Why it’s -approved: Unlike the brand’s previous wide-open and breezy Alto Astral, Future Memories is altogether woozier. The big vanilla base and middle notes, along with cream liquor, mark it out as a gourmand. Without the addition of orange blossom and musk, it may well have fallen into the sugar-coma category I try my best to avoid, but it doesn’t. It smells smoky and sensual, with a soft, cashmere-like texture. The blackcurrant gives it depth, anchoring the river of vanilla.

For me, fêted perfumer Quentin Bisch has managed to hit on something that’s sweet without veering into the juvenile. You’ll find yourself smooshing your nose into your skin to get more of it.

Why it’s -approved: Roasted Vanilla is spiced, leaning on warm woods to carry the rich, vanilla accent. Notes of oak and pink pepper are what give the fragrance its resinous, smoky quality. The smoke, I should add, is that of an ember rather than a dimly lit jazz club. Think fire pit, not smoking area. As it dries down, more and more of the vanilla comes through, settling into the skin with a creamy and smooth sweetness.

• wild strawberry accord, gardenia accord, brown sugar, vanilla, patchouli oil
• Why we love it: Slightly sugary, sweet and with a fruity freshness thanks to wild strawberry, this vanilla-based perfume with accents of brown sugar and gardenia is bold, playful and resolutely feminine.

• Best for: evening vanilla perfume
• tobacco, plum, tonka bean, vanilla, cedarwood
• Why we love it: A sensual take on vanilla makes this the perfect scent to accompany a night out. The perfume opens with tobacco leaf that offers a smoky, herbaceous note, which then transforms into something creamier and more inviting thanks to notes of plum, tonka bean, vanilla and cedarwood.

• madeleine accord, vanilla, sandalwood
• Why we love it: Inspired by eating madeleines in a Parisian café, this gentle gourmand perfume is as light, airy and sweet as the delicacies themselves. As well as Madagascan vanilla pod, sandalwood adds a soft, woody note that anchors things beautifully.

• pink pepper, pink apple, sugar crystals, lily, jasmine petals, cashmere wood, benzoin, vanilla, sandalwood, agarwood
• Why we love it: A great introduction to vanilla perfumes, this well-crafted scent is luscious, rich, comforting and soft; in other words, everything a gorgeous vanilla perfume should be without any cloying sweetness.

• vanilla orchid, warm spices, wood
• Why we love it: A sensual, soft floral that wraps vanilla extracted from the rare vanilla planifolia orchid with delicate spices and fresh florals to create a perfume that captures the essence of femininity with every spritz.

• cabreuva, orchid, pink pepper, green vanilla leaves, cypress root, vanilla absolute, dark patchouli, hay
• Why we love it: This smooth, grounding gourmand contains a host of interesting ingredients alongside the star, vanilla absolute, all of which help give it a complex and almost smoky balsamic undertone.

• vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine, orris, animalis
• Why we love it: Using a specially created vanilla tincture, this perfume captures the raw, headiness of vanilla so well. As well as vanilla absolute and orris accord, there’s an animalis accord for a hint of leathery warmth, as well as jasmine absolute and sandalwood essence.

• freesia, plum, Madagascan vanilla, amber, cistus oil, cashmere wood
• Extrait de parfum
• Why we love it: A truly special iteration of a vanilla fragrance, this scent is inspired by the elegance of the vanilla pod. Encapsulating the many facets of one of perfumery’s most prized ingredients, this extrait de parfum combines Madagascan vanilla with freesia, plum, amber, cistus oil and cashmere wood. The result is warm, earthy and intoxicatingly creamy.

• eucalyptus leaves, bitter orange, vanilla, everlasting flower, driftwood accord, cypress
• Why we love it: Sweet, salty, creamy and sharp; this eclectic fragrance is a blend of caramelised vanilla musk, sun-drenched florals, tangy citrus notes and herbal eucalyptus. The result is surprising but totally captivating.

• bergamot, white freesia, ambrette, vanilla orchid, lilac, vanilla, liquid musks, driftwoods
• Why we love it: This is vanilla, but not as you know it. To counteract the creamy warmth of Madagascan vanilla, the fragrance blends notes of delicate florals like lilac and freesia, along with liquid musks for a skin-like softness and driftwood for an earthy, slightly salty tang.

• brown sugar, vanilla, tonka bean, musk
• Why we love it: Think of vanilla, and you might think of creamy opulence and a comforting, cocooning warmth – and this perfume is just that. Blending classic vanilla notes with velvety tonka bean, brown sugar and musks, it’s the perfect enveloping scent for autumn.

• vanilla, red apple, freesia
• Why we love it: Those who prefer the naturally sweeter side of vanilla should try this feminine, floral-based concoction. Juicy red apple adds a mouthwatering freshness, while freesia delivers a honeyed sweetness that works well with the creamy vanilla.

• Jasmine, vanilla, musk, sandalwood
• Why we love it: Jasmine is the perfect floral note to sit alongside smooth, creamy Bourbon vanilla and suede, skin-like musk, and it’s a combination that makes this EDP so velvety and enveloping. To keep things anchored and with a woody depth, there’s earthy sandalwood.

Why is vanilla used so much in perfume?

There’s a reason why we smile when we smell the delicious, sweet scent of a cake baking, and that’s because vanilla and all its creamy, comforting familiarity are a potent mood enhancer. And it’s for that reason why it’s such a popular fragrance ingredient. The gourmand note is also versatile, going from warm and cosy to sexy and skin-like depending on what it’s paired with.

How is vanilla extracted for perfume?

Although there are a couple of ways to extract vanilla for perfume, the main one is done by macerating cured vanilla beans in an alcohol solvent to create a semi-solid material called oleoresin. Another alcohol solvent is then used to break this down further and create a fat-soluble absolute which can be blended with other perfumery notes.

Is all vanilla the same in perfumery?

As you might expect, the type of vanilla used can hugely impact the type of fragrance used, and perfumes can vary hugely based on the source of the vanilla in the blend. Not all vanillas smell the same either; while natural-origin vanilla from Madagascar has several facets and can often smell everything from sweet and spicy to leathery and woody, synthetic vanilla is often sweeter and creamier.