Loree Rodkin Gothic I Eau de Parfum: Cozy Comfort

Source: lewallpaper.com

Source: lewallpaper.com

Winter’s cold temperatures tend to bring out my appreciation for cozy scents. It is perhaps my second favorite category in general, after Orientals, but even more so in the dark gloom of December and January. There is something instinctive and biological about the tendency to hibernate that emerges in the cold, winter months, but I have a yearlong habit of curling up with simple, cozy scents at night. After a long day, there is nothing I love more than to toss on some comfortable clothing after a hot shower, put on perfume, and chill in front of the television. At those times, I reach for something that I will enjoy on an instinctive level, a scent that doesn’t require focus on all its details, but something simple, warm, soothing, and luxuriously deep.

Gothic I EDP original bottle on Luckyscent.

Gothic I EDP original bottle on Luckyscent.

I think Gothic I definitely qualifies. It is an eau de parfum from the jewellery designer, Loree Rodkin, and I spent more than a few nights last month and in the recent freezing days enjoying its rich warmth. It’s all thanks to one of my readers, “CC,” who wrote to me during my patchouli series to inquire if I had ever tried Gothic I (as in the number “1”), and who generously insisted on sending me a small decant. She thought I might be interested because Gothic I (which I’ll just simply call “Gothic“) has two kinds of patchouli in it, though it also has vanilla.

It turns out that, on my skin, Gothic is almost entirely a vanilla scent, but it’s a lovely one! Vanilla is not a category of fragrances that I generally seek out, and I most definitely avoid gourmands for my own, personal use. Yet, deep down, but I have a huge appreciation for a certain kind of vanilla: the rich, Madagascar, Bourbon extract type that feels simultaneously deep, heavy, dark, and somewhat dry. That’s essentially the broad profile of Gothic, which also has the benefit of strongly resembling Profumum Roma‘s much more expensive Dulcis in Fundo, but with a touch of patchouli.

Gothic was released in 2013 as the eau de parfum version of Ms. Rodkin’s earlier oils, and is considered the signature fragrance of her line. Its notes are as simple as the fragrance itself, which Luckyscent describes (with an inexplicable touch of the romance novel, in my opinion) as follows:

A moody vanilla shrouded in a mist of light woods and patchouli. Sensuous and unrepentant. We picture long hair whipping in the wind, a search by candlelight and a man driven half mad by love. Still, for all of its gorgeous drama, we could wear this everyday. It has the luxuriant skin-caressing softness of a vintage silk velvet cape. Worn over nothing. Voluptuous and mesmerizing.

Notes: Vanilla pod, Madagascar vanilla, spice accord, Tunisian patchouli and Indian patchouli.

Picture of vanillin crystalizing out to surface of Bourbon vanilla beans. Source: amadeusvanillabeans.com

Picture of vanillin crystallizing out onto the surface of Bourbon vanilla beans. Source: amadeusvanillabeans.com

Gothic is far from “moody,” in my opinion, and definitely doesn’t evoke any man driven half mad with love, but it’s definitely a voluptuous, luxurious scent. It opens on my skin with the richest, most buttery vanilla imaginable, as thick as if pots of butter and custard had been poured into it. Seconds later, it is infused by a momentary boozy sweetness, then a breath of warm patchouli. There is the merest hint of abstract spices dancing all around, perhaps a dash of cinnamon, with the tiniest pinch of nutmeg, and something woody. As a whole, though, Gothic is 3-parts Bourbon vanilla extract, and one-part patchouli. Perhaps a more accurate set of numbers would be 80% vanilla, and 20% patchouli, at least for the opening 30 minutes.

Source: biofarmacia.ro

Source: biofarmacia.ro

Gothic is extremely concentrated and dense in feel, but the sillage isn’t nuclear. It envelops you in a deep cloud about 3-4 inches above the skin at first. The smell is utterly delicious, but it is initially much drier and much less sweet than its very close relative, the Dulcis in Fundo. It lacks the waffle cones and caramelized sugar aspect of the Profumum fragrance, and somehow seems fractionally less gourmand in nature.

