Want
Created as a vanilla perfume for women who appreciate deep gourmand warmth without sharp edges, Want by DSQUARED² wraps the wearer in an inviting blanket of vanilla, almond accents, and gentle powdery florals. The blend thrives on crisp autumn afternoons and cold winter nights, where chilly air allows the ginger top note and heliotrope heart to radiate without overwhelming the room. It projects a confident, relaxed attitude suited for intimate weekend gatherings, casual cafe meetups, or quiet evenings at home. If you enjoy cozy scents where sweet vanilla absolute and Damask rose mingle over a supportive woody foundation, this fragrance delivers dependable comfort whenever low temperatures call for something truly soothing.
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Performance Metrics
3,603 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Community votes show balanced, dependable performance, with 169 wearers rating longevity as moderate and 163 as long lasting, translating to roughly six to nine hours of continuous wear. Sillage is primarily moderate to strong, generating an arm's-length scent trail that remains noticeable without filling an entire room.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
Want centers on a blend of sweet Madagascar vanilla, powdery heliotrope, and lively ginger. A brisk opening of mandarin orange and pink pepper gives way to a floral core of Damask rose and neroli, eventually settling into deep vanilla absolute and warm woodsy notes.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe opening accords emphasize fresh spicy ginger, bright citrus, and soft pink pepper. As the scent warms, prominent powdery, floral, and almond facets take over, dominated by heliotrope and rose. In the late stages, rich vanilla and woody accords create a lingering, sweet, and comforting foundation.
Community Data
1,807 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Double dose of Madagascar vanilla and vanilla absolute creates deep sweetness
Warm ginger and pink pepper offer an energetic contrast to the base
Heliotrope lends a cozy, almond-dusted powdery texture
Strong projection and reliable longevity across autumn and winter
Balanced floral heart of Damask rose and neroli softens the spice
Warming woody notes ground the fragrance without turning bitter
Offers exceptional warmth and comfort for cool evening wear
Delivers niche-like complexity at an accessible designer price tier
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Discontinued status makes finding bottles at fair prices challenging
Distinct almond and heliotrope powderiness can feel cloying to some
Unwieldy spherical bottle cap is awkward to pack or store
Poor match for high heat and humid summer days
Risk of smelling like sweet dough on incompatible skin types
Minority of voters report weak longevity under four hours
Heavy sweetness can overpower enclosed office environments
Combination of rose and dessert vanilla polarizes some wearers
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“DSQUARED2 Want Review: A Cozy Powdery Vanilla With Bite”
The initial spray of Want by DSQUARED² hits with an immediate contrast of zesty brightness and sharp spice. Juicy mandarin orange provides a fleeting burst of citrus freshness, while fresh ginger and pink pepper supply an energetic prickle that cuts through the underlying richness. Rather than opening like a generic sweet powdery perfume, the scent announces itself with a distinct, lively bite that grabs your attention right away.
Within fifteen minutes, the spicy top settles as the floral heart takes center stage. Heliotrope introduces a soft, almond-tinged powdery character that defines the middle phase of Want. A velvety Damask rose emerges alongside clean neroli, creating an elegant floral bouquet that buffers the emerging sweetness. As hours pass, the floral elements melt into Madagascar vanilla and dense vanilla absolute, anchored by steady woodsy notes that prevent the dry-down from becoming purely sugary.
Over the course of a full wear, the dominant vanilla and powdery accords steadily expand, pushing the initial citrus and fresh spicy qualities into the background. What starts as a bright, peppery floral gradually transforms into a warm, fluffy cloud of sweet vanilla and woody undertones. The almond nuance from the heliotrope remains perceptible throughout, giving the vanilla base an almost pastry-like density without losing its perfume structure.
Performance aligns closely with community feedback, where 169 wearers record moderate longevity and 163 vote it long lasting, indicating a reliable six to nine hours of wear. Sillage is rated moderate by 252 voters and strong by 167, meaning the scent creates an arm's-length bubble that leaves a noticeable trail. With season votes heavily favoring fall (100 votes) and winter (96 votes) over summer (19 votes), Want belongs in cold weather, excelling in cozy casual settings, evening dates, and crisp weekend outings.
