Starlight Vanilla Zara 2023

Starlight Vanilla my favorite out of the 2023 Zara vanilla collection. It's heavily inspired by Jo Malone's Myrrh & Tonka, and this is one of the few cases where I clearly prefer the cheaper dupe over the expensive original! In fact I didn't know Myrrh & Tonka before and only tried it because I like this so much and assumed the original would be even better, but no, not for me.

So, this is a vanilla scent with lots and lots of powdery, clean, herbal lavender and a hint of sweet, hay-like tonka. Maybe it's even more of a lavender than a vanilla. It's sweeter and warmer than Myrrh & Tonka and a little lesy heavy on the herbal aspect, which I prefer. There is a balsamic, warm note to this, too. Besides the Jo Malone, the vanilla in this also slightly reminds me of Dior Addict and YSL Manifesto L'Elixir. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has a certain sensual warmth to it that I also find in those perfumes, especially in the opening.
The almond and almond milk notes are absent to my nose, if you're looking for a true almond scent, this isn't the right one.

All in all this is lovely and very good value for the price, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes powdery lavender on a warm base.