Ten minutes in, the perfume shifts a little. There is an odd, utterly unexpected touch of flour that creeps in. I have the strangest image of Gothic as a really rich, but dry, baked vanilla cake, dusted with patchouli, and with the faintest remnants of flour left in the buttered tin. Vanilla, patchouli, flour, and butter… none of it seems remotely “gothic” in nature, but the fragrance is also not as unctuous as those notes may suggest. There is nothing gooey or saccharine-like in the sweetness, nothing that makes me feel queasy by excess. One’s perceptions of “cloying” may depend on definition and on one’s personal yardstick, but, to me, Gothic isn’t cloying despite its richness because of the undercurrents of dry woodiness and spice created by the other elements. In any event, the flour, butter, patchouli and spice all retreat to the sidelines, less than 30 minutes into Gothic’s development.

Source: footage.shutterstock.com

Source: footage.shutterstock.com

They continue to impart a slight, indirect touch on the fragrance which is now almost entirely rich vanilla. And, there, Gothic remains until its very end. To my surprise, at the end of the 2nd hour, hints of caramelization and waffle cones creep in. They turn the perfume into a virtual clone of Dulcis in Fundo, only Gothic has that muted, muffled whisper of patchouli floating in the background. The incredibly smooth, rich, dense vanilla lies right on the skin, though it’s very strong when smelled up close. Once in a while, a delicious trail of richness in the air would catch me by surprise, and I’d realise it was a tendril of Gothic that had followed me. Generally, Gothic turns into a true skin scent somewhere between 5.5 and 6.5 hours, depending on the quantity you apply. With 3 medium-to-good sized sprays from the little atomizer, the perfume lasted almost 15 hours on my perfume consuming skin. With a lesser amount, it lasted around 12.5 hours.    

Gothic I EDP in the new, vertical bottle.

Gothic I EDP in the new, vertical bottle.

Nothing about Gothic’s scent is complicated, but sometimes simplicity has its own charms. I think that’s especially true if you’re looking for a comfort scent to curl up with on a cold winter day. The only complication that tripped me up in terms of the perfume was figuring out the bottles, prices, and various options. I was used to seeing the square bottle offered by Luckyscent for $140, and the first time I looked at Loree Rodkin’s site back in December, that was also what was shown. This week, however, the perfume appears on her website in a tall, narrow bottle shape which threw me off because Ms. Rodkin confusingly offers an identical looking thing that is labelled as a “room spray.” The perfume I tested was the 50 ml Eau de Parfum, but the “Ambiance” room spray is an large 4 oz bottle described as Eau de Cologne (for the room??) and priced significantly lower at $75. (It’s $25 less on Amazon, via Loree Rodkin herself.) Either way, the Eau de Parfum seems to have changed in its bottle shape to look extremely close to that of the “Room Spray,” so if you’re looking into the fragrance make sure you get the right version.

The Gothic I Ambiance "Room Spray" bottle. Source: Amazon.

The Gothic I Ambiance “Room Spray” bottle. Source: Amazon.

Then, there was the question of price. Gothic I is priced at $140 on Luckyscent, but numerous comments there talk about $250 a bottle. Obviously, the prices have dropped substantially, which is pretty unusual in the perfume world where things only go up and up. The pricing makes me even more intrigued by the Ambiance room spray. It can hardly be air freshener, and I assume that it is mere eau de cologne in strength, but $49.99 on Amazon for a huge 120 ml/4 oz (versus $150 for a 50 ml bottle of eau de parfum) seems like an excellent deal, even if one is getting the anorexic, Diet version.

Gothic I EDP original bottle shown on Fragrantica and Luckyscent.

Gothic I EDP original bottle shown on Fragrantica and Luckyscent.

