Despite owning a massive collection of luxury perfumes, our reporter keeps reaching for her partner’s aftershave
Finding a signature fragrance can be difficult, but our writer is surprisingly tempted by her boyfriend’s aftershave(Image: Getty Images)
As a beauty writer, I have accumulated quite a perfume collection, ranging from sweet, floral notes to deeper, more alluring fragrances. Yet recently, I have found myself doing something entirely unexpected: pinching my boyfriend’s aftershave.
And this is not an occasional occurrence, either. I have become so captivated by one particular scent that I have been seriously considering purchasing a bottle for myself. The aftershave in question is Cremo’s Spice and Black Vanilla Eau de Toilette (100ml), an aromatic, warming fragrance that feels ideal for autumn.
Fortunately for my bank balance, it is currently on offer. It has been reduced to £24.76 from £30.95 with the discount code CREMO20, making it slightly easier to justify adding yet another fragrance to my ever-growing collection.
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The scent combines black vanilla with spicy cardamom, resulting in a warm, subtly seductive aroma that never fails to catch my attention. During our most recent date night, I asked my partner to wear it, and I am convinced it makes me fancy him even more whenever he does, reports the Mirror.
The pairing of sweet, creamy vanilla with the warmth of cardamom is appealing without tipping into overly saccharine territory. It manages to be both sexy and comforting at once, while the spicy edge adds depth.
Spice & Black Vanilla Eau De Toilette
Shoppers can use the discount code CREMO20 for 20% off.
In terms of longevity, the scent held up throughout our date night, and I could still detect it on my boyfriend by the end of the evening. Despite its impressive staying power, it never felt overwhelming. Rather, it settled close to the skin, leaving a warm, understated trail that had me wanting to catch another whiff.
Even better, the Eau de Toilette comes with a matching body wash (£10.36 from £12.95 with the CREMO20 code), which my boyfriend also uses – and yes, I pinch that too. The body wash works up a wonderful lather, leaving me feeling clean, refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Another fragrance I enjoy borrowing from him is REHAB’s Hair and Body Cologne (£33.60 from £42). It is a more earthy, woody scent that always has him smelling fantastic, and the fact that it can be spritzed on both hair and body is a bonus.
On my wishlist is also Acqua Di Parma Oud and Spice Eau de Parfum Spray (£168.30 from £327, Allbeauty). It features bergamot, raspberry, and rose with spiced notes of cinnamon and pink pepper, grounding into a rich base of agarwood oil, patchouli, and cistus labdanum.
Yet it is Cremo’s Spice and Black Vanilla that I return to time and again. It possesses that elusive quality I seek in a truly great fragrance: it smells wonderful without appearing to make any effort.
I have no complaints, either. The bottle isn’t the most striking design, but the affordable price point and beautiful scent more than compensate.
Rich, warming and gently sweet, it seems tailor-made for brisk autumn afternoons and snug evenings in – and, in my case, those special date nights when I want my boyfriend to smell utterly irresistible.
The Notes: Cremo Spice and Black Vanilla
- Cardamom (top notes)
- Tobacco (middle notes)
- Black vanilla (base notes)
