Red Vanilla by Zara

It resembles Vie est Belle but lacks the intensity; the trail and longevity are non-existent. I tried it at Zara based on reviews, but it didn’t convince me at all. Try other scents in the store instead; I absolutely loved Oriental: it lasts longer and projects much better.

I don’t like it. I detect a sweet opening with a damp, unpleasant smell, like an old house. The good thing is it barely lasted 20/30 minutes on my skin; afterwards, it only smelled on my clothes and had faded by the hour.

Bought this perfume now (2023) and was surprised to find it intact on my wrist from morning till night. It caught my attention because I own other Zara perfumes and none last this long. Perhaps I’ve found a good batch or it’s down to my skin’s pH but wow it lasts. I like the scent; it has an air of Lancôme’s LVEB but it’s not a dupe. The first spray feels somewhat citrusy-fruity but fades after a few seconds settling into a fully woody and vanilla fragrance. I think it’s ideal for cold climates and daily wear.

Very good perfume, good longevity, and it sits well on skin, as I generally don’t wear fragrances due to having sensitive skin. Upon application, it smells similar to La Vie est Belle, but over time it becomes more vanilla and the scent is more delicious. Honestly, I didn’t like that it was so similar because many women wear that scent and I didn’t want to be part of the crowd; that’s why I like it, as it changes after two hours. Note: I used it on rainy days, and now with the sun it turns into a cheap-smelling scent. It would be better to apply it where your clothes cover it, don’t leave it in the sun. The scent is no longer lovely 😔

I picked up the 2022 refillable bottle version, reformulated, I suppose, as it doesn’t match everyone’s reviews. It’s terribly made: a very alcoholic opening with artificial blackcurrant; the pear and patchouli are superfluous, there’s too much iris, and a bad peach note that overpowers everything and lingers in the dry-down; the vanilla and praline are non-existent. The early dry-down has an air of Poison Girl EDP, but the end is sweet peach plus makeup, all extremely synthetic. Longevity, sillage, and projection are non-existent; I sprayed it ten times and nothing, barely noticing it on my clothes in less than an hour. As a lover of red fruits, I’m terribly disappointed; I’ll experiment or let it age to see what happens.

Bought this as a gift seeking vanilla, but initially it felt more like a mature, intense floral than vanilla. Over time, the floral opening no longer bothers me, and I now enjoy the soft sweetness that lingers in the dry-down. Lasts briefly on the skin, though it is more noticeable on clothes.

I liked the dry-down. The opening is slightly woody with a heavy orange blossom note, although it’s not listed. The dry-down smells of vanilla, tonka bean, and powder. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t last long. I wouldn’t buy it again.

I bought it three months ago and liked it at first; yes, it has the vibe of LVEB. I wore it all day, but by the dry-down it became overwhelming. The sweet praline opening is exquisite and lasts ten minutes, then it turns fruity, but after half an hour, ouch, it becomes a sharp, intense patchouli that gives me a headache. It’s not bad… but it is misleading. If you love the sweetness of LVEB, this is not your perfume.

Horrible; it gives me nausea.

Well, to me it reminds me of Carolina Herrera 212 Rosé.

I don’t think it resembles La Vie Est Belle, but I still love it. It is strong, long-lasting, and special for the evening. I adore it; it projects a lot and I think it is more for confident women, perhaps from the age of 25 onwards.

I don’t know if this happens to others, but when it dries on my skin, it smells like clothes that dried poorly and are still damp. It has a distinct characteristic of that smell, and that’s how it smells to me. It’s unbearable for me, what a pity. I was persuaded to buy it, but NO.

It is true that it resembles La Vie est Belle, but I don’t see it as a clone or dupe. I consider it a soft, informal version, like a flanker. Unfortunately, it lasts very little and its trail is very faint, although being so economical, I wouldn’t mind using it again. It’s ideal for those who like La Vie est Belle but find it cloying or heavy; I stick with the original. Red Vanilla is quite soft; I’d wear it in spring or autumn.

Perfect. I think it’s for women aged 25 to 35 on fresh, spring, or autumnal days. The initial note is the tartness of blackcurrants, which persists over time; between that and the pear lies the vanilla, quite subtle, almost like chocolate bars or pralines. Perhaps there is an iris, but not a white floral. Who knows, on me it took on a curious aroma of rose petals, as if taking a petal and crushing it between two fingers. I gave it a few hours to perceive more scents, but it didn’t leave much; it lasted about 4 or 5 hours and then disappeared. The final note was patchouli, which is to be expected as it lacks a fixative, musk, amber, or sandalwood. What a pity; I think I’ll finish it quickly.

By no means unisex. I believe it is totally feminine in scent. Very sweet and fruity.