This perfume suits shoppers seeking a comforting, sweet fragrance with real substance and spicy flair. Enthusiasts of powdery vanilla and almond florals will find plenty to love here. On the other hand, anyone sensitive to thick, powdery scents should approach with caution, as several wearers note that heliotrope can turn dense or trigger headaches. Those looking for an airy warm-weather freshie or a dry, dark wood should certainly skip it.
Want delivers a satisfying, well-rounded take on the vanilla genre that punches far above its original designer price point. Because it is discontinued and occasionally commands inflated secondary market prices, tracking down a sample or decant first is the wisest move before committing to a full bottle.
FAQs
What does Want by DSQUARED2 smell like?+
Want by DSQUARED2 is an oriental vanilla perfume featuring sweet vanilla, powdery heliotrope, warm ginger, and soft woods. It opens with a spicy prickle of ginger, pink pepper, and mandarin orange. The heart introduces almond-scented heliotrope, Damask rose, and neroli before drying down to a rich base of Madagascar vanilla, vanilla absolute, and gentle woodsy notes.
How does the opening of Want differ from the dry-down?+
The opening is distinctly spicy and fresh, whereas the dry-down is thick, sweet, and powdery. The first few minutes feature sharp ginger, pink pepper, and mandarin orange. Over several hours, these zesty accents fade, giving way to heliotrope and a lasting base of Madagascar vanilla, vanilla absolute, and soft woodsy notes.
Is Want by DSQUARED2 long lasting?+
Yes, Want provides dependable longevity, typically lasting between six and nine hours on skin. Out of 472 community performance votes, 169 wearers rate it moderate and 163 rate it long lasting, while 72 consider it eternal. The concentrated vanilla absolute and sturdy woodsy notes help anchor the fragrance for a full day.
How strong is the projection and sillage of Want?+
Want projects at a moderate to strong distance, radiating about an arm's length from the wearer. In community testing votes, 252 voters describe the sillage as moderate, 167 call it strong, and 110 find it enormous. It creates a noticeable, cozy aura without becoming stifling when sprayed with a reasonable hand.
What season is best to wear Want by DSQUARED2?+
Want performs best in the fall and winter when cool temperatures balance its sweetness. Community seasonal votes show overwhelming preference for autumn with 100 votes and winter with 96 votes, compared to just 41 for spring and 19 for summer. Cold air keeps the dense vanilla and powdery heliotrope comforting rather than cloying.
Is Want by DSQUARED2 for men or women?+
Want is marketed to women and community voting strongly supports a feminine profile. Out of 186 gender votes, 140 rate it as female and 27 as more female, with only 15 classifying it unisex. The dominant combination of sweet vanilla, powdery heliotrope, and Damask rose gives it a distinctly womanly character.
What perfumes smell similar to Want by DSQUARED2?+
Want shares notable similarities with Kenzo Amour, Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder, and Yves Rocher Cuir de Nuit. While Kenzo Amour leans more lactonic and milky, Want incorporates a spicy ginger bite. Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder offers a comparable powdery vanilla dry-down, but it lacks the lively pink pepper and ginger top notes of Want.
Is Want by DSQUARED2 still in production?+
No, Want by DSQUARED2 has been discontinued by the brand. While it was launched in 2015 as a major designer pillar, bottles are no longer distributed to mainstream retailers. Shoppers must now rely on remaining stock, fragrance discounters, decant services, or secondary market sellers to find a bottle.
Is Want a safe blind buy?+
No, Want is not a safe blind buy due to its heavy powdery accords and discontinuation. While lovers of gourmand fragrances often enjoy it, heliotrope can produce a dense, play dough sensation for some wearers. Because resale prices can be elevated, testing a sample or decant beforehand is strongly advised.
What occasions are best for wearing Want?+
Want is ideally suited for casual weekend outings, intimate evening dates, and cold-weather gatherings. Its cozy vanilla and soft woodsy profile feels relaxed yet put-together. However, because its powdery projection can become strong in enclosed areas, light application is recommended if wearing it in quiet office settings.
Rankings
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREWearers frequently compare Want to Kenzo Amour, though Want feels less milky and adds a sharper ginger kick. Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder shares a similar powdery dry-down but lacks the ginger and pink pepper top notes. Yves Rocher Cuir de Nuit offers a close vanillic profile, while Flower by Kenzo presents a lighter, more floral alternative without the heavy woody base.
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