Why It’s Escentual

Vanilla has been the most crowded corner of fragrance for three years, and most of what launched into it was soft, sweet and safe. Xplicit Vanilla is not that. Pierre Montale has built it around Cambodian oud and dark chocolate, so it comes out earthy and slightly bitter rather than edible.

If you tried Mancera’s Aoud Vanille and found the oud too sharp, this is the more wearable version of that idea. It is still a lot of fragrance, and two sprays will see you through a full day.

What It Smells Like

Rich, dark and resinous. Mexican vanilla and dark chocolate open it together, which is what gives the first few minutes a cocoa-powder dryness rather than sugar. Underneath, Cambodian oud does the heavy lifting, smoky and a little medicinal, with brown sugar and sandalwood softening the edges as it settles.

Tonka, amber and benzoin hold the base, so the last few hours read as warm balsamic resin more than dessert. Expect it to smell noticeably sweeter on skin than it does on a scent strip.

Top Notes: Mexican Vanilla, Dark Chocolate
Heart Notes: Cambodian Oud, Brown Sugar, Cedarwood, Australian Sandalwood
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Amber, Benzoin

You’ll Love This If

• You want a gourmand with weight behind it, not a skin-scent vanilla
• You already wear oud and want it wrapped in something sweeter
• You’re shopping for autumn and winter evenings
• You’d rather be noticed than blend in

How To Wear It

As an Eau de Parfum with this much oud and resin in it, restraint pays off. Two sprays to pulse points is enough, and it will still be there at the end of the day.

The Perfumer

Created by Pierre Montale, whose signature runs through the whole Mancera range: oud, resins and dense sweetness built for projection rather than restraint.

In Mancera’s Words

“Bold, sensual, and earthy Mexican vanilla, wrapped in deep chocolate notes and warm woods. A powerful and irresistible trail. Unisex, intense, and captivating.

THE NEW OBSESSION Xplicit Vanilla stands as the must-have vanilla… fiery, unisex, and irresistibly addictive. Far from the expected, it ignites the senses with raw intensity and magnetic depth.

This is not a sweet or innocent vanilla, but a bold statement of sensuality, layered with richness and contrast. Its powerful yet refined sillage makes it undoubtedly a new bestseller for the house. More than a fragrance, Xplicit Vanilla is an obsession, a declaration. And to embody its audacity, it now wears a new iconic look – a Burgundy label, deep, intense, and sultry, just like its scent.

UNFORGETTABLE ELEGANCE AND LASTING IMPRESSION. Where other vanilla fragrances offer comfort and familiarity, Xplicit Vanilla dares to be untamed. From the first breath, its deep, earthy character unfolds – a vanilla infused with the raw sensuality of dark chocolate, smoky oud, and molten amber. Brown sugar melts into creamy sandalwood, while tonka bean and benzoin add an addictive, resinous warmth.

This is a scent that burns with intensity, evolving on the skin like a slow, smouldering fire. Xplicit Vanilla is not just worn; it is felt – bold, intoxicating, unforgettable. For those who crave a fragrance that doesn’t just linger but leaves a lasting mark”

Description supplied by Mancera