In college I had a lab partner who smelled just like Play-Doh. Bless her heart. She was a cool girl, and we got along well, but whenever she was around, the air was thick with the doughy scent of edible modeling clay; consequently, I couldn’t titrate to save my life.
It wasn’t until later that I put two and two together and figured out the reason why: vanilla body butter. She was wearing some kind of vanilla body butter.
Makes perfect sense, too, because it can be tough to find a vanilla body butter that doesn’t smell anything like cookie dough or plastic. So many of them do, especially to people with very sensitive noses.
I guess that’s why I was so surprised by the new Pacifica Island Vanilla Body Butter ($18 for an 8-oz. tube; $12.50 for a 2.5-oz. tube), a Sephora exclusive scent. It’s made with Tahitian vanilla, and whether that’s responsible for the floral quality Pacifica claims the butter has, I don’t know. I think the product does smell more authentically vanilla than usual, though, and it makes all the difference in the world.
“Something magical happened to vanilla in Tahiti. It changed from its native South American flavor to become sexier, more lush, with floral notes and a little fruit deep in the structure of the scent. Inspired by this beautifully distinct version of the classic fragrance note and many surfing trips to the South Pacific, this is my vision of the perfect vanilla.”
— Pacifica Co-Founder and Lead Perfumer, Brook Harvey-Taylor
I don’t think the floral notes are strong (or stereotypical, for that matter), and I feel like they temper the sweetness and artificiality that accompanies many vanilla scents. I also detect a hint of tea, which gives the fragrance a subtle, yet refreshing kick. Most importantly, there are no signs of Play-Doh here.
Like the other Pacifica Body Butters I’ve tried, Island Vanilla is a moisturizing dream. If you like vanilla, give it a quick sniff on a future trip to Sephora. 🙂
More details…
- It’s formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs or triclosan
- It doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients
- Because it wasn’t tested on animals, it gets two big paws up from Tabs!
- Available exclusively at Sephora stores and online
PRICE: $18 for an 8-oz. bottle, $12.50 for a 2.5-oz. tube, $22 for a 1-oz. perfume spray and $22 for a 0.33-oz. roller ball
AVAILABILITY: Available exclusively at Sephora stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Heidi says
September 24th, 2011 at 9:22 pmSounds like Pacifica does it again. Must check this out!
BooBooNinja says
September 24th, 2011 at 9:24 pmGak! I detest the smell of Play Doh. I must have had a traumatic experience with it when I was a tot and blocked it out of my mind because I can’t remember how this intense dislike came about. I was terrible in Chemistry (though I got an undergrad in Bio and survived the “extra” Chem courses like Organic Chem etc), and I don’t know what I would have done had my lab partner smelled like Play Doh!
Thanks for the smiles.
ps I’m in the market for a neutral matte or satin finish blush for daytime use. I like subtle pinks/corals… a natural flush. Could you recommend anything to me? I find that most of what’s coming out these days is uber shimmery. And that’s not my thing. 🙂
Drugstore would be fab, but I’m up for paying more if you think it’s worth it!
(I’m having trouble finding what I want in the archives.)
Jessi says
September 24th, 2011 at 10:37 pmIf you’re looking for VERY inexpensive Wet n Wild’s Color Icon blushes are pretty nice. And worth trying because you’re not out much money if you don’t like ’em!
Jessi recently posted … Holy Pigmented Blush! Cargo Key Largo Blush Swatches and Review
BooBooNinja says
September 24th, 2011 at 9:26 pmps I’m in Canada so I don’t have access to your wonderful Target finds (like Pixi and Milani)
dani@callitbeauty says
September 24th, 2011 at 9:39 pmVanilla is my favourite scent so this is right up my alley! It sounds absolutely lovely <3.
dani@callitbeauty recently posted … Giving My Lips A Little TLC With Sleek MakeUP’s Pout Polish
Jessi says
September 24th, 2011 at 10:34 pmAw! Poor Play-Doh girl! I bet she found a nice man with a fetish for children’s modeling clay products and they lived happily ever after!
I love the smell of real vanilla but detest the chemically imitation vanilla scents. I’ll have to give this one a sniff!
Jessi recently posted … Holy Pigmented Blush! Cargo Key Largo Blush Swatches and Review
Instant Karma says
September 25th, 2011 at 12:50 amOne of my good friends once told me that whenever she smells vanilla, she thinks of me, so this is clearly a body butter meant for me! I’ll check it out the next time I head into my local Sephora 🙂
Chris25 says
September 25th, 2011 at 4:14 amThe only vanilla scented lotion I have ever found that wasn’t Play-Doh-like was B&BW Vanilla Bean. I haven’t used that since I was a teen. I’m going to take a look at Pacifica when I make a trip to Whole Foods. 🙂
kiwikiwidragon says
September 26th, 2011 at 12:34 pmThis one is exclusive to sephora for a while. It more than likely won’t be at Whole Foods until after the holidays. they have a great return policy if you hate it.
Karen says
September 26th, 2011 at 2:21 pmWord. The return policy is the main reason I shop there. Don’t forget to keep your receipt!
Noemi says
September 25th, 2011 at 4:36 amOhhh I should definitely try this one!!
jennifer couzins says
September 25th, 2011 at 1:55 pmthanks for this review! i love vanilla-scented things but i am quite picky about the scents– it can’t be too much like cake batter or too overpowering (b&bw warm vanilla sugar, i’m looking at you!). i’ll definitely have to check this out. plus, two huge thumbs up for a true cruelty-free vegan product!
Nina says
September 26th, 2011 at 6:20 amoh no playdoh? good!!!
amy says
September 26th, 2011 at 2:54 pmSounds wonderful! I love vanilla scents.
Kat says
October 5th, 2011 at 4:26 pmTry the Island Vanilla Spray Perfume too! http://www.pacificaperfume.com/blog/2011/09/island-vanilla