Vanilla body oils are everywhere, but most smell like dessert. Monoi Tiki Tahiti Vanille is different: a soft, perfume-style vanilla over Tahitian tiare monoi and coconut. It has been one of Parfumerie Tiki's most-loved scents since the 1980s. Here is how it smells, how to wear it, and how to pair it with the matching soap.
What does Vanille monoi oil smell like?
Warm and sweet, but cozy rather than sugary. The first note is vanilla bean, followed by a creamy coconut base with a light tiare (Tahitian gardenia) floral underneath. It does not smell like cookies or frosting. It reads more like a soft vanilla perfume that sits close to the skin.
Every Monoi Tiki Tahiti oil starts as Monoi Tiare Tahiti, tiare blossoms steeped in refined coconut oil, and Vanille adds a vanilla fragrance on top. Each bottle still holds a dried tiare flower.
Who will love Vanille?
- Anyone who already wears vanilla or warm, gourmand scents.
- People who find florals too strong but want something more than unscented oil.
- Gift shoppers who want a safe choice: vanilla is one of the most widely liked scents.
If you want even less fragrance, try Coco. If you want warm but woody, try Santal. Compare every option in our monoi oil scent guide.
How to use a vanilla body oil
After the shower
Pat skin until it is just damp, then smooth a few drops of Vanille monoi oil over arms, legs and shoulders. A little goes a long way; start with a few drops and add more if you like. Damp skin helps the oil spread thinly. More tips in how to use monoi oil on skin.
As a light fragrance
Dab a drop on wrists, behind the ears and at the collarbone. Because it sits on an oil base, the scent stays soft and personal rather than filling the room.
In your hair
Rub one or two drops between your palms and smooth over dry ends, or use more as a pre-shampoo mask for 15 to 30 minutes, then shampoo. See how to use monoi oil for hair.
For massage
Warm a little in your hands first. The coconut base glides easily, and the vanilla makes it a cozy choice for winter evenings.
The vanilla shower-to-skin routine
- Shower: lather the Vanille monoi soap, a French-milled 130 g bar, on wet skin and rinse.
- Pat dry: leave skin slightly damp.
- Oil: smooth on a few drops of Vanille monoi oil.
Using the same scent in the bar and the oil gives you one soft vanilla from head to toe, without mixing fragrances.
Pairing ideas
- Vanille + Tiare: the classic duo. Tiare for daytime, Vanille for evenings. Shop Tiare.
- Vanille + Coco: one cozy, one barely scented, for days you want less fragrance.
- Vanille + Santal: sweet and woody; also a good his-and-hers gift.
Any two 4 oz oils reach our free U.S. shipping line of $30. For more gift combinations, see our Tahitian holiday gift guide.
Good to know
- It may be solid when it arrives. Monoi is mostly coconut oil, which turns solid below 68°F (20°C). Stand the bottle in warm water for a few minutes to melt it.
- Patch-test first if you are trying a new fragrance, and stop using it if you notice irritation.
- Not a sunscreen. Monoi is a beauty oil; use sunscreen as directed on its label when you are out in the sun.
Vanille monoi FAQ
Does Vanille monoi smell like food?
No. It is a perfume-style vanilla: soft and warm over coconut, not a baking or candy scent.
Is Vanille made with tiare flowers too?
Yes. Every Monoi Tiki Tahiti oil starts as Monoi Tiare Tahiti, and each bottle holds a dried tiare flower.
Is there a matching vanilla soap?
Yes, the Vanille monoi soap. Use the bar in the shower, then the oil on damp skin.
Where is it made?
In Papeete, Tahiti, by Parfumerie Tiki, which has made monoi since 1942. Hawaiian Resources Co. of Honolulu is the official U.S. importer and ships every order from Hawaii.
Keep reading: Monoi oil scent guide · What does tiare smell like? · What is monoi oil? · Tahitian gift guide: monoi oil gifts under $35 · Monoi soap: the 6 scents and how to use them · Plumeria (frangipani) body oil: Tipanie monoi · Jasmine (pikake) body oil: Pitate monoi · Ylang ylang body oil: monoi Ylang Ylang · Sandalwood body oil: monoi Santal · Tahitian coconut body oil: monoi Coco