Black Vanilla

Vanilla with a dark side. Inspired by Black Vanilla.

Where most vanillas are sweet and light, this one is dark: tonka bean and wood push the sweetness backwards and make it smoky. Vanilla for anyone who usually finds vanilla too well-behaved.

How it develops

Vanilla opens, but not the creamy, dessert-like version: darker, a touch boozy, as if the vanilla had first sat in a wooden barrel. Then comes the tonka bean, making it thicker and more almond-like — sweet, but with a dry, hay-like edge. The wood in the base is what makes it black: dry, smoky, a little burnt, so the sweetness keeps sliding further back and what remains at the end is mainly warm smoke with vanilla in it. From vanilla to smoke, in a few hours.

Who it's for, and when

Autumn, winter and evenings. If this is too dark, K-40 is the warmer, sweeter vanilla. Love smoke and sweetness and want tobacco with it, see T-70.

How to wear it

Two sprays on the neck, on moisturised skin. Don't rub. One spray on a winter coat lingers for days.