Best Overall

Commodity Gold Expressive Eau de Parfum

View on Commodityfragrances.comView on Scentbird.com

Highlighted Notes: Vanilla, sandalwood, amber| Size: 0.34, 3.4 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Commodity Gold Expressive Eau de Parfum with notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and amber earned our best overall spot because our tester didn’t have one bad thing to say about it. For starters, it feels and sprays like a luxury perfume, but doesn’t have a luxury designer price tag; it rings up at under $160 for the large size and $34 for the mini size (some luxury perfumes can cost $300 and up). Even more, our tester loved how it didn’t smell like a juvenile vanilla perfume—the amber and sandalwood make it more of a spicy vanilla fragrance that smells seductive, sexy, and more “grown-up.”

While it doesn’t last longer than most perfumes on the skin, our tester noted it does have good staying power on her clothes, as she could still smell it on her sweaters for days after spritzing. Since it’s a spicier vanilla, it would work exceptionally well for a date night or special occasion during the colder months.

Esme, tester: “I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet. I wore a vanilla perfume as a teenager and automatically associate the note with youth, but this version was very grown-up. I felt confident and, dare I say, sexy while wearing it. A few friends commented on how great I smelled after hugging me hello.”

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Salt Eau de Parfum

$115

$92 at Amazon$115 at UltaView on Ellisbrooklyn.com

Highlighted Notes: Sea salt accord, jasmine petals, whipped cream, Vanilla Madagascar Absolute | Size: 0.33, 1.7 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you love an aquatic perfume mixed with some sweetness, try Ellis Brooklyn’s Vanilla Salt Eau de Parfum. It’s a unique take on the classic vanilla, thanks to its sea salt accord and desert water notes, making it the perfect balance between sweet and salty. Our tester was impressed with how long it lasted; while she says she probably would reapply before a date night, she found that it lasted longer than many of her big-box brands. She also liked that it has a more subtle, natural-smelling scent and wasn’t too overpowering.

Hannah, tester: “I love this scent! This perfume is a different take on your typical warm vanilla. It’s like a vanilla you would wear to the Hamptons, giving a light, luxurious, vacation-ready scent. It makes you feel clean, feminine, sweet, and luxurious all at once. I love this more than my current everyday perfume, and that’s hard to beat.”

Best Sweet Vanilla

By Rosie Jane Dulce Eau De Parfum

$80

$60 at Amazon$80 at Sephora$80 at Nordstrom

Highlighted Notes: Creamy vanilla, brown sugar, warm Hinoki wood| Size: 0.33, 1.7 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you love a gourmand fragrance, you’ll love the By Rosie Jane Dulce Dulce Eau de Parfum. Aside from its sugary vanilla note, you’ll smell warm brown sugar and Hinoki wood in the under-$100 perfume—it smells like a delectable dessert. Our tester found it to be a subtle, lighter option that’s great for everyday wear and makes for an excellent fragrance to layer with her more complex, powerful scents. However, she didn’t find it to be the most long-lasting, as she needed to reapply it throughout the day. But for the price, we still think it’s worth it.

Jennifer, tester: “This scent is very subtle, but it doesn’t disappear entirely throughout the day. It more so evolves into a warm, skin-like scent that’s barely there by mid-day, but every now and then, you can still notice a hint of it on your clothes and wrists.”

Best Spicy Vanilla

Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum

$75 at SephoraView on Rarebeauty.com

Highlighted Notes: Caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, pistachio, ginger| Size: 0.34, 1.69 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Rare Beauty’s new Rare Eau de Parfum has been getting rave reviews, and after trying it, I can understand why. It’s a delicious, cozy, and warm vanilla scent with notes of caramel and pistachio, but it also features notes of sandalwood and ginger that add a hint of spiciness without being overpowering.

While it smells absolutely incredible (I’ve been wearing it nonstop since trying), what really makes it stand out in my book is the packaging. It was created to be accessible to all, including those with dexterity issues. Instead of having to pull off a topper, you simply use your finger to “slide” and unlock the sprayer, then spritz. It doesn’t require much effort to press down the spray nozzle. As someone with an immediate family member who has a disability, I greatly appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into creating this delicious vanilla perfume.