Still, the best part of Gothic really is its enormous richness and depth. There is a great description of it on Fragrantica:

when I got my nose on this patchouli / vanilla bomb (sample from Luckyscent) I felt the earth move.

The vanilla here is not sickly, rather it is dark and seductive. The patchouli has been stripped of its crusty afghan coat and been given a good scrub up. It’s a delicious combination that purrs gently on the skin, but projects like a monster and lasts all day. It borders on gourmand but thankfully (I sold my Musc Ravageur as I didn’t want to smell like a cinnamon bun) stays out of the kitchen. If you find Serge Luten’s Un Bois Vanilla and its ilk just too sweet, this might be the one for you.

That review is from a man, and the only other review comes from a woman who had a very different experience:

I wish I could wax rhapsodic about this one, but its medicinal pungency overwhelms any vanilla tendencies. While retaining its earthiness, this is a less dank and more fresh and minty patchouli. The spices add to the medicinal quality that reminds me of old, plastic-y Band-Aid strips. I think this one might be too bright and sweet for those lovers of dark, brooding fragrances, but too earthy for those looking to graduate from cupcake vanilla scents.

I’m rather amazed by what skin chemistry can do. Clearly, she’s experiencing real, hardcore, genuine patchouli to a huge (and very green) degree, and she’s obviously not a fan. I am, but I experienced almost none of it in Gothic. It may have started at 20%, at best, but it quickly became a mere 5% on my skin, if even that.

I actually have to wonder if the commentator did not leave her review in the wrong place, because it sounds to me as though she’s really describing Gothic II. It is a scent which I’m now dying to try, and which seeks to really showcase the element in a strong, fierce way with notes that include:

cloves, incense, sandalwood, frangipani, indian patchouli, Tunisian patchouli, and madagascar vanilla. 

The more typical descriptions of Gothic (#1) talk about how the scent is dominated by vanilla. Consider this review on Australian Perfume Junkies, where the guest blogger, “Kymme CV,” writes:

Gothic I opens with an enormous sweet vanilla slap in the face, just like a vanilla custard-pie but more! This ‘vanilla’ is an exotic, deep, rich and velvety vanilla. But it’s really not that simple a fragrance. There’s a real depth to the Madagascan vanilla that comes alive once the spice starts to come through. Now we’ve got nutmeg on our vanilla pudding! The spice accords mixed with the vanilla give the fragrance a dramatic nuance.

When I first wore Gothic I hours passed before I started sensing the patchouli notes coming through. However, each time my body temperature rose a little the patchouli blend came storming through. At first I didn’t even realise it was me that I could smell! As soon as my body cooled again, back came the vanillas.

Skin chemistry is obviously responsible for how much patchouli you experience, and the posts on MakeupAlley seem to support that view. There, the assessments for Gothic are mixed, primarily because of the price of the Gothic oil, but also because of the degree of patchouli. Apparently, not everyone shares my love of actual, original true patchouli. I’m crushed…. Facetiousness and joking aside, here is a glimpse of the range of perspectives:

  •  I adore complex scents – especially woods, incense, spice, but sometimes I simply crave something sweet…like wanting a fudge brownie on occasion, but not daily. This is one of my fragrance equivalents to a fudge brownie. It’s an incredibly sultry, rich, sweet vanilla intensified with patchouli and woods. It layers gorgeously with other fragrances, softening all sharp edges. It’s in the same vein as Des Filles a la Vanille’s Vanille, but much longer lasting and deeper.
  • I adore this fragrance. It’s the nicest patchouli fragrance I ever smelled. I am also a big fan of Les Nereides Patchouli Antique. I love Gothic I more.
  •  While this one is pretty expensive, it’s also a lovely, warm, rich, Oriental vanilla with incredible lasting power. A dab on the back of a wrist lasts me well past 7 hours and then some. Sometimes a strong patchouli gives me difficulty, but this one is blended beautifully and gives the fragrance just enough backbone without being over-powering. Mostly I smell a sweet vanilla with amber/patchouli undertones and a good dose of sweet wood and benzoin. Heavenly!
  • A pleasant patchouli/vanilla oil that smells somewhat “chocolaty” and is unpleasantly overpriced and over-hyped about. Voleur de Roses smells patchy and gothic, this smells like a sweet girly girl with ponytails and a bar of chocolate candy in her hand –and NOT Gothic.

