victoria secret bare vanilla original vs fake

Bare Vanilla Victoria's Secret for women

Perfume rating 4.42 out of 5 with 372 votes

Bare Vanilla by Victoria's Secret is a Amber Vanilla fragrance for women. This is a new fragrance. Bare Vanilla was launched in 2018.

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Fragrance Notes

Vanilla

Cashmeran

Designer Victoria's Secret

Fragrantica® Trends is a relative value that shows the interest of Fragrantica members in this fragrance over time.

Perfume longevity: 2.77 out of 5.

Perfume sillage: 2.17 out of 4.

Collections BODY MIST FRAGRANCE

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Orchids55 10/24/21 20:30

Bought it because youtubers were raving about it but unfortunately I find it smells like a basic and synthetic vanilla and using it as a room freshener now

lorialey 10/11/21 19:35

My daughter gave me her body spray of Bare Vanilla Frosted. I LOVE IT!! Not super sweet, just warm and delicious. Just right for fall weather, not too strong for warmer days in October. The " Frosted" version was limited edition and has a hint of mint...which is perceived more as a " fresh" note to my nose. Cozy.

tyrachai 10/07/21 15:49

I may be crazy? but I think they reformulated this. The first time I smelled this it was like a garbage can of spoiled milk and dead flowers or lack of a better term, Warm Vanilla Sugar from BBW. Smelling this in 2021, it is much better. If anyone remembers VS Vanilla Lace... this is a softer version of that which I can get behind :)

frederica.bănuță 10/06/21 07:21

Love love love !

This smells so elegant, put toghether and casual at the same time! It smells like vanilla and brown sugar ! Sooo, soo delicious !
As for longevity, on me i don't smell it after 15 minutes on my clothes or hair, but i think i became nose blind of it, because i showered in it
Siaj is intimate

Overall, is a great mature vanilla body mist <3

oliviam26 09/29/21 13:00

This perfume always sticks on me, so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because one of my friends has told me that it does not on her. Today five people have complimented me, and two of those have said they wanted to eat me. That's how good it is. I use the Vaseline trick and reapply occasionally so maybe that's why it sticks on me.

Vicky456 09/15/21 10:45

I love Bare Vanilla so much, I definitely get more cashmere and musk on my skin but the vanilla sweetens it up. It is very strong, so I would be careful with spraying this if you're sensitive to scents. Bare vanilla is a colder weather scent, when its hotter (spring and summer) this scent is too much and gives me headaches. Very cozy and lasts quite a bit for a body mist! I don't believe that body mists, perfumes or colognes are limited to 1 gender, anyone can wear this and rock it.

pursueliving 09/10/21 21:43

If it doesn't last, what good is it? I ask this of every perfume I try. The answer to this one is, sadly, not much. It lasts about 15 minutes on me. It smells good, a vanilla that smells like a "lite" version of Kayali's Vanilla 28 but it doesn't last and the sillage is also weak. What good is it? I wouldn't buy it again, there's nothing thee. I'd buy Body Fantasies Vanilla much more than VS Bare Vanilla because it puts out a warm, vanilla smell that lasts a little longer and I can smell it on myself. However, Bare Vanilla is a nice smell, soft vanilla. Maybe this is good for getting out of the bath in the winter. Maybe that can be good because when you get dressed you can layer another perfume over it to make it last a little longer. Or get the lotion and body mist scent with this one because otherwise you won't be able to smell it for very long at all.

Shay5345 09/08/21 12:10

it's good for the price! of course it's a body spray so it's not long lasting, so it could use a touch up every couple of hours. whenever i wear this i pair it with the bare vanilla lotion, this makes it more long lasting and just smells better in my opinion. when you first spray this it smells like pure alcohol… ick. but once you let it sit for a minute or two it smells very nice. a good, yet simple, vanilla (and kind of caramel?) fragrance. nice for fall during the day. id say you can't go wrong with this, but it varies based off how it goes with your skin. my favorite of the victoria's secret scents i have.

hannahbananana 09/04/21 06:12

i've changed my mind drastically on this one. i'm always looking for a perfect gourmand vanilla. a long time ago i tested either this or vanilla lace in a store, i assume it was a bad batch or a very old bottle, because i couldn't help but think god, this smells like the dead bodies section of the hospital mixed with a bit of dirty changing room body odour. after that i told myself these sprays were all trash and overpriced, confused at all the good reviews.

