Description
The story that follows the new collection launched by L’Occitane this spring begins in this beautiful French small town which mixes the scents of the mountain region with beneficial breezes from the French Riviera. This extraordinary collection offers four fragrances inspired by nature, landscapes and the atmosphere characteristic of Southern France.
The new collection La Collection de Grasse was created by founder of L’Occitane, Olivier Baussan and perfumer Karine Dubreuil. Scents of Provence were tastefully transferred to four beautiful compositions: Vanille & Narcisse, Magnolia & Mure, Jasmine & Bergamote and The Vert & Bigarade (the only unisex).
The collection is available in massive glass flacons as 75ml EDT each, accompanied with perfumed body care products among which you can choose: body milk 175 ml, bath 175 ml and soaps 125 g.
Vanille & Narcisse was launched in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWOPRn4xxvA&rel=0
foy429speagoessenda – :
this is a bit (too much vanilla) when worn on its own, i use this one in combination with Repetto. wearing it alone feels like being a living cupcake, some people like it, but for me overly vanilla sweet perfumes are not that interesting.
hawka – :
Love this perfume and lotion. If you layer the lotion followed by cologne, you have heaven in a bottle. Layering greatly expands the wearing time, and I think it makes the products smell better. Wish they had not quit making this. Vanilla y Narcisse is a floral vanilla treat. I love it!
liplyNelD – :
A really nice, comforting fragrance. I fell in love with this perfume when I first smelled it and I was devastated when L´Occitane stopped selling it here in the Czech Republic. Luckily, I managed to buy it in an e-shop and enjoyed it for the last three years. But I must say I would not buy it again full price. It smells pretty simple on my skin. It´s not a complex, elegant perfume. Refined? yes…
zxc5zxc – :
A refined scent, but not quite up to its price range. Lacks complexity. After the first 15 or so minutes the gorgeous floral opening fades to the background and it’s high quality, natural, creamy but quite linear and boring vanilla from then on. I wish it would have more colours.
ZhenyaSEA – :
This is a sexy, alluring vanilla scent surprisingly.
Has a little green in there along with a light leather
Isn’t overly sweet which i love.
erurlertyl – :
I found this very balsamic, rubbery, leathery and smoky on my skin. Strong and very very long lasting. Not sweet or soft, very powerful and perfumey, ambery and somehow “old” or vintage smell. I got a whiff of narcissus and tonka but they drown under the strong smell. I can’t tell if this smells like Shalimar but at least it smells like how I imagine Shalimar would smell on me. Too much for my nose but some might really love it.
igrywkinaelky – :
This was my signature frag for ages I love how the vanilla intensifies when it is on warm skin, and goes go through a Play Dough phase, but I don’t mind that! It is a comforting frag that wraps itself around you and makes you feel safe. I wear this when I’m lonely.
It is insanely strong, especially as it is labeled as Eau De Toilette.. it out performs all of my Eau de Parfums, hands down.
When it was being discontinued, I bought a few extra bottles, but I am selling 2 of them. If anyone is interested in buying them., message me on the forum
darginetrerge – :
This scent somehow always takes me away from current moment and brings me a vintage vibe from 60’s or 70’s. Some sort of hippie feel and at the same time very glamorous feeling. Like an old Hollywood vibe.
If this perfume had more citrus and incense in the beginning and more leather in the base, it could be identical to Shalimar. And I’ve seen here that other people have noticed that aspect also but I actually came here to search if this scent had same notes as Shalimar because I thought of it before even reading other people’s comments. I think Shalimar and also Dior Addict have the same vanilla as Vanille Narcisse.
PS.People of Fragrantica, why don’t you have the Vanille – Vanille by L’occitane on your site? The one from 1999-2002?
ocl301Diobtetty – :
Of all places, I found a full bottle of this at a Goodwill, logged onto Fragrantica to check the reviews, and blind-bought it. One of my better $8 splurges!
