Kayali Vanilla 28 Review
Illustration, not a product photo.
Kayali Vanilla 28 is a gourmand fragrance (vanilla, tonka, coffee, caramel and edible notes) from Kayali, marketed for women. Kayali is a niche house.
Price varies (no price snapshot observed)
Based on 54 Reddit owner comments (38 with a clear rating) · Top 4% of tracked fragrances by overall score
Is Kayali Vanilla 28 worth it?
Owners mostly like it: 3.9/5 overall from 38 rated owner comments, with an average owner rating of 4.3★. Owners talk most about longevity (7 mentions).
Who it suits
- You want sweetness: 6 owner comments praise it.
- You want longevity: 5 owner comments praise it.
- You want compliments: 3 owner comments praise it.
- Winter wear: the season owners mention most (3 comments).
- Formal: the occasion owners mention most (2 comments).
Who should skip it
- Longevity matters to you: 2 owner comments raise it as a downside.
- Synthetic / harsh matters to you: 2 owner comments raise it as a downside.
- Headaches matters to you: 1 owner comment raise it as a downside.
Longevity, projection and compliments
| What owners report | Positive | Negative | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longevityi | 5 say it lasts well | 2 say it fades fast | 3.7 |
| Projectioni | 1 say it projects well | 0 call it weak or a skin scent | 3.9 |
| Complimentsi | 3 report compliments | 0 report none | 2.8 |
Counts of owner comments that describe this fragrance's performance on their own skin. "Not rated" means no owner described it.
When owners wear it
Seasons
Occasions
Number of owner comments mentioning each season or occasion alongside this fragrance (positive or negative).
What Reddit owners say
3/5“I bought a mini bottle of Kayali Vanilla 28 and it was dark and boozy and quite nice so then I bought a full 100ml bottle from Sephora and the juice was very light and weak and the scent wasn't boozy or interesting at all, and only after si”
2/5“i'm so over this brand. the ads are so cheesy, and nothing new has impressed me at all from this house. most of them last like body mists. vanilla 28 is the only one i have from the whole lineup, its awesome but it would be a million times better without the patchouli i swear the names get goofier & goofier with every new release”
5/5 SweetnessSynthetic / harsh“It gives Vanilla 28, but with a more prominent honey note that's been the only one in ANY perfume that I find well-blended, realistic and not cloying or synthetic.”
5/5 LongevityFresh & clean“It's like vanilla 28 with dark honey and the wood smells like polished mahogany.”
4/5 Mass appealHeadaches“I don't know if any are a safe blind buy. I've tried many ( all?) of the Kayali scents, and there are only two I like. I expected to love vanilla 28 and it was awful on me. I also thought I might like capri in a bottle but it was nauseating. I think this is a house that just isn't for everyone, which is too bad because I think the bottles are so stunning. I liked the apple one, but unfortunately not as much on the dry down. I do really enjoy YBM, and although surprising to me as I wasn't expecting to, I really love the wedding silk santal.”
+49 more owner comments
5/5“Kayali Vanilla 28. Yes, I know this forum hates her, and I don't usually like most of her perfumes, either, especially the fruity ones, but this one is an absolute staple in my collection and I love vanilla's. This is definitely a boozy vanilla.”
3/5 Synthetic / harsh“I don't know, but everyone's favorite Vanilla 28 does that to me. It's powerfully synthetic to my nose. Everyone loves it and I hate it. I have shied away from Kayali since. I feel a little better about that decision now”
5/5“My husband favourite fragrance on me is the Kayali Vanilla 28, while I'm here trying to get him to appreciate D S Durgas Debaser 🥲🥲🥲”
5/5 SweetnessUnique“It's funny some people have such a different experience of Vanilla 28. For some it's very spicy and patchouli-heavy and more boozy than sweet. I absolutely adore Vanilla 28, it's probably my signature, and on me it's a beautiful and quite complex vanilla extract scent. I get it though because there are fragrances others love but on me they smell very strange (for example Vanilla Woods by The 7 Virtues, it gives vanilla ashtray on my skin)”
5/5 Sweetness“Gulf Orchid Vanilla Addiction is my favorite Vanilla 28 dupe.”
5/5“I'm on my third bottle of vanilla 28. No issues. I believe you though. I have a bottle of Atralia Sugar Mallow, a really nice dupe of YBM, and the atomizer is amazing. I prefer the perfume over the OG, too. I don't think I'll buy any more Kayali perfumes, when the dupes have better bottles and perfume. I'm still super annoyed about the April Fools debacle, anyway. My husband bought me two bottles of V28, because she said it was being discontinued. Pretty messed up.”
5/5 Fall“it's rainy and chilly by me and tbh im so looking forward to the autumn so im wearing jo malone pomegranate noir and kayali vanilla 28....gonna be an incrreedible combo for fall. obsessed tbh”
5/5“my fiancée LOVES when I wear kayali vanilla 28.”
