Dolcelisir L`Erbolario

Source: www.lushome.com

A dry, spicy and boozy vanilla that would fit in well with Christmas just around the corner, Dolcelisir would sit between the spiced eggnog and dark rum-soaked fruit cake. Those who adore cinnamon would love Dolcelisir for this gourmand oriental scent is laden with cinnamon and other spices from the start till the end. 

Some fragrance lovers have found the dry spices to be too harsh for their liking but I find that this makes Dolcelisir unique amongst the many gourmand vanilla scents on the market. The only other drier vanilla I can think of is Mona di Orio's Vanille, a very intriguing dark and dry vanilla but with almost zero percent added sugar whilst Dolcelisir is unquestionably a gourmand vanilla. Other notes that make up this festive treat include smoky resins and woody notes, caramelized bitter citrus peel, maple syrup and a sugary rum. All the notes are well-blended and the result is a balmy and soothing gourmand lover's heaven. 

Dolcelisir is of comparable quality with more expensive niche perfumes, money for value and has decent sillage and longevity, what more could one ask for? If you have been searching for a liberally spiced and boozy vanilla to ring in the upcoming holidays, that is sweet without being cloying and enjoyable through all kinds of weather, I would recommend sampling Dolcelisir.

El Born, Carner Barcelona

My dad loves rum and raisin ice-cream and when I first tried El Born, I wish he wore scents, I would have gotten a bottle of this for him. 

It's very boozy with dried fruit and sweet vanilla, conjuring up images of a mound of dark glossy raisins over creamy vanilla ice-cream, add rum as you please. El Born is without a doubt, gourmand without being a gourmand. Like how Frederic Malle's Dries Van Noten smells like spiced egg nog, when there's nothing gourmand in its listed notes to suggest so. 

In El Born, the rich resins and balsams give it it's boozy warmth and contribute to the sweetness created by the honey, vanilla and dried fruit notes. The sandalwood adds a creamy and rich texture, hence the ice-cream analogy. 

The scent dries to a boozy and powdery vanilla. Delicious from start till finish which is over eight hours at least. 

Rum raisin ice-cream