ORMONDE JAYNE
Vanille Des Afriques Intensivo

2024

coriander seed
bergamot
carrot seed
pink pepper

orris
jasmine absolute
magnolia bud
osmanthus

vanilla absolute
bourbon vanilla
cedarwood
vetiver
amber
musk

‘The very definition of pedigree and heritage with its precious contents of orris and an abundance of the aphrodisiac Madagascan vanilla absolute. Vanille Des Afriques Intensivo is a balmy evening, enjoying the sunset while warm breezes billow through your silks and linens. Its smooth radiance sooths and relaxes you – a level of comfort and of quiet contemplation.’ – Ormonde Jayne

I think a good vanilla was missing in Ormonde Jayne’s line-up, which is among the higher quality brands available in my opinion, so I was excited for Vanille des Afriques.

This fragrances opens much more on the spicy side than I expected; but in a light manner. (Pink) pepper is very prominent, but it’s not a heavy or dense scent, it’s on the airy and powdery side. Texture wise it reminded me of Bois D’Argent or Bois D’Iris at first.

More and more vanilla comes through, but it’s not the full-on edible gourmand that one might expect. I get hints of the spicy vanilla combination found in Roja’s Enigma here and it becomes and remains a subtle, mature vanillic skin scent for most of the wear. The powderiness becomes very balmy, as mentioned in the brand’s description above.

Overall, super comforting to wear and a really nice scent, albeit it not the most eccentric. This is not a statement maker, but a cozy scent that I would wear for myself. It’s one that played hide and seek with my nose a bit during my first wearing, so I may revisit this and come back to this review in the future.