Best Floral Vanilla

Harlem Perfume Co. Golden Muse

$140 at SephoraView on Bigelowchemists.com

Highlighted Notes: Sea salt, Tahitian monoi, vanilla caviar, orange flower, tiger lily | Size: 0.3, 1.7 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you like just a hint of vanilla, tucked into a blend of fresh, floral notes, you’ll love Harlem Perfume Co.’s Golden Muse Eau de Parfum. Our tester loved its beautiful balance between bright and floral, as well as warm and earthy. She was also impressed by how long the perfume lasted; she was surprised that a single spritz on the wrist and a few sprays on the neck were enough to last all night.

Hannah, tester: “I like that this is the first ‘floral/bright’ perfume I’ve tried that isn’t overly sweet. It has an earthy tone, making it more sensual. It’s different than the typical warm vanilla scents I use, and earthier than the light florals I’m used to. I especially love how long the perfume clings to my body.”

Best Fruity Vanilla

Miu Miu Miutine

$108 at Sephora

$138

$118 at Macy’s

Highlighted Notes: Wild strawberry, gardenia, brown sugar, and vanilla accord| Size: 0.34, 1.7, 3.4 oz| Cruelty-Free: No

When I received this Miu Miu Miutine Eau de Parfum to test, I was immediately impressed by the gorgeous, luxe bottle and packaging. It fits Miu Miu’s chic aesthetic, and it’s the type of bottle I would love to display on my vanity. As far as the scent goes, this is more of a fruity-floral vanilla fragrance, rather than your typical warm and cozy vanilla, thanks to notes of wild strawberry and gardenia. I found it to be a more unique vanilla scent, making it a great choice for anyone who wants to try something a little different but still has that hint of sweet vanilla.

My only caveat is that it is on the stronger side and has that intense “perfumey” scent. Since I’m sensitive to strong fragrances, it did give me a bit of a headache, so I would recommend saving this for special occasions and events rather than using it as an everyday perfume.

Best Long-Lasting

Octavia Morgan Vanillin Supreme

$45 at UltaView on Octaviamorgan.com

Highlighted Notes: Vanilla, rose, rum, cocoa, sandalwood | Size: 0.34, 1.7 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our tester describes Octavia Morgan’s Vanillin Supreme Eau de Parfum as the ideal everyday scent that works year-round. Its notes of vanilla, rose, rum, cocoa, and sandalwood smell cozy and sexy. He liked that it was more of a natural-smelling vanilla rather than the artificial vanilla scent some perfumes have. One of his favorite things about this vanilla perfume is its lasting power, as he says it lasted all day without the need for reapplication. And, it garnered a few compliments during wear.

Mikey, tester: “I firmly believe this fragrance could be a new everyday scent staple for someone looking to add a new vanilla fragrance into their routine. Soft, yet extremely effective, I did have a few people comment on the fragrance itself as I wore it during the testing period. The blend of vanilla, jasmine, and soft orange notes created a beautiful scent story perfect for any occasion.”

Best Sophisticated Vanilla

PHLUR Eau de Parfum

$99

$95 at Amazon$99 at SephoraView on Phlur.com

Highlighted Notes: Sugar crystals, cashmere wood, vanilla| Size: 0.32, 1.7, 3.3 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sometimes, super sugary and sweet-smelling vanilla fragrances can smell a bit juvenile, so finding a more mature vanilla perfume always feels like a win. That’s why our tester fell in love with the Phlur Vanilla Skin Eau de Parfum, a sophisticated vanilla fragrance with hints of musk and spice. She liked that while it has a sweetness, it’s not sickly sweet. Because of this, it’s a perfume that works equally well for both daytime and nighttime use. She even claims it’s one of the best vanilla scents she’s tried (and trust us, she’s tested many perfumes).

Alyssa Kaplan, editor: “The scent is warm with a nice balance of sweetness and spice. It smells cozy and sophisticated, and feels suitable for day or nighttime wear. It’s really well-balanced; not too strong but definitely detectable enough.”