Lily Prune is a low cost line produced by Paris-based perfume house Ulric de Varens and marketed towards the below-20 set (as you might have guessed from the packaging). Lily Prune Sublime Vanilla was created by nose Jean Claude Ellena, and released in 2001; the notes are orange, cherry, plum, vanilla, amber, and sandalwood.

Sublime Vanilla starts out sweet, fruity and perfume-y, but improves on all three scores as it calms on skin. The dry down is a smooth, mildly powdery blend of sandalwood and amber with hints of almond and vanilla. It is only lightly sweet by the end, and considerably less foody than most vanilla fragrances; in fact, the vanilla itself is subtle and might not satisfy a true vanilla fanatic.

It was interesting to wear Sublime Vanilla after the last few days of reviewing the costlier Hermessence line, also by Jean Claude Ellena. As you'd expect, this is a less complicated fragrance, much younger in feel, and probably falls more into the comfort-scent category. It is very soft and cozy, almost fuzzy, and if it evokes a fabric, it would probably be your favorite soft, well-washed sweatshirt rather than any of the swanker materials evoked by the Hermessences (silk, cashmere, etc). Like your favorite sweatshirt though, it has its charms, and the price is much easier to swallow.

It is not a heavy scent once it settles, and could probably be worn in any but very hot weather. The lasting power is good.

Sublime Vanilla is $9.99 at Scentiments, and it is also available at smallflower.

Coming on Monday: an interview with Christopher Brosius of CB I Hate Perfume.