5/5 Projection“Kyse Delizia Di Marshmallow is nuclear on me; I made the mistake of wearing it to bed because I only wash my pajamas once a week and the smell stayed very strong until I washed them. I've heard others say it's faint though, so who knows. Memo Palais Bourbon is another excellent beast mode vanilla. I love it….but only one spray. Finally, if you can find it in the US, Majouri Imperial Vanilla is grown up Kayali Vanilla 28 and it is VERY strong.”
2/5“Finally bought a travel size of Vanilla 28 by Kayali so I'm wearing that for the first time! When I first tried it in store about a year ago I didn't really like it but then I got a sample of it more recently and just could not stop wearing it and thinking about it after I finished the sample.”
5/5“Mine too but I have fallen in love with Vanilla 28 and that damn patchouli note. Once it dries down it's so good. Otherwise I agree. I loathe that smell especially when it smells like incense.”
4/5“I have a pretty good hit ratio with some blind buys becoming favs but I mostly blind buy travel sizes so I don't risk too much. Only had to give one away and that was juice+ by commodity. My fav blind buy was vanilla 28 by kayali.”
4/5 SweetnessFresh & clean“i wish this was more salt and fresh because its very very vanilla ice cream on me, the sugary vanilla reminds me of the same one in kayali vanilla 28. its v28 without patchouli on my skin. saltair salt water vanilla would go well with this if you want it in lotion and body wash form!”
5/5“I have to refrain myself from rubbing it all over. It's so comforting! I need to smell the Fenty one! The name alone sounds like something I'd enjoy. I'm not the biggest fan of Kayali Vanilla 28 because I swear my body chemistry is anti-patchouli. I absolutely love it on every one else and it's so frustrating. The times I have asked what people are wearing and they start with “Chanel _____”, I get so sad since most of their scents contain it lmao”
5/5 LongevityValue“Definitely overpriced for being perfumes designed to be layered, but with that being said, I will never go without Vanilla 28, YBM and Wedding. I've tried dupes and they just don't hit the same and don't last nearly as long. On me, these 3 last all day. The fruity scents are very good smelling farts, though. Wedding is beautiful and V28 and YBM layer with so much! I legit finished and repurchased a bottle of each and I have over 100 perfumes in my collection 😅”
5/5 Everyday“I got Kayali vanilla 28. I think it's the best deal: versatile fragrance, I've never seen it on sales, and it's 1.7 oz (others are mostly 1oz.)”
4/5“i swore off the whole brand after vanilla 28 went straight play-doh on my skin, but now you have me curious. is it more of a fluffy, powdery marshmallow or does it lean into that burnt sugar caramel vibe? the bottle alone is tempting but i'm not trying to get burned again. marshmallow notes are so hit or miss for me, sometimes they turn into just sugar water. this one sounds like it actually has some body to it. does the dry down last more than a few hours on you? i might have to track down a decant myself if it's not just a fleeting top note.”
4/5 Unique“I finally got a chance to test on a strip the Vanilla 28 (as it's always empty) after hearing how much it's loved.”
3/5“I can't blind buy Kayali because the first time I've smelled most of their scents, I'm not a fan. But then maybe the 3rd time I tried YBM, I fell in love. And I tried Vanilla 28 MULTIPLE times and didn't like it…wasn't til I put it on my skin that I fell in love. I'm really a big proponent of travel sizes and samplers!!! The way it smells on your skin can be such a game changer. I blind bought a small size of the new scent and I still am undecided on it but so far I don't love it…”
2/5 Longevity“vanilla 28 lasts all day on me but i got the peach one and it lasts like 45 minutes to an hour if that. so disappointing”
5/5“usually when i've layered Nemat VM oil with my Kayali Vanilla 28 they go absolutely crazy, and also with Fenty's Vanilla Flowers mist. I used to work at a liquor store and my customers would say "i know when it's your shift cos the whole store smells amazing" 🤣🤣 they would always sniff extra hard too when coming up to the register LOL, but i think its cos i use that oil like a lotion and rub it all over haha”
5/5“I love Vanilla 28 and Sparkling lychee, neither of which smell like their primary call-out note. The rest of the line has been unremarkable on me.”
5/5 Value“Omg please try Ramsh Diva by Zimaya. I've bought MULTIPLE bottles and even bought them as gifts when a friend or family member complimented it. It's like $17-23, you can even get it on Amazon. It's like vanilla 28 but much better somehow? Like it's lighter, it's sweeter & airier, it's got depth and earthiness but not as boozy as vanilla 28. I love it! https://preview.redd.it/o5f9ige2mmhh1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=9fe2783e1733233197fe80fa835a0ad33afda78d”
5/5“Got this today!!! i fell in love with it as soon as I sprayed it and let the heavy Patchouli notes pass, it's suchhhh a stronnng scent when you put your nose to it but after it's sprayed it reminds me of a less boozey Vanilla 28 from Kayali. It definitely leans very medicinal but also the sweetness is not overpowered by the Patchouli which i really like. I don't have anything with Patchouli in my collection as a gourmand lover lol so im grateful i found this today 😭😩”
5/5 Longevity“LooooooOoOooOve ramsh diva!! It's my "running to the store I have 5 seconds" perfume and yet, always complimented. Incredible and even better than vanilla 28. It's lighter, airy, sweeter, lasts forever, it's warm, ugh it's perf! Much better than Eshall too”
5/5 LongevityCompliments“Loveeee this fragrance so much. I'm not even a vanilla fragrance girl, but it's a staple in my collection. Compared to Vanilla 28, Elysia Vanilla outperforms it in almost every category: projection, potency, and richness. It lasts all day long. Biggg compliment getter. If you like Vanilla 28, you'll love Elysia Vanilla. Amazon doesn't always stock Elysia, but I can consistently find it on FragFlex, often on a big discount.”