The yellow floral at the beginning mixed with heady vanilla is wonderful, as is what is left 3+ hours after application (light, smoky vanilla). There’s some weirdness in the middle, though – it gets a little musky, a little playdough-y, somewhat medicinal. Some people have likened it to Shalimar, and I can see how they get there, but the underpinnings of Vanille & Narcisse are different. I like it, but I wonder whether the warm weather we’re having is taking away from this scent’s true potential.
pashet – :
Very beautiful elegant high quality vanilla combined with tonka bean and sharp narcisse, which gives some kind of “edge”, but fades after about 20 minutes. It’s creamy and round, but linear, no smoke, no cheap spicy notes, no sticky sugary artificial sweetness. Stays quite close to the skin, but longevity is good (6 hours at least), so is perfect for everyday wear. Overall – demure high quality vanilla.
versus.prom – :
Perfume Empress you still have a chance to get this fragrance. We have a few left in the Charleston L’Occitane store. Call us and we will ship to you. I have it as well as it is going to be discontinued. It is a great warm fragrance and lasts several hours.
eropov – :
Got this as a present from a friend that knows I’m crazy about vanilla. As nobody expects the spanish inquisition, I did not expect this to be so deep, dark, mature and perfume-y. A grown up vanilla indeed, not the sugary fluff youthful vanilla caramel type.
I wear it during daytime, but it is clearly a nightime perfume, date-night type.
Me likes it, but I can see this as overwhelming and loud for more demure people.
Sibobetebib – :
I’m a big vanilla fan and this is perfect for me!
It’s warm and it’s slightly dark; I’m guessing that’s coming from the tonka bean? It’s nice. No complaints.
I don’t love it enough to buy an actual bottle (I don’t think it’s worth the price tag) but I definitely used up all 8ML of the sample I got!
dedmoroz – :
This juice is just beautiful. A perfectly lightly sweet vanilla with a floral undertone that dries down to a cozy creamy vanilla skin scent. I bought a small bottle to take on vacation with me. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive for the fb and bath products considering it’s just a light edt with little lasting power.
onenticarne – :
A high quality fume that opens up on me exactly as Hypnotic Poison by Dior. Worth trying, it is way more serious than it might seem.
sashapav – :
A strange combination. The scent is really nice, but I suppose the narcissus slightly bothers my nose. The vanilla and tonka bean are very lovely and it’s a lonlasting perfume with potent sillage. It’s a pleasant scent for cold weather, its sweetness is so natural, not synthetic like some vanilla fragrances tend to be.
isg338Diobtetty – :
Truly like warm vanilla ice cream! Yummy.
anzelliie – :
I blind bought this from a lovely Fragrantican and I am so glad I did! This is incredible! Its two of my favorite notes in one perfume without any patchouli (which I love but it seems like it’s in nearly everything I own!!) or other noise. It’s sweet but not cloying-no candy shop here! To me this is warm and sexy and I love it! I am going to have to scour ebay for another bottle or two if this has been discontinued as mentioned in the previous review. This is just delicious!!
Meskalin777 – :
I’ve just re-read my review below and two years after it I feel much the same about this lovely scent.
No, I feel sad as I’ve been told it’s going to be discontinued and for me this scent is the best one in the Grasse collection.
I also feel angry and a little betrayed as I had been assured that the line would not have been one with limited editions.
I feel disappointed as the creations that followed this beautiful Vanille & Narcisse are not up to that level of raw material quality, scent quality, quality period.
I feel like after a few dates with a marvellous man (we have all had one at one point) and committing to him, he reveals as just one boring, not one-of-a-kind special man as he initially showed him to be.
Oh, well.
Let’s move on.
kotenochek121 – :
During trip to Charleston last year I walked into L’Occitane shop and tried this on. I fell in love with it but did not get a bottle because I was in hurry. I’ll get it later, I thought. I didn’t, of course. Now every time I think of it I could kick myself. It’s gorgeous,elegant scent AND I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE. @#%&!!
AlexStors – :
I wanted to love this – I really did – but it just smells interesting for ten minutes or so and then it slips into bland territory and disappears from my skin after an hour.
I am dabbing it from a miniature (one of three in a gift box) so perhaps a spray would make it behave rather differently.
Narcisse can be a wonderful note(as in “Y” by YSL)but here it is disappointing.
сандёр – :
I’ve been keeping a nostril flared for a warm, sweet narcissus for a while and this has been on my short list of contenders to test. On one rare day I was both naked of fragrance and had an errand at the mall so I stopped at the L’Occitane store, at long last, to give this a try.
