Vanilla by Tom Ford

It’s called that because ‘vanilla sex’ isn’t about adventures, but rather pleasant foreplay without savagery or penetration. That’s why it smells soft, skin-like, with a salty hint. I think it captured the concept well, though it didn’t drive me wild; I smelled it in-store and would never buy it, maybe I’d try a dupe instead.

It’s one of my favorites. Seems like some people got a counterfeit and not the original. And watch out, I don’t think it’s a very feminine perfume… The longevity is insane, the longest-lasting one I own. It can last on a wool suit jacket for several days, up to five. What a pity it’s so expensive.

Vanilla Sex starts well, with a creamy, attractive vanilla that grabs you. From the very first second, a touch of bitter almond adds contrast and prevents it from being cloying. The vanilla is milky and soft, more like an ice cream or pastry extract than a dry vanilla. It evokes desserts like crème catalana or custard, with a gourmand and sensual profile. The sandalwood gives it body, though as it dries, a dirtier nuance appears that takes away a bit of the magic. It’s a personal bubble perfume, intimate and close. Totally unisex, although personally I prefer smelling it on a woman rather than on myself. Being a Tom Ford, I expected something more distinctive and memorable, but it’s still an interesting and well-made proposal, even if I don’t think it justifies the price. Pleasant and well-conceived, but not essential or perfectly rounded. Rating: 7

At first, it smells of bitter almond (isn’t it listed? Even the clerk confirmed it), then it shifts to something midway between salty and bitter, like tobacco leaves soaked in seawater, with a barely recognizable vanilla base. I expected a spectacularly executed and soft vanilla, but this peculiar scent didn’t please me much.

I think it’s a clear joke by Tom Ford. It’s called Sex Vanilla, where ‘sex’ is the noun and ‘vanilla’ the adjective, not the other way around. It aims to evoke the sensations of that type of sex. It’s funny that the comments reflect that without realizing the obvious. Phrases like ‘total disappointment,’ ‘limp,’ ‘monotonous,’ or ‘so soft it feels like nothing’ prove that the perfume successfully evoked frustrated expectations and the disillusionment of vanilla sex. Haha. It’s incredible they expected something else when the name says it all.

I think it’s overrated. Too expensive for what it offers. Based on the name, you’d expect a powerful, seductive, and delicious vanilla, but it’s the opposite: very light, watery, almost like a room diffuser. The notes don’t last long. I ‘like’ it, but there are definitely better perfumes at half the price. I wouldn’t buy it again.

The wait: something limp, fluid, slightly sweet, and almost seductive. The reality: a bitter and salty touch with an asexual vanilla. Longevity and sillage… nothing notable, unfortunately.

I tried it yesterday and it was a disappointment. For me, the vanilla is imperceptible because it just smells like sandalwood. What a pity, I didn’t like it at all.

The bitter almond note is overpowering and gives it a medicinal touch. I adore vanilla scents, but this doesn’t suit me at all; I think the name is way bigger than the actual smell. Don’t ask me, it smells very similar to Replica’s Afternoon Delight. My husband, however, absolutely loved it, especially once it dried down. I had to gift it to him; he’ll surely cherish it more than I could.

My go-to fragrance. Awesome. In my opinion, it’s the most special vanilla I’ve ever smelled. Potent and noticeable. I always get compliments… on my skin, it’s a bomb.

Tom Ford tried to bring vanilla to a more carnal dimension with Vanilla Sex, but what he delivered is a composition that, despite its suggestive name, falls into a monotony that challenges even the most devoted gourmands. From the first moment, it unleashes a crushing, dense sweetness—a vanilla that, rather than evoking the decadent luxury typical of Tom Ford, reminds me of excessive sugar in an industrial dessert, like a custard cream that promises much but leaves you feeling like you’ve eaten too much. The opening is, so to speak, a vanilla overload, with a slight spicy accord that tries, with little success, to add depth. It’s as if it got stuck halfway between seductive and cloying, failing to define itself. For those who know fragrances like Guerlain’s Spiritueuse Double Vanille or even Ford’s own Vanille Fatale, you’ll immediately notice something is missing here: that dark, mysterious touch those other vanillas know how to conjure. What should be a deep evolution into a rich, enveloping vanilla gets stuck in a game that’s too predictable, with no surprises. The amber nuances, which should add that warm, seductive aura hinted at by the name, fail to penetrate the layer of sweetness covering everything. There’s even a hint of musk floating timidly around, like a supporting actor with barely any lines in the movie. Then there’s the performance issue. For the price of a bottle of Vanilla Sex, you’d expect its trail to be as enveloping as its name suggests, but it falls short—very short. It fades quickly, and the fragrance loses all its intensity in just two hours, as if its only purpose is to seduce on the first encounter and then disappear without a trace. Compared to other vanilla fragrances on the market, it doesn’t hold up at all. While perfumes like Tobacco Vanille or Noir Extreme, also by Ford, play perfectly with the balance between sweet and spicy, here it seems they opted for the easy route, a more “commercial” version of what could have been a gourmand sensuality masterpiece. For those seeking a round, deep, and substantial vanilla, this isn’t the option. If you want something that touches on carnality and sophistication, go for Vanille Fatale or Guerlain’s Spiritueuse Double Vanille. But Vanilla Sex… well, it’s more of a sugary toy that goes nowhere. In short, Vanilla Sex presents itself as an unfulfilled promise, a vanilla caress that tries to be provocative but, in its execution, ends up being simply… forgettable. Too simple, predictable, monotonous, boring… as if it were a brilliant reference to the Vanilla Sex from The Shadow of Grey.

This perfume is very contradictory for me; I sense such a soft aroma that I can’t define it, a very watery bitter almond, almost as if it were… nothing, barely close to the skin. I don’t find any projection or lasting scent. Still, I’d say it’s better for autumn and winter, maybe it can be boosted then. Totally unisex, though.

Another great Tom Ford fragrance. Totally unisex, although I gifted it to my girlfriend, who fell completely in love with it on the first try. Longevity and sillage are very potent.

Do I like it? Yes. Is it purposeful? No. It’s Dior’s Hypnotic Poison + Perris Monte Carlo’s Tahiti Vanille. The bitter almond note in the opening is similar to Jo Malone’s Red Currant and Green Almond.

It completely caught me off guard. I just tried it, and among all the Tom Fords, it has become my absolute favorite. That vanilla note takes center stage, and if you like it, you can’t help but enjoy it. It’s super versatile, working for both elegant and casual occasions. The only thing that doesn’t convince me is the price; I don’t think it’s worth it.