ALEXANDRE J
THE MAJESTIC VANILLA
2020
PERFUMER
Amelie Bourgeois
Anne-Sophie Behaghel
Mandarin
Cinnamon
Bergamot
Galbanum
Tonka Bean
Peach
Vanilla
Amberwood
Patchouli
Labdanum
Musk
The Majestic Vanilla is a warm, resinous, patchouli and vanilla bomb…so you basically know upfront that it’s going to be good. And it is, but I can’t help to draw comparisons to two great fragrances that I already have in my collection. Also, I’ll mention that I’m not a fan of the brand overall thus far, with this being the biggest stand-out by far in my (admittedly limited) testing.
It hits you with a bit of fruitiness up top, but only for a moment, because as soon as the resins (galbanum and labdanum) kick in, they are front and center with the vanilla. There’s a slightly green, almost animalic underneath the vanilla, that reminds me of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Grand Soir. However, it is more prominently featured here and it adds a smokey quality.
The Majestic Vanilla is said to draw inspiration from early women’s oriental fragrances that allowed women to display elements of a masculine style, and that’s definitely what you get here; I’d even say this leans quite far to the masculine side. It took me a moment to register, but the opening actually reminds me a lot of one my favorite fragrances and it’s not Grand Soir, but it’s Parfums de Marly Layton Exclusif. The Majestic Vanilla has more vanilla from the start and it’s a lot more subtle overall, but they have a lot in common and it’s the first time that I’ve found anything close to the Exclusif.
In the drydown you still have that nice vanilla, with the smokiness, but the green tinge is more subdued and more of the musk comes through. The vanilla also becomes richer and full-bodied, which might have something to do with the tonka and patchouli adding a chocolatey edge. At this stage it’s much closer to Grand Soir and nothing like Layton Exclusif. The longevity for The Majestic Vanilla is great. The milder projection makes for a versatile and easy-going wear, so I think this could be a real crowd-pleaser and a comforting scent for the one wearing it. It lacks a bit of the magic of the two fragrances I’ve mentioned for me, but it strikes a nice balance, and it comes at a great price point for what you get.