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gen1332 – :
I purchased this on ebay recently simply because it’s Guerlain and it’s the Allegoria line. As I always had nothing but positive experiences in the past, I imagined this was going to be a safe bet. Alas, it was not. I was drawn by the promise of ylang ylang and vanila…how naive I was because what I am experiencing is nothing of the sort. Spicy carnation is the main cast in this composition, a bit of warm base perhaps, but it is all carnation for me sadly. I suppose I just despise this note so much that it’s all I notice. Who knows? Oh, well, if anyone from Australia is a dye-hard fan of this let me know! I’m certainly not going to use it.
qmm309bedyWelty – :
I absolutely adore this perfume but sadly can’t find it anywhere. However today I was in Primark in the UK and was testing some of their perfumes and I sprayed one called Oud Vanilla, oh my goodness it smells so much like Ylang & Vanille, I bought it immediately! Last time I had a bottle of Ylang & Vanille was 2001 and I’ve never found anything that smells similar to it since, but I was stunned when I tested Primark Oud Vanilla, it’s beautiful and I’ll be stocking up with more bottles.
Dewastatorrus – :
I still have half a bottle left, I love this scent and sadly it is not made any more. Why?? So many women loved it. I get many compliments when I wear it. I keep hanging on to this last half bottle ..I better wear it before it evaporates or changes for the worse.
дмитрий2064 – :
The greatest combo of wild ylang-ylang and clean vanilla. Ylang is really bold, sultry, almost dirty. In contrast, vanilla is very clean, sugarless, smells like wood powder.
At first, I thought this is simple fragrance for casual use. But I was wrong. It’s more than the simple name! It has depth and elegance in it. Imagine an exotic brunette lady in pearly white satin dress. That’s it.
I remember when the line of Aqua Allegoria was released, they had bath products. I purchased bath cream of Ylang & Vanille in a plastic bee bottle. It was glorious. By hot steam, the scent was gorgeously stood out. My bathroom became heaven! I miss it for long years.
Well, I have gotten Ylang & Vanille in 1999. 18 years ago!? Oh my god…so fast. I have experienced many harsh things in my life, and my world was changed. But this little gem of Jean Paul Guerlain’s creations kept its beauty. Amazing.
VALENTIN_01 – :
I have a bottle of this that I recently obtained. It’s ok. The lasting power is mediocre and it fits the standard silage of the Aqua Allegoria line. I do love these bee hive bottles they are so pretty. The sprayer on this one is the wackiest I have seen in all my years of collecting I don’t care for it at all. Overall a nice safe scent that is not ground breaking or long lasting but a nice addition to any Guerlain lovers collection.
Slavic7 – :
I love the fleshy Ylang Ylang opening, it surely keeps it’s promise give by it’s name. The drydown is not as exciting as it dries down very similar to Caron Bellodgia: loads of carnation and vanilla. Nice, but I dont need a full bottle. A large decant would be nice to have.
1982 – :
I originally smelled Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Ylang & Vanille from a sample I received in a swap. Ylang-ylang and vanilla being two of my favorite notes, I was instantly hooked! Much to my dismay I soon discovered that this fragrance has been discontinued *sob*. I go through phases where I sample and save, then decide what I want to buy and do a big group buy of many fragrances. Well holy-hallelujah because I just found a brand spankin’ new bottle of this for a decent price on ebay! The ylang-ylang in this has that distinct soapy sweetness that I love about yellow florals and there is a bit of a classic vibe to it as well, something sophisticated about it that I like. Special thank you to the fellow fragrantican who swapped with me because I discovered a new scent that I love!
aleksey-z – :
I agree with Kyl77 below. This leads with ylang ylang and a slightly soapy scent, and the jasminey notes are almost a little pee-like but in a good way if you can imagine that. Then the sharp soapyness and the slightly rancid notes round out and support a soft jasmined vanilla which is the scent for the remainder of its life on my skin. It’s lovely. I am not sure it is FBW, I have a large decant, and need to see how quickly I use it. I don’t see this as a safe blind buy, Like Lys Soleia for lily lovers. But I am enjoying the journey.