All those reviews date from 2005-2007, and the reference to an “oil” makes it clear that they are not talking about Gothic I Eau de Parfum at all, but the very expensive oil which predates it by about 8 years. For all I know, it may be quite different in smell, and with more patchouli essence.

I agree with them that the oil seems very over-priced at $110 for 7 ml, but the new 2013 eau de parfum might be worth it for those who love extremely rich vanillas with a dash of dry patchouli woodiness, and a microscopic sliver of spices. It’s $140 for 50 ml, and a little goes a long way. The Profumum may be cheaper per milliliter at $240 for 100 ml, but they’re both excellent fragrances. I personally like the Rodkin version more than the Profumum, because some patchouli is always preferable to none. Plus, Gothic is much less gourmand — relative as that may be for a fragrance devoted to the richest vanilla imaginable. It’s a dry, almost woody vanilla, not an unctuous, gooey one that drips sugar. And it’s fantastic on a cold winter’s night or as a bedtime scent.

I’ve always said that I have the best and kindest readers around, but “CC” went out of her way to seek me out with her generous offer. All because she knew of my passion for patchouli! Thanks to her, I’m definitely tempted to buy a bottle of Gothic, but the only thing stopping me is the possibility of a version that may have three times the patchouli, along with incense and spice. Unfortunately, Gothic II is not offered at Surrender to Chance, but I am on the hunt, and quite determined now. In the meantime, I shall treasure my little decant of Gothic I, and the sign of friendship that went along with it.

As for all of you, if you love rich, woody vanillas, and have some tolerance for real patchouli, do try Gothic I. Don’t expect a patchouli scent, or you’ll be sorely disappointed. In terms of vanilla fragrances, though, this is a lovely one.

DETAILS:
Cost & Availability: Gothic I is an eau de parfum that comes in a 50 ml bottle that costs $137 or $140. The fragrance is also available as a perfume oil in a 7 ml roll-on bottle, as well as a room fragrance called Ambiance Eau de Cologne in a 4 oz/118 ml bottle. Loree Rodkin website: Loree Rodkin sells Gothic I EDP in a tall 50 ml bottle for $137. She sells the Ambiance Eau de Cologne — which she describes as a “room spray” — for $75 for a 4 oz bottle. However, the Loree Rodkin Amazon page sells that same fragrance (which it says originally retails for $175) for $49.99. For readers in Japan, there is also a Rodkin Japan website. Other vendors: Luckyscent also sells Gothic I EDP in the original square box for $140, along with the 7 ml concentrated Gothic oil for $110. You can also buy it from Net-a-Porter. Outside the U.S.: I’ve had difficulty finding Gothic I sold at any stores outside the U.S., even though Loree Rodkin’s stuff is carried in a number of countries, from the UK to Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Taiwan, the UAE, and others. From what I’ve seen of the UK and French sites, they don’t carry her fragrances, only her jewellery. You can find the full list at her Locations page. Samples: Luckyscent sells samples, as does Surrender to Chance which offers Gothic I EDP starting at $7.99 for a 1 ml vial.

