Vanilla Absolue Tauer Perfumes 2025

I'm not into vanilla but I was curious what Andy Tauer could do with it and I was not disappointed! This is dry spiced, resinous tobacco vanilla. Just a hint of ambery sweetness. Unique in the endless pool of vanillas. Side note - I've seen people call this redundant to Phi Une Rose De Kandahar and I have to say, are your noses broken? I'm wearing one on either wrist and they are incredibly different. They do share that Tauer tobacco vanilla base, but they are taken in totally different directions.

Vanilla Absolue de Andy Tauer es un ámbar profundo que sorprende y me resulta un perfume muy atractivo. La vainilla no es la protagonista, sino que se mezcla con un cocktail especiado de canela, comino y pimienta.
Es una vainilla natural, agreste y picante. Se percibe también un tabaco seco y una sutil rosa que se va abriendo a medida que seca la fragancia.
El perfume se asienta en una base de resinas, pachulí y ládano, con ese toque "sucio" tan característico de Tauer. Sin embargo, en el secado final, las notas se suavizan y se endulzan ligeramente, integrándose con la rosa para una fase final más cálida.

Este perfume se siente redondo y bonito. De los que abrazan.
Al final del secado, tiende a parecerse  mucho a Phi Une Rose de Kandahar, lo que le da una dimensión adicional. Es como si fuera su contraparte, la inversión de su pirámide olfativa. La versión de otoño de éste.

En resumen, se trata de un perfume oriental, ambarado y especiado con una vainilla muy natural con carácter y una evolución muy interesante.
Desde lo ambarado-especiado hacia lo floral-resinoso.

Es una fragancia con carácter nocturno, algo oscura y densa, para clima fresco, siendo el otoño su estación. A pesar de eso, es un perfume que no tiene una estela agobiante por lo que no resulta pesado.
Muy gustoso de llevar e imprescindible si te gusta el ADN de Tauer.

Un millón de gracias, Esther, por darme la oportunidad de catar ésta novedad!

Because you’re mine.

I feel enchanted. Captivated. Enthralled.
Andy Tauer creates amazing fragrances. I have two of his Discovery Sets here, and yet I have never owned a bottle until now.

Maybe I’m just too old for the sticky-sweet vanilla favorites that are so popular out there. After all, I would only bake with real Bourbon vanilla - why should I settle for vanillin in perfumery?

The scent starts off extremely spicy. First rose - no, geranium, interwoven with Christmas spices.

Where is the vanilla?

It’s like in the theater: The orchestra is already playing, but the curtain is still closed. The stage remains hidden until the real leading lady - the simple yet honest vanilla - slowly steps into the light.

With her appearance, the spices subtly withdraw. A delicate rose remains by her side. Together they create depth without pushing themselves to the forefront. Now the vanilla takes center stage.

As the last note fades away, I wonder: Was there also tobacco? I’m not sure, but I don’t care. I leave the theater and simply feel good.
Catharsis? No, because after all, this was never a tragedy.

One of the few home runs in my blind buy history.
For me, the complexity and beauty of this fragrance lies precisely in its simplicity.

The essence of vanilla, that is exactly what the title of the new fragrance from Tauer Perfumes promises: Vanilla Absolue. Although "new" is only partially accurate, it is more of a tribute to Vanilla Flash from Tauerville, a now-discontinued brand by perfumer Andy Tauer. Therefore, I will also address whether Vanilla Absolue can keep up with the masterpiece Vanilla Flash, surpass it, or has nothing in common with it at all.

The fragrance starts immediately with an oriental spice cloud, from which cinnamon, clove, and cardamom clearly emerge for me. After a few seconds, a rosy note becomes noticeable, giving the opening a floral softness and maturity. The dried fruits listed in the top notes I personally hardly perceive, or only with a lot of imagination.
Shortly after the "spice jungle" quiets down, the namesake vanilla comes to the forefront. But don’t worry, it is neither sweet nor artificial, a trap that vanilla fragrances unfortunately often fall into. Each of us knows at least one fragrance where that is the case ;). In Vanilla Absolue, the vanilla note is based on a natural CO₂ extract from real vanilla pods, which is probably also the reason why it smells so authentic, noble, and not sweet here. As the fragrance develops, a gentle tobacco note joins in, deepening the composition once again. The spices and the rose remain present but step back a bit, while the base becomes more woody and balsamic. Very cozy, very elegant.

But I don’t want to keep you in suspense any longer. Let’s move on to the comparison of Vanilla Absolue and Vanilla Flash.
I wore both fragrances at the same time - one on the left, the other on the right. The difference? Barely noticeable! If you sniff closely, Vanilla Absolue might seem a tad more resinous and balsamic in the base, which adds more depth, but these are at most nuances. Vanilla Absolue lasted about 10 hours on me, while Vanilla Flash bid farewell after about 8.5 hours. In terms of sillage, I again perceive no differences; they are both clearly noticeable without being overwhelming.

This fragrance should particularly appeal to those who miss Vanilla Flash and are finally looking for a worthy replacement, as well as those who want to experience vanilla in a non-sweet, authentic variant. And of course, all fans of the typical Tauer DNA, as Andy Tauer's signature is unmistakable here and runs through the entire fragrance journey.
Vanilla Absolue is for me an absolute winter and autumn scent, cozy, warm, enveloping, but certainly never boring. Unisex? Definitely. Age limit? None.

This fragrance will definitely accompany me on many cold days this year, and maybe soon you too?