Launched in 2012 by Erbario Toscano, the Tuscan-based producer of beauty products, perfumes and home fragrances, Vaniglia Piccante has become a Holy Grail vanilla fragrance for me.

Vaniglia Piccante opens with a note of deep, rich, creamy caramel. Nutmeg warms the caramel, making it sensuous and inviting, while thyme adds a spicy, green dimension. Cistus extends thyme's herbal aspect as eucalyptus echoes its camphorous aspect. The opening is sweet, to be sure, but the nutmeg, thyme, cistus and eucalyptus work with the caramel by letting the sweetness shine rather than hijacking the fragrance. The fruity, floral smell of peach blossom emerges as it settles on my skin. It just smells pretty. But the heart is all about wood: sweet, wood-faceted patchouli, camphorous-tinged cedarwood, rich, aromatic sandalwood and wood-faceted cistus work together to create a 'wood' note that isn't bossy or overtaking; instead, it's quietly beautiful. A gentle wafting smokiness from incense adds a bit of seduction to Vaniglia Piccante. The seduction continues to the base where Spicebush keeps the classic pairing of sweet, resinous amber and Bourbon vanilla warm and alluring. The choice of Bourbon vanilla here is genius because of its rich, deep, creamy and sweet character; it loops right back to the top note of caramel so that the irresistible scent of vanilla never really disappears from any stage of the fragrance. White musk at the base locks it all in

The drydown is sweet, warm and sophisticated from the powdery aspect of amber.

Vaniglia Piccante translates to ‘Spicy Vanilla’ in English, so I had high expectations for what this vanilla fragrance would be like, and I was not disappointed. This is not just a vanilla-lover’s vanilla; it’s for anyone who enjoys wearing a fabulous fragrance.

Notes: Caramel, nutmeg, French thyme, Spanish cistus, Chinese eucalyptus, Indonesian patchouli, Texas cedar, Peach blossom, Indian sandalwood, Somalian frankincense, Spanish cistus, white musk, amber and Bourbon vanilla.