Re-do The Review: Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 edp, by Kayali.

Sugary. Delightful. Tempting.

Live your sweetest fantasy with Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 Eau de Parfum! Sugary, delightful, and tempting, this fragrance is a lighter, youthful take on the brand’s cult-fave, Vanilla | 28.

Inspired by Mona’s love for candy and mouthwatering notes, Vanilla Candying so one of the most desired notes in fragrance with its delicious blend of sweet ingredients.

Vanilla Candy was a big disappointment for me when I first got it in 2024, but lately it has been working really differently with my body chemistry that it has been like wearing a different fragrance - maybe the effects of my multiple Covid infections lasted longer than I previously thought? 

Anyway; my current experience with this fragrance is so different that I feel that a new review for it is warranted...

Vanilla Candy opens with a blend of vanilla-wrapped cream & marshmallow. I'm also a huge fan of violet & pear, so the fact that the vanilla cream & marshmallow is entwined with those notes means that this fragrance is on a winning start.

The longwearing accord of bubblegum lies just ùnder the fluffy opening to Vanilla Candy, plus there is something similar to what I'm guessing is the perfumers take on a Jellybean; I'd describe the scent as a gentle fruity mix of strawberry laces and those boiled rhubarb & custard sweets. It complements the light veil of sugared jasmine & ylang-ylang nicely - any other florals that might be present are too quiet for me to be able to detect.

The remaining sugared vanilla and fruity/floral mix is gradually wrapped up with a blend of tonka, caramel, vetiver & musky sandalwood. The complex & rich labdanum is sweet and musky, with a hint of rum & patchouli in the undertone, which adds depth, dirt and a bit of grip to the fragrance.

Vanilla Candy wears for around seven to eight hours, with a soft projection. Not quite a skin-scent, but it is still intimate. 

Officially listed scent notes; Vanilla, Pear, Marshmallow, Rum, Violet Leaves, Ylang-Ylang, Bubble Gum, Jellybean, Caramel, Jasmine, Labdanum, Sugar, Patchouli, Tonka, Cashmere Wood, Vetiver and Sandalwood.

Vanilla Candy has really surprised me lately - in very positive ways. The bubblegum and labdanum have been particular hidden gems over the last few months; I couldn't detect either note on my skin for the longest time, but recently they were just like"sorry I'm late! I'm here now!!"  

I've say that Vanilla Candy is suitable for wear all year round, because the softer projection prevents the sweetness from reaching overload levels and becoming sickly. Even now during heatwaves, I don't feel that suffocating buzz that many other sweet fragrances cause me, and I've not experienced any increase in my migraines & headaches. 

You can buy Kayali fragrances from Selfridges, Boots, Sephora, and Cult Beauty.

10ml [£25], 50ml [£80] & 100ml bottles [£110]