Aoud Vanille by Mancera

Right, sorry to say this, but this smells a lot like the Lattafa one that comes up in suggestions. This one has better quality, without that harsh alcoholic kick that sometimes makes the Lattafa so unpleasant. I don’t know why they don’t mention it.

Exquisite perfume with that medicinal oud, the signature of the Mancera/Montale house. It has a lovely vanilla that adds a sweet touch, but it’s not gourmand. It doesn’t have much evolution; it’s more linear. If you don’t like complex perfumes, this is ideal. It has good projection and longevity. The other day I wore it and it reminded me of something familiar; it turns out, as a perfume lover, I’ve created two of my own fragrances using essences, molecules, absolutes, and resins, and bingo: the Iso E Super, that woody and ambered molecule, smells exactly the same.

As is often the case with Mancera, the name leads us to think of something else. Yes, it has oud and vanilla, but the undisputed star is the sandalwood. Since I atomised it months ago, I got the idea of a spicy oriental sandalwood. It starts with a soft touch of saffron and a marked pepper; I don’t notice cardamomo, I suppose it tempers it. Then comes a slightly synthetic vanilla and the oud, accompanying an omnipresent sandalwood from start to finish. It brings superficial memories of Homem Dom de Natura, which is far from a fault but rather a compliment. Several say it has an air of Babycat, and yes, it does, but they’re different paths. If you like woody orientals and this sandalwood-vanilla combination, I recommend trying it. To be objective, I give it 8/10. I’m not a sandalwood fan, but this interested me greatly. Gender: Unisex Masculine. Longevity: 8 hours (good). Projection: 2 metres after an hour. Rating: 8/10, one of Mancera’s best woody scents, if not the best. For those tired of Oud with Rose, this is the way to go. Highly recommended.

Sweet, smoky, and dry vanilla, driven by pepper, saffron, and an oud accord with a medicinal nuance. The saffron gives a leather sensation in the dry down. However, the perfume feels incomplete and abrupt. It gives the impression that elements are missing that could have better balanced or softened the composition.

It is one of the best perfumes I have ever tried, a divine gift. I had never heard such excellent vanilla, paired with exquisite oud. It is an explosive fragrance with brutal projection and longevity. You don’t know whether to smell it or eat it. A sublime gourmand, recommended a thousand times.

Direct and unpretentious fragrance: a real oud punch boosted with pepper for a balsamic touch, accompanied by cardamom and flowers that recede behind a vanilla present from the start and growing until it equals the oud. Depending on your skin, this vanilla-oud mix with saffron and spices can feel gummy or plastic, like a toy doll straight out of the box, which might be off-putting. That’s why I insist on testing it on skin before buying. While it has a challenging profile, I don’t see it as geared towards women; quite the opposite. I acknowledge there are more creative options on the market with woody and vanilla bases, and Mancera has other perfumes that twist vanilla differently. The best advice is to visit the official website and order samples (in the EU, a set is very cheap) to find your favourite. Congratulations to everyone who enjoys this Aoud Vanille in colder months.

It is a dark oud with vanilla halfway through, sweet but not cloying. The oud and saffron are wonderful, elegant and stately, a proper masterpiece. If you like oud and vanilla, don’t think twice. It has reasonable similarities with Oud Wood and Dark Aoud, but with vanilla, simply!

I do not recommend buying blind if you are not dying for sweetness; for me, it was unbearable and even gave me nausea. It is a heavy fragrance, ideal for cold and night. It is unisex, although with those floral and vanilla hints, it feels a bit feminine. It reminded me of three things: opening a bag of marshmallows, medicinal syrup and those vanilla protein tubs for the gym. The only good thing is that it doesn’t wash off even with soap. It lasts forever.

It starts with a dry hit of pepper and a hint of saffron, soon that medicinal oud mixed with vanilla appears. It is an accessible oud, pleasant although at first it smells a bit medicinal, nothing to scare you. It settles on a vanilla and slightly woody base. Basically, that is what Mancera does here. The longevity is beastly and it projects brilliantly for the first three hours. Very well done, although sometimes it feels a bit synthetic.

I tested it first in a decant and the medicinal opening didn’t really take my fancy, but months later, with more cold, I loved it. The dry down is top, smelling of malted vanilla with burnt wood. I almost bought the Mancera Vanille Exclusive, but every time I smelled the Aoud Vanille, I liked it more, and in the end, I bought it because it feels more masculine, although I don’t rule out the other one later. On my skin, it lasts about 10 hours; the trail is a bit heavy, it is sweet so it goes great with cold and is ideal for going out or the office.

A delicious fragrance that opens synthetically, with notes of cereal sacks, a medicinal touch and a smell of shoe grease (from the mix of peppers and cardamom), all blended with caramelised vanilla and the oud always present. On my skin, it evolves into a vanilla cappuccino with whipped cream and sugar on top. I couldn’t stop smelling it! It is one of those you want to eat. The projection and longevity are brutal. Something curious happened to me: the atomiser fell on my pillow, and five days later, I woke up with the smell on the pillow, relaxing and inviting. I enjoy it more in its later evolution, which is exquisite. The final breath is a subtle, comforting and vanilla-scented sweetness. I would use it in warm climates, but as I am fascinated by it, I think it is more versatile in the cold. If you like sweet oud and slightly medicinal, do not hesitate to buy it.

It was a blind purchase after reading it was like Tom Ford’s Noir but even more perfect. Total hit. It is said to be unisex, but on my skin, it is absolutely feminine. A woody vanilla, very intense, that lasts for hours and hours. It is a fragrance you must have.

This is simply wood-vanilla or vanilla-wood, without any misunderstanding of the word ‘simply’! It has incredible quality, longevity, and sillage. To my nose, there is no medicinal oud here that usually drowns everything out. It was a blind purchase based on a YouTube review by TLTG Reviews, and it did not disappoint. Love at first sniff.

Aoud Vanille reminds me of the smell of a forage shed (that animal feed barn). That scent connects me to my youth when I worked there: crushed cereals, flours, powdered vitamins, insecticides… that ochre mixture, so… it smells like a veterinary pharmacy, feed for pigs, cows, and horses. How hard it is to consider it a perfume when, after work, I had to shower like a maniac with shampoo to get rid of it and go out with friends. Fortunately, upon drying, that bitter, medicinal scent yields a bit to a creamier base with vanilla and sandalwood, but believe me, that opening aura never fully goes away. Good thing I only bought a 5ml decant. Definitely ‘waters’ compared to niche perfumes, especially the overused oud. Better to try them first, as sometimes they are exquisite, but other times repulsive. With this Mancera, I’m done, and look, I had liked every single one I’d tried up until today.

We discovered it through the suggestion of a sales assistant at a perfume boutique in Spain. Definitely masculine, and I say this having several in my collection sold as such that I judge to be unisex. This one does not seem unisex to me. Great essence; woody notes stand out, along with moss, spicy spices, and a touch of vanilla: the smell of the forest in full summer! According to my husband, it reminds him of the Black Forest in Germany from his childhood. Strong, elegant, masculine, oriental… classic.