I can't believe it's been nearly three years since I wrote a post about vanilla lotions, with suggestions for fragrance layering; but time has indeed flown, and the new year seems like as good a time as any to revisit some favorite themes. I still agree with my own recommendations from that earlier post, and now I can add another half-dozen ideas for products that feature vanilla, often mixed with other notes for results that may also appeal to the non-vanilla-lovers among us.
First, an option that's traditional all around: Caswell-Massey Vanilla Orchid Hand & Body Lotion (above center), from the venerable toiletries company. Even though its name mentions the flower of the vanilla plant, this is a rich gourmand vanilla with a caramel note. If you're really in the mood for some head-to-toe vanilla-bean sweetness, you could also try the matching shower gel, dusting powder, and Eau de Toilette. ($17, currently on sale for $12.75, at the Caswell-Massey website)
I have a weakness for certain high-end natural lines, and since I already loved certain skincare and haircare products from this company, it wasn't surprising that I fell for John Masters Blood Orange and Vanilla Body Milk (above right). This light lotion is packed with antioxidant-rich oils, soothing botanicals like comfrey leaf, and extracts of vanilla, honeysuckle, blood orange oil, and grapefruit peel oil for fragrance. It smells like a Creamsicle, if anyone ever whipped up a Creamsicle from handmade gelato flavored with real blood orange and vanilla. ($18 at the John Masters website)
Naturopathica Bourbon Vanilla Body Lotion (above left) offers an intriguing twist on the simple idea of vanilla. Its fragrance blend marries organic vanilla bean extract to palmarosa oil, litsea cubeba, and massoia bark extract. The result is a buttery vanilla meshed with woodsy-citrus notes and further sweetened by a silky, coconut-like heart (from the massoia). This scent reminds me, strangely enough, of Serge Lutens Datura Noir. The lotion's formula also has a wonderfully creamy, skin-soothing consistency. ($28 at the Naturopathica website)
I think I avoided this one for a while because its name reminds me of the overplayed 1991 hit "Groove Is In The Heart," but Lush Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion (above left) was a pleasant surprise for me. I expected something excessively foody, since I'm still traumatized by Lush's recent addition of too many cotton-candy-and-cupcake-icing products to its roster, but Vanilla Dee-Lite is a more grown-up (and long-lasting) vanilla that gains a nutty aspect from the lotion's inclusion of illipe butter, cocoa butter, and tonka absolute. It brings back memories of an old favorite of mine, The Body Shop's Brazil Nut Butter. ($25.95 at the Lush website)
If you're looking for just a hint of vanilla but you really prefer earthier notes, Evan Healy Whipped Patchouli Vanilla Shea Butter (not shown) may fit the bill. Its base is shea butter and olive oil, scented with a coconut-oil infusion of Madagascar vanilla, rose petal extract, and aged Indonesian patchouli. The fragrance is a no-nonsense, dirty patchouli, the way patchouli oil used to smell on my friends who wore it during our college years, and the comforting vanilla note adds just enough smoothness. This product also feels intensely moisturizing and healing on winter skin. ($28.95 at the Evan Healy website)
I should round off this list with one bargain item, so I'll suggest Aveeno Positively Nourishing Soothing 24-Hour Body Moisturizer (above right). I don't really buy into its promise of “active naturals," but I think its formula is better than that of most drugstore body lotions, and I do like the fragrance. It's a creamy floral vanilla that reminds me a little bit of L’Occitane Eau des Vanilliers (now discontinued, sadly enough), and it clings to the skin all day. (about $8 at drugstores)
Have you recently come across any vanilla-fragranced body products that you'd like to recommend? Feel free to share in the comments.
The Naturopathica and Healy lotions sound great! Love me some dirty patch.
This season I wore the Body Shop’s Vanilla Spice body butter quite a bit. I found it warming in this chilly weather. I didn’t layer anything with it, because it stands on its own pretty well, but I imagine you could layer it with a spicy gourmand.
Thanks for the review!
The chilly weather *is* just right for a good vanilla. I’ve noticed that a few of my recent reviews have been gourmand-related!
