‘I own over 150 perfumes but this £28 scent gets me compliments every time’

A beauty writer with a triple-digit perfume collection shares the fragrance she keeps reaching for that consistently gets compliments from family, friends and dates

Once upon a time, I had a signature scent, but with my perfume collection now in the hundreds, it’s more about a signature mood. I’m drawn to gourmand, or sweet, perfumes, but over the festive period, there was one that stood out from the rest.

I’m a big fan of Jo Malone’s sell-out Ginger Biscuit, and I wore it loads in the lead up to Christmas Day. However, in the new year I haven’t wanted to smell like a spiced biscuit. Instead, I’ve been reaching for something a little sweeter.

Kayali is one of my all-time favourite brands, and it’s the only one in my collection where multiple bottles show significant use. There are so many scents that I’m attracted to, but there’s one that might just top the list: Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar l 42 (from £28, Sephora).

Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar l 42 is a warm and spicy gourmand, featuring candied pear, violet leaves, rum, ylang-ylang, marshmallow and vanilla cream at the forefront. It matures into a heart of jasmine, labdanum, white caramel, bubblegum and jellybean, reports OK!.

That might sound somewhat childish, but the base rounds it out with woody notes alongside tonka, patchouli, rock sugar and KAYALI signature accord. The result? A blend that combines decadent sweetness with a sultry sophistication.

I believe that the routine used before applying a perfume affects its impact. I start with a Snow Fairy shower gel from Lush (£3.75), followed by my favourite body butter: Coco and Eve Glow Figure Whipped Body Cream Lychee and Dragon Fruit (£26).

The trio combines to produce a fresh and fruity aroma that works beautifully in every season. This particular blend earns me the most compliments, and I’d suggest it’s the exact fragrance combination many people link with me, even though I’ve been enjoying creamy scents recently.

I found myself repeatedly reaching for this bottle over the break and received countless compliments. Though to be fair, I consistently get praise when wearing this, from relatives to mates and even romantic interests.

I’m not alone in my appreciation. On Sephora it’s accumulated nearly 1,000 five-star reviews.

One customer remarked: “Such a lovely perfume, the scent is insane and it’s lasts all day. I have had so many compliments on this luxurious perfume. The packaging makes the perfume so much more appealing and it is a great addition to my perfume stand. I totally recommend this perfume as it is so versatile and can use it with lots of my other products!”.

Another raised concerns about staying power: “I really like this perfume. It smells great and it is not overpowering. The downside is that the scent will not last even half the day, so I usually carry it in my purse to refresh.”

Personally, I find the fragrance lasts throughout the day, though that might be down to my generous application straight after showering, once I’ve covered my skin with moisturiser.