236 community ratings

Vaara

Name: Vaara
Brand: Penhaligon's

Perfumer: Bertrand Duchaufour

2013UnisexClassic

Votes lean feminine

7.3/ 10

Community score
236 ratings

See your match

Penhaligon's Vaara is a floral-spicy unisex scent that opens with rose water, saffron and coriander seed and softens toward honey and sandalwood.

Compare

Skunky's take: A card-carrying member of the fresh club.

How does it perform?

From 179 community ratings, all out of 10.

Longevity

7.1 /10

Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.

Sillage

6.4 /10

Leaves a light trail and stays polite in a crowd.

Bottle

8.0 /10

Sits nicely on a shelf.

Value for money

6.7 /10

The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.

Blind buy risk

Medium risk

73% of votes are positive, the rest are more reserved.

Notes

They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.

Top notesfirst 15 minutes

Coriander seed Saffron Carrot seed Rose water Quince

Heart notesfirst few hours

Freesia

Moroccan rose absolute

Iris Bulgarian rose

Indian magnolia

Peony

Base noteswhat stays into the evening

Honey Benzoin Cedarwood Tonka bean Sandalwood White musk

Accords

From most dominant to most subtle.

Fresh
Floral
Green
Fruity
Sweet
Spicy
Woody
Oriental

What does Vaara smell like?

The top is coriander seed, saffron, carrot seed, rose water and quince, giving a green, fresh and slightly fruity spiciness at first. In the heart, Moroccan rose, Bulgarian rose, iris and freesia turn it powdery and floral. The base of honey, benzoin, cedarwood and tonka bean sweetens it and closes on a woody, oriental warmth.

Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and summer, with fall not far behind, and it is chosen most for leisure, daily wear and the office. Many voters read it as feminine, though it is presented as unisex. Jil Sander Background and Dior Tendre Poison have a close profile.