Description
The last retrograde cycle of December, 2017 brings us the newest addition to the “Retrograde Files” {revisions from the DSH Perfumes archives}.
With the arrival of the cold and longer nights, the need to cuddle and feel cozy grows. This feeling inspired the reworking of our burnt sugar scent from the archives; this time with a richer, deeper feel with a slightly more resinous quality. We’ll just say it right now: it’s delicious.
* EdP / VdP sample vials are are full.
gkorf –
This scent is OMG great!!! I knew it reminded me of something but I couldn’t figure it out. Now I remember. It’s one of my favorite desserts– creme brulee. You can smell the “custardy” part and then later on experience the “burnt sugar” that’s always on top of a creme brulee. What a lovely scent. Perfect for the gourmand lover!
fnhamby –
This is more of a traditional, sweet vanilla scent without being overly cloying. But out of all the vanilla scents DSH offers, I think this is the sweetest.
wendyb1063@aol.com (verified owner) –
As the other reviewers have stated, this is a beautiful, rich and sweet vanilla, with dark toasted notes to prevent it from being too cloying (in my opinion, but then I don’t mind sweet perfumes). Gourmand but not overly foody.
merielkosokar (verified owner) –
I have sampled Vanilla, Vanilla Botanique, and Vanilla Chantilly along with this one. Burnt Vanilla Sugar is by far my favorite, and may warrant a greater investment at some point. The straight Vanilla and the Chantilly version were a bit too soft and sweet for me–very nice, but not quite what I was looking for. The Botanique at its opening on me is lovely and complex–not your typical vanilla, and that is a very good thing. Sadly, as time wears on, it turns into a kind of medicinal men’s aftershave on me and it just gives me a headache. The Burnt version is darker, more complex but stays true to its origins on me and that makes me very happy. I’d say it’s a mature vanilla done right. If you think of actual burnt sugar, there is something smoky and brittle about it, but these things are what create the gourmand appeal: depth and texture. Bravo in capturing these elememnts!
landshark321 (verified owner) –
This fragrance delivers on its name, a sort of slightly caramelized vanilla/sugar mix reminiscent of the top glaze of crème brulee, but without the pastry and cream. It’s dense and rich and very easily enjoyable for vanilla fans, offering a very appropriate overload of sweetness but still tempered by the burnt/caramel quality. Very good stuff!
alle11019id –
Burnt Sugar Vanilla is a heavy, rich vanilla that has nothing in common with mall store vanillas by similar names. To me it smells more toasted than smoky burnt, and is appropriately creamy sweet. I’d say this is a cold weather scent. Sometimes my skin does funny things with vanilla which I’m afraid may be going on here, but I still think it could be a safe blind buy.
Samantha Dowridge (verified owner) –
Really enjoyed this vanilla. I’m just getting started wearing fragrance and venturing into the niche world. This was a good choice for someone who is learning and exploring. I loved pairing it with other perfumes in my collection. It was sweet, but still rich and nuanced enough that I enjoyed wearing on its own .
juniperlatte (verified owner) –
A rich custardy vanilla with a lovely toasted and caramelized top. It’s just like creme brulee.
A Terp (verified owner) –
This is wonderful. I tend to gravitate to vanilla fragrances and this is one of the best I’ve tried. The toasty, caramelized note keeps it from being too sweet or childish.
anadevice (verified owner) –
I have this in EDP and Room Spray, I love both!
**EDP:** The scent opens with a beautifully decadent vanilla — dark vanilla bean paste whipped into chilled, rich cream. It’s soon followed by swirls of dark, buttery caramel, deepened by notes of coconut and tonka bean. This is delicious, like caramel creme brulee and French vanilla custard. Though this opens as a fairly straightforward gourmand, it’s slowly infused with soft resins, balancing the sweetness with the help of warm, nutty sandalwood. A delicate veil of sheer, subtly floral notes gives this rich scent a light, elegant finish. Despite the decadence of the vanilla, the scent overall is very soft and airy, making it surprisingly versatile.
**Room Spray [Skin/Fabric safe]:**I usually don’t use scents other than perfume, but I love the way this smells on clothes, and Dawn was kind enough to make some as a room spray, that I could use it as my sleep scent. I thought this would be perfect for my pajamas and bed linens, and it really is! It’s so different on fabric — a cool, creamy vanilla, not at all foody, aside from subtle notes of caramelized sugar. Silky rose petals and sweet, sunny lemon give the vanilla a refreshing feel that is perfect for linens but also makes for a lovely spring/summer vanilla. I don’t usually like anything that could be described as clean or fresh, but the lemon and rose are smooth and seamlessly blended. Much like the EDP, this becomes more diffuse and airy with wear, with a significant increase in throw. I was worried that this spray would be quite soft at such a reasonable price, but the throw and longevity are great. I also really like the UV-safe bottle so that I can keep it beside my bed 🙂 A calmimg yet optimistic vanilla, highly recommended!
Lillith Luyster (verified owner) –
Burnt Vanilla Sugar transports me immediately to the church I was married in, the church my extended family has been a part of my entire life. It doesn’t smell at all how I imagined but the actual experience of this perfume is immeasurably better! It is soft, rich and sophisticated. For me, it smells of vanilla candles that were blown out well before I entered the room but the wax is still soft, the ghost of incense, and the faintest hint of lemon oil rubbed into hardwood pews. This is truly a beautiful, elevated fragrance.
Christy Jones (verified owner) –
This is delicious. I love Vanilla, but this is on another level. Before I tried Dawn’s creations I thought that I had tried some pretty good perfumes. But now I know what true artistry in perfume really is. I don’t think I will ever wear regular store bought again. This is just the right sweet and caramelized sugar I desire. Thank you so much for your creations.
ash008 (verified owner) –
Oh, this scent is tasty heaven! As others have mentioned, this is crème brulee in a bottle. The custard quality to the vanilla is absolutely divine, but what really makes it stand out is that it smells the way that the scorched top of a crème brulee tastes! This one is perfect for gourmand lovers.
lbld50 (verified owner) –
This has to be one of the most coveted fragrances I’ve ever worn. It leaves you wanting more. It smells wonderful on my husband, too.