This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click the shopping links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hi, friends! Spring may be just a few days away but it’s still on the chilly side where I live, so for now, I’m still craving my more cozy, vanilla-heavy scents. There have been a few newer vanilla-focused body washes I’ve had my eye on at Bath & Body Works lately so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do a haul, try a few, and then review them here for you guys.
Unfortunately, this has not been my most successful B&BW haul of all time because a few of these scents have a strong, synthetic musk that doesn’t play nice with my chemistry AT ALL. This must be something new B&BW is trying with their scents as I know this type of musk has been very popular in a lot of perfumes for the last few years. If you’re familiar with Montale/Mancera, you will probably know what I am talking about; Pierre Montale uses this type of synthetic musk in A LOT of his fragrances. I also find it in a few Juliette Has a Gun fragrances, which always bums me out because overall, I love that house and I know they are fragrances I would otherwise enjoy.
There were also a few scents in this haul that were ok but not major loves. But there was one out of the bunch that WAS a major love and has become a new favorite! So, without further ado, here are my reviews of the latest Bath & Body Works new(ish) cozy-scented body wash fragrances that I have recently tested.
Vanilla Romance
- Official notes: fresh cardamom, vanilla absolute, captivating woods
I’m going to kick off today’s reviews with Vanilla Romance. I was so excited about this newer B&BW vanilla scent’s potential, as the notes look really cozy but I’m actually torn! There is an unlisted musk note that is extremely strong to me, especially while I’m lathering up in the shower. It’s a very synthetic musk that I do not care for at all. BUT the after-scent left on my skin is a delicious, thick, rich vanilla absolute that is reminiscent of two of my faves: Margot Elena’s Library of Flowers True Vanilla and Beekman’s Vanilla Absolute. I’m a bit on the fence about this one but at the end of the day, I think it’s just a bit too musky with my chemistry and I’ll probably give it away and see if it works for one of my nieces.
Find it here:
Perfect in Pink
- Official notes: vibrant cherries, pink camellia, whipped almond crème
Next up is Perfect in Pink, which was the opposite of Vanilla Romance for me: it smelled amazing while lathering but I didn’t love the after-scent left on my skin. While lathering, I get cherry and TONS of sweet almond and it’s almost reminiscent of bathing in marzipan! But the dry down scent left on my skin after the shower is very woodsy in a slightly masculine way.
Perfect in Pink reminds me of the popular Jergens’ Cherry Almond lotion that’s been around forever, which, again, I love so much when I first apply it but then it turns a bit disappointing to me as it transforms into a slightly masculine-leaning woodsy scent. Overall, this is ok but it would be amazing if you only got the sweet almondy-cherry vibes and didn’t have the woodsiness. I probably wouldn’t get this one again as I already have other cherry-focused B&BW scents that I like better (and don’t have the woodsy dry down).
Find it here:
Viva Vanilla
- Official notes: rich plum, glowing amber, addictive vanilla
Another newer B&BW vanilla scent I was really excited to try, Viva Vanilla is very similar to the aforementioned Vanilla Romance and, unfortunately, has the same strong musk. And again, the musk is especially strong while lathering up in the shower. It’s that very synthetic borderline ‘sweaty dude’ musk that I do not care for at all. Unlike Vanilla Romance, the musk lingers on the skin after the shower so out of the two, I like Vanilla Romance better. I don’t really get any plum but I can definitely see amber being here, this is a very thick, rich vanilla that would be wonderful without the musk. Again, will probably give this one away as there are so many other B&BW vanilla fragrances that work way better with my chemistry.
Find it here:
Midnight Addiction
- Official notes: ripe plum, rich almond flower, addictive coffee bean
Ok, finally, we have a winner! Easily my fave of the bunch, Midnight Addiction is a dead ringer for the popular YSL fragrance, Black Opium, which I love. It is such a close dupe that I find them perfect to layer together. I get delicious, sweet vanilla and rich coffee making this the perfect scent for anyone who wants to smell like a yummy vanilla mocha!
This is another fragrance with a plum note listed where I don’t really get any plum. Again, sure, I believe them saying that it’s there but it’s really more about the sweet coffee to me. If you love the ‘man-magnet’ nighttime fragrance Black Opium, you will definitely want to give this one a try!
Find it here:
Midnight Addiction (at Amazon)
You’re Cheeky
- Official Notes: pink peppercorn, warm almond flower, vanilla bean
MUSK BOMB ALERT! Oh man, sadly, I do not get any of the listed notes (all of which I love). This entire fragrance is completely taken over by that synthetic ‘sweaty dude’ musk that I hate. The scent that lingers on me after washing is also 100% musk. I’m assuming this is a chemistry thing with my skin (I really struggle with musk) so this may be great on others. I was so looking forward to this fragrance as all of the listed notes are my faves but it just doesn’t work with my chemistry at all and unfortunately, I’ll be giving this one away, too.
Find it here:
Vanilla Suede
- Official notes: cozy vanilla, brushed suede, crisp linen
Last but not least, we have Vanilla Suede which is clean and very soapy; it literally smells like a bar of plain, white soap. Unfortunately the vanilla is so subtle, it is almost non-existent. If you’re looking for a sweet vanilla, you will probably be disappointed by this one. I don’t really get a suede-y vibe, either, to be honest. It’s really about plain, non-descript soap and might also remind you of clean cotton or linens drying in the breeze. It’s definitely not an unpleasant scent, just not the vanilla-forward/sophisticated suede I was expecting.
One good thing about this scent being so soap-like is that it is definitely unisex and would be an easy scent for the entire family to share. If you love the style of minimalistic, soapy fragrances, or cotton-y scents like Yankee Candle’s Clean Cotton, this will be a good one to try. Overall, I would call this very soapy, cottony, and clean with the teeny-tiniest hint of vanilla (I really wish there was way more vanilla here). It’s fine but, honestly, I wasn’t wow’d and probably wouldn’t get it again as it’s VERY similar to another B&BW scent, White T-Shirt, which I already have, so it’s pretty redundant for me and will be going into the pile for the nieces to try.
Find it here:
So, overall, not my most successful B&BW haul but it’s always fun to try and review them for you guys and hopefully help you figure out which ones might work (or not work!) for you. Please let me know if you’ve tried any of these and what you thought. Did you struggle with muskiness with some of these, too? Or did they work well with your chemistry? I’m so curious to know if others had a similar experience or not! That’s a wrap on this haul, please be sure to check out my many other B&BW hauls on here!