Serge Lutens — Un Bois Vanille

Decanting from 2006 bottle (exactly like the one on the image).

Not a sweet, simple vanilla — nothing in this house ever is. The opening has a sharp, almost burnt quality from the beeswax and licorice that catches you off guard before the vanilla absolute takes over, rich and dark and slightly boozy, like the raw pod rather than anything extracted and polished. Coconut milk adds creaminess, bitter almond keeps it from going soft, and the guaiac and benzoin base give it a dry, woody backbone that grounds the whole thing. The most accessible and widely loved Lutens — and rightly so. An excellent entry point into the house that never talks down to you.

Notes:

Top notes: Black Vanilla Absolute, Licorice, Bitter Almond
Middle notes: Coconut Milk, Beeswax, Guaiac Wood
Base notes: Sandalwood, Tonka Bean, Benzoin