recently i was thinking about how much i want a nicer vanilla, because my current favourites just weren't doing it for me anymore. i'm not sure why but i went against my previous judgement and bought this, thinking of all the positive reviews. and god i'm so glad i did. the tester i tried a few years ago was clearly a bit rancid, because the smell of the one i have rn is beautiful. it smells exactly like buttery white chocolate cookies. i'm honestly so in love with this, and it lasts too. the only downside is bugs keep chasing me thinking i'm candy :)

basically, if you tried a tester of this and hated it, i'd recommend trying this again.

adadriana 08/28/21 17:42

super simple and is perfect for all ages. smells like clean pure vanilla that is both clear and fresh but is also comfortable and sweet. the only issue for me was that it stayed on for such a short time, yet i still got complimented, usually that i smelled like candy

Saj_Shae 08/02/21 08:27

If this scent doesn't agree with you, please try the Bare Vanilla Decadent version.

supergirl9412 07/28/21 18:17

I first smelled this at the salon, actually. My colorist smelled so good, and I had to ask what she was wearing. I was very surprised to hear it was VS! It smelled so smooth and had some heft to it, nothing like the sharp, fleeting scents I had always associated with VS. I'm a gourmand lover, so I had to buy it for myself!

Vanilla, a little brown sugar, and cashmeran, which leans a little amber-y, with pleasant sillage and surprising longevity.

It's a fluffy, warm, soft, vanilla hug.

Annadhje 07/05/21 12:52

As a gourmand perfume lover, I love this body mist so much. I received compliment everytime I wear it and it makes me so happy whenever I sprayed it. It smells like a lovely bakery with fresh made cakes. If you like a creamy vanilla scent, definitely gives it a try.

Elsee 06/29/21 14:24

Agree with many reviewers that this is NOTHING like Vanilla Lace. AND, especially VL from the 90's. So sad that it was discontinued. It was magical... I still have an old bottle of the mist and believe it or not, it still smells great! It's at least 25 years old! Crazy. Nothing compares. It would be nice to see a comeback of the original.

Bare Vanilla isn't terrible but it's just not the same great vanilla from the past.

returnatyourperil 06/29/21 14:07

smells pretty similar to vanilla 28 by kayali. i might even like this one more, because its more toned down and less heavy than vanilla 28. since vanilla 28 is such a thick and heavy scent, the sillage is obviously better, but this lasts a long time too.
both have an alcohol burst in the opening and both smell like brown sugar with caramel drizzle and vanilla essence on top. vanilla 28 has more notes and is more complex though, whereas bare vanilla is a good simple vanilla

Fasiha B 05/24/21 00:26

I bought this after seeing so many reviews and people saying that it's so so good. It's good, but not special. It's the kind of smell I can like, but I don't love it.

rosegoldrosie 05/12/21 23:12

I always try this on when I'm at the mall, and finally bought it- and I love it. It smells like a delicious vanilla pudding. I don't know what cashmere smells like, so I'm not sure how much of it is in here, but this is so delish and warm and sweet and vanillary. It's casual enough for everyday wear, but does have a sexy aspect to it, that your man would go crazy for. It does remind me a lot of the now discontinued Vanilla Lace, which I adored in high school. This lasts me a full work day if I spray thoroughly, and if I spray it on my jacket or hoodie, it lasts days. So I think it has great longevity, particularly for a body mist. A real compliment getter as well, it's so delicious and people always are saying how nice I smell when I wear this. If you're a vanilla lover, you're sure to like this. Very pleased with my purchase!

camilla15 04/24/21 00:30

i really liked this when i first bought it. after the first few months, i noticed the scent changed and started to smell less like vanilla and more like hot dogs. i believe this is something within the formulation and not the wear, because i now smell it when i initially spray it. i don't wear it anymore because i personally have no interest in smelling like hot dogs and it's not because i'm vegetarian

HibiscusLola 02/28/21 08:20

This smells so bad.
So cheap and dirty in the worst way.
It makes me think the feeling of a smelly room after a party.
Also reminds me of these low hygiene girls wearing a lot of sweet perfume mixed with sweat.
When I sprayed it on, I immediately had to do a shower and wash the clothes.
This is not vanilla, it is just a sweet undefined thing.
I gave it away. Luckily, there are some people who appreciate it.
I think this is nothing like vanilla lace, which was so much better! I hope they will bring it back.

naenae_moves 02/07/21 09:58

it smells really really nice but...I can see if someone was on the fence about this because the cashmere does come across a tad bit musky and like an animal (probably a sheep or goat *but without that awful pee smell they give* if you've ever been around these animals you probably know what I mean).

