Viva Vanilla: Is It The Next BBW Holy Grail (Or Just Another Vanilla?)
Okay, so, I gotta confess, I’m a total sucker for anything vanilla. Like, if it smells remotely like vanilla extract, I’m probably gonna at least sniff it. So, when I saw the name “Viva Vanilla” floating around, my ears perked right up. Bath & Body Works, you either nail it or you…don’t, ya know? There’s no real in-between with them, is there?
Now, piecing together what I could find (and let’s be honest, the info is all over the place – thanks, internet!), it seems like Viva Vanilla is a newbie for 2024. I saw some stuff about Almond & Vanilla being “Floral Frutado Gourmet Feminino”, which… okay? That’s a mouthful. Then I saw some stuff that said it was “Oriental.” Like, which one is it, guys?! Make up your mind! It’s so confusing! And I need to know, because I have a certain idea in my head about what each of those categories *should* smell like.
Apparently, the top notes include hazelnut, pink pepper, lemon, and orange. Hazelnut AND lemon?! That’s…intriguing, I guess? I’m picturing something kinda nutty and bright, which could be really nice. Or, like, a disaster. The descriptions are all over the place. I see things that say “Vanilla Mocha Cream” and even “Vanilla Mocha Martini” are somehow related… like, are they confusing it with something else? It’s all a bit of a mess, honestly.
Then there’s the whole “Black Raspberry Vanilla” thing thrown in there. What does that have to do with Viva Vanilla? Maybe they’re just similar? Or maybe someone just got their wires crossed? I dunno, man. The internet is a weird place. It’s like trying to follow a recipe written by ten different people who all have their own ideas about what the dish should be.
Honestly, the mention of “rich plum, glowing amber, addictive vanilla” from something they described as a “vanilla luxury bursting with spirit & spunk” sounds *way* more appealing, even if its description is super vague. I mean, who *doesn’t* want to feel like they’re bursting with spirit and spunk? (Especially if it smells good, too.)
So, what’s my verdict? Honestly, I have *no* idea what Viva Vanilla actually smells like. The descriptions are so all over the place, it’s like they’re trying to describe five different perfumes at once. I’m gonna have to actually sniff it in person before I can form a real opinion.
But, if you’re like me and you’re a vanilla fiend, it might be worth checking out. Just don’t go in expecting anything too specific based on the online descriptions. Just go in with an open mind (and maybe a nose clip, just in case it turns out to be a complete olfactory train wreck).
