Velvet Vendetta

A vanilla with no manners and no mercy, this one throws you straight into a smoky, bourbon-fueled showdown.

Pink pepper, nutmeg, and dried fruits hit first, edged by an unmistakable gunsmoke accord that feels rough-cut and cinematic rather than polite or pastry-sweet.  As it settles, you meet a “forbidden” vanilla that feels dark and grown-up, edged with bourbon and an unexpected touch of black olive that adds a salty, almost savory twist to all that richness. 

You get the sense of dried woods, tobacco, molasses, and resins building a dusty, sunset-like backdrop, more outlaw saloon than dessert bar.  The overall impression is plush yet dangerous: juicy spiced fruits, smoldering smoke, and black vanilla that feels moody, textured, and a little wild on skin.  If you crave independent, cinematic vanilla that leans boozy, smoky, and slightly salty instead of clean or sugary, this is made for you. 

• Margaux Le Paih Guérin

Sarah Baker Perfumes is an artist-led fragrance house based in London, founded by American-born visual artist Sarah Baker, whose journey from creating scent-inspired artworks to collaborating with renowned perfumers has transformed olfactory storytelling into immersive, glamour-filled experiences.

Inspired by luxury, high-fashion motifs, and the drama of classic soap operas, each scent is crafted as a unique character in an ongoing narrative. Notably, Sarah Baker once believed herself allergic to perfume due to childhood overexposure, yet this early aversion became the catalyst for a bold exploration into scent and creativity.