It smells like deep sweet vanilla with a musky/animal property (perhaps it's lactonic and I just think it smells like an animal) so that's probably why people say it smells expensive.

Also, I read a comment once that said it smelled like a cake and when I smelled it did ...like a chocolate cake with a lot of chocolate mousse on top

Noamzar 01/25/21 13:41

Smells just like vanilla sugar you will use for baking cookies.
This one is definitely the longest lasting out of all victoria secret body mists
Its vanilla sugar with noteable cashmere
If you're looking for pure vanilla extract scent then go for VS Vanilla Lace

jeanharlow 01/22/21 11:47

I'm reviewing the Iced Bare Vanilla here as I cant seem to find it listed. To my nose, it smells like everything i hoped pink sugar would be...pink sugar was way too harsh and synthetic with a strong liquorice note. Iced Bare Vanilla is just a slightly burnt sugar vanilla in the best way possible. There ARE similarities to pink sugar, but as someone who despised pink sugar, I can say this one is delicious. Its easy, its edible, and not headache inducing. THIS is a great layering scent or just on its own is yummy. It lasts fairly long on me, probably 4 hours which is great considering its a body mist, it does stay close to the skin. Everytime I wear it, my husband says how good i smell. Its very sugary sweet, more sugar than vanilla. Again this is for the ICED version of Bare Vanilla. Safe blind buy if you love sweet gourmands. Its a love for me.

Edit: Hmm, this may have warmed me up to pink sugar because I now like Pink sugar! Try this if Pink Sugar wasnt your Jam and then try it again!

cwc121 01/16/21 10:16

I have seen good reviews on this so I give it a go. However, it is not what I expected. I want a pure creamy vanilla like vanilla extract for cooking. This mist smells more like a sweet red bean soup and plasticky to me. A regretful purchase.

mhegu13 01/09/21 07:02

Oh how i like this scent. it's kind of similar to pink sugar but toned down... it is very comforting and yummy! ..great for rainy or cold days when you just want to tuck yourself to bed or snuggle your pillow or snuggle with someone...

Aaaareee 12/17/20 13:22

I got it today and I really like it. It's a sweet but not overpowering vanilla. If you like sweet scents, you'll probably like this. BV deserves the hype and good reviews, in my opinion.

aqua76239 12/11/20 19:01

To me this beats many more expensive vanilla scents hands down. Its warm gorgeous vanilla that smells expensive and true vanilla. That and Bare Vanilla Noir are my absolute favs from VS. I wish they had perfume or edt in this scent. As a matter of fact I wish they didn't discontinue their little bottles of edt.

pennny 12/06/20 09:18

If you love vanilla and sweet blend of perfumes this is for u. I love it. I spray myself just to make a cozy warm body odor...like a vanilla cake with a hint of musk....

Morticiamonroe 12/03/20 17:26

A smoky/woody vanilla with great sillage and longevity.

Seriously, this mist last longer than all VS eau de parfum I've tried.

Wiktoriaaaz 11/05/20 06:37

Mmmmm delicious, not a basic vanilla. This is really nice, vanilla with a smokiness. Very verrryyy slightly reminds me of tobacco vanille by TF! Don't get me wrong, not nearly as strong as the smokiness and incensy wet tobacco in TF. This is more dry tobacco in the background. It's HOT and delicious. Of course.. staying power is nothing special, it's just a body mist after all.

Little tip - this is great to layer with other perfumes that lean more masculine or lack the sweetness you want! I love this with GOOD GIRL

divakitty29 10/17/20 12:58

This basically smells like a vanilla, creme brulee, or a strongly fancy scented vanilla candle. I LOVE vanilla and very sweet fragrances and this one is so yummy!

I like to spray this around the room or on my bed and dressing gown. I love the scent of it, and it makes me feel really comforted and happy. It is an uncomplicated and warm frosting scent.

Nothing over the top fancy and not the most complex scent, but if you're a vanilla-gourmand or very sweet fragrance lover, pick this one up. It's usually really affordable too, as are most of the VS body mists.

MINYLULU 10/11/20 15:06

Idk why but I can smell some floral notes in this even though they didn't stipulated here. It's not that sweet but I feel dizzy everytime I use this :( Definitely won't use this throughout.

