Let me start off by saying this: I’m a gourmand girl through and through, so when I hear “new vanilla release,” I’m basically already sold before I even smell it.
So when Maison Louis Marie announced they were dropping their first-ever vanilla fragrance, my immediate thought was “yes, I need this.” Their scent, No. 15 Vanille Infinie, launched on January 15th, and I’ve been wearing it pretty much nonstop since. Which says a lot considering it’s only been about two weeks, and I have approximately 20 vanilla scents in my collection. But this isn’t the vanilla I was expecting. At all.
The notes include citron and evening jasmine up top, heliotrope and tonka bean in the middle, then oud and amber in the base. On paper that sounds like it could be really heavy, but it’s not (don’t be fooled by the oud like I was initially). It stays surprisingly light and wearable, with just enough depth to make it interesting instead of one-note.
Now let me say this, if you’re coming from KAYALI Vanilla 28 or you want something super sweet and sugary, this is not that. I repeat: this is not that. This is what I’d call a less-sweet vanilla, and instead, more cozy and enveloping (not dessert-like, at all). So if you want to smell like a cupcake, I’d advise you to put this one back on the shelf. But also, not really because it really is good.
Why I love it: I’ve been wearing this for several days in a row now and I just can’t stop sniffing my wrists when I have this on. Almost obsessively, actually. First of all, I like it because it’s not overwhelming. It doesn’t announce your entrance when you walk into a room (or whatever that cliche fragrance saying is), which I actually prefer. It wears really close, almost like a second skin, and there’s a creaminess to it that feels kind of sexy in this subtle way. Hours later I’ll get random whiffs and have to stop whatever I’m doing. I don’t even know how to explain it properly, I just know it smells really good and expensive and I want to wear it every day.
If you love Replica’s By The Fireplace like I do, you’re going to understand what I mean. It has the same comforting vanilla energy but it feels more polished. The floral and citrus elements (even though I can barely detect them individually) keep it from being a basic vanilla. They add something special that makes this feel different from every other vanilla I own.
But ultimately, what I also love is that this works for literally any occasion. I’ve worn it to run errands, to dinner, to the gym and also just lounging around the house. It adapts, and because it’s not super loud, you can spray it generously without worrying about it being overpowering.
Perfect pairings: Maison Louis Marie makes this in both an Eau de Parfum and a Perfume Oil, and they actually recommend layering the two together for more intensity and staying power. The oil will give it an extra richness to make it last way longer on your skin. So if you’re going to get this, I’d honestly consider getting both formats because the layering will really take it to another level.
But because I don’t have the oil myself, I’ve also been experimenting with other fragrances in my collection. For example, Glossier You underneath Vanille Infinie is probably my favorite combo right now. The musky quality of You makes the vanilla feel even more intimate and personal. It’s like it just becomes part of your natural scent. This is the combination I reach for when I want to smell amazing but still understated—like you naturally smell this good.
I tried layering it with KAYALI Vanilla 28 even though I said earlier this isn’t for KAYALI people (I know, I know, contradicting myself). But it actually works really well? You get the brown sugar sweetness from KAYALI with the more refined quality of Maison Louis Marie. It’s the best of both worlds, especially on those days when you want maximum vanilla vibes. It’s a lot, but in a good way.
The weird pairing that I didn’t expect to love: Le Labo Santal 33. I know that sounds random, but the sandalwood and spice in Santal 33 add this woody edge that makes Vanille Infinie smell less traditionally feminine. It becomes more unisex (if that’s something you like) and when I wore this to dinner last week I got multiple compliments from people asking what I was wearing.
Final verdict: This isn’t for everyone. If you want super sweet, in-your-face vanilla, this will probably disappoint you. The projection is moderate, meaning you’re not going to fill a room with this scent. And if you’re not into gourmands at all, vanilla probably still isn’t going to be your thing even when it’s a fancy one.
But if you’ve been looking for a grown-up vanilla that still feels cozy and wearable? If you want something that smells expensive but at a (somewhat) reasonable price point? If you’re tired of smelling like everyone else’s vanilla cloud? This is it.
Maison Louis Marie’s first vanilla is everything I wanted without knowing I wanted it. It’s refined, it’s wearable, it’s got actual depth and complexity, and honestly it smells like you spent way more than you did. At $100 for 50ml it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s also not insane for niche perfume, especially when you consider the quality.
Anyway, if you see this sold out everywhere in a few months, don’t say I didn’t warn you!