. I really like it, but it has a powderyness to it that gets me. I really can't handle powder for some reason. Eau Duelle is a great straight up vanilla...and I think the powderyness comes from the vanilla itself as vanilla beans do tend to smell a bit powdery to me. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than Double Vanille, although I think I like Double Vanille better.

[thebeck]

How about vanilla with some leather?

http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/secti...ille_Cuir.html

[Jubal]

Try Mona di Orio's Vanille and Profumum's Vanitas

[Adrem]

Have you tried Aqua di Parma Mandorlo di Sicilia? Nice vanilla, not expensive.

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26124309.html

[2ndBakeryAttack]

Maybe not high end enough for you, but Givenchy Pi should do the trick.

[calilove]

Tom Fords Tobacco Vanille

[L'Incandescent]

Bois 1920 La Vaniglia is fantastic. It's a very creamy vanilla with a healthy dose of incense.

[meatball]

Agree with Mona di Orio's Vanille, it's beautiful. Mine was brought back from Paris but it's available from Luckysent online and their orders usually arrive in Sydney within 1 to 2 weeks. I bought 75ml of Spiritueuse Double Vanille in Sydney (Myers in Pitt St) for $275 a few months back - think it's gone up to $290 now but less than the $360 plus postage that you said you pay.

[Shiny Beast]

Try Mona di Orio's Vanille...

+1 on the MDO Vanille

[benzganesh]

try the splendid and affordable
"Meharees" by L'erbolario - Bakery in a bottle!

[mspa]

try the splendid and affordable
"Meharees" by L'erbolario - Bakery in a bottle!

this was compared to musc ravageur in earlier thread. tempted to get it, but i already got the 3-4 times costlier malle

[comfortablynumbbg]

Tobacco Vanille made me forget all about Double Vanille. Check it out.

[Kybid]

To me Tobacco Vanille smells less about Vanilla and more about licorice...in other words, if you want more vanilla smell, to me, this is not it.

[Vinrambo09]

Jaipur Homme , V by Valentino.

[broxwood]

+1 for Tobacco Vanille.

[cameron]

Eau duelle

[MJM_77]

Eau Duelle is the best pure vanilla scent IMO...

[acidnbase]

[Jamie A]

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. There isn't really a great easily available choice out there for men in this category at the moment. I've been looking myself lately.

[Sparky]

If you like SDV, you may well enjoy Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille. Vanilla with a bit of spice - is very nice

[Duke Hunt]

Tobacco Vanille
Mona di Orio's Vanille
Musc Ravageur