Anteatereatingant 10/08/20 11:17

The good: this smells more expensive and sophisticated than I expected - especially for the price! It's a grown-up vanilla that's somewhere between boozy and mildly play-doh-ish. It's quite decadent, and has a noticeable kick of spice - I was surprised the notes don't have cinnammon or clove, because to me there's a noticeable earthy spice/woodsiness looming in the background.

The bad: I find the longevity moderate at best, and beyond the (surprisingly strong) opening, it becomes mostly a skin scent on me. Then again, it's quite cheap so it's something you can easily afford to reapply over the day.

All in all, a better-than-expected offering from VS, that smells more expensive than it is. Worth a try on a budget.

UPDATE: Longevity is actually really good - BUT it becomes a skin scent pretty quickly. That stage (so past the first 30 minutes or so) lasts absolute ages, though - easily 12 hours.

Coline0101 09/26/20 18:06

Compared to Bath and Body Works'Warm Vanilla Sugar, this one is more mature. Perfect for date nights without making you look too girly or too mature. This is also perfect as office fragrance since it isn't too cloying. I really like this one, I also have the lotion. But I do prefer Warm Vanilla Sugar more

Rozalina 09/09/20 17:11

I prefer perfumes to body sprays typically but I scored the lotion and body spray set for $7 at VS over the weekend so I thought I'd try it. I'm sensitive to any play-doh type vanillas and to my nose, Bare Vanilla does have a hint of that (i can see kind of see where the reviewer below is getting a plasticky note) but it warms up and melts into your skin to become a sweet musky vanilla with a touch of amber warmth. My bf doesn't like any of the sweet perfumes I test but he said I smell good wearing this, which I layer with the matching lotion. It's very relaxing and cozy for bed time.

raffaellaru 09/03/20 17:38

i'm not sure if i just got a bad batch, but this smells plasticky and vaguely of cardboard to me. oh well!

Brittneigh 08/24/20 22:37

I think it smells a lot like warm vanilla sugar by BBW.... except this, smells darker, more of a sugary caramel scent. WVS is a little lighter and more casual, this one is muuuch sexier. I have the shimmer mist for this and I feel so yummy when I put it on. It is so so so good.

Dreamdott 08/21/20 18:27

This is soooooo good! This reminds me of fall. Walking into your house, the fireplace is going, cookies and cakes are being made and the smokiness of the fireplace mix with the sweetness of the baked goods to create this sweet, smokey, sexy and cozy environment. This can be a bit cloying at times but lightly sprayed this is gorgeous. I like to layer it with jovon white musk... Idk why but these are stunning together! Its very nice and I would wear this out on a date or in intimate situations its so sexy and I will repurchase because I'm half way through my bottle.

wallywinthrop 08/01/20 09:28

This is strikingly similar to Laura Mercier's Vanille Gourmand. They are both beautiful! A vanilla with the slightest tinge of almond but with a dry whispering musk on the drydown.

Rodween 08/01/20 09:15

THIS is very feminine and girly which is why I really adore and enjoy this so much.
I've always preferred this over B&BW's Warm Vanilla Sugar because of this reason.

B&BW WVM smells sweeter and less feminine and it tends to kinda be more cloying. I really enjoy the comforting smell of Bare Vanilla and the super feminine smell this has but I'm also cautious not to overspray this one because this can also be cloying.

I never actually thought I'd go back to body mists because of this, It's been a long time since I used body mists.
I bought this one in a whim after passing by a teenage girl who just got out of a Victoria Secret shop and her sillage smelled like a gorgeous vanilla.
I got scent envy. lol
And immediately snatched up a bottle.

mnegrona 07/31/20 20:11

I'm crazy about this scent. I buy it in bulk when it's on sale. I like its warmness and the way it makes you feel edible, but not like a confection. Its very sensual and great for layering. Hope it lasted longer as it has a very poor longevity by itself.

LibraMoon 06/16/20 22:53

This is a good vanilla with sandalwood. It last a good amount of time for a mist. It can actually be worn year round, I believe. It doesn't really smell like their older Vanilla Lace, but its still good, in a different way. Body Fantasies-Vanilla smells almost identical to Victoria's Secret discontinued Vanilla Lace. Its really good, and so is Bare Vanilla.

henjos 06/11/20 00:48

So comforting from the cashmere. Love it. Vanilla is not too strong, just very natural. Better than Vanilla Lace imo. The drydown of this smells like vanilla sugar but it has a good balance of sweetness and fluffiness. (I'm looking at you, Vanilla Lace.) At first it's very alcoholic so you have to let it dry.

