Battle of the Birthday Scents
I recently celebrated a birthday, and how does a fragrance enthusiast celebrate? By sampling birthday-themed fragrances, of course!
Most are cheapies - and since birthday fragrances don't have to be limited to just cake, I even included a few "unconventional" picks in the roundup.
FAVORITES:
1. 
Angel Food
So many cake scents go awry when too synthetic, not realistic enough, smelling like "feet" or "playdough", etc. But this is hands-down my favorite cake fragrance I've ever tried!
Angel Food is delectable, sweet, and realistic. It isn't your typical store-bought, stale Angel Food cake - instead it smells like a homemade yellow cake: rich vanilla, butter, eggs, and fluffy baked goodness. I don't know how they made it so true-to-life and delicious, but it's my #1 "gourmand vanilla"!
I preferred this over 
Vanilla Cake Batter , 
Cupcake , and 
Birthday Cake - none of these held a candle (pun intended) to Angel Food.
2. "Vanilla Buttercream | Bath & Body Works"
Sometimes you don't want to smell like the whole cake - just frosting. That's when "Vanilla Buttercream | Bath & Body Works" is my top choice!
This is thick vanilla buttercream with just a hint of something extra to sweeten it - think deep caramel, or a dash of golden maple syrup. It layers beautifully with other scents, but also creates a lovely, creamy scent bubble on its own.
(Note: "Happy Birthday / Frosted Vanilla | Bath & Body Works" is a different from "Vanilla Buttercream | Bath & Body Works" ; see my in-depth review on the fragrance listings, comparing the two.)
3. 
Riverdale - Strawberry Vanilla Fragrance
Will you please admire this cute bottle with me?! I can't get over it - but adorable designs aside, this is a photorealistic strawberry milkshake: slightly-synthetic strawberry flavoring syrup, creamy milkshake base, and a touch of malt. On dry-down a soft, warm cedar comes through.
It's my favorite lactonic strawberry fragrance I've tried (in my opinion it's far superior to 
Cry Baby Perfume Milk , 
Minnie Mouse , and others). And while not a typical birthday scent, who wouldn't love a strawberry milkshake on their birthday?
4. "Bubble Gum Pop | Bath & Body Works"
Bubble gum scents feel nostalgic to me, tied to memories of the birthday parties I once attended in my childhood - perhaps from the party favor bags, or the bowls of candy next to the piles of pizza for all the party guests.
You can't go wrong with Bubble Gum Pop - it's not only affordable, but also has a delightfully-realistic pink bubble gum scent profile + a cute label design. (Longevity isn't the best, but the best birthdays feel fleeting - so in that way it's fitting, right?)
5. 
Bare Vanilla
This is my "mature birthday vanilla" choice: if you want just a hint of cake but in a more grown-up way... Bare Vanilla is your girl. She's been by my side for a long time, and will be with me for many years to come.
Sweet, but not tooth-achingly; a natural, warm vanilla with a touch of sugary musk. Sexy, classic vanilla that's sure to get compliments during your birthday night out!
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
1. 
Cake Confetti
I wish this worked on my skin chemistry, as it has the most adorable colors + label design!
It definitely smells like vanilla fondant icing on paper (specifically fondant and not buttercream), but something came across a bit "mentholated" on my skin in dry-down. If it works with your chemistry, this is a fun pick!
2. 
Birthday Cake.
While I was sad to see that the liquid is no longer the beautiful semi-opaque pastel blue (which reminds me so much of birthday cakes), the scent itself is still a lovely representation of vanilla buttercream frosting.
This one unfortunately did not work on my skin either - but I highly recommend ordering a sample for yourself, as it was surprisingly realistic and very well done.
NOT FOR ME:
1. 
Annabel's Birthday Cake
I know it's hailed as the "ultimate" birthday scent within the fragrance community - but I personally couldn't stand this.
The latex note, which is a nod to birthday balloons, made my stomach turn - and reminded me of less-pleasant things, that are also made of latex.
If the latex note isn't prominent for you, or you enjoy the "full party concept" that includes the latex balloons - then you might enjoy this, as many others also do.
2. "Confetti Cake Pop / Vanilla Confetti Sparkle | Bath & Body Works"
While this fragrance has a "cult" following, to me I get a synthetic "coconut macaroon" accord... which I do not enjoy (also present in "Sugared Snickerdoodle | Bath & Body Works" and "Happy Birthday / Frosted Vanilla | Bath & Body Works" ).
Coconut isn't listed as a note, but it felt prevalent to my nose - and I prefer basic vanilla or yellow cake with no coconut. But if you enjoy coconut macaroons, you may love this one.
My favorite "signature birthday scent" combination:
- Angel Food , layered with:
- "Vanilla Buttercream | Bath & Body Works"