The Polish Toffee Fudge

Krówki, which literally means “little cows”, are semi-soft Polish milk toffees. It is one of the most common Polish sweets, sold all over the world, and could be considered “Dulce de leche candy”. The original recipe usually contains milk, sugar, and sometimes butter, cream, and vanilla flavoring. Some may be wondering why I am describing Krówki, others may have already guessed the association with the perfume. Well, I was looking forward to trying Vanilla Bliss because numerous people on the web suggested it as a warm, enveloping, comforting vanilla-centric fragrance, a Bianco Latte dupe. Those who follow me know that I am not fond of gourmand fragrances, but the curiosity to discover what was so viral about Giardini di Toscana perfume was too much, even if through its dupe. Just to have an idea why Bianco Latte is the most sought-after perfume in the world. So popular that it threatens to overshadow some well-known creations that are based on vanilla-scented perfumes. Let us uncover together what Vanilla Bliss smells like, and what memories it can awaken.

Vanilla Bliss belongs to the oriental gourmand family and releases an initial burst of boozy and milky accords. The alcohol is a little strong when you first spray it on, but once it evaporates you get that wonderful vanilla and milky caramel flavor, which gets even better the longer you leave it on your skin. There is an explosion of caramel, an overdose of ethyl maltol, which reminds me of toffee, salted caramel spread, and condensed milk, with that sweet, sugary note of cotton candy and salted caramel. It is a deep, rich, and dense scent with warm and buttery tones. So far it is not overly sweet, just slightly gourmand with a muskiness in there. There is a sort of vanilla undertone, and the lactonic accord dominates in the initial phase. If you like vanilla-centric fragrances, you will find that this is not revolutionary or unique. However, those caramel, buttery, salty, and musky nuances make it enticing and make me crave more. The opening is all about a sweet and comforting accord of milky and rich caramel notes, very moreish.

Once the alcoholic and buttery nuances fade, coumarin comes into play, announcing the heart phase. Coumarin smells mainly of warm caramelized almonds, with its typical bitterness, that of almond paste and marzipan. I seem to get even the powdery coconut shaving undertone. At this point, my skin smells like a glass of warm milk with a spoon of wild honey, so cozy and comforting. What lasts for a few hours is a creaminess with hints of honey and the softness of coumarin.

The blend of vanilla and white musk provides a creamy, long-lasting base in the dry-down. Both white musk and vanilla scream, the former adding a delicate touch of purity and intimacy, while the latter offering a creamy sweetness, reminiscent of velvety ice cream, the aroma that a lit aromatic candle releases. This final stage transforms Vanilla Bliss into an amber veil that lingers on the skin like a sweet memory, providing a warm and enveloping finish. It becomes slightly powdery, that powderiness of coumarin far from powdered orris root or violet leaves.

I don’t know whether Bianco Latte smells that way, but this one smells really great. However, a word of caution for those who don’t like lactonic scents: this perfume has a dominant milky undertone that may not be to everyone’s taste. While experiencing the scent, I savored each nuance of it. The scent is semi-linear, sometimes it goes slow and deliberate, and other times it goes fast and intense. For my tastes, the fragrance is more suited to the colder seasons, in the autumn and winter months, when its sweet and creamy notes blend and complement the cooler weather. It leans more towards an evening option, perfect for dinner or a night on the town. However, its versatility shines as it can be worn during the day if applied with a light hand, making it suitable for all-day wear. It may be feminine to some, but the addition of musk makes it a semi-sweet scent, not at all cloying, suitable for men’s skin too. The scent is sweet, caramelized, milky, a little honeyed, no question about it, but it also has a slightly pungent note that makes the composition unisex.

My interpretation is based on a bottle I have had since December 2024 (BC 42560).

-Elysium