I can only offer the male perspective. I haven't worn it myself and am gifting it in an Advent calendar for my wife.
The scent: Starlight Vanilla strangely reminds me a lot of my grandmother. I can't remember what she wore, but that's beside the point. It starts dense, rich, and very mature, without me being able to pinpoint exactly what the scent consists of. When I get close to the test strip, I smell the almond milk. It is sweet, creamy, and has this almond quality that is slightly creamy-nutty-gourmand. A wonderful thing. Almond milk, vanilla, and tonka merge here; the aromatic quality is clear, and again there's that lavender muddle (maybe that reminds me of my grandmother?!) - but unfortunately, I can't quite recognize lavender in perfumes. Musk joins the vanilla-almond-tonka, it becomes denser and is well blended. There is no star in this show, but the vanilla has, as the name suggests, its hands in everything. The previous speakers have pointed out the soapiness, which I also perceive, and that gives the scent a certain vintage touch (perhaps the grandmother association?).
Similarity: It does remind me a bit of Hypnotic Poison (2014) Eau de Parfum and "Hypnotic Poison (Eau de Toilette) | Dior," although "Hypnotic Vanilla | Zara" is actually meant to be in the same Zara line. I don't know "Myrrh & Tonka | Jo Malone," but it probably fits better.
The sillage: Very dense and well noticeable, it surely projects well too.
The longevity: It feels like a scent that accompanies you for a long time without needing frequent reapplication. I can easily imagine 4-6 hours.
The occasion/context: Starlight Vanilla is sweet and warm enough to wear well outdoors in autumn and winter. Indoors, I would apply it a bit more modestly, but it is not intrusive.
Age: Unfortunately, it leans more towards late twenties to early thirties; I really only see it from age 40 onward. (I'm sorry.) But this is not really a scent for a young dynamic woman (not for students or young professionals). It ranks alongside Dior Poison and Black Opium Eau de Parfum for me. If you find the two appealing, please go for it!
For men: It is present. It doesn't knock my socks off, but it is sweet and creamy, and a dominant woman who knows what she wants can emphasize these characteristics with it. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it for young women and girls.
Bottle: Wine red-purple and gold - great design. I like it a lot. With "Starlight Vanilla | Zara," "Vanilla Vibration | Zara," and "Supreme Vanilla | Zara," Zara has really done a great job.
Blind buy: Not for girls and young women, but for those who like it elegant, dense, and rich, this offers a good winter scent.
Conclusion: It smells more luxurious and expensive than it is, and it does its job! For those who prefer something lighter and are a bit younger or favor a more professional scent, I recommend Vanilla Vibration (see my last review).