At first I liked it. I wasn’t instantly in love, but I liked it. Naturally, I kept sniffing my wrist as the fragrance unfolded, but as it evolved on my skin it only became more unnatural. Something began to smell progressively more artificial and cloying, I’m not sure if it was the vanilla itself or the super sweet combination of vanilla, tonka bean and gardenia. Whatever the culprit I felt nauseous by the time I made it back to the car a mere 30 minutes later. It didn’t help that its projection and longevity were the two most admirable things about it. Strong gusts of it blew around me through to bed time. I suppose I should have given up and scrubbed it, but I was trying to stay strong.
The hunt’s still on.
Icefgriegeged – :
This is the fragrance that changed what I felt towards vanilla.
Before sniffing this beauty, perfumes with this accord were too sweet for my taste.
IMO, it balances perfectly the two main notes, so it just have the right sweetness of vanilla mixed with the inebriant misterious narcissus.
Love, love, love this.
softdir – :
Yes! It definitely reminds me of Shalimar!
pavelspes – :
I would call this a slow burner. I sprayed it on whilst whizzing past a counter somewhere. Initially, it didn’t leap out as anything too interesting, somewhat floral, somewhat vanillary just as the label says. However, by the time I got to the car park, this had developed into a smouldering smoky vanilla that really got my attention. The flowers were just there in the background to keep it aerated but the Tonka definitely took the stage.
This is remarkably similar to the niche line Rania J -Ambre Loup which is not what I expected from this at all, but those wanting an interesting niche quality vanilla should definitely give this a try.
IIntrovert – :
What a soft, feminine, enveloping scent!
I love love love this one.
The Vanilla is really natural. Exactly like sniffing a vanilla pod (I just did. I’m baking dessert for tonight as I am typing this 🙂 ) yet not ‘food-y’ / lollie like.
I’ve never sniffed a Narcisse, but it’s surely lovely natural floral. I don’t recognise any Gardenia though.
I do sense Black Currant and Bergamot. These are, however, so delicately there that they don’t make this frag “Fruity”.
(Body lotion has got more noticeable Black Currant as a top note, I think)
Lasts about 6 hours on my skin. Not bad at all as EDT.
About sillage… My male colleague (who’s interested in fragrance, fine tea & wine a lot) told me; “Cannot tell where, but there’s something nice-smelling is in the room” ——it was me.
This one doesn’t make a big statement or scream anything.
It gently whispers and giggles.
Perfect for snuggling up with your lover ( or with yourself)
Simply sensual.
10/10
stealiadins – :
I just opened up mine. First of all thank you all fellow bloggers because I ordered without trying it (I could not). It was fantastic just as described below. It’s a perfume you know, not just some mixture of essences, that I’m afraid some of L’Occitane fragances are.
As to the fragance itself, vanilla is not overpowering or cloying, I guess it’ narcissus that comes behind it, a little bit too powdery for me.
Unfortunately I disagree on longevity because on me it does not stay more than an hour. Well, it’ s an Eau de Toilette so it shouldn’ t last long…
Germans – :
This is very pretty but kind of thin. The shower gel, however, has a gorgeous opulence, a richer depth, and I’d love to find out how to bring that out in the EDP. I may try layering it with amber or some of my orientals.
CkpuIVIep – :
Vanilla… Narcisse… exactly that!
It’s a wonderful delicate fragrance. Soft, sweet and creamy.
Longevity is moderate/long lasting on me and has soft sillage.
♥♥♥♥
Gardinier – :
This is the perfume of a little doll of mine
elarieDaubake – :
My favourite vanilla perfume. It’s deliciously sweet without being too heavy. It’s cosy and comforting, and the florals balance out the sweetness of the vanilla nicely, giving it a bit of air. A lovely day-to-day scent, especially for the colder seasons.
zakc – :
This smells of play-doh to me. That’s all i get from it. Not unpleasant but nothing special.
vital-322 – :
I was trying all day to figure out which perfume it reminds me of…and yeap,it’s Shalimar!
I am not sure if i like it or not..i don’t hate it because i want to smell my wristle all the time!
