Weekly Waftings: Exploring Popular Citrus/Jasmine/Vanilla Perfumes

Hi friends! I hope you’ve all found some time to unwind and decompress during this busy week. Thankfully, the weekend is now here so I hope everyone has fun and/or relaxing plans (depending on your needs right now) to look forward to 💗 Today, I thought it would be fun to explore some perfumes that share many similar notes but at the same time, also have their own thing going on. The idea for this list came from a conversation with a dear friend and when I started comparing Valentino’s Voce Viva, Voce Viva Intensa, and Donna Born in Roma and saw how they shared such similar notes but were all pretty different, it made me think hey, this would make a great blog post! 😄

These are all well-known perfumes that share the popular note combo of citrus (typically orange and/or bergamot) and white florals (usually jasmine) with a vanilla base. Different supporting notes are added in to customize each fragrance and give it its own personal character. This citrus/jasmine/vanilla combination is a proven winner that works very well for a huge variety of people.

Below are some of my favorite citrus/jasmine/vanilla fragrances. I’ve arranged them loosely in order of beginning with a lighter/more floral feel progressing to a darker/deeper/woodsier vibe. These popular designer scents are affordable and can even often be found on sale or discount, especially around holidays such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day. Many, if not all, are also available in multiple sizes, including minis or travel-size.

Dolce & Gabbana The One

• Top Notes: bergamot, mandarin, lychee (litchi), peach
• Middle Note: Madonna lily
• Base Notes: vanilla, amber, musk
• Other Notes Perceived: ylang-ylang, jasmine, orange blossom, lily-of-the-valley, gardenia, cinnamon, broom, vetiver, moss

For me, this fragrance is all about the white florals combined with a touch of vanilla. The lily stands out and I also detect a gardenia vibe, though that is not a listed/’official’ note. As the fragrance dries down, there’s a bit of a honeyed-cinnamon vibe, too. I’m thinking for the honey, that might be where people are perceiving the yellow broom flower which has honey/pollen nuances. I have no idea where I’m getting the cinnamon from, though 😆 But I do get it every time I wear this fragrance, about 5-10 minutes or so into the dry down. The vanilla is also quite present and blends in a lovely manner with the florals.

I personally have the (harder to find) eau de toilette and I’m happy with its performance, especially for an EDT. The projection is on the lighter to slightly moderate side, which is to be expected with an EDT. It’s the most noticeable for the first two hours and then lasts several hours longer as a faded skin scent. The EDP is very similar in scent with more overall oomph. This pleasant, easy-going scent can be worn anytime, anywhere but in my opinion it leans daytime. Overall, a pretty, feminine, and easy to wear fragrance. You may not stand out in a crowd with this perfume but that’s not always the goal. Sometimes you just want a reliably great-smelling staple.

Find it here:

The One EDP 30ml, 50ml, 75ml (at Amazon)

The One EDP 1ml sample, 10ml mini, 30ml, 50ml, 75ml, 75ml limited edition, 75ml tester (at FragranceNet)

The One EDT 100ml (at Jomashop)

Dolce & Gabbana The Only One

• Top Notes: violet, bergamot
• Middle Notes: coffee, iris
• Base Notes: vanilla, patchouli
• Other Notes Perceived: orange, pear, orange blossom, rose, caramel

The One has a couple of flankers, including the next fragrance I’m featuring called The Only One. However, this fragrance is quite a departure from The One. It’s warm and cozy and reminds me very much of a caramel coffee. There’s a yummy praline vibe, too. This is in the same family as Black Opium by YSL (see more about that scent below) but with less patchouli, no licorice, and more focused on the caramel, vanilla, and coffee notes. I also get a bit of an orange essence. It’s reminiscent of savoring a caramel macchiato alongside one of those Terry’s Chocolate Oranges that are often enjoyed around the holidays.

The projection is intimate and usually averages about 2.5-3 hours of scent for me before it fades to be barely perceptible. A feminine-leaning scent that I think most folks would tend towards wearing in cooler weather. It has that ‘cozy warm hug’ feeling to it and seems best paired with a sweater. It also makes a great ‘bed scent;’ I love wearing this to sleep at night or while cuddled up in a blanket, reading a good book. This scent is a huge favorite of this gourmand-loving gal!

