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Not every summer fragrance needs to smell like sunscreen, citrus, or a very expensive hotel lobby. Sometimes the best ones are softer than that. A little warmer. A little stranger. The kind of scent you keep coming back to because you cannot quite place why it feels so comforting.

That is the feeling behind Ellis Brooklyn’s newest launch, Vanilla Rice, a creamy Eau de Parfum that takes vanilla in a more delicate direction. Instead of leaning into frosting, caramel, or anything overly sweet, this one pairs vanilla with toasted rice, coconut milk, sakura blossom, jasmine nectar, and skin musks.

It sounds a little unexpected at first, but that is the charm.

The Toasted Rice Twist

Vanilla has been everywhere in fragrance lately, but Vanilla Rice makes the note feel softer and more personal. The toasted rice gives it a gentle warmth that feels cozy without being heavy. Think warm rice steam, clean skin, and something creamy on the stove.

The fragrance opens with mandarin, freesia dew, and toasted rice, so there is a little brightness before the softer notes settle in. It is fresh for a second, then slowly turns creamy and comforting.

Creamy, Floral, But Not Too Sweet

At the heart of the scent are sakura blossom, coconut milk, and jasmine nectar. This is where Vanilla Rice starts to feel pretty and romantic, but still easy. The coconut milk gives it that smooth, milky softness, while the florals keep it light instead of dessert like.

It is sweet, but not sugary. Floral, but not powdery. Cozy, but not sleepy.

The Part That Stays With You

The dry down is all skin musks, tonka bean, and vanilla, which gives the scent that warm, close to the body finish. It is not the kind of perfume that walks into the room before you do. It is more of a “you smell really good” perfume, the kind someone notices when they are near you.

There is something nostalgic about it too. Not in a literal way, but in that soft, familiar, hard to explain way that good vanilla scents can have.

Why We’re Into It

Vanilla Rice feels like a quieter take on the gourmand trend. It has the comfort people love about vanilla, but the toasted rice and coconut milk make it feel more interesting and less obvious. It is creamy, soft, lightly sweet, and surprisingly chic. Basically, vanilla grew up, got a passport, and started ordering dessert somewhere beautiful. SHOP HERE