But…it also reminds me of a medicine…or more correctly..a doctor’s office! 😀
A weird smell…
pasport33ryz. – :
Shalimar was the first thing that came to mind when I sniffed Vanille & Narcisse. It had that smoky, vanilla-laced warmth–the only thing that was missing for me was the dark, animalic element that I love so much in the former. Great for those who find Shalimar overwhelming.
lovimoment123 – :
Its very sweet and lasting, something im gonna get! To me it reminds me to guerlains SDV, its a beautiful spicy vanilla, and not overpowering just yummy sweet vanilla! simply delicious!!!
allmaymnlype – :
Vanille & Narcisse is a beautiful and spicy floral-vanilla fragrance on my skin. I enjoy its simplicity. It’s sweet, casual and relatively light, but still interesting and rich. The vanilla/tonka accord is sweet, but it’s no syrupy gourmand. It’s cool and airy, comforting and soft. I don’t smell black currant or bergamot in this, but I do get the floral notes almost as strongly as the vanilla. The gardenia has a buttery, slightly indolic bend on my skin. It’s a linear scent, but I’m quite ok with enjoying these creamy, spicy florals and smooth vanilla from top to bottom. This scent actually brings to mind aspects of YSL Cinema for me, but it behaves better on my skin. It’s simpler and lacks Cinema’s citrusy tang, but on me it comes out smelling richer.
Vanille & Narcisse also reminds me a lot of Hypnotic Poison Eau Sensuelle, but I prefer the former. I’m already a fan of the spicy-woodsy vanilla of the original HP, and Eau Sensuelle seemed too similar to the original HP for me to really appreciate. The orange blossom in Eau Sensuelle also gives it an orange creamsicle vibe that can at times come across as cloying, to my nose at least. In both Eau Sensuelle and Vanille & Narcisse, I get a creamy, powdery vanilla mixed with thick yellow and white florals…narcissus and gardenia in V & N, ylang and orange blossom in ES. I enjoy Vanille & Narcisse more because I get a similar beautiful floral-vanilla accord with an earthier spice, minus the sweet orange I get in Eau Sensuelle. This is a gorgeous, simple, and versatile fragrance.
Wanted – :
I like this very much!
I had no great expectations since L’Occitane fragrances smell all very nice and good to wear but quite simple and they lack big ooomphh even if they usually grow on you in time.
This new line has quite something to say without going out of the guidelines of a nice smelling fragrance.
Vanille & Narcisse in spite of the drugstore bathline name is more than that. It has naunces, at least more than many modern scents around.
I smell the Citrus first, a very fresh reviving note without the usual citrus blast of so many commercial fragrances. It’s kept at good measure with elegance. Then a hint of Narcissus comes out shily but clearly.
I wouldn’ have said there is any gardenia before reading the notes list.
Then comes the vanilla while the citrus has not faded away. It’s a beautiful combo and it seems to me that it gently winks at one of the flankers of poisonous Hypnotique. It’s a unique vanillic balance between fake vanilla and the real warm stuff, but to my great relief it doesn’t smell cake or candy floss. It vaguely reminds me of something medicinal, like the yummy cough syrup I was given in my childhood, like Kenzo Amour does, but happily without headache!
Here comes the Guerlain’s vibe: powdery vanilla otherly said Feve Tonka and this is where I understand why it reminds me so much of beloved Samsara! Actually both Samsara and Shalimar.
There is no amber here. The powder is given by feve tonka bean and vanilla, very much like famous Guerlain’s olfactive signature. I smell no rose at all and it’s not listed in spite of the fact that the lovely SA told me so.
I have this one on a wrist and Ambre & Santal on the other one. They couldn’t be more different. I wonder what could possibly come out if I mixed them together…
Ambre & Santal is still in force but tamed, amber(labdanum) is now totally emerged.
Vanille & Narcisse… it seems that she just woke up after a sensual nap. Yes, soft, she’s kind, sweet, floral, vanilla…and persisting!
It doesn’t go without some sultriness in the end.
Prick – :
The opening of Vanille & Narcisse does have some black currants. It then soon evolves into a combination of vanilla, tonka beans and some yellow flowers, which strangely smells a little sour to me. Actually I’m not sure if I smell narcissus. The floral part slightly reminds of Lancôme Poême. Towards the end, with yellow flowers fading, the powdery vanilla and tonka beans combo also has some caramel-like aspect.
