While there are hundreds of scent combinations perfumers have come out with today, from citrus-y florals to fresh aquatics, there’s no scent quite as classic as a warm, comforting vanilla. The scent fits every season and mood, but is especially great for fall and winter thanks to its cozy, comfy vibes. But there’s more to picking the best vanilla perfume than you may think. There are actually many different categories of vanilla than just the standard sweet scent you may think of—from spicy vanilla to smoky and woodsy, the range varies widely, meaning you’re sure to find a vanilla perfume that you will love. To make it easier for you, we rounded up the best vanilla perfumes that not only smell great, but are long-lasting and affordable.

Types of vanilla perfume

As mentioned, there are more categories of vanilla perfume than just your standard sweet vanilla fragrance. If you prefer a more smoky, woodsy scent, there’s a vanilla perfume for that. If you prefer a floral perfume, there’s a vanilla fragrance for that, too.

Vanilla is such a versatile ingredient that is put in many different perfume formulations to add a bit of sweetness to the formula. It mixes well with so many different ingredients, and truly is the epitome of a beloved scent. It’s rare that someone finds a vanilla fragrance offensive or unpleasant smelling.

Studies even show that vanilla can help ease levels of anxiety and make you feel calmer all around.

Woodsy vanilla perfumes

Now, let’s get into the different types of vanilla fragrances. First, there’s woodsy vanilla perfumes. This family of vanilla typically has notes of bergamot, musk and/or sandalwood, and may smell musky and warm.

Spicy vanilla perfumes

Another vanilla family is spicy vanilla. Spicy vanilla perfumes are a very popular and sought-after category of vanilla. It smells sexy, warm and seductive, and may have notes of amber, bourbon, patchouli and more.

Sweet vanilla perfumes

There are also sweet vanilla perfumes. Most vanilla perfumes are considered a gourmand perfume, or a fragrance that essentially smells like dessert, and can even create mouth-watering effects and smells like you could eat it. Typical notes of sweet vanilla perfumes are amber, brown sugar, cocoa, caramel and tonka bean.

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There are many other types of vanilla fragrance families, and we’ll get into more detail below when we offer our top picks.

The 14 best vanilla perfumes

Keep reading for our favorite and best vanilla perfumes that range from sweet to spicy and everything in between.

Best sweet vanilla perfumes

By Rosie Jane Dulce Eau de Parfum

This vanilla pick, By Rosie Jane Dulce Eau de Parfum, made my top three out of all the fragrances on this list. The second I spritzed it on my wrists, I became obsessed with the sweet and delicious scent—I couldn’t stop smelling it. It’s also one of the perfumes that has gotten me the most compliments. It’s a unique scent with notes of vanilla, hinoki wood, nude musk and chocolate, and the best part? It lasts for hours and is a clean fragrance. Even more, it costs less than $100.

Kayali Vanilla 28 Eau de Parfum

Kayali Vanilla 28 Eau de Parfum, took me by surprise in the best way because I truly have never smelled anything like it (and I’ve smelled a lot of perfumes in my time). It’s warm and sweet, and if you’re an amber fan like me, you’re sure to love this one—it’s one of the best. It has notes of vanilla orchids, tonka absolute, amber woods, jasmine, musk, patchouli and brown sugar. As a testament to how the brand perfected this vanilla fragrance, the number “28” in the name symbolizes the 28 rounds of formulations it went through to get this sweet and warm balance.

Lavanila Pure Vanilla Perfume

For a sweet vanilla perfume that’s also clean and natural, look no further than Lavanilla Pure Vanilla Perfume. First off, it costs less than $50, an impressive price for a clean formula. But even more, it smells like, well, vanilla. Of course, all of these fragrances smell like vanilla, but this pick smells like vanilla in its purest form, almost as if you were to use regular ol’ vanilla extract as a perfume. It’s made with pure Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean and a heliotrope blend, making it sweet and seductive but not overpowering.

Skylar Vanilla Sky Eau de Parfum

Skylar Vanilla Sky Eau de Parfum smells like a vanilla latte with hints of caramel, thanks to its cappuccino, pure vanilla and caramelized cedar notes. Better yet, it’s hypoallergenic, safe for sensitive skin, cruelty-free and vegan, meaning it’s ultra gentle and non-irritating on skin.

Billie Eilish Eau de Parfum

Artist Billie Eilish’s perfume, Eilish Eau de Parfum, has been raved about ever since it launched at the end of 2021. It definitely wins bonus points for packaging: the sleek, gold, feminine bottle looks beautiful on display, and ultra-luxe. And of course, it smells nice and sweet too. It’s made with notes of sugared petals, mandarin, warm berries, vanilla, spices, cocoa, musk and tonka beans.

