Vanilla Vibration by Zara

I bought this blindly because it was sold to me as a good Chai Latte. While I understand that cardamom is key to a good chai, here it’s just that: a shrill cardamom that overwhelms, almost mentholated like a eucalyptus seed from the ground. Given the name ‘Vanilla Vibration’, I expected vanilla to be the star, but for me, it’s almost entirely absent, only timidly appearing at the very end; if you smell it without knowing the composition, it’s nearly impossible to guess. It’s masculine and grating, nothing like the gourmand Chai Latte I would have loved. Perhaps it’s me, as my husband smells more vanilla in it, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not a fan of cardamom or spicy notes. The box is beautiful, minimalist yet robust, giving a sense of luxury and high price, something I haven’t experienced with my niche perfumes. What a pity I didn’t like it; the packaging didn’t break when opening it, so I’m going to return it to the shop.

Of the four in this line, I bought two 30ml bottles. Supreme Vanilla was my favourite, chosen for being ‘rare’. At first, it smells green and highly spiced, peppery, with cardamomo at full volume. As it dries, that cardamomo is surrounded by a powdery note (probably iris) and an almost imperceptible vanilla base. Overall, it’s strangely addictive, as @nachovorago agrees. As it dries further, the vanilla emerges more, though it’s not the protagonist despite the name and collection. For me, it’s unisex, with moderate sillage lasting 5-6 hours on my skin. I’ll use it gladly for informal occasions, morning walks or winter evenings at home. Scent 7.5/10, longevity 5.5/10, sillage 7/10, value for money 8/10, versatility 6.5/10, packaging 7.5/10. Would I buy again? Perhaps if I had it when I finish it (unlikely).

Haven’t been to Zara for ages and today I was: :D. Smelled several and this one caught me, reminding me of chai and on the skin… I loved it! Especially when it dried down. It’s warm and spicy (I noticed lots of cardamom upon application, yet it’s not mentioned on the box) and suits winter better. I agree with mazzis49: better not to buy blindly and see how it performs on each skin. I loved it so much I took a 30ml bottle to keep testing. The longevity surprised me: after 10 hours, it still lingers on my wrist with just two sprays and despite washing my hands several times. For now, it has my approval ^^ Edit: at Primor I smelled one that smells similar, it’s “Chanson d’eau”, from the “Les eaux du monde – Vanilla – Polynesia” line.

Of the four vanilla scents I’ve tried, this remains my favourite among all the releases. It’s the most unique, even if it’s the least vanilla of the series. What I detect most is cardamomo, with a smoky touch, woody leather (papyrus-like) and iris. It’s powdery, deep, warm and very comfortable to wear. It’s unisex but perfect for layering: you can add as much sweetness as you like to tailor it to a more feminine or masculine vibe. Performance is good: 7-8 hours with moderate sillage. In short, a niche perfume at a bargain price. I bought the small bottle first, then snapped up a 90ml refill on sale which is now nearly finished; I can only pray it returns this Christmas 🙏

A curious scent where vanilla doesn’t lead. It starts very spiced with cardamomo, then blends with papyrus and iris, adding a smoky, woody and powdery touch; that’s where I get hooked. The synergy between papyrus and iris dominates the heart and works brilliantly. Vanilla is there, but hard to detect at first and in the mid-stage. I think it would have been more interesting with more flowers, such as violet. It’s not 100% feminine, leaning towards unisex. It smells odd but original; it won’t be a best-seller and will soon be forgotten thanks to Zara’s hit-and-run launch policy. Thanks to Whisper_of_Love for the sample.

I thought this would be my favourite from this vanilla collection because it has my favourite notes, violet and amber, and it turned out to be the least liked. Not even the cardamom felt rich; it’s too acidic. It reminds me of the artificial flavour of Jamaica berries used to make water, it smells exactly like that and I can’t stand it. 1/10, a disappointment. I thought it would be creamier and it’s acidic. The amber and violet are non-existent. Where is the vanilla? Powdered? In their dreams, because not here.

No gourmand vanilla, not sweet at all; it’s overshadowed by cardamomo and Egyptian papyrus. It doesn’t smell of leather, but I detect it strongly as it dries. I don’t notice the iris or violet. It’s spiced, warm and animalic, quite masculine. I use it to layer with roses or vanillas to give them a dark, mature edge. Worn alone, I never do, as it’s too manly.

It opens with a floral touch and some cardamomo, settling into dark vanilla notes mixed with iris. The impression is of a chocolatey, almost boozy perfume. The overall blend is truly addictive. It’s for personal enjoyment because projection and longevity fall short. For its price, it delivers perfectly.

I tried it at Zara and it felt the most masculine of them all. It reminds me sometimes of Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford and Mercedes Benz Club. It lasts about six hours and projects heavily in the first hour. Unbeatable price.

I’m returning it, glad I didn’t open it. If you have a Tom Ford Noir Extreme, this is redundant and of poorer quality. I don’t know why I bought it, just for the hype.

Started promising, like a liqueur, but soon settled into synthetic, dusty, soulless vanilla. Total laziness.