Fresh Vanilla Blossoms Bath & Body Works 2023

This is my new holy grail "everyday" vanilla! There are other vanillas that I enjoy for certain seasons or occasions - but I don't love them in the same way that I do Fresh Vanilla Blossoms.

Before I break down the way the notes come across to me, you're probably thinking that there's no way a body mist from Bath & Body Works could compare to anything high-end - and maybe I just need to "expand my vanilla horizons".

You might be right - but I've tried plenty of popular, and even some higher-quality, vanillas:

Bare Vanilla
Bianco Latte
Eilish Eau de Parfum
Escapade Gourmande
Fresh Cream Eau de Toilette
Fresh Cream Warm Cashmere
"Mod Vanilla | Ariana Grande"
"Nemat's Vanilla Musk | Nemat International"
Pharmacia - Vanilla Doré
Sweet Vanilla
Tihota
"Vanilla | 28 | Kayali"
Vanilla Bean Noel
Vanilla Lace Fragrance Mist
Vanilla Milk
Vanilla Potion
Vanilla Sky Eau de Parfum
Vanilla Vibes
Vanilla Woods Eau de Parfum
Vanille Eau de Parfum
Vanille
"Vanille Extrême (Eau de Toilette) | Comptoir Sud Pacifique"
Vanille Absolu
Vanille West Indies
Warm Vanilla Sugar Eau de Toilette
Wrapped in Vanilla

A few are excellent, but most fell short for me in some way or another - and I haven't found another quite like this one. To me, Fresh Vanilla Blossoms is like being wrapped in a creamy hug of vanilla + light florals:
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[20% "blossoms"]
BBW doesn't say what the "blossoms" are - but it feels like a subtle blend of soft vanilla orchid, with subtle creamy white florals (maybe magnolia). None of the florals are sharp, "hairspray-like", green, or too heady/indolic - they're sweet, creamy, soft, slightly powdery, and really well-blended with the rest of the notes.

[50% vanilla]
I get a combination of creamy/almost "fruity" Tahitian vanilla (similar to a vanilla yogurt), rich/almost resinous feel of vanilla bean, and a bit of deeper bourbon vanilla to round it out.

[20% sandalwood]
Just enough to add warmth, woods, and cozy dimension - but not too much to be a woods- or musk-dominant blend.

[10% "suede"]
I often steer clear of suede notes, but this one adds a lovely "velvety" texture to the mix, without any of the earthy bitterness that sometimes accompanies "suede" for me.
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All notes are present when wearing, but it does turn a bit more powdery later in dry-down (at the 1-2 hour mark for me).

The only vanilla that comes close to this for me (in terms of "vanilla holy grail status") is Bare Vanilla , but comparing the two:
A) Fresh Vanilla Blossoms feels more "all-occasion/all-season appropriate" due to the fresh floral lift
B) Bare Vanilla's deeper musk/cashmeran feels more suited for colder weather or an "evening out"

PROJECTION: as strong as some of my EDPs (I have to spray this with a light hand, or it can quickly become too strong)
LONGEVITY: about 8 hours on skin, longer on clothes (more than a day)
= Excellent performance for a mist!