Vanille Insensée Atelier Cologne 2011

I purchased Vanille Insensee from Sephora, in the roller-ball size spray, and while I loved the cozy cling, FARINA memories amped up with a sophisticated filmy wood, like a lazy Sunday in, wearing his over-sized shirt, or in your gray sweatshirt draped over a shoulder in nubby wool socks, with your legs hanging over the edge of an over-sized chair, the silage wasn't big enough and the scent stayed too close to my skin.

However, I recently revisited the perfume in the fuller size and was more liberal with my application, making sure to spray my clothes a bit, too. My constant monologue? "Holy vanilla beans is this good."

I am in love. I think this perfume is perfect for fall and winter (not because it's heavy but because it's cozy and comforting), a snuggle scent. Even my 6 year old son remarked, "Don't leave now," after a bedtime story, "you smell too scrumptious." A lighter girls' nights out, I'd layer this with a feminine rose scent like Rose de Rosine Roseberry. Love, boozy, acoustic music, arousal. Buying the bigger bottle now.

Non-cuddly vanilla. More woody than spicy or dessert-like. Papery, actually. Citrus notes at the top tell you that the vanilla won't be either warm or sweet. Ambery and smoky notes are accents rather than dominant notes, and let the vanilla keep its crisp edge.

The Atelier line purports to reinvent the cologne genre. Without much sillage, strength or endurance Vanille Insensee doesn't step far out of the range of dynamics of the eau de cologne, but the composition certainly isn't the classic citrus edc. It has similarities to l'Artisan Parfumeur Vanille Havane, Serge Lutens Bois de Vanille and Parfums de Nicolai Vanille Intense. Atelier's vanilla shares the coolness of the other vanillas, but is airier, less radiant and more matte. It's the unlikely goldilocks between the contemporary woody vanilla and the classic eau de cologne and a successful refashioning of the edc genre.

from scent hurdle.com

This is a vanilla that is in keeping with the spirit and direction of Atelier Cologne in that it is an eau de cologne with a vanilla aspect to it. That means that it is not a perfume with a heavy vanilla note. Instead it is one which is surrounded with citrus notes.

The lime and oakwood are the main notes, along with the vanilla, are what make this. I also detect the citron backing up the lime, and the subtle jasmine, giving a dirty quality to the mix.

I think this is a vanilla for people who don't like vanilla in perfumes. A very wearable vanilla for men and a unique, refreshing choice for women. Not bad at all!

This instantly takes me to a Middle Eastern shop I used to frequent as a child: it was owned by a lovely older couple, who carried gorgeous handmade trinkets of brass, extravagant silks, carved wood, and spices.

The carved wood throughout the shop had a distinct, slightly older quality to it that this also captures (possibly the oak, oakmoss, and coriander here). It's slightly musty - but paired with the incense, is also very comforting and cozy.

This would be a great bedtime scent - but is also just a very unique, enjoyable blend for incense lovers

this reminds me of warn oak floor boards... and then i smell vanilla but like BARELY, you know what i'm saying? its just earthy and warm and sort of sweet but like, the sort of sweet that's been asleep on the floor of a smoky tobacco filled bar for hours. its already muted when you put it on, like you've been out all evening lazy dancing in some humid, speakeasy... and then i catch a hint of lime... ermahgerd. love.