Find it here:

The Only One EDP 30ml, 100ml (at Amazon)

The Only One EDP 30ml, 50ml, 100ml, 100ml tester (at FragranceNet)

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle

• Top Note: iris
• Middle Note: patchouli
• Base Notes: spun sugar, warm vanilla
• Other Notes Perceived: black currant, pear, jasmine, orange blossom, praline, tonka bean

This SUPER popular fragrance has been around for about 10 years and still consistently ranks in Top 10 Best Seller lists year after year. The opening is oh-so-sweet and yummy. I get lots of sugar and vanilla and it’s almost like cotton candy. The lovely iris quickly joins the party. I usually love a good, sweet, powdery iris or violet note, they both match so well with vanilla and can combine for a sweet powdered vanilla sugar accord that I adore. As it continues to dry down, the fruity impressions of pear, black currant, and orange join the party. The patch is lightly there but not an overwhelmingly strong note to me. Projection is good, and I would even caution to go easy on the sprays with this one as she can get a little overpowering if you overspray. This daytime appropriate scent smells great any time of year, is long-lasting, and a great value. It’s also fun to explore the many available flankers of this fragrance.

My only quibble with this fragrance is about an hour or so in, a lot of the sweetness dissipates and I’m left with nothing but patchouli. I have this same issue with Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Flowerbomb, and Miss Dior as well. Patchouli is not my personal favorite note, I need it to be blended with other things for it to be ok for me. As always, I strongly recommend trying a sample/decant or spraying on yourself at a store first just to make sure it works with your personal chemistry. It’s not deal-breaker level unpleasant for me with this particular fragrance but it is with the other fragrances I’ve mentioned here.

Find it here:

La Vie Est Belle EDP 10ml travel-spray, 15ml mini-spray, 30ml, 50ml, 75ml, 100ml, 150ml, gift sets (at Macy’s)

La Vie Est Belle EDP 50ml (at Bergdorf Goodman)

Valentino Voce Viva

• Top Notes: Italian bergamot, mandarin
• Middle Notes: orange blossom absolute, golden gardenia
• Base Notes: crystal moss, vanilla
• Other Notes Perceived: ginger, tonka bean, musk, sandalwood

This is one of my all time favorite fragrances and I have previously raved about it here in my sweet gourmands run-down. I absolutely love the opening of this perfume, which features a gorgeous sparkling accord of ginger, mandarin, and bergamot. It reminds me of a sparkling mimosa with added sugary vanilla and ginger. I always describe this fragrance as smelling like ‘sophisticated Froot Loops,’ lol It’s very sweet and has a clean muskiness to it. It also has a bit of that powdered vanilla sugar vibe I mentioned before which combines so well with the beautiful crystal moss accord. I’m completely obsessed with this delightful fragrance! 😊

The projection and sillage are quite good for the first couple of hours. It then fades to a fairly long-lasting skin scent. This is an anytime/anywhere scent, probably more focused to daytime wear vs. a night out. Another bonus of this already fabulous scent: the amazing Lady Gaga is its spokesmodel (Voce Viva translates to ‘The Living Voice,’ so a perfect match!)

Find it here:

Voce Viva EDP 50ml, 100ml (at Macy’s)

Voce Viva EDP 30ml, 50ml, 100ml (at Ulta)

Valentino Voce Viva Intensa

• Top Notes: Italian bergamot, mandarin
• Middle Notes: orange blossom absolute, jasmine sambac
• Base Notes: bourbon vanilla, crystal moss

Since the original Voce Viva is such a huge favorite of mine and this new flanker added a double dose of vanilla bourbon (possibly my favorite note ever), I just had to have it! I did something I pretty much never do and blind-bought an actual FULL BOTTLE of this fragrance. My impulsive decision paid off, though, this fragrance is a winner! Despite having so many of the same notes as the original, it’s really quite a different feeling from the sparkling sweet orange/bergamot/ginger ‘Froot Loops’ vibe of the original. This fragrance is MUCH more floral than the original. It’s a beautiful, feminine combination of white florals and the deep, rich vanilla bourbon.

Being an intense version, this has even more projection and longer staying power compared to the original. The first 3 hours are very solid, it then fades to a skin scent that lasts several more hours. This feminine, sophisticated perfume is perfect for every day wear but I can absolutely also see wearing this to a fancier or more formal event as well. I have a hard time deciding which I like better between this and the original but I think I just ever-so-slightly like the original best. That sparkling ginger-orange Froot Loops accord is so unique and yummy! But this is also absolutely lovely and a huge love for me.