Best spicy vanilla perfumes

Mix:Bar Vanilla Bourbon Eau de Parfum

Starting off with a fan-favorite, Mix:Bar Vanilla Bourbon Eau de Parfum has gone wildly viral on social media recently, and we can see why. It’s sweet and spicy, with notes of bergamot, jasmine, apple blossom, Madagascar vanilla bean and sandalwood, and is clean and vegan. We haven’t gotten to the best part though—it costs just $20 (!!) and is available at Target.

YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum

There’s a reason why YSL Black Opium has a cult following and is one of the most sought-after fragrances on the market, despite its high-end price. It’s truly the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, smelling both warm and welcoming and sexy and flirty at the same time. To me, it’s more of a nighttime perfume—wear it on date night or for a special occasion. It has notes of coffee, white flowers and vanilla. This is also one of my most complimented perfumes.

Best woodsy vanilla perfume

Who is Elijah Haze Eau de Parfum

If there’s any vanilla perfume that can perfectly balance warm and sweet with smoky and woodsy, it’s Who is Elijah Haze Eau de Parfum. What’s attractive about this one is it isn’t too overpowering—sometimes I find smoky and woodsy scents to be too strong, but that isn’t the case with this pick. It’s subtle but lingers all day, and will put you in the mood to host a cozy bonfire. It has notes of vanilla, chestnut, peru balsam, cashmeran, cedarwood and orange blossom, among a few others.

Best light and fresh vanilla perfumes

Juliette Has a Gun Vanilla Vibes Eau de Parfum

If you want to splurge and treat yourself to a luxury vanilla perfume, we recommend Juliette Has a Gun Vanilla Vibes Eau de Parfum. This is one of the more unique vanilla perfumes on this list, due to its blend of sweet vanilla notes and fresh sea salt. It smells light and airy but also warm and cozy (we know, this may be hard to imagine, but just trust us when we say it’s good). It’s another that has a cult following, and it really is the perfect spin on the traditional vanilla scent.

Dossier Aquatic Vanilla Eau de Parfum

If you love the scent of Juliette Has a Gun Vanilla Vibes but are looking for a dupe without a hefty price tag, look no further than Dossier Aquatic Vanilla Eau de Parfum. Dossier is all about dupes, and has dozens of “inspired by” perfumes that are made to smell similar to popular luxury perfumes. It has notes of marine, red fruits, rose, vanilla, orchid, coconut, musks, sandalwood and benzoin.

Le Monde Gourmand Crème Vanilla Eau de Parfum

At first spritz, Le Monde Gourmand Crème Vanilla Eau de Parfum smells almost light and airy, with this fresh sweetness that’s hard to describe. Then, once it dries down, it turns into a more warm and cozy vanilla scent that’s still light and subtle. It has notes of creamy apricot, jasmine petals, brown sugar and amber—and it costs just $25.

Bonus: Best vanilla body sprays

Frenshe Cashmere Vanilla Body Spray

We love a good drugstore find, and Frenshe Cashmere Vanilla Body Spray is one of our best drugstore fragrance finds yet. It rings in at just $14.99, making it the most affordable vanilla fragrance on this list, and is available at Target. But don’t let the low price fool you—it smells luxe and expensive, an absolutely divine vanilla scent. It has notes of warm vanilla, toasted jasmine rice, amber and creamy musk. Layer it with their Cashmere Vanilla Perfume Oil and Cashmere Vanilla Milky Hydrating Lotion to help make the scent last even longer.

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Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Sin Body Mist

Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Sin is a spicy vanilla body mist, and is perfect for all the cherry-lovers out there. With notes of bourbon vanilla, almond cream and black cherry, it smells seductive and sexy. It’s also Clean at Sephora, so it won’t irritate those with super sensitive skin.shouldn’t feel irritating on skin.

Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 71 Perfume Mist

Pretty much all of Sol de Janeiro’s scents have gone viral on social media and become wildly popular, so it’s no surprise that Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 71 Perfume Mist made our list. This one ranks very high up on my list, thanks to its warm, caramel-y-vanilla aroma that immediately makes you feel like you’ve walked into a delicious bakery. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and cozy, with notes of caramelized vanilla, sea salt, toasted macadamia nut, white chocolate, tonka bean and coconut blossom—essentially, it’s a dessert in a bottle.