Vanilla/vəˈnɪlə/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Culinary Scent Used to describe a delicate and sweet fragrance often associated with food. Cookies baking in the oven filled the room with a vanilla scent. Pro Tip 2/3Culinary Usage Often paired with sweet dishes but also adds depth to savory ones. The chef used vanilla to enhance the flavor of the lobster sauce. Pro Tip 3/3Derived Products Vanilla comes in various forms such as beans, paste, and extract for cooking. She added a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cake batter.