Xeroxyspzz – :
Ylang is said to be “the poor man’s jasmine” due to lower production cost. In Asia where it originates this plant is common, and the scent is widely used in lots of cleaning products, which is, very unfortunately, what ruined Ylang & Vanille for me.
I can absolutely relate to another reviewer freddinos’s experience: strong ylang reminds me of busy public washrooms. It’s the last thing I want to put on my skin and smell all day. And that’s Ylang & Vanille to me. This perfume is extremely potent like original AAs supposed to be, lasting at least 8 hours and projects a good 3 feet. The ylang-carnation combo gives it a vintage feeling with a barely noticeable vanilla on my skin. It is very vintage Guerlain-esque, bears great similarity to the opening of the original Liu, and to a lesser extent Mahora.
To compare the kins: Terracota Voile d’Ete is similar to this one but spicier. Lys Soleia is also in the same vein as Ylang & Vanille but much more light-hearted, leafy fresh and floral (from lily). Personally this was a traumatic blind-buy mistake that I’ll remember for a long time, but please, if you love ylang and vintage Guerlains and want you scents loud and clear, jump on it whenever you have a chance.
korotu_n – :
I scored a bottle of this beautiful scent for only $8 at a thrift store! Very floral and bold for an edt, I don’t detect much vanilla until the dry down, but it’s worth the wait. The vanilla in this is so subtle and beautiful. A very feminine and romantic perfume.
UNSETEMUME – :
If I had to live with three (lol, I couldn’t do just one!) this would be one of them. I adore it. For me, it is exactly each of its notes, mixed to perfection. Ylang is so beautiful when done well. Of course, when it’s not, it can be a disaster- too heavy and beyond cloying. It is not the case in Ylang and Vanille. It’s heady but rich and interesting enough to make it one of the best blends I know. What makes it ultra special to me is how well it can be worn alone or blended with other scents, namely, other Guerlain AAs. I have two additional AAs that I layer with this: Nerolia Bianca and Lys Soleia. Divine. It’s the only word I can use to express how I feel about these gorgeous scents worn together.
Togigi, I sent a private message regarding your extra bottle and I’m holding my breath (well, not really, I’m sticking my nose on my wrist where I’m currently wearing Y&V with LS!) until I hear back from you with all my hopes set on you still having that extra bottle! Does anyone have any suggestions for something similar so I can go on living without this discontinued gem?
ps, my other two, if I could only have three (I couldn’t just leave you hanging, haha!) would be Lolita Lempicka Lolita Lempicka and either Nerolia Bianca or Lys Soleia. I’ll decide before I leave my next feedback 😉
MYMNREODO – :
It”s so amazing.An Exotic Ylang Ylang and soft vanilla.Very feminine and intime.
I have 1 extra bottle,if somebody wants-whrite to Private messages.
snaipermoldova – :
I just acquired a mini of this and I’m so glad I did not take the plunge for a full bottle. With ylang-ylang being one of my fave floral notes and vanilla loving skin I was VERY excited to try it. Unfortunately, all I get is carnation and a mildly indolic jasmine. The ylang never presents itself nor any vanilla to speak of. It also has a vintage feel to it. Not a loud 80’s flower bomb but a bit dated. Not a bad scent for jasmine lovers but not at all what I was hoping for . . . how sad.
sssstasyannnn – :
Yum. What a combination. It becomes more than the sum of its parts to almost create a completely different and already existing floral, like . . . honeysuckle, almost. ‘Retro’ also springs to mind for me with this, I could imagine 1950’s woman wearing it. Thanks to Patxaran for introducing me to this delight.
On my want list.
kroha71 – :
I’m adding an edit: Ylang Vanille is one the creamiest perfumes I know. I have several bottles in the 125 ml format and they all smell divine. The liquid inside has turned cloudy in all but 1 bottle but this hasn’t affected the fragrance at all.