The longevity is around 7 hours on me. The sillage is moderate and manages to keep the intensity during the wearing. It’s quite sweet and intense. Overdoing it will be tiring.
burmillo – :
Yes! As sweetspicey said… this is a balsamic (resin like) vanilla-amber type of scent. It reminds me a sugary marshmallow, play dough, root beer, or any delicious scent that is amazing on the skin. I bought this in summer, I can totally wear this EDT here in the beach, it’s no cloying at all.. naaah I lied!!! it is cloying and I LOVE that!! lol.
Go test this out. This is my kind of fragrance I love.
maxypublic – :
This is vanilla added version of balenciaga paris. I almost thought i had forgotten spraying balenciaga on my clothes after I sprayed this. The drydown is much richer than the opening , and so similar to paris
tqm441Unlogrere – :
Vanille&Narcisse, the work of Karine Dubreuil. One of the most interesting fragrances I have tested lately. I realise that there should be an emotional connection to this fragrance.
I am wearing it on the long sleeve of a gauzy (2 layers) summer blouse, on another sleeve I have Joy Jean Patou. Vanille&Narcisse smells so right next to Joy, although Joy is of different mood and category. Vanille&Narciss is comfortable and approachable, vintagy, feminine, softly sensually whispering, fragile. Something in the mood of L’heure Bleue, or
maybe even better mood. Strongly addictive(one would expect it from narcotic narcissus) and delicious. Has light projection(intimate) and moderate tenacity. There is no hint of sporty, sharp or modern. Only slight touch of nutmeg or clove. Just beautiful and unique. It is already on my blouse for about 2 hours and (please, stay this way) it’s not developing into anything unpleasant. Love, recommend, my next purchase from L’occitane.
Update:
Now, when I am thinking about it: it seems that for years they used similar scent to freshen the dressing rooms at Macy’s. A very tricky position to be for the new fragrance. But no surprises here: they seem to have done it to Shalimar, Samsara, L”Heure Bleue, Boucheron’s and most of the staple fragrances, turned them into cheap air fresheners.
It’s already august and I am still thinking if I should get the collection Vanille&Narcisse. I have smelled today Gucci EDP(now discontinued) and realized that Vanille&Narcisse and Gucci EDP are very similar. Somebody mentioned “Vanille &Narcisse smells like the root beer” in L’Occitane store. “Not to me”- I thought. Then I glanced over reviews for Gucci EDP and one of the reviewers mentions root beer too! So, it’s not just me. Perhaps, these two fragrances are really similar.
Vanille &Narcisse is almost opulent next to Gucci, better quality, more feminine, brighter, never watery, longer lasting, better structured, more complex, more oriental and warm. Gucci is more shampooi or linear, while Vanille&Narcisse radiates almost in the manner of Poison. Gucci and Vanille&Narcisse are definetely not of the same origin.
Root beer or not, I lke it a lot. Finally I have bought the collection.
Smell of the foam of the vintage root beer, Shalimar’s drydown is one of the best at it.
The Guerlain’s experience of Karine Dubreuil helped transplanting some of what is being so masterfully expressed in Cuir Beluga Guerlain inside Vanille&Narcisse. In Vanille&Narcisse although the serious leather (characteristic of Must de Cartier) and (narcissus?) honey picks up from time to time from underneath through the powdery(somewhat heliotropic) vanillic sweet radiating layer on the top. In Cuir Beluga the leather is so dispersed/dissolved (the fragrance is so well blended) that I only can smell the subtle moist suede throughout. Cuir Beluga has a texture of moderately sweet pleasantly suedy carnal(salty and a tiny smoky) softest enveloping cloud. Certainly, Cuir Beluga is longer lasting and there is no cheap dry down. But if investment of $250+ for 75 ml seems like overindulging, then $75 for a bottle of Vanille&Narcisse seems like a really good investment in comparison.
Egor^N – :
Such an elegant smell, the vanilla is soft but lingering, I can smell some amber and yellow flowers, even if this flowery scent fades after one hour or so, leaving a creamy great smell that will remain for a few hours. Since L’Occitane Honey & Vanilla was discontinnued I haven’t smelled anything more interesting than Anick Goutal’s Vanille Exquise. However, this is my new signature fragrance, my mom brought from Paris trusting I’d love it and she scored it!
envesdymn – :
Test on paper. I can smell vanille and amber (labdanum, benzoin origin) in “Vanille & Narcisse”.
