Vanilla is a universal timeless scent yet from late 2023 to early 2024 we saw a sore in the #vanillagirlaesthetic and vanilla scents took over the shelves EVERYWHERE, are we mad…. absolutely not! Let’s dive deep into all of the recommended (affordable and splurge) essential products on how to smell like vanilla. Coming from a certified vanilla scent LOVER, I promise you’ll find something you fall in love with. If you don’t I promise you should reach out to me and tell me the vanilla scent of your dreams and I will find something that I guarantee will satisfy.
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I am going to fill you in on all of the layers of your scent routine that need to be fulfilled to capture that beautiful sweet scent bubble you don’t even know you need! This will be everything you need to know on how to smell like vanilla. I have limitless amazing recommendations for vanilla lovers.
Before I go into a tangent on my love for vanilla, let’s get into the in-depth routine on how to smell like vanilla.
Shower
First things first, let’s get clean! Here’s something not all people know…. you need to double-cleanse your body. Double cleansing is essential for a clean base for this sweet scent bubble to truly form. To double cleanse in the best way possible you need to go in with a soap that will properly get rid of the dirt and also build-up on your body (this is not your scented body wash).
Recommendations
Dove soap bars are perfect for this (I use the Dove beauty bar) however, if you’re ready to splurge you should invest in an antibacterial body wash. These can contain things like salicylic acid which can truly get into the deeper layers of your skin and properly exfoliate. if you’re not looking for a harsh exfoliator but want to brighten your skin and also target hyperpigmentation and dark spots you NEED to try Kojic Acid Soap bars.
Finally, after we finish the first cleanse now we can use a more ‘fun’ body wash, this is where we can start forming our scent bubble. There are so many different body washes ranging from all prices which are worth checking. If you want more of that clean vanilla I recommend (if you haven’t already) try the Dove soap. For more deep sweet and also complex vanilla scents see the below list ranging from cheapest-expensive:
If you want to know the Must-Have vanilla body washes click here.
Body scrubs are crucial to remove all that dead skin that could be causing an underlying musty smell (which we don’t want). You can try a DIY body scrub but if you’re truly ready to level up these will be perfect for you:
- Tree Hut Vanilla Shea Butter
- Tree Hut Taihitan Vanilla Bean
- Dove Brown Sugar and Coconut Butter
- Sol de Janeiro 62 Bum Bum Scrub
2. Body Care
This step cannot be missed, to get all the previous steps to work we have to lock it all in. This is a controversial and sensitive topic….. body oil or body lotion first?
We won’t get into the details of that battle right now but I’ll give you this…. If you shower at night just do body oil on wet skin and in the morning apply your moisturiser but if you shower in the morning do moisturiser and then body oil to lock in the moisture. Don’t ask me why but this is my method if you want to know the nitty gritty and make up your mind, read my other article on this!
Picking the right moisturiser is so important with how to smell like vanilla but can be much more difficult than you think with the wide variety, especially when considering scents. However, I have different lotions for different occasions (to find out check the FAQ at the end of the article). When picking a moisturiser I go through the following checklist:
- Fragrance
- Hydration Levels
- Absorbancy
Some of my favourite moisturisers I would recommend that check all these boxes and also deliver a beautiful smell check these out:
- Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cherisa 62
- Tilley Scents of Nature Vanilla Nougat Candy Hand and Body Lotion
- Bare Vanilla- Victoria Secret
3. Body Mist
Having a body mist is helpful when it comes to touching up and refreshing your scent. Body mists aren’t as strong and intense as perfumes because they typically offer a simple and light fragrance. However, I love to use them when I get out of the shower straight onto my skin but throughout the day I just apply them to my clothes to freshen up.
Some of my favourite body mists are the following:
- Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush 62 Body Fragrance Mist
- Victoria Secret Bare Vanilla
- Pacifica Beauty, Island Vanilla Hair Perfume & Body Mist
4. Perfume
Perfume will be the bones of creating that irresistible vanilla scent bubble. The perfume you choose will most likely be the first thing someone smells in you. Perfumes are much more complex and have multiple layers, they tend to reveal different scents once soaked into your skin. Perfumes are much more personal to each person’s preference but I have some suggestions that are generic and widely loved.
For a cocoa and also vanilla scent:
For a warm and also addictive vanilla scent
For a fruity and also sweet vanilla scent
For a luxury vanilla scent
5. Perfume Oil
If you want to level up on your scent you NEED a perfume oil. Perfume oils last much longer than standard perfumes. However, if you want to elevate your scent power and also longevity you should try wearing both. But if you don’t have a perfume oil you can use an essential oil and mix this with your lotion, GAME CHANGER!
Here are some perfume oils you can try to elevate your fragrance:
For the essential oil hack, this one is perfect!
FAQ
Q: What moisturiser do you use?
A: I use the Bare Vanilla moisturiser by Victoria Secret for when I go out, it’s so fresh and sweet but not overpowering, I’m OBSESSED. When I get out to shower or am going to do something casual, I love to use the Palmers cocoa butter body lotion.
Q: Should I use perfume and perfume oil or just one?
A: I wrote an article comparing them both and figuring out which one is better. read more.
How to Smell like Vanilla, what’s next?
Finally, now you know how to smell like vanilla, check out my other blog posts and the products linked to elevate your fragrance and hygiene routine.