Find it here:

Voce Viva Intensa EDPI 100ml (at Macy’s)

Valentino Donna Born in Roma

• Top Note: Italian bergamot
• Middle Notes: jasmine grandiflorum, jasmine sambac, jasmine tea
• Base Note: vanilla bourbon
• Other Notes Perceived: black currant, pink pepper, cashmeran, guaiac wood

In a very similar family to the Voce Viva line is the much beloved Donna Born in Roma fragrance, also by Valentino. As evidenced by the mid notes listed above, this babe packs a jasmine punch! This fragrance is truly all about the sweet and vanillic jasmine. It also has a deeper, woodsier, and more caramelized feel than the Voce Viva scents. I feel like the chances are pretty good that if you like the Voce Viva fragrances, you’ll enjoy this, too.

This likable fragrance can be worn anytime/anywhere, as with most of these popular scents. I find the projection to be really good and it’s a long-laster for me, being pretty strong for the first 3-4 hours before fading into a skin scent that will last a few more hours. If you love high quality jasmine, this will be a must try!

Find it here:

Donna Born in Roma EDP 30ml, 50ml, 100ml (at Macy’s)

Donna Born in Roma EDP 30ml, 50ml, 100ml (at Ulta)

Viktor & Rolf BonBon

• Top Notes: mandarin oil, orange
• Middle Note: jasmine accord
• Base Note: caramel
• Other Notes Perceived: peach, orange blossom, amber, sandalwood, guaiac wood, cedar

Going slightly deeper, woodsier, and more caramelized than the above fragrances is this classic sweet treat from Viktor & Rolf. This enjoyable gourmand opens with a fruity marshmallow-y accord that prominently features its orange and peach notes. As it dries down, the caramel, amber, and sweet/balsamic guaiac wood notes combine to create a truly addictive fragrance that I believe every caramel-fragrance lover should add to their collection. The caramelized amber vibe is SO GOOD here. This scent is frequently compared to Prada’s Candy but as a gourmand perfume aficionado & collector, they are quite different to me. The caramel is SO much more prominent here, whereas Candy, as much as I enjoy it, does have a bit of a powdery old fashioned floral vibe that is not at all present in BonBon.

The projection is not huge with this fragrance, I find it to be more cozy and intimate. I get a good couple hours of full strength scent from it before it fades to a very light skin scent. This has a slightly more evening feel than the above listed fragrances and though this gourmand girl will happily wear it year-round, I think most will prefer this cozy scent in ‘sweata weatha.’ 🤣

Find it here:

BonBon EDP 30ml, 90ml (at Ulta)

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

• Top Note: coffee
• Middle Notes: jasmine, orange blossom
• Base Note: vanilla
• Other Notes Perceived: pear, pink pepper, bitter almond, licorice, patchouli, cedar, cashmere wood

This is the deepest and darkest of the scents I’m featuring today but it’s still quite a yummy gourmand. With the added licorice and bitter almond notes and a heavier dose of both the coffee and patchouli, this is The Only One’s deeper/darker big sister. The white florals even have a heavier feel here, with jasmine in addition to the orange blossom. This is definitely a great choice for those who love a coffee note-centered fragrance.

Projection is moderate and the fragrance usually lasts me a good 3 hours before fading. This one is absolutely a sultry, nighttime fragrance. Not necessarily important but I do also repeatedly see this fragrance being touted as one that men absolutely love and are drawn to, so possibly a great pick for a romantic date night. This cozy fragrance is also another one that’s perfect for cooler weather. Side note: If you love coffee scents, I would also like to recommend Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s incredibly delicious-smelling (and super affordable) Vanille Cafe, which smells JUST like a creamy vanilla latte ☕

Find it here:

Black Opium EDP 30ml, 50ml, 90ml, 150ml (at Macy’s)

Black Opium EDP 50ml (at Bloomingdale’s)

So there’s my picks for some of the best and most popular citrus/jasmine/vanilla combo fragrances. Have you tried any of these? Do you have a favorite or two from this list or maybe even a different one that I didn’t mention here? Would you like to see a part two of this note combo? There’s a ton of perfumes out there that share these main notes so I could easily write at least one more post like this, in fact, probably several! Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, I always love to read them! 💖

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