Ariana Grande
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Pink freesia emerges first with surprising vivacity, a bright floral burst that immediately signals this won't be a one-note vanilla delivery. The musk base peeks through almost immediately—not animalic, but rather a soft-focus backdrop that feels inherently cosmetic. There's plum's subtle stone-fruit sweetness adding dimension rather than dominating.
The composition settles into its core identity as praline and orris butter swell into prominence, adding a creamy, almost buttery density. This is where the synthetic framework becomes apparent—lending a smooth, almost powdery quality that feels deliberately contemporary. The floral element recedes but doesn't vanish, maintaining just enough brightness to prevent the sweetness from becoming oppressive.
Vanilla and cocoa butter remain, stripped of their supporting players, creating a soft, almost skin-scent effect that feels like fragrant lotion rather than traditional perfume. The projection drops considerably here; what remains is intimate and personal, a whisper rather than a statement.
Mod Vanilla arrives as a study in controlled sweetness—a fragrance that understands the assignment of gourmand composition without surrendering to saccharine excess. Jérôme Epinette has constructed something deceptively simple: pink freesia's delicate floral structure serves as scaffolding for what could otherwise collapse into pure dessert, whilst the praline-orris butter heart prevents this from becoming a straightforward vanilla gourmand. There's a deliberate tension here between the creamy synthetic base (64% of the accord) and those genuinely sparkling top notes, creating an effect rather like drizzling bitter chocolate over buttercream.
This is a fragrance for those who've grown weary of hyper-realistic gourmand interpretations yet refuse to abandon the category entirely. The cocoa butter and vanilla combination feels more like expensive skincare than baked goods—there's a moisturising quality, almost cosmetic in its application. Pink freesia lends an unexpected clarity that prevents the composition from feeling cloying; it's a smart choice that suggests someone's actually considered how sweetness might coexist with freshness.
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3.8/5 (116)