Vanilla Fields by Coty

It’s my favourite perfume; I picked it up in 2023 at Walmart in the US. It features vanilla, musk and coconut, an indescribable combination. I used it constantly because I had it in the supermarket, and now I have a new bottle—yupiii!

I bought it during a snowy winter in the 90s, and the weather was perfect for wearing it. I felt wrapped in a tender, warm and sweet scent, one that doesn’t tire and stands the test of time, suitable for anyone. After years, I tried Warm Vanilla Sugar by Bath & Body Works and thought they smelled the same, but when I bought Vanilla Fields again, I realised they bear no resemblance. I no longer wear it because the spray smells very strong, like vanilla liqueur (perhaps it has been reformulated), and the liquid is darker. I keep it as a keepsake and sometimes use it to scent the room.

Powdery vanilla! It’s an explosion of vanilla wrapped in talc. It’s sweet but not cloying, though if you apply too much it can become overwhelming because its sillage and longevity are strong, at least on my skin. It’s for those who don’t want to go unnoticed, classic, elegant and affordable, albeit a little matronly.

Vanilla Fields goes beyond simple vanilla. It begins with coconut and lemon, followed by white flowers highlighting jasmine, before the vanilla arrives with sweetness, tonka bean, amber, musk, and woods. Although the notes feel synthetic, the perfume is lovely, warm, and comforting. It tells the story of a sweet, woody, and spiced vanilla, where unexpectedly, petals of white flowers take flight. It is tender, feminine, ethereal, and simple, ideal for relaxing. It’s like a lovely, fun young girl with a huge smile. Its trail and longevity are soft, the price is accessible and pretty for everyone.

I remember it from the 90s; I loved it: vanilla, sweet, and country flowers made into perfume with great delicacy and softness, a real gem. Only I didn’t pay much attention to it and it didn’t last long (other friends found it lasted longer, it’s a matter of pH). I liked it very much at the time; a lovely scent.

This guy is serious vanilla. It’s for girls, not for partying or having a passionate night. It’s friendly, serious, like that geeky and lovely girl from the corner of the classroom. It’s discreet but doesn’t go unnoticed, the closest thing to pure vanilla. I recommend it for a quiet outing, an evening, going to the cinema, or a calm gathering. Overall, I give it a 7.5.

This perfume reminds me of when I was 13 and wanted to look older by painting my nails, wearing my mum’s heels, and using perfume. The truth is, I still keep my original Vanilla Fields from back then (1994 or ’95). It stopped halfway because the nozzle broke and nothing comes out (plus the liquid has darkened), but it doesn’t matter because after all these years, I still smell its strong aroma when I take off the cap. It smells of natural vanilla, a vanilla that for me is now melancholic and dreamy. If I’m not mistaken, they haven’t discontinued it yet, so when I find it, I’ll buy it again. On my skin, I know I won’t perceive the “sophisticated” and “sexy” perfume I swore it was at 13, but I’ll use it whenever I want to relive those happy, innocent times.

Smells like sweet vanilla, not cloying. It’s the only one I’ve owned that smells almost pure vanilla. What a pity it’s running out, as I only have the mini size.