But, unfortunately, “Vanille & Narcisse” has something in common with Cartier’s “Must” and the whole raw of other fragrances. It’s that heavy unpleasant part of “Must” or even more so of Rochas “Femme Rochas”, that my nose categorizes as “synthetic” that can be also interpreted as freshness…of prosciutto breath(salty, porky). As one of the reviewers noticed, Femme Rochas (as I also know it from a discount store, I have not smelled the vintage) is carnal. Yes, carnal is the word. And I encounter that carnality every time I pass my laundry room where lavender drying sheets are in the open box (Dawny infusions “lavender serenity” drier sheets). Or the deeper carnality of my fig hand and dishwashing soaps from Wiiliam Sonoma, and most of all the Pottery Barn(was the most desirable when I bought it) Cedarwood Citron diffuser right next to my bed, probably I have developed supersensitivity to it.
I do not enjoy any of those after finding that carnal chemical phenomenon inside. They all repel me nowadays.
And while Rochas “Femme Rochas” seems to be overwhelmingly just this, carnality, “Vanille and Narcisse” is much more “innocent”.
I wish I would know exactly the source of this meaty/fishy in fragrances. Because this can be a result of fermentaion that one of the ingredients was undergone. For example, if one smells white or green tea, that are products of some fermentation, one can find them slightly fishy smelling.
For example, the real patchouli, narcissus and iris roots come into fragrances after certain process of fermentation, so this savory can be a byproduct of fermentation. Maybe. I think, I would have easier time accepting savory, knowing that it’s not synthetic.
By the way, the same savory goes to L’Occitane Magnolia and Mure, except a touch of fenhel left at the drydown of Magnolia and Mure, probably added to create the note of blackberry.
At first sniff “Vanille and Narcisse” deceivingly reminds another fragrance from L’Occitane,”Amber”, but than quickly departs into the savory category.
This prevents me from enjoying this otherwise pretty warm ambery fragrance. I prefer much cleaner woodier fragrances, such as “Amber”.
Yet another update: the fennel(or anis) at the bottom of Magnolia & Mure is, probably, just a facet of Tonka bean that suddenly emerges. I find that Tonka Bean is quite a tricky note to work with. I noticed that it often makes or breaks the fragrance.
SexualGordon – :
Light vanilla scent, good for any time of the year. Could be worn day or night as well. Only real complaint is it doesn’t seem to be as complex as the notes would suggest, I’m not really getting any florals, just a cozy vanilla with balmy overtones from the (also sweet) tonka bean. It’s nice but it’s not going to wow someone who doesn’t already like sweet vanilla scents.
Fbcn – :
The good news: Karine Dubreuil (responsible for GUCCI ph II, Envy Me, Guerlain, etc) is now official in-house perfumer for L’Occident. She is a talent in the making for I like her guts to follow her instincts and break new grounds….I expect her to go far. Funny that both perfume designing and cooking still is somewhat male dominated (never understood that)!?!
Okay so you have a dual-fleur here: a rich, deep, dense and gourmand sweet Madagascan Vanilla that gets a modern floral edge by Narcissus absolue. The latter is ‘all the rave’ now as one of the hippest ingredients (we have reinvented Iris often enough now).
For me this combo works really well for they are much better together than on their own for vanilla needs the narcissus to give it a lift and narcissus on its own can sometimes lean towards the penetrant or even fecal.
Having said that the fragrance has not much ‘hidden powers’ or development.
Once the fruity floral intersting opening wears off after 10 to 20 minutes it is a soft gourmand vanilla-tonka bean ice cream whiff until it fades (and it lasts long).
I am in two minds whether I like it enough to buy. The opening is very interesting but I wished that juxtaposition between the sharp Narcissus and warm sweet vanilla would last longer…
KIEHL’s Vanilla/ Sandalwood Aromatic Mist is still my favourite Vanilla scent out there but L’Occitane temps me well to get a spring-time upgrade…given it’s June already, shall I bother with this one?