4/5 Value“I have not! Victoria's Secret isn't that easy to come by in NZ, but people say good things about it. It's a body spray, right? I gotta be honest, I wasnt very excited by Tihota, which is both a sad and good thing. And funnily enough, I didnt really love Vanilla 28, but I got the Fragrance World dupe, Elysia Vanilla, and it's fuckin *great*. Maybe I was just subconsciously recoiling from paying $280 for a bottle...”
4/5 SweetnessSummer“I just purchased her vanilla 28 and happy dust dupes. Those guys last me a good part of my day. It really depends on the scent though. I wear a lot of her samples to bed and can't smell them by the morning. A lot of them are pretty cloying in the heat too so I'd recommend trying them out when it's cool for you!”
4/5“Its okay, not what i have expected. I am not so much into green fragrances, but i have layered it now with Vanilla 28 and then it feel much better. It gives me rich woman who can afford niche fragrance wibe. So thats af good feeling.”
4/5 ComplimentsSweetness“Zimaya Ramish Diva (supposed vanilla 28 dupe, but smells less like vanilla 28 as it ages. A year-round vanilla that isn't too warm to wear in the summertime) Marshmallow Blush (supposed yum boujee marshmallow dupe, but the strawberry is very juicy and smells more like a cream saver candy on me. Lasts longer than the original, but is less marshmallow-forward and is missing that sparkling citrus note. Delicious vanilla strawberry candy that gets lots of compliments)”
5/5“I do! Right now it's JPG Divine, Vanilla 28, and Million Gold. I haven't given all of them a full day's test though, like the Daisy Wild, so still tbd”
4/5“Nooo. I just spray myself and it usually lasts. Off I'm going somewhere that I want to make sure I smell great then I bring a travel spray of something that goes with everything (ex: vanilla 28, vanilla skin, or a body mist).I never end up needing to touch up but I have it just in case lol.”
5/5“I've gone through multiple bottles of vanilla 28 and ybm but WSS is one of my favorite all time scents.”
Not rated (no clear sentiment)“Kayali Vanilla 28 — If I wear this one at night, he is on my side of the bed. He bought me two backup bottles.”
Not rated (no clear sentiment) Sweetness“Hmm... I guess I've been lucky that I've never had any issues with Kayali bottles. I currently have a 50ml bottle of vanilla candy rock sugar that I've almost finished, and I used to have a big bottle of vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli. I also have a travel size of Eden Juicy apple, and my sister has some travel bottles of vanilla 28 and burning cherry. I think if anything the travel bottles are the ones that annoy me, because the lids always come off in my bag. The actual perfume bottles have always lasted well for me, and I do find them pretty.”
Dupes and similar fragrances
No dupe pairing for this fragrance reached our evidence bar (2+ comments naming both with a "dupe/clone/smells like" phrase).
Clone houses named next to Kayali Vanilla 28 in "dupe/clone" comments: Lattafa (3), French Avenue / Fragrance World (2), Armaf (1), Dossier (1).
Alternatives in the same family
- Kilian Love, Don't Be Shy — 3.8 from 35 owner comments
- Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle — 4.0 from 6 owner comments
- Dior Hypnotic Poison — 3.8 from 53 owner comments
FAQ
How long does Kayali Vanilla 28 last?
In the Reddit owner comments we analysed, 5 owners said it lasts well and 2 said it fades quickly. Longevity varies with skin, climate and concentration.
What season is Kayali Vanilla 28 best for?
Owners mention winter most often (3 comments), followed by fall (2).
Does Kayali Vanilla 28 get compliments?
3 owner comments in our sample report compliments while wearing it.
Can I buy Kayali Vanilla 28 on Amazon safely?
We did not find it sold by Amazon.com or by the brand's own Amazon store, so we do not link to it. Third-party fragrance listings carry a counterfeit and grey-market risk.
Keep deciding
- Kayali fragrances ranked
- Best gourmand fragrances
- Best winter fragrances
- Best fall fragrances
- Best fragrances for formal events & weddings
- Best Women’s Perfumes
- Best Niche & Luxury Fragrances
- Buying guide shortlists · Methodology
Details
| Brand | Kayali (Niche) |
| Fragrance family | Gourmand |
| Marketed for | women |
| Amazon listing | No listing sold by Amazon.com or the brand store found |
| Reddit evidence | 54 owner comments, 232 mentions in total across r/fragrance, r/FemFragLab and related subreddits |
| Last updated | 2026-11-03 |
Family and "marketed for" follow the brand's positioning and common fragrance references; flankers (Intense, Elixir, Parfum editions) are tracked separately or excluded.