I recently acquired a 75 ml bottle and it smells different: a sharper opening, as if there were some sour citrus note blended in. And the peppery carnation is more prominent too. I’m not as much in love with this other formulation. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I also feel it has less longevity. What to do? Should I let it sit for a few years hoping it will mellow?
Anyhow, I just wanted to add this note, so that if you are trying Ylang Vanille, please be aware that there might be different formulations.
careprost – :
I reach for this when I don’t know what to wear, when I feel bad or insecure or irritated. It always manages to calm me down, comfort me, make me feel better. Ylang Vanille is one of the most beautiful perfumes I know, and it’s the one I wear most. It probably deserves the spot as my signature. I have gone through several bottles already and I hope I will never be without it. Eternal love.
nikita48 – :
just lovely, tropical floral vanilla balanced beautifully. The initial smell is slightly artificial almost insect repellent vanilla but after 20 mins the ylang breaks through. the dry down is pretty powdery. perfect for summer
o12g1 – :
I think the composition of Ylang & Vanille is absolutely brilliant! I am not an expert, and this is just my opinion. I love it!
nerngk – :
I just got this today with 4 other perfumes. It was a blind buy, and I am so glad I got it. It has a very soft floral scent, I love the vanilla and ylang-ylang. I will have to get another bottle as I heard that it is being discontinued.
Blade009 – :
I over indulged in my fragrance purchases for Christmas. All I can say is I am going to wear this a lot this winter. The fragrance is both intoxicating and soothing. Talking about bi polar. Go get you some girls.
Noittyboovish – :
I would add that this has a strong anisic facet. I wonder, is that inherent to the construction of one of the listed notes?
Blagoy – :
I have used this for years. It has become my winter day floral…or summer evening.
I love ylang ylang and not so crazy about vanilla any more, but this is balanced so well that I enjoy the vanilla. I get many compliments when I wear it.
It’s not easy to fnd in Canada as we seem to get only what is popular at the time.
I can usually find it in a small perfume boutique which is risky and we can find aged stock. But because of the ingredients this one never goes bad, so it’s always a lucky find.
If you want a “Warm” floral and not too loud then go for this.
rischad – :
I was afraid that the carnation would put me off this, since I haven’t previously liked anything that included carnation. Happily, I don’t notice it on my skin. I can smell it in the liquid itself (and it gives me a headache there), but on me it starts out smelling like ylang ylang and honey. I get a little jasmine and eventually a big dose of vanilla. I’m in love with this scent and I was crushed when I accidentally knocked over my sample because it means I have to wait for awhile before I can wear this again.
ПрИнЦеСсКа ЮлЬкА – :
This is one of the few fragrances in which I can easily smell every note listed. The Carnation and Ylang Ylang compliment one another beautifully from start to finish. The Jasmine isn’t as prominent, however it’s definitely there , and its beautiful. The slightest, purest dash of vanilla finishes this gorgeous scent off perfectly. I can’t imagine a better Spring perfume than this 🙂 Once again Guerlain have not failed to impress.
Update: Longevity of this is off the radar! Brilliant 🙂 On me? 12 hours +.
White_Avalanche – :
When I first started to become preoccupied with perfume, I bought a bottle of ylang ylang essential oil, which I kept around for a few months before throwing in the trash (What was I thinking!?).
Okay, what I was thinking was that everyone I lived with was grossed out by the potency of the oil, and if I spilled any, the whole house would stink for hours. Though I was aware that ylang is a very common ingredient in fragrances, I found myself asking how a perfume could feature this flower and still be well-balanced and beautiful.
Several years later, the answed has arrived in the form of Ylang & Vanille. Thank you so much, Vie Cafe, for enabling me to sample this rarity.
Ylang & Vanille is two tough mother flowers (ylang and carnation) forced to make nice together with vanilla/jasmine acting as the professional moderators.
