Remember the deliciously scented Spicy Vanilla reed diffuser from Erbario Toscano that I wrote about just two weeks ago (here)? I loved it so much that I bought two more of them while the small size was still on sale at Vietri (all but the 3L Spicy Vanilla reed diffuser is sold out now).
And I was eager to find the Spicy Vanilla eau de parfum from Erbario Toscano that seemed to be out of stock everywhere I looked online. Well, someone was selling a travel size Erbario Toscano Spicy Vanilla EDP, and I decided that it made sense to try out a travel size spray (7.5ml/0.25 fl. oz.) to see if it suits me rather than buying a full size when it comes back in stock. The cost was $25, and I thought it would be worthwhile to try it.
The travel spray arrived a few days ago. The glass spray bottle came in a very nice presentation box from Erbario Toscano.
Fortunately, I had read reviews online from a number of sites that said that the travel spray looked like it wasn’t completely full, and that’s exactly what it looked like when I got it. Since 7.5 ml is a small amount and it comes in a tall-ish glass spray bottle, I don’t think any of it was missing. Instead, I think that’s what a quarter of an ounce looks like.
I was very excited to give it a try! Immediately, I sprayed it on my pulse points, and I was ready to be enveloped in Spicy Vanilla. Initially, it smelled like the Spicy Vanilla oil in the reed diffuser, but on me, the EDP lacked the projection, the sillage, the complexity. After a couple of minutes, the fragrance dries down and sits very close to my skin. I can smell it if I sniff my wrist, but I don’t have any sensation of it around me. So far, no one has said, “Oh, what a nice scent” or “Which fragrance are you wearing?”. Boo. So far, I am disappointed.
Although I know that Vaniligia Piccante (Spicy Vanilla) EDP is made up of many different notes, they don’t seem to come through, at least to me. Rather than opening with top notes (Nutmeg, Caramel, Labdanum, Thyme and Eucalyptus), expanding into middle notes (Sandalwood, Incense, Patchouli, Cedar and Peach Blossom) and finally to base notes (Vanilla, Amber, Allspice and White Musk), it seems to be all of a piece, a one trick pony. It’s not nearly as interesting as I expected it to be.
I’ve tried applying Spicy Vanilla EDP over bare skin as well as over unscented body lotion, and it didn’t make a difference in projection, lastingness, or complexity. I still have about two-thirds of the travel size spray bottle left, so I will keep at it and see if the scent finally grabs on to me.
I hate when perfumes disappoint me. Don’t get me started on Tom Ford. Sorry this turned out to be a dud.
Thank you xo I am finishing up the spray to see if anything changes. But I still adore the reed diffuser, at least. And I’m with you on Tom Ford.