Ramiross – :
Unlike the many hideous cloying vanilla fragrances on the market, L’Occitane manages to inject an airiness in this offering. The warm cuddly feeling vanilla brings out in this fragrance mingles with strong floral undertones and a mild whiff of fruits. The fruitiness resembles the scent of tart green apples.
Verdict: interesting.
Lohengrin – :
Overbearing and suffocating. Sharp and chemical-y. No thank you!
Monk-Errant – :
Reminded me of the heat of SpellBound. So strong, sensual, warm and lasts for hours with intensity. If you loved Labdanum, which is discontinued, you will love this one. Vanilla is dominant and density of scent is impressive.
looter13 – :
Vanilla & Narcisse is a very unpredictable fragrance on my skin. Each time I wear it, it goes in one of two directions..
1. Soft, feminine, and lovely.
The first one is light, warm, powdery vanilla like a marshmallow (though less sweet), with an abstract floral element which possesses a tinge of what I would equate to wintergreen, though it’s really more like wintergreen gum or candy than the essential oil. It’s like a powdery vanilla-mint without any bite. Projection and lasting power are moderate.
2. Totally gross.
The second direction is sweet powdery vanilla changing to body odor. This is the smell of body odor on the back of my freshly washed hand, and when it goes this way, I want nothing more than to wash my hand again immediately.
Could my body chemistry be fluctuating THAT much? My first experience with this fragrance was so enjoyable, and I walked around wearing it in the warm late afternoon, planning to go back the following day and ask for a sample. However the next time I tested it, I thought “YUCK! It’s baby powder mixed with grown-up stink!”
Do not blind buy this or gift it to anyone based on the notes. You really must sample it several times to make a determination about it. Though this is true of many if not most fragrances, it holds especially true with ones like Vanilla & Narcisse.
syscod555 – :
I am using this and I like it a lot. Far from being a milestone in the modern perfumery it is a scent well constructed, with a nice developing and a lovely drydown. I suppose the fact that L’Occitane hired Karine Dubreuil as in-house nose with an exclusive contract says a lot about what the house wants to do with its scents. I am happy that this line of 4 scents will not be a temporary one like the too many scents we regret have been discontinued.
I would also dare say that if you think Shalimar is too much for you, if you have little sympathy for all the Shalimar flankers, you can try this Vanille & Narcisse. I am a long time fan of the divine Shalimar and I love it the more and the more, and I like to think this Vanille & Narcisse is a hommage to Guerlain’s iconic masterpiece. Do not dismiss it with too much haste, it can be a nice alternative to Shalimar when budget allows only a tiny perfumed expense and when temperature calls for a lighter scent.
roduna-2000 – :
I have the strange impression that it somehow had tried to capture the spirit of Lancôme Poême with its vanilla and yellow flowers. But Vanille Narcisse would be a very ethereal and simplistic version, very easy-to-wear to seduce people who are afraid of wearing classic bombs… nothing to do with Lancôme masterpiece with its heavy sillage actually.
Unfortunately in the end the faint smell of yellow flowers disappears. All that remains is a light generic vanillic scent. L’Occitane could have done much better, especially concerning longevity. However I appreciate Vanille Narcisse as it is the kind of cozy and relaxing fragrance I reach for while reading a good book on my sofa.
mcduck – :
Synthetic vanilla, little bit of flowers,scent. It’s soft but last a while, I wouldn’t mind this on a woman at all…its good. Not impressive but not dissapointing either.
YuriLaptev – :
I don’t know what it is with L’Occitane, but somehow they never get a scent out that convices me. With this scent I have to agree with dhoakohime. Also the other 3 new releases along with this one couldn’t stand out or go beyond a *yawn*. They all want to please but lack individuality, staying power and authenticity.
valerik.75 – :
VERY synthetic vanilla…and the drydown at least on my skin is terrible as a smokey note starts to emerge…something salty and smokey..puag! reminds me of bacon and plastic vanilla! gross at least on me..
Maxik21 – :
As much as I love the scent, I don’t smell any narcisse or gardenia, which is what I was hoping for. On me, it is a balmy vanilla-amber type of scent. Cozy for the cooler months, but I imagine it could be a bit suffocating in warmer weather. The two men I was shopping with loved it.