I have been exploring the Aerin line, only because one of their releases last year, Mediterranean Honeysuckle, was one of my favorite fragrances of 2016. Tangier Vanille was also released last year, and, in theory, is the perfect companion piece to the honeysuckle. While that one is more ‘girly,’ this one skews more masculine. Basically, Tangier Vanille is vanilla, but it’s a more grown up vanilla, and doesn’t smell like cake or desert.

What I like about it – it’s not a ‘pretty’ scent – it’s a little rough around the edges, and is warm and inviting. It probably works more as a winter scent than anything else. I am wearing it today and it’s on the warmer side outside, so it’s enveloping me in not the best way possible. But I can see pairing it with my candles burning as I Netflix and chill. Actually, a candle version of this (is there one?) sounds divine.

What I don’t like about it? It’s fairly common. I know there is a similar release from Elizabeth & James, though that’s not cheap either. I know the inspiration here is Tangier, which is in Morocco, and I wish there were something else here – something spicy, perhaps a more exotic note. But then again, the Aerin market may not like that. It’s a sanitized, W Hotel view of Tangier, the ones who won’t dare go to the soukh.

All in all, a nice inoffensive scent. For its price point, it’s not special enough for me to go and rush for a full bottle.