Royal Vanilla by Mancera

The only Mancera perfume I’ve had that’s somewhat similar is Roses Vanille. It’s very similar, and if you have it, I think this one would be redundant. It’s not like Instant Crush at all. It’s a very vanilla-heavy, creamy fragrance that also smells like caramel, but without salt. We’re not talking about salted caramel, but a quite elevated sweetness. At first, I thought it was an identical copy of Roses Vanille, repeating that they’re too similar, but then I realized its evolution and drydown. In this scent, we have a gourmand paradise in our noses: very sweet, caramelized, with floral creaminess (in my opinion) and quite noticeable. It can be appreciated from more than an arm’s length away. Longevity of about 10 hours on my skin. More winter than summer. And I repeat: if you don’t know Roses Vanille and are interested, of course I recommend it. But if you already have that, it’s not worth having both. I’m not sure if I’ll keep it, though it tempts me. I already have very similar fragrances; over time, I know I wouldn’t give it the proper use for such an investment. I’d probably prefer to opt for something rarer, more original. Anyway, it’s highly recommended for lovers of oriental/gourmand scents.

I had a wrong impression five months ago thinking it was similar to Instant Crush, and honestly, they aren’t. They share vanilla and patchouli. Plus, IC has a saffron and floral touch, with a subtle but creamy sandalwood and I think something resinous from the amberwood, which radically differentiates it from Royal Vanilla. True, there’s a slight resemblance to Roses Vanille, but they barely share the vanilla note, and this one is more floral, obviously due to the rose. Royal Vanilla is an ambered vanilla with that patchouli touch; they’re rivals in the race. I think they harmonize quite well. It’s not cloying and is usable even in heat, though not extreme. In my opinion, I don’t see redundancy. If you want, you can have both: Roses and Royal. They’re all unisex.

I bought a decant that initially seemed medicinal but interesting. Then the drydown hooked me to the point of buying the 60 ml bottle, the cheapest I could find. However, I started doubting because the scent seemed different from the decant… Later, I bought a decant of Instant Crush, and curiously, I perceive this scent identical to my 60 ml bottle of Royal Vanilla. I’ve bought the 120 ml bottle of Instant Crush and will see if it’s the same as the decant, and compare it with the RV bottle I also have.

What can I say? I loved it. It’s a sweet perfume, not intrusive, special for cold days, but you could wear it every day, just not on extremely sunny days… But yes, very rich. It has medium sillage and medium longevity, skin scent. Vanilla, yes.