A Vanilla And Lavender Body Cream For People Who Don’t Like Vanilla Or Lavender

My friends and family abide by a very strict rule: when buying me a gift, do not select anything with a vanilla or lavender scent. I don’t know what it […]

By Marci Robin · Jan 3, 2011

My friends and family abide by a very strict rule: when buying me a gift, do not select anything with a vanilla or lavender scent.

I don’t know what it is about these two aromas, but to say they make me cringe is to euphemize. Vanilla instantly makes me feel like I’ve been overeating, and I inexplicably associate lavender with Little-House-On-The-Prairie-style calico dresses, which make me want to cry for a multitude of reasons. The last time I begrudgingly lit a candle with either scent was during a moment of desperation in the middle of the 2003 New York City blackout.

We told you about LAVANILA The Healthy Body Butter a few years ago, so when I saw the more recent vanilla lavender variety, I figured I had three very good reasons to not review it: repetitiveness, vanilla, and lavender. But then, going against my gut, I took a whiff.

Confusion set in instantly. Why does this smell good to me? Me, who detests all things vanilla-scented or lavender-scented. And then, an epiphany: perhaps these two personally unappealing scents somehow smell great together. Nature is full of little miracles, no?

I would’ve happily recommended this body moisturizer to anyone who loves-or can at least tolerate-vanilla and lavender, because of its all-natural hydrating and nourishing abilities. But now, I’m confident that even my fellow vanilla and lavender haters could truly enjoy it.