This fragrance is nothing short of a miracle, because of how beautifully all the elements get along. There is the sweet, bold ripeness of ylang, and the green almost peppery sharpness of carnation, wrapped gracefully into one bundle with a smooth, soft and slightly salty vanilla/jasmine (these two notes work as one entity for me here. I am not sure where the jasmine ends and vanilla begins). Longevity and projection are quite good.
For me, Ylang & Vanilla is the olfactory equivalent of the Platonic form of YELLOW. The color of insanity, but also of imperial status, and of friendship.
mihei666 – :
No vanilla here; very yellow flowery with hints of warm bee wax and creamy honey.
Dominant ylang -ylang and warm, sunkissed mellow flowers.
It’s day scent,nothing sensuall here.
For Guerlain AA surprisingly good silage and staying power.
Edit: Hm, maybe my decant turned bad…
malih1977 – :
Just received my rare bottle.It smells quite old fashioned, with carnation notes dominating the top, and vanilla and ylang ylang following. I don’t love it, perhaps because it very strongly reminds me of the air freshener in my city’s train station restrooms circa 1995. I know it sounds wrong, and I should be ashamed to say such a bad thing about this creation, but my olfactory memory spoke here before me. Don’t get me wrong, I still find it quite pretty and soft, it’s just not for me purely due to the WC air freshener association:( Sad:(
Smeabummodium – :
A few years ago my mom bought this perfume and I had no idea the name of it then, but I was in LOVE!!! I just took over the bottle and she had to let me have it. If you are looking for a dreamy, vanilla, powdery CLASSY scent, this is it! I love love love this perfume. It is my favorite all time hands down.
maxijay – :
….to my nose this is the best vanilla scent ever! elegant,classy,warm ‘n’ sweet but just the right amount of every ingidient.an excellent blended perfume that i wish i could find in the market-too rare- discontinued i guess!
my twin gorgeous!! sister used to wear this amazing perfume and it suited her so much…i think it was made for her,could be its muse,lol!
good lasting power! a poeme in a bottle!
if you find it vanilla lovers,grab the chance to fall in love! buy it!
santa98 – :
A very floral composition but not annoying… on me the strongest note is by far the jasmine! The vanilla and the ylang ylang stay close together in the background.
A pleasant smell, particularly for those who like jasmine and vanilla..
In the hours that follow the ylang comes stronger to the forefront, so it remains a flowery perfume the whole time (circa 6 hours)!
gozord – :
I got a partially used bottle of this today and the first thing I did was to drop it on a stone floor and smash the sprayer. I kicked myself when I picked up 17 goldcoloured plastic bits off the floor…
But apart from this little mishap, I am pleased with my new perfume. The smell is unusual but not unpleasant. It reminds me of Piz Buin sun screen. The scent seems fairly linear. So far no vanilla, but I am hoping that it will turn up in the drydown.
enlidwina – :
I love it! An elegant vanilla
skspin – :
I received my bottle yesterday.
This morning I was undoing the package and my heart beat irregularly like I had some sort of heart problem. I guess Guerlain perfumes are one of the most pleasant cardiac irritants for me ..
I’m testing my Ylang Ylang Vanille right now and OMG .. I wish there were ways to curse out loud poetically. This scent is just … delishness. I would like to bathe & have my clothes laundered in a liquid detergent that smells like Ylang Ylang Vanille ..
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
O so breath taking .. so feminine .. so cozy
what a supercalifragilisticexplialidocious scent.
To be continued (in a few hours)
Gangsters – :
This was lovely. I wish I’d bought a bottle when it was around. If you like ylang ylang and vanilla with a hint of jasmine then this is for you. Simple and elegant. Good summer evening scent.
Maksetonik – :
lovely and comforting,sweet, flowery.And stronger than i expected,i only put on a tiny drop, and it lasts!
cadocoleale – :
This is a “stay at home” fragrance to me, it evokes the comfort you feel after a warm bath. Very tender, warm, intimate, very creamy and cuddly. Usually vanilla based fragrances turn kind of gourmand for me, but not this one. I smell the fresh carnations in it, lots of them, and ylang ylang , and whipped cream with vanilla; I would say, everything has a honey undertone, without being too sweet.
