Hypnotic Vanilla by Zara

When I read that people were comparing this perfume to Hypnotic Poison, I ran to Zara. Hypnotic Poison and Poison Girl are my signature perfumes, I always restock them, so I know the notes like the palm of my hand and this Zara one has nothing to do with Hypnotic Poison. The Zara one seems very unisex, while the Dior one is feminine and sensual; the key is the UNMATCHABLE almond note of Dior, I’d recognize it among all. Hypnotic Poison has very characteristic notes and the Zara one might resemble it a bit in the dry down, but it’s definitely not a dupe or copy. Still, if you want a ‘dark’ vanilla that’s not too cloying, for night and with a unisex touch, you’ll love it. Longevity is good, about 6 hours on skin. It doesn’t leave much trail but you can feel it close to the skin.

It’s an earthy and floral vanilla. I don’t know Hypnotic Poison so I can’t say, but I do know Kenzo Amour and it doesn’t seem similar to me at all. In fact, if they didn’t compare it here, I’d never think they were similar. It’s a vanilla with an acidic and earthy touch, I imagine due to the moss. In Chile, only Supreme and Hypnotic have arrived so far and both have their differences. I hope their sister versions arrive soon. Ideal for layering. I’m not sure about longevity because I reapply at lunch, but I’d say about 7 hours on skin, before reapplying I can still feel it. A feminine vanilla. I don’t know if it’s for men or if it’s just that I don’t like sweet scents on men.

Spectacular! My all-time favorite is Dior’s Hypnotic Poison, and this Zara one imitates it quite well. The caramel, vanilla, and jasmine nicely replace Dior’s blend. It feels like a mix between HP and Scandal Le Parfum. It’s already a regular purchase for smelling incredible without spending a fortune; perfect for layering or wearing alone. Performance is good: decent longevity and projection, and it doesn’t smell like alcohol like other Zara scents. Of course, it doesn’t last as long as a luxury one, but on clothes, I have items from the previous day that still smell. I love it, the price is excellent, and it’s worth grabbing a decant.

It seemed marvelous to me. Last year, I wanted to refill my Hypnotic Poison EDT by Dior. I had used up a bottle of the first formula and missed it… but after trying the reformulation, with all my heart, I left it on the shelf because neither the longevity nor the sillage was the same. It had lost all its power and magic. Today, I tried this Hypnotic Vanilla without high expectations, and it thrilled me. Even with a cold, I could smell it perfectly. I bought it without hesitation. It reminded me a bit of the discontinued Hypnotic Poison Sensuelle, which was more vanilla and creamy than the EDT. I’m really enjoying it.

First impressions: cold weather. I smell vanilla, jasmine, and moss. I don’t detect caramel; on my skin, it’s drier and not sweet at all. Right now, it’s very skin-scented with no projection. I’ll test it in other climates and give it more time, as Zara perfumes sometimes cling to the skin and that’s when they match. For now, it’s not happening, which is a pity because I was really looking forward to it. Edit: It performs much better in warm weather—it projects, lasts longer, and you can smell the caramel. I even like it more than Hypnotic Poison. I’d buy it again.

Hypnotic Vanilla by Zara is for vanilla lovers but with a distinct twist. It combines the warmth of Bourbon vanilla and caramel with the softness of jasmine and apricot blossom, giving it a very subtle floral and fruity note. The moss in the base adds an earthy undertone, making it less cloying. Ideal for autumn and winter, perfect for everyday wear or a casual afternoon plan. It’s versatile, suitable for class, work, or coffee with friends. Great for a calm, cheerful person looking for something sweet, comforting, and easy to wear.

If the original smells like playdough, this doesn’t even reach that, but it does smell synthetic. The opening is very alcoholic and tickles the nose, whereas in the original that plum and coconut combination seem like licorice and they already enchant you. Fantastic longevity, lasts until washing on clothes. Is it worth it? In my opinion, it’s a good low-cost dupe if you don’t have the original to compare. I’d give it 70% similarity, but it’s very synthetic… although I’m keeping it 🤭😅

It captivated me in every way. I don’t find it as sweet as the original Dior, which smells more like a lollipop or caramel. Although the composition doesn’t list rose, I detect a hint of red roses. It has a weak sillage but lasts quite a while close to the skin. It’s soft, unobtrusive, and makes you feel comfortable. I really like it; it’s perfect for night or formal events, but breaking the mold, it’s not a serious or stiff perfume.

At first, it smells like alcohol and synthetic. But once it settles on the skin, it’s delicious—a strong vanilla with hints of cherry (weird since it’s not listed in the notes). Then jasmine and moss appear in the dry down. On my skin, it lasts about 3 hours in the office. Definitely for cold days and nights; it’s too sweet and heavy for summer. In warm weather, the longevity is better.

This perfume is amazing, and yes, it blatantly clones Dior’s Hypnotic Poison… I need to give it more time to comment on longevity and sillage, but I already know I need to get the big bottle of this one. It’s super sweet and sensual… and out of the collection, this is the one that will please the most people because the others are more niche.

It smells just like JHAG’s Mmmm…, a perfume I don’t like because it’s sweet and flat, with vanilla and caramel from start to finish. I discovered it because someone gifted me a discovery set, and upon smelling it, I thought of Mmmm. It’s similar in longevity too, which is short (fortunately, because I don’t like it).

It’s very similar to Hypnotic Poison, but if you’re a total fan, it’s not the same: it has a wood note that differentiates it and makes it identical to Estée Lauder’s Aerin Tangier Vanille. If you like these perfumes, it’s a safe buy. It doesn’t last long on my skin, but it smells expensive and super warm.

I tried it a few days ago at Zara and, strangely, it smells very similar to Kenzo Amour (which I own), just with a less sweet vanilla. After all, it’s Kenzo, it lasts quite a bit, at least six hours on me. It’s not very sweet (I don’t feel caramel on my skin) and it’s a cleaner vanilla.

Didn’t like it, what a pity. Tried it today at Zara and it’s still there after 3 hours. Maybe the floral notes do something weird on my skin: the vanilla gets almost drowned out by something dusty and bitter. I did like the other vanilla (Supreme).

It’s very hard to find a vanilla remotely similar to Dior’s, but this Zara perfume comes very close; it’s very much like Hypnotic Poison. I liked it a lot, and for the price, it’s worth it so much. Would I buy it again? Yes, without a doubt.