I love roses and gardenias and was expecting goodness, but this one didn't take long to come out the top of the discovery kit, for me. I knew instantly that it was worthwhile; the two flowers hit me near-equally, but there was dry, interesting tang dancing around them. The vanilla must be for leavening out the depth of sandalwood and musk, because there is nothing gourmand about this perfume. It reminds me of no other (though it has, maybe, a few distant cousins of high quality). I will gladly buy a bottle.