Nice staying power and silage for an edt, but I love the Aqua Allegoria line in general, I find it brilliant in its simplicity and charm, not memorable or dramatic, but oh, so wearable and elegant…
It’s a calming scent, very nurturing and kind, if I can say that about a fragrance. Warm cuddles and soft kisses.
give2X5 – :
This is mainly about the ylang for me, with carnation and vanilla being minor supporting players, It is creamy but it has a slightly musty-ness to it that is bothering me, and it doesn’t wow me. No sale.
rgkgpduobp – :
Tried this at the house of lovely mahanta. Well, it is pretty much ylang ylang that I found a little bit disturbing, but must me my chemistry. Actually I can’t feel anything else but ylang ylang, such a pitty
bragus – :
This was my wedding scent. I lucked into at a Marshall’s store where the box was beat up but the bottle was fine. $12 I think. I like how it stays sweet and light in the heat, great for hot, humid summers. It stays fresh and does not get acrid.
KISLbIYD – :
very elegant vanilla,not girlish and ordinary,perfect for romantic dates for nights.
maxximusura – :
Carnation + carnation + light vanilla.
I like it… but I prefer it in my grandma!
^^
rassypeve – :
I’m not fond of the beginning but I like what it turns into. The only way to describe it is vanilla bees wax, with a honey quality. While that sounds weird it’s actually a very comforting scent. Not sexy, daring, or innocent. One of those perfumes you wear for you.
Boobbymib – :
The fact that I would purchase an edt by the name of YLANG & VANILLA speaks volumes of my obsession with Guerlain, for ylang ylang immediately evokes memories of Pier 1 Imports and overly incensed small claustrophobic apartments whose denizens are hippy types!
I purchased YLANG & VANILLA at TJMaxx, along with several other Aqua Allegorias, each at the ridiculously low price of $9.99 (perhaps they were mismarked by some inattentive clerk?). Having had no prior experience with the AA line, I assumed that these must be some sort of body spray–given the hefty 4.2oz volume–but felt nonetheless compelled to scoop up a basket of bottles graced as they were with the label GUERLAIN. (What a coup!)
Despite their generous volume, the beautiful Aqua Allegorias are all filled with high-quality eau de toilette, with staying power that vastly exceeds many of the current celebrity edps.
To my nose, ylang-ylang is really a domineering essence, which can therefore be tastefully combined only very sparingly with other assertive notes, as in MITSOUKO and ARPEGE, where its presence, while detectable, is tempered by all of the other mighty contenders.
In AQUA ALLEGORIA YLANG & VANILLA, the vanilla does manage to attenuate the ylang, but not much. This is really a bold blast of ylang-ylang with a dash of Vanilla and a dot of other florals. But I am enjoying this fragrance today, holed up at home to escape the sub-freezing temperature outside. I probably would not wear even Guerlain’s Ylang Vanilla edt in the company of others… Unless I happened to be going to a party at an overly incensed small claustrophobic apartment!
parrottedss – :
This is a very elegant and soft vanilla. Simple and delightful for hot summer days
karic1881 – :
A comforting and creamy scent. I do not fancy wearing it in the evenings, though – IMO it is a good office fragrance and best for warmer weather. Carnation dominates the opening notes but it is not the sharp flowery carnation some might expect. It is like a breeze in a bouquet of spring flowers plus a drop of vanilla.
kent_609 – :
So far it`s my favorite Aqua Allegoria. With all it`s simplicity, it managed to capture the mood of a content and happy woman, a little dreamy, perhaps.Though it is light enough to wear in the afternoon, I always think of it as an evening perfume.Not a gala evening, but stay-with-friends evening…It is also very comforting to fall asleep wearing it, almost like an aromatherapy.
КОРЧАГИН – :
It’s so calming.. I love it!