35 thoughts on “Loree Rodkin Gothic I Eau de Parfum: Cozy Comfort

  1. Hey there Kafka,
    Kymme will be thrilled to be quoted, I’ll link him in on FaceBook. Love vanilla and patchouli and the aesthetic of the Loree Rodkin series, even wore out my sample of Gothic I if memory serves me correctly. I can’t remember why it didn’t go FB but will have to revisit.
    Portia xx

    • And it was Kymme’s review that catapulted my lemming to purchase sample and eventual FB. 🙂 You evil enablers!! (love it… tee hee)
      xox

      • Enabling is a wonderful thing. The best sort of evil. Gothic I seems to have triggered a domino effect of temptation and enabling. 🙂

    • I’m glad he’ll enjoy the quote. 🙂 As for Gothic I, I think it may be a perfect fragrance to have a large decant of, unless one can get a fantastic price for the bottle. Or perhaps I say that as someone who isn’t a hardcore Vanilla addict. lol. I think those who adore the note as a solo artist will probably enjoy it very much. Me, I want to see Gothic II… patchouli is one of my favorite things!

  2. If you find Serge Luten’s Un Bois Vanilla and its ilk just too sweet, this might be the one for you.

    mmm, that would be me! Added to my Try List

    • Aww, are you one of those for whom SL’s Un Bois Vanillé goes terribly wonky? I don’t remember it being too sweet on my skin, but I’m going to be revisiting it soon in the next 10 days for a proper review. I remembered I liked it very much.

      I do think that Gothic I is sweet, but obviously that is a function of so much rich vanilla. It really depends on one’s yardstick, definition, and, again, skin chemistry. Hopefully, Gothic I will work for you. I’m more interested to see what you think of Psychedelique if you get to try it. From the very (VERY) little I know of your tastes thus far, I think that one would work well on you. Gothic…. I don’t know, mostly because I don’t about your measurement of “sweetness.”

      • Yup. Just too dang sweet. Makes my teeth hurt. I do like Vanille 44 and Vanille Tonka, so vanillas can work for me.

  3. Very tempting…sounds right up my alley. I need warmth right now. It is a bone chilling, skin freezing below zero with wind chills.

    • I’ve been thinking of you with the Polar Vortex and the terrible, terrible weather in your neck of the woods. Has it been monstrous and a nightmare getting to work with the freezing weather? As you know, I don’t live in an area that is at all comparable, but Man…. lately…. Ouch! Of course, it’s not NYC “Ouch,” but it’s still something else. For me, it’s fantastic, as I love weather like this, but I don’t think I’d enjoy your version of it at all. Please stay warm and safe, my dear.

  4. I could use some warmth too. Just took the little one out to pee and even though it sounds cold outside because of the wind, it’s really an eye opener when you actually have to go out there. I usually like vanilla scents but there have been a few that just didn’t do it for me. This has potential from what you’ve said. I’ll have to keep it in mind when I’m in the mood to buy some samples.

    • I can’t imagine what the Polar Vortex must be like up in your area. I can feel the freeze emanating from your words and through the screen! I think you’d enjoy the richness of this one, because it’s very much like a warm, cuddly, golden blanket. If one isn’t a hardcore vanilla fiend, though, it might be best as a very large decant. I’ve heard that you can sometimes get it for a great price on eBay which might be the most ideal solution of them all.

  5. I received a big decant of Gothic II as part of a RAOK. I’ve worn it a few times and quite like it – would you like me to send you some? This review makes me want to try Gothic I! Sounds really lovely – I’ve not tried Dulcis in Fundo, but the comparisons and contrasts made me think this one would be more appealing to me anyhow.

    • Oh, I’d LOVE a sample of Gothic II! You know me and my obsession with patchouli! Thank you, Kevin. That would be most kind. Hurrah, I’m quite excited now. 😀

      • Perfect! I shall try to get it out to you this week. I have another thing to put in the mail, too so hopefully I can get a move on it sooner rather than later. I feel confident I can! 🙂

        • Thank you. I really, really appreciate it! I have a list of things that I’m dying to try but am not sure where to get, so I’m glad I can cross this one off the list. It’s really very kind of you. Man, I get so excited when the thought of patchouli comes my way. 🙂

  6. A fragrance friend is sending me some. It sounds right up my alley with the vanilla extract and spicy feel. I haven’t even sniffed it yet but am already expecting to love it and want the FB.