I was going to mention TBS Spiced Vanilla too. I bought the shower gel and it’s lovely. I particularly like it because it doesn’t slip into the dessert category plus it’s not at all overwhelming, sickly or cloying.
However, this time last year, TBS did a limited edition Nutmeg and Vanilla range which I really loved. It was very warming thanks to nutmeg and slightly reminiscent of Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanilla. I really hoped they’d reissue it this year but, alas, no such luck.
Mmm, nutmeg. I’ve been using Pattern’s Nutmeg body wash lately. Too bad TBS didn’t repeat that limited edition!
I discovered an old bottle of Vanille Sauvage de Madagascar (EDT) by La Maison de la Vanille that my Mom used to use. It’s just fabulous as a bed/room spray in the winter months. I wanted more and found they offered a lotion, and got it. It’s become my Go-To vanilla lotion. It’s rich and sweet and strong. Love it! I also have Jo Malone’s Vanilla and Anise which is pretty good, but, as we know, pricey. I got some bath oil from Santa which is good. But do try the VS de M. Oh, and for layering, I spray on some Montale Chocolate Greedy and it makes people go wild with desires to hit either a Starbucks or a Mrs. Fields chocolate cookie place. A FUN combo. And, one more, if you like Molinard’s Habanita, which I adore, their body lotion is to die for. It’s of course vanilla and vetiver. And is reasonably priced.
There’s a Habanita lotion? I had no idea. Thanks, Mough!
I also have loved the Maison de la Vanille lotions, but aren’t they now discontinued? Another goo one is Ligne st. Barth vanilla lotion. I really like the Lush Vanilla Delite as well.
I’m not even sure, Sarahbeth… I keep forgetting to keep up with this line. Did they change their packaging at some point, too>
Yes Jessica, somewhat recently the ‘modernized’ their packaging and dropped their lotions. I have not been able to find them since they made that change. I REALLY liked them (I still have a bit left of two of them), but they weren’t the greatest consistency (perhaps they are reformulating) but the scent made up for it!
Ah! Interesting. Thanks for this information!
I just got some lotion of theirs, in the Vanilla Sauvage, about a week ago. The packing does look a little different, but the smell was great. I also got the spray, but have not opened it yet, as I was debating on giving it as a late Xmas present…Might keep it now…
Kiehl’s Vanilla Body Lotion is nice and not too dessert-y. More Vanilla Bean than French vanilla, if you eat Breyer’s ice cream.
Happy New Year and thank you for this delicious blog!
Thank *you*, Pia!
“no-nonsense, dirty patchouli, the way patchouli oil used to smell” Ah, shoot! I’m going to end up buying it from that website before the evening is out. 😉
I actually don’t mind the cleaned-up patchouli that shows up in so many mainstream — and niche — fragrances, but this lotion brought me back to my initial encounters with the note, when I had a few friends going through a hippie stage in college. (I was already a floral person, wearing Laura Ashley No. 1 and RL Safari, but I enjoyed patch on other people!)
Great list of vanilla products, Jessica. All of them sound fantastic in their own way, and I’ve been eyeing that Vanilla Blood Orange line for a while. I think they offer the same scent in shampoo and conditioner, too, which sounds great.
Does anyone have any suggestions of a good incens-vanilla? I’d love to find a lotion to layer with Barbara Bui and Guerlain SDV, but haven’t quite found one that works well and doesn’t overwhelm the sweetness of the perfumes.
Funnily enough, I actually got a free travel size bottle of Habanita lotion when I ordered my Tendre Friandise back toward the end of summer, but haven’t tried it out yet. Now I’m really intrigued as I’ve fallen really hard for the perfume. 🙂
TBS’s Rich Plum and Cranberry were my seasonal faves, but that was before I got into gourmands and now think their Vanilla Spice would be fabulous to layer under Tonka Imperiale or Ambre Narguile. Hmmm… I might have to try that.
