Vanilla Intense Parfums Vintage 2018

This is nice. The vanilla is the top player in this scent. Not my favourite out of the PV range but I could happily wear this for any occasion. It smells pleasant and it performs well for hours on end. Best to get a PV sample set first to try out which release fits best on your person.

I’m reviewing a sample I purchased from Parfums Vintage.

I’ve owned PVI for a while now and really enjoy its slightly sour, bright, juicy, and birch supported scent character. Neither PVI nor VI smells like my decant of Aventus exactly, but they both capture qualities of it. I do feel as though VI brings the same sparkle with its citrus blend as Aventus—as the bergamot and apple make more of a presence to my nose—but that is where the similarities between Aventus and VI end for me. I really could see myself wearing VI quite often, as the comparable Cedrat Boise by Mancera is sweeter and smells more of a fruity pulp, which isn’t always desired (que high heat). VI brings some sweetness, while maintaining a zesty vibrancy... and I really love that aspect of it.

However, the dry down to my sample reveals a mild synthetic sting on my skin. Perhaps the juice needs to sit longer, in which case I will update my review, but for now... I’m slightly disappointed in that one characteristic, of which PVI (nor any of the other 5 Parfums Vintage samples I’ve tried) have presented on dry down.

Performance is strong, but I’m not convinced to buy a full bottle yet. The success of Parfums Vibtage as a company is undeniable when it comes to logistics, but I can’t really say I agree with the rising prices over the years. Quality seems always good and I won’t really comment on the ethics of an inspired house like Parfums Vintage, really what it comes down to is price/value proposition and I think VI is a little steeper than I would like.

Good? Yes. Do I love it? Undecided—which may be an indication that I don’t and am trying to love it regardless. I admire Cedrat Boise more, as it has something more to it, which Vanilla Intense lacks IMO. I can’t put my finger on it, other than the turn off of that mild synthetic obstruction. Sample and judge for yourself! As for me: I think I’ll upgrade my Cedrat Boise decant to a full bottle. I always go back to it.

It is no longer a secret that this fragrance is very closely related to the base of Aventus. In general, Parfums Vintage seems to have a preference for pineapple, even if not all creations from this house have a reference to such a fruit on the bottle. Who understands that ... but it doesn't matter for this review, as we are talking about "Vanilla Intense."

Well then, the theme of Aventus, whether intentional or not, is certainly well served here. The mentioned pineapple comes in beautifully fresh - along with a bit of apple and juniper, although the two are not really identifiable. Let's say: something citrusy-fruity is added, and you already have a fine exotic mix. I quite like it, and for Aventus lovers, it could certainly go on like this for hours.

But I ask myself where the vanilla mentioned in the name and eagerly awaited is? Moreover, it is supposed to be intense.
This morning, I sprayed a little from a small decant of the Eau de Parfum, and now it is already late evening. Unfortunately, there is still no trace of vanilla despite the long-lasting scent. If anything, it is extremely timid in the drydown as a background accompaniment. Strangely, all the other mentioned players like patchouli, musk, or amber are also missing. Otherwise, I wouldn't have cared much. But if this is already called "Vanilla Intense," then I expect that. Especially since I was more than curious about the combination of pineapple or Aventus and vanilla, and thus I was heavily disappointed.

I have no idea if something was wrong with my decant or if Parfums Vintage has even greater fluctuations in batches than Creed, but I wouldn't be surprised if some blind buyers reacted extremely disappointed.

Because I had an olfactory craving for vanilla, I allowed myself the experiment of layering this Aventus clone (or should I say homage?) with Spiritueuse Double Vanille by Guerlain. The result is more than sniffable and is about how I imagined Vanilla Intense to be. Quite sweet, but beautifully exotic and zesty with a wonderfully creamy layer. For that, I would have definitely given it 9 to 10 points; unfortunately, it remains at a generous 7.5 - although I could easily deduct another whole point for the misleading name.

After my intensive sniffing session, I must admit that I really like this Aventus warrior. The scent opens Aventus-like but a bit more intense, similar to the Nero from Mazzolari, just sweeter. The vanilla comes through timidly and develops in the drydown as an extremely creamy and cozy addition. Overall, a very harmonious variant. H/S are really good in the middle range for me and significantly better than the OG. Thank you, Parfums Vintage.

Spoiler alert: I am still on the hunt. I am chasing that one phantom, the perfect alternative to the undisputed champion Aventus. My path is paved with samples and mispurchases: I have tried them all - from CDNIM to Al Haramain and Afnan, all the way to the Swiss twin houses like Kazaar or Odor. And now I stand here with a sample of Vanilla Intense from Parfums Vintage and wonder: Where is this journey actually leading me?

My first contact with you, Vanilla Intense, was a shock. Upon the first spray on my skin, I thought: “WTF is this exactly?!” It smelled somewhat rotten, almost expired, as if someone had left the fruits in the sun for too long. The drydown did improve, but it was still light-years away from what I had actually expected.

But I gave you a second chance. And lo and behold: During the second test, I slowly began to understand what you actually want to be. Now I get you, you ripe pineapple that seems to have partied all night in an exclusive cigar lounge. The opening is a very, very ripe fruit, deeply soaked in smoke. That's cool, no question, but it was completely new to me. When the heart and the drydown kicked in, you finally started to shine. The vanilla, which has been cranked up here, suits you damn well. You are delicious, you are well-made, but you are only remotely related to Aventus.

The bitter realization for me personally: This smoky pineapple is not what I am looking for. I remember that one sample of an Aventus batch that a friend gifted me years ago. That scent was so incredibly intense that my jacket smelled of it for weeks afterward. But this pineapple was not smoky or heavy - it was juicy, zesty, fresh. The drydown was clean, somewhat sweet, and simply perfect. To this day, I do not know which batch that was, but the longing for it does not leave me.

I have now ordered a sample of an F-batch and sincerely hope that I can get closer to that feeling again. Vanilla Intense is a good fragrance for someone who likes this dark, smoky vanilla-fruit - but my grail is hidden in another castle.

Comments are absolutely welcome! Perhaps someone among you has the decisive tip: Which batch or which fragrance gives me that ultra-long-lasting, juicy-clean pineapple without that heavy wall of smoke? I would be grateful for any help!