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As a beauty editor, my inbox is brimming with news of new perfume launches every single day. And if there is one fragrance category that seems to be taking off unlike any other, it’s vanilla perfumes. It’s true, gourmand perfumes have been launching left, right and centre, with seemingly every new fragrance containing notes of the edible variety. However, even as someone with a sweet tooth, I find some vanilla perfumes to be just a hint too sweet or headache-inducing. There’s only a handful I actually enjoy wearing.
However, when I first discovered Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder eau de parfum, my nose was instantly piqued. The idea of a more powdery take on vanilla appealed to me as something airier compared to the hundreds of heavy, syrup-laden vanilla perfumes around. And I’m so glad I tried it, because it’s become one of my most-complimented perfumes to date, and it’s probably the most long-lasting perfume I’ve ever tried. The eau de parfum initially won me over, but since trying the newer Vanilla Powder Extrait, the compliments I’ve received have gone through the roof.
If you’re considering a bottle of either the eau de parfum or the extrait, scroll on for my full review on both, and why at least one of them is deserving on your shelf, whether you’re a vanilla fiend or not.
Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder
Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum
MATIERE PREMIERE
Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Madagascan vanilla, coconut powder, heliotrope, palo santo, white musks
Needless to say, if you really dislike vanilla perfumes, stop right here. This probably isn’t the fragrance for you. However, I will say that this vanilla scent is less syrupy and sugar-laden than most of the heavy vanilla perfumes around. Instead, the eau de parfum version of Vanilla Powder is airy, fluffy and powdery as it sparkles in the air. It has a touch of saltiness to it that keeps it from being overly sweet.
Spritzing the eau de parfum feels like dusting desiccated coconut and powdered vanilla onto your skin, before a smooth, nose-nuzzling muskiness lingers underneath. It’s creamy and sophisticated vanilla, and the projection and lasting power are unlike anything else I’ve ever tried. Most long-lasting perfumes I can smell hours later, but this one? I can smell it the next day. It lingers on knitwear weeks later. I even spritzed it before leaving for work at 7 A.M, and it not only got me several compliments throughout the day, but when I came home that evening, I could still smell it lingering in my bedroom. So it goes without saying that you only need a small, tiny spritz. And you won’t need to worry about topping up.
Vanilla Powder Extrait
MATIERE PREMIERE
Vanilla Powder Extrait de Parfum
Key notes: Vanilla, palo santo, coconut powder, white musks, tonka bean absolute
You might expect the Vanilla Powder Extrait to be dialled up even further, but I actually find it less intense compared to the eau de parfum. It shares the same long-lasting magic, endless silage and mouthwatering fluffiness as the EDP, but with a more smouldering, toasted vanilla powder. Instead, the addition of warm and smooth tonka bean in the extrait melts on the skin with a little more sensual smokiness, as though the edges of the vanilla powder have been caught by a flame. It’s one of the most sophisticated vanilla perfumes I’ve tried, and I’ve genuinely lost count of the number of compliments it has won me since I got a bottle. Again, you only need one or two spritzes of this fragrance, as both its projection and longevity of the eau de parfum and the extrait are truly unmatched. And whilst they both have a £250 price tag, it feels a more worthy investment given how little you need to use to enjoy the scent all day long without re-applying.
The Verdict
Both Vanilla Powder EDP and Extrait are stunning perfumes, and given how many compliments they’ve won me and their incredible lasting power, I’d wholeheartedly recommend them. I don’t think it’s necessary to own both, however. If you prefer a perfume that gets you noticed everywhere you go, the eau de parfum has an addictive powderyness that will float around you like a halo wherever you go. Personally, I find it more potent than the extrait version. However, if I had to choose between them, my heart belongs to the extrait. It has the same powdered vanilla DNA as the eau de parfum, but with a more hypnotic and sophisticated edge. It’s still incredibly long-lasting and a total compliment-magnet, but it’s smoother and clings a little closer to the skin, which I love.
If you’re undecided between the eau de parfum or the extrait, or want to try them before investing in a full-sized bottle, I’d highly recommend trying a perfume discovery set or a travel-sized vial to get to know the scents (a word of warning: you’ll probably want both). But perhaps my favourite discovery has been the Vanilla Powder hair perfume, which coats your lengths in a hypnotic veil of powdered vanilla that disperses with every swish of your hair. Trust me, if you wear Vanilla Powder, you’re going to be inundated with compliments, so wear it with caution.
Shop More Vanilla Powder:
MATIERE PREMIERE
Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum
MATIERE PREMIERE
Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum
Matiere Premiere
Eau de Parfum Discovery Sample Set
MATIERE PREMIERE
Vanilla Powder Hair Perfume
MATIERE PREMIERE
Vanilla Powder Extrait de Parfum
MATIERE PREMIERE
Extrait de Parfum Discovery Sample Set
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