Filigree4Life 06/01/20 16:16

Reminds me very much of BBW Vanilla Bean Noel without the heavy caramel undertone and murderous migraine. This is a very clean, sweet vanilla. I attribute the clean aspect of it to a prevalent whiff of white musk. In sum, it's like combination of 2/3 BBW Warm Vanilla Sugar and 1/3 Jovan White Musk. It's pleasant and cozy. As a 42 year old professional, I would never wear this to work. I love wearing it at home, and I could see this being HG to many a high school girl though.

blond.coconut 05/09/20 15:20

I just got this recently, I first bought the body lotion and loved it so much so that I had to rush back the next day to get the body mist too.

It smells almost exactly like vanilla sugar and not in a synthetic way. It's soft, sensual and very feminine. I bet it will be perfect as a base for layering.

I like to use it together with the body lotion before I go to bed and when I wake up, I can still smell it, so, regardless of it being a mist, it's pretty long-lasting.

Even though it's cheap, it easily falls under one of my favorite fragrances.

ser.stephan 04/11/20 11:17

Delecious sweet smooth gourmand the opening is lik whipped vanilla the midd has a tart apple blossow mix with the whipped vanilla and drydown it's like a caramel sugar cookie dipped in milk

turkishgirl 03/25/20 12:48

warm vanilla but last 5min!!!!

Jasmindee 03/24/20 07:02

Oooh, this is pretty. A wrist sniffer for sure.

Very light and fluffy. This perfume is light, but the vanilla smells really nice. Very natural smelling.

I'd say this would be great for layering or for something cosy at night time. This is the little sister of Coconut Passion. She's a little more demure and softer, perfect for day time, office jobs, etc.

I got this for a bargain £5 and I'm very happy with my purchase.

deb.martinez 03/13/20 09:12

This is quite yummy! The lotion and mist are quite long lasting too!
Not your playdough vanilla for sure! Nice!

honeydewy 02/04/20 09:32

Omg I'm in love.
I smelled this in the store a couple of times and loved it but since I already have enough body sprays and perfumes for now I decided to get just the body lotion, and now that I used it I'm even more obsessed and am planning on running to the store to buy the spray too.
Both the lotion and the spray are sweet, soft, subtly sensual, skin-like vanilla, finely powdered in marshmallowy type of way.
I imagine this would be a DREAM for layering.

km1266 01/25/20 08:45

Most VS vanilla scents smell very synthetic and artificial, but for once this actually smells like genuine vanilla. I like it, but not enough to spend £13 on it

raizenith 01/03/20 16:01

This body mist is true to it's name, it is just pure vanilla. Not overpowering or fake smelling. It is strong yet subtle. The underlying notes of apple blossom give it a sweetness, not a floral sweetness but rather a warm kitchen pie baking sweetness. I would advise women who are not afraid to show that they enjoy smelling like vanilla to use this perfume, it is unapologetically warm and sweet. It is not for those who want just a hint of vanilla.

Notes: Vanilla, apple blossom
Longevity: 3-6 hours
SIllage: Closer to skin but you will smell it around you
Overall: 7/10

Marisat 12/31/19 11:25

Smells like sweet vanilla whipped cream

I<3Perfume 12/16/19 22:26

It kinda smells like Abricot Vanille by CSP.

Annjo 11/08/19 12:03

This smells like Magnificent Gold from Yves Saint Laurent in their "Le Vestiaire des parfums" line (just to note Magnificent Gold costs 185€/75 mL). Soft warm vanilla and woods, that is what I smell. It is really nice, and has a skin-like feel to it. One of the best VS scents out there and it doesn't have a chemical undertone.

mychinarose 10/06/19 15:51

A very good Mexican Vanilla extract kind of smell, super-good for layering. I have the shimmer spray :-)

lmwimsatt 10/05/19 01:30

Wow they finally added this! But they forgot the apple blossom. Anyway, this is a waxy vanilla, great for layering, especially with chanel no 5 leau; heaven.

jureureuk 09/18/19 20:07

WOW! I love the smell of Bare Vanilla! Same with Vanilla Lace but this is more like salty caramel popcorn (finally I've found a perfume with popcorn scent I always want). On the other hand, Vanilla Lace is more like vanilla cream to me. It's funny how basically BV smells similar to VL but when I smell it deeper, I imagine 2 different images. One 100% similarity is the pasticky smell. It's the only cons I find annoying about this perfume.