Our take
What does Orchidée Vanille smell like?
Orchidée Vanille was one of the six scents that opened Van Cleef & Arpels' Collection Extraordinaire in 2009. Randa Hammami composed it. The name promises a heavy dessert. What you get is lighter. Mandarin opens alongside juicy litchi with an almost rosy tint. Bitter almond follows with violet and a very soft Bulgarian rose. A thread of dark chocolate gives the heart a shadow you don't expect. Vanilla owns the base. It smells of the pod more than the sugar, with a faint smoky veil and a boozy edge. Cedar keeps it upright while tonka and white musk round it off. Next to Guerlain's Shalimar, Orchidée Vanille is far tamer and more transparent. It suits people who love vanilla but dislike perfumes that fill a room. The orchid in the name is a mood more than a note.
When to wear it
A spring and autumn vanilla that works at the office because it projects so little. Spray some on a scarf to make it last.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber family. Orchidée Vanille is one of 20 creations by Van Cleef & Arpels in our encyclopedia.