    • It doesn’t have a spicy feel, Vicki, but I think you’ll enjoy it more as a result. It’s definitely very much your kind of thing.

  7. As a vanilla lover, I’m tempted! Though I will have to wait till February since I have about 20 scents to try before then.

    • Oohhh, 20 scents…. I hope you find one that you love passionately, and that you’ll tell me about it. 🙂 I’ve actually been thinking of you, as the fragrance I’m currently testing for tomorrow’s review is one that I know you enjoy.

  8. It was my pleasure and I am so happy you liked it (and that it did not go wonky on your skin). My skin reacted as Kymme’s did … much more patchouli in the heat. We got a teeny cold front today so I am wearing it and I detect more vanilla.

    PS…evilbay has some good deals on the one I have–the tall slender bottle appearing on her website. You know … just in case. :-))
    xox

    • So interesting about the heat. Yes, perhaps that might bring out more of the patchouli on some skins. Thank you again for letting me try it, CC. I will *definitely* keep an eye out on eBay for the perfume. I may not love vanilla enough for $150, but I would really enjoy Gothic at a lower price. I know someone who bought it for about $50 on eBay, and that sounds perfect. The funny thing about wearing it was that I suddenly thought to myself, “Huh… I may like vanilla more than I thought.” For me, this is the ideal sort of vanilla as it’s not like diabetes in a bottle, and doesn’t feel as though I’m wearing dessert on my body. lol

      • Diabetes in a bottle .. :-))

        I bought it for $60 with shipping— the 8 ml decant was almost the same price so I figured I would buy it and share it….:-)))

  9. What a lovely, warm scent this would be today, with the high reaching for 10.3 degrees.
    Added to my list. Love the photographs, especially the Bourbon vanilla beans.
    Many thanks for another lovely review.

    • You’re very welcome, Cheryl. Please stay warm and safe. A high of 10 degrees sounds very cold. I don’t want to know what your low may be!

  10. I pulled out my sample when I saw that you were reviewing this. I love it when I can smell that which you are describing. It was a fun way to spend my lunch break. To me it is exactly how you describe on my skin also. I was not compelled to purchase more, but I can appreciate a vanilla that has such a well developed personality. I did think of Hilde Soliani’s Cristina which is all patchouli vanilla, but heavier on the patchouli. I guess I go the way of more patchouli. But, of course, you knew that…..:)

    • Heh, sounds like you need to try the Gothic II as well!! More patchouli, but with incense and spices too, in a much darker, more intense, less vanillic blend! With regard to Gothic I, I think for someone like you and I, a decant would be perfect as we’re not really Vanilla addicts. But for those who adore the note, it is really a very well done perfume. And so, soooooooooooo perfect for a freezing night when you just want to curl up with something uncomplicated, rich, warm and deep.

  11. Dearest Kafka
    I adore the idea of ‘Cozy’ as an entire class of perfumes… orientals, chypres, fogeres and cozies!
    Of course we have tea cosies (one of our ‘s’s pronounced a ‘z’) so that might get a little confusing.
    Alors! Back to the matter in hand…. I too am rather wary of vanillas (our shared tendency to sugar amplification no doubt). So I like them slightly burnt, highly spiced of very, very rich and boozey, which seems to be the category that Gothic (an oxymoron of a name for the aroma you describe, non?) falls into.
    If it pops up on my radar I’ll surely try this one as we are currently to rainstorms as you are to snow!
    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

    • LOL, “Cozy” should absolutely be an official category of perfumery! *grin* I think we should demand that the perfume federation makes it so. 😉 With regard to Gothic — a misnomer, indeed — I think you’d like it, but I wouldn’t bet the house on it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you review a pure vanilla before, which is what this really is. Fragrances with a vanilla base, yes, but I don’t remember any vanilla soliflores, and I worry about your skin’s impact on them. I think you’d like this, I really do, but skin chemistry can be such a strange thing.

