Why We Created Vanilla Embers for Those Who "Don't Do Vanilla"

What began as our greatest challenge – reimagining vanilla beyond convention for those who never found one worth wearing – evolved into an unexpected, non-gourmand vanilla discovery.

Vanilla has a reputation. It can often be dismissed in the fragrance as "too sweet," "too common," or "too gourmand." We absolutely felt the same and dismissed this ingredient entirely when working with Pascal Gaurin on our first collection. Yet Pascal challenged us to look beyond our preconceived notions, and to try it used a way that we hadn't even imagined.

Could we create a vanilla fragrance that would convert even the most vocal vanilla skeptics? - including ourselves?

Rethinking Vanilla:

The problem with most vanilla fragrances isn't vanilla itself – it's how it's typically presented. Traditional vanilla fragrances lean heavily into the gourmand category, evoking images of cupcakes, ice cream, and candy shops. While delicious, this approach pigeonholes vanilla into a single, often cloying interpretation.

We knew vanilla had more to offer. In its natural form, vanilla bean is complex, woody, and sophisticated – far from the one-dimensional sweetness most people associate with it.

The Creation of Vanilla Embers: A Non-Gourmand 

Starting with Premium Madagascar Vanilla Bean

Our journey began with sourcing the finest vanilla beans from Madagascar, working with suppliers committed to sustainable cultivation and community support. These beans provided the foundation – not the sticky-sweet vanilla of artificial flavoring, but the rich, complex essence of real vanilla with its natural woody and smoky undertones.

Sustainability at the Source: Our vanilla beans come from conservation initiatives that have established multiple vanilla nurseries and reforestation programs, preserving Madagascar's unique ecosystem while supporting traditional harvesting communities.

The Unexpected Hero: Orange Flower Absolute

The breakthrough came when we paired our Madagascar vanilla with Orange Flower Absolute from Morocco. This wasn't about creating a citrus-vanilla combination, but about finding a note that could elevate vanilla beyond its gourmand associations.

Orange flower absolute brings a sophisticated, almost ethereal quality that transforms the vanilla base. Instead of sweetness, you get warmth. Instead of dessert, you get elegance.

Ethical Sourcing: Our orange flower absolute is harvested by skilled women in Morocco who receive fair wages and safe transportation to and from the fields, ensuring both quality ingredients and ethical production.

What Makes Vanilla Embers Different

Non-Gourmand by Design

Vanilla Embers deliberately avoids the bakery-sweet profile. Instead, it offers:

• Woody depth from the natural vanilla bean
• Floral sophistication from orange flower absolute
• Smoky undertones that give the fragrance its "embers" character
• Clean, modern drydown that feels contemporary, not nostalgic

The response from vanilla skeptics has been remarkable. Customers who previously avoided anything vanilla-based have found themselves drawn to Vanilla Embers' unexpected complexity and sophistication.

Creating Vanilla Embers taught us that sometimes the most rewarding fragrances come from questioning our assumptions. By approaching vanilla not as a gourmand note but as a complex, multifaceted ingredient, we discovered new possibilities for this classic scent.

For the Vanilla Curious

If you've always avoided vanilla fragrances but find yourself intrigued by the idea of a non-gourmand interpretation, Vanilla Embers offers the perfect entry point. It's vanilla for people who thought they didn't like vanilla – sophisticated, unexpected, and thoroughly modern. We actually profile this scent as an amber floral rather than an amber gourmand because of the airy aura of warm floral undertones with Jasmine, and Moroccan Orangeflower at the heart. 

Even if you love traditional vanilla fragrances, Vanilla Embers offers something entirely different. It's an exploration of what vanilla can be when freed from conventional expectations.

The Future of Familiar Notes

Vanilla Embers represents more than just a fragrance – it's proof that even the most familiar notes can surprise us when approached with creativity and respect for their natural complexity. By sourcing ethically, thinking beyond categories, and listening to what ingredients actually want to express, we've created something that honors vanilla's heritage while pushing it into new territory.