AS, I wish Fragonard were easier to find in stores. And I’m always a fan of layering more accessible lotions under high-end fragrances! If it works, it works. 🙂
That is, *Molinard.* Although I wish Fragonard were more widely available, too.
I like Desert Essence Vanilla Chai hand and body lotion–it’s not overly sweet and has a spicy note.
Crowflower, I love that one… and it’s fairly easy to find, at Whole Foods and the like. I may need to repurchase it soon, now that you’ve mentioned it.
My favorite vanilla lotion remains the dc’ed Suave Naturals Toasted Vanilla and Sugar (the body wash and hair products are out in limited edition, but haven’t been able to locate the lotion). Better than the B&BW it was meant to imitate, and it layered wonderfully with a wide array of ‘fumes. Sigh.
You know, sometimes I’m curious about the scents of Suave products. For example, they have a pomegranate body wash that sounds great. I’m just worried that the actual formulas of the products will be too rough on my head/body…
I love vanilla anything – my guilty pleasure is B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar – I love the steamed rice note in that stuff, very soothing. The Caswell-Massey Vanilla Orchid sounds yum, I should have read this before I went to TJ Maxx today, I think I saw some!
Flora, I hope C-M isn’t discontinuing the Vanilla Orchid, now that I’ve recommended it, hah! And BB&W Warm Vanilla Sugar has never agreed with me, but it certainly has legions of fans.
I haven’t tried the body shop butters mentioned, but I have used one of their chocolate ones and found it way too overwhelming. Also I have one of Evelyn and Crabtree’s chocolate and orange lotions (got it on a sale so also discontinued I think) and its also just way too much for me – couldn’t layer that with anything…
Merlin, Chocolate is a tricky note… I like it once in a while, in a soap or shower gel or even a fragrance, but it has to be just the right amount in just the right blend!
I really love Vanilla Scent. I have tried some bath gels including DOP which is the less expensive. But I can’t stand the one by a local shop, it smells like a pudding. And not the mysterious scent that vanilla keeps in other bath and cream gels.
Vintagelady, Some vanillas are definitely *too* dessert-like for my taste, too.
I used to love TBS Vanilla and Spice as well – as did an ex-boyfriend, alas. so I haven’t used it lately. Vanille Sauvage de Madagascar remains a favorite – it’s an interesting vanilla, office-friendly, not cloying. And while in Hawaii I bought an inexpensive Plumeria Vanilla scent that is just lovely and remains a happy reminder of a wonderful trip!
Maggiecat, I love having a few scents that remind me of various happy travels!
Being a vanilla lover, I have to add Neutrogena Buttercream!
It’s very bourbon-y almost smoky vanilla that’s long lasting. I’ve had great luck using it as a base for Annick Goutal, L’artisan Mure et Musc, and my PDG Sacrebleu. I’m afraid it’s probably close to being discontinued. Hard to find that bourbon thing.
Oh, that does sound good. I’ll keep an eye out for it, Imapirate.
Jessica, this is slightly off topic, but I wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying a product you reviewed in 2009: Diptyque’s Baume Genereux (Luxurious Hand Balm). Smells great, wonderfully moisturizing and non-greasy. In the winter, my hands dry out so quickly and then feel cold – this hand balm is the perfect solution. Thanks so much for reviewing it!
Hi, Noz — It’s fine to go off topic, and anyway, it’s still a lotion/cream! Thanks so much for letting me know — I still like that Diptyque line very much, and the hand balm really does feel *and* smell delightful!
St. Ives vanilla body lotion is cheap as hell and nice-smelling; it doesn’t overwhelm, cloy, or overstay its welcome. It’s my go-to lotion in the winter when things start to dry out (elbows, mostly) and I want just a little scent. (If you want a big hit of vanilla or get severely dry skin then it is not going to do the job, though.)
Hi, I can’t find the comment but remember you saying you liked TBS’s brazil nut butter. Me2! But haven’t used it in years. I was there today and they said it was being discontinued. In fact Papaya is being discontinued to and has already disappeared (another I enjoyed). Does anyone else know about this? I’m wondering how many I should stock up with…