SCENT EXPOSÉ: The Whimsical Wonder of White Balsam & Vanilla

 

I did intend on writing and posting this over this past weekend, but I was plagued with nonstop insomnia and I just didn’t have the energy and mental faculties to do it.

When I first saw this pop up, I was kind of intrigued. On the one hand, I tend to get turned off by vanilla, but I am an ardent fan balsam and other pine nuts. And, as with any newness, I had to know if it was actually new. I did hear offhand on social media what folks thought of it…and what I heard sounded neither promising or appealing but I kinda did want to sniff for myself. I couldn’t commit to buying a whole 3wick so while taking advantage of the recent $3.25 wallflower sale, I decided to get a wallflower refill. The package arrived last week and I was able to spend some time and sniff it. Alas, it smelled EXACTLY the way people described, much to my disappointment.

Before I bit the bullet and bought the wallflower, I had some thoughts and theories on what it could be a repackage of. At first I initially wrote it of as being just a renamed Vanilla Balsam or at least a similar smelling facsimile thereof. But based on what folks were saying about, it just didn’t sound it like it.  After finally sniffing it, I theorized that it might be a now forgotten one hit wonder from 2017 – Myrrh (which I THINK is a repackage of an older but equally forgotten scent called Good Natured Christmas ) I relayed my hypothesis on IG and asked everyone what the they…and folks didn’t waste any time to let me know in no uncertain terms just how wrong I was (I am mature enough to admit that I can, on occasion, be wrong but it still stings). As people rightfully and correctly pointed out, Myrrh didn’t really have piney-ness and there was an almost medicinal herbalness. The main consensus on social media is that WB&V was a repackage of or at least extremely to Balsam & Birch from the ill-fated Evergreen collection (it was one of the few that ended up online). The notes for both scents are different but based at what folks said about WB&V sounded about the same as what the few handful of people described B&B.

As I said earlier, I heard what folks had to say about WB&V and I was really hoping they were wrong…although when a significant bunch of people are all saying the same thing, there must be an element of truth to what’s being said. That said, if people were indeed right, I thought maybe I could get behind it and even like it. Well having finally sniffed it, I can say with accuracy that people are indeed right, I can’t get behind it and I don’t like it.

So, enough of the buildup…what does WB&V friggin smell like? It’s basically Marshmallow Fireside with hint of Fresh Ballsack-esque balsam. There’s no denying it, you can’t avoid it, it’s so noticeable and in your face. The vanilla is not soft and powdery like you would expect in a scent like this, like Vanilla Balsam or Lavender Vanilla. It is intensely sweet and there’s an ooey-gooey quality to it…like marshmallows. The balsam (btw “white balsam” is actually a thing but I couldn’t tell you what it’s like fragrance-wise) is the same sharp, crisp and astringent balsam note that’s in Fresh Ballsack. And I do get cool “chilled forest air” vibe..which I think is actually birch bark…makes sense if it is indeed B&B. There’s definitely some musk and I’m picking up some amber which a) was a note mentioned in the description for B&B and b) is a note typically found in fireside-y scents. It’s that amber mixing with the vanilla is makes this soooo Marshmallow Fireside-ish. Realest of talk…I can not stand Marshmallow Fireside and I’ve never understood its appeal. I thought perhaps the addition of balsam could possibly get me on board…NOPE! The marshmallow-like vanilla is just soooooo intense and overpowering…I just can’t!

I don’t really understand the point of creating this scent as it just seems so superfluous and unnecessary. It could’ve possibly worked as a winter/holiday as a replacement for Marshmallow Fireside (why is MF a Christmas scent? Who the hell is roasting marshmallows in winter?) That said, what’s the point of that when Vanilla Balsam already exists and is being released this year. Maybe this would work if there was a heavier birch note and/or a mint note…then again, there’s already Iced Vanilla Woods which has birch or if you’re gonna do mint, you might as well release Snow Day. Perhaps more smokiness that would tone down the vanilla and enhance the balsam…although there’s already White Winter Woods. Yeah, WB&V just feels like a waste of effort and just another scent thrown in for no reason.

In conclusion, if (and only if) Marshmallow Fireside is your jam and mixing with Fresh Ballsack sounds like something you can get into, then this bud’s for you. Otherwise, don't bother.