Vanilla is one of the most widely known and recognised odours in the western world. Whether you’re talking perfume, candles or ice cream, everyone knows vanilla.
Natural vanilla is derived from the dried pods of a tropical orchid vine native to Mexico; however the two major producing countries now are Madagascar and Indonesia. The pods of the vanilla orchid grow as a result of hand pollinating the orchid flower, because the natural pollinator is a special bee that only exists in its native Mexico. Following the harvesting of the long thin pods, months of curing and maturing take place before the pods are ready for use.
Although natural vanilla contains over 170 individual natural chemicals, the main one is vanillin, which constitutes 50% of the vanilla extract, and which was first synthesised back in 1874. Since then the price of synthetic vanillin has been falling and natural vanilla rising. Natural vanilla extract is now over 100 times the cost of synthetic vanillin!
Despite the vast majority of vanilla being used in the flavour industry, significant amounts are used in the fragrance industry, particularly in rich oriental fragrances, where the vanilla note gives smoothness, richness and luxury to the woody and spicy notes. Contemporary perfumer, Jean-Paul Guerlain, whose grandfather Jacques Guerlain created the legendary oriental perfume Shalimar, believes there are few good perfumes without vanilla. “My grandfather taught me to like vanilla because it adds something wonderfully erotic to a perfume.”
A good example from the LeRêve range is Narcotic Vanille, where the vanilla note blends with the soft, sweet musk and woody notes, with a floral touch. Heliotrope, gourmet and powdery perfumes often contain significant vanilla accords, whilst tropical florals and fruits and even some men’s fragrances have a touch of vanilla.
A recent trend has seen stand-alone vanilla fragrances become popular, giving rise to the gourmand category of scents. LeRêve Signature ‘Vanillatrope Intense’ is a fine example of a fragrance built around vanilla as the hero. For those who want to add more vanilla to their favourite fragrance, Vanillatrope Intense Nutritive Body Balm can be used as a base layer scent which provides depth to any other complementing perfume. Vanilla is one of the longest lasting base notes, so when used in Perfume it gives excellent uniformity of fragrance combined with distinctiveness and volume.
Vanilla fragrance is also much-adored in Candles. The flavour profile of LeRêve’s Tahitian Vanilla Candle is warming and sweet. Reminiscent of baked cookies, it offers a comforting, nostalgic scent ideal for the kitchen and living areas. For a tropical twist to your vanilla, try our Coconut Vanilla Reed Diffuser which provides subtle scent for months.
The vanilla note came to prominence in the 1920’s and one hundred years on is still enjoying sweet success. Far from boring, it’s one of the world’s most cherished fragrances.