      On the other hand, the person who so generously sent me a sample of this also sent me…. ready for it?….. THEOREMA!!!!!!! If her tastes go to one which I know you love, then perhaps this Gothic would qualify as well. As for the Theorema, she saw my comment on your blog post and offered to share, which I thought was incredibly generous and sensitive. I haven’t tried or tested it yet, but both of you will be on my mind when I do! 🙂

      You know what I’d love? I’d love to send you a small package of things one day. I’m just too terrified of your bloody fascists at the Royal Mail. Maybe I’ll try one day anyway, and see what happens.

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  14. Patchouli & I are like a Rock Hudson/Doris Day movie; we started out hating each other in the beginning, but fell in love at the end! Actually, it’s not a full-blown romance yet, but Gothic 1 has helped me understand how patchouli can enhance other notes, & it’s my favorite part of this perfume.

    I got LOTS of patchouli & love how it works with the vanilla. It was both slightly mentholated & dusty, maybe because there are two kinds of patch in Gothic 1. It cuts the sweetness & density just enough to make the vanilla still feel rich, but not at all cloying. I found a fb on eBay for a great price & had to have it.

    • There is definitely a lot of patchouli in Gothic I, but it hid behind a very heavy vanilla wall on my skin. The overall combination is exactly as you describe: the patchouli cuts the sweetness to keep the vanilla in line and stops it from going overboard into the cloying region. As for the sort of patchouli, it’s definitely the true, brown kind but it’s not very diluted down, which is undoubtedly why you’re experiencing the camphorous, green, dusty facets to it. (I don’t know what they do to patchouli leaves to turn it into the purple, fruit-chouli molasses and syrup that abounds in commercial, mainstream perfumery, but it has to be the most diluted form of all. Totally gross, imo.)

      As for Gothic I, I keep meaning to buy a bottle on eBay, but they’ve become more and more rare, and whenever one actually does pop up, someone always beats me out for it. Undoubtedly you on one of those occasions. LOL. 😉 😛

  15. The June-July of Vanilla’s ~ So, I have sampled, gorged, and satisfied my sweet tooth. Here’s my summary rundown of those I tried, what they did on my skin, and my final FB choice:

    Van Cleef & Arpel-Orchidee Vanille: where are’t thou, scent?
    PPC-Provanilla: Too tropical
    Indult-Tihota: Too thick
    Mona di Orio-Vanille: Too smokey
    Sarah Horowitz-Perfect vanilla: Basic and ‘nice’ – a girly starter vanilla
    St Barth-Lea: Disappearing baby powder
    Montale-Vanilla Ecstasy: Synthetic disaster. Immediate scrubbing off
    Agonist-Isis: Too sweet and floral
    Micallef – Note Vanille: Enjoyed the booziness but overall too sweet
    Micallef- Vanille cuir: Herbal scent, ? where’s the vanilla
    Rodkin-Gothic II: Throw back to the Middle East. Enjoyable patchouli
    Maitre Parfumeur & Gantier-Fleur de Comores – The floral sweetness in this reminds me of a childhood candy that I cannot quite place.
    Atelier cologne-Vanille Insensee: Meh. It’s so-so.
    Parfums de Nikolai –Vanille Tonka: Began sophisticated then veered into soap

    Honorable mentions/decant worthy:
    Parfumerie General-Felanilla: Classic ladylike powdery fume with the orris. Worth a try for those who enjoy those kinds of scents, the sweet vanilla remains in the undertones.
    Zolty Van-Ile: Beautiful dry down but I really still don’t like the first 2 hours after several tries.
    Frapin 1270: Quite pretty after all

    If I had all the money in the world, I’d buy these full bottles:
    Farmacia SS Annunziata-Vaniglia de Madagascar: just enough for the sweet tooth, with class
    MDCI-Chypre Palatin: for the inner (vanilla) goddess

    Final choice (hence posting here):
    Loree Rodkin Gothic-I: Hug me, now – with a touch of spice. Perfect.

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