Tonka & Amande

Tonka & Amande absolue is my latest purchase and I am enjoying it very much. I must admit that I do like almond notes in fragrances and this one features almond very strongly. The opening starts with something slightly bitter and sweet, almost like a fruit liqueur or maybe Rum with a good dash of almond. So from the start there is an element of sweetness from the raspberry and licorice but it stays subtle. After 15-20 mins the Tonka becomes more prominent alongside the almond but that slight bitter/dark fruity liqueur is still present somewhere in the background. By this point Tonka & Amande absolue reminds me a little bit of Black perfecto ( la petite robe noire - Guerlain) that same fruity almond licorice vibe but without the leather. The dry down is yummy, simply delicious!!! The almond and Tonka blend seamlessly and together with the raspberry and licorice create a wonderful soft gourmand but not sugary at all. The thing that makes it interesting for me is that this fragrance is very smooth but with a hint of bitterness that elevates it from simple to sophisticated grown-up gourmand. I must say that I do not get any floral at all. Sillage is soft but longevity is excellent on my skin 8+ hours. Eventually way after 8 hours it becomes a soft skin scent with some vanilla joining in.

This is such a cozy, comforting scent. Boozy, nutty, and fruity; smells like amaretto with a tart raspberry accent. There's a bitter element that adds a layer of sophistication, I'm thinking it's that liquorice note. To be honest this gives me a similar impression to Tom Ford's Lost Cherry, if you were to swap the cherry accord for raspberry I imagine it would smell like this... and I actually prefer this over LC performance wise, it maintains that fruity accord throughout the day instead of drying down to a boring vanilla-booze. I love the recyclable packaging, refillable bottle, and affordable price point. Taking one point off for having poor longevity (around 4-5 hours), but that's alright as I mostly enjoy wearing this one on days in as a pick me up :)

This is lovely - a happy blind buy. It's complex and sweet, with just enough wood, citrus and rose to keep it grounded and a little bit gritty. Truly unisex, sits close to the skin, but it's been 7 hours and it's still very much there. Now it's a bright tonka and almond melange, but the layers are still very much there. Beautifully blended and balanced and very wearable. It's yummy enough that I feel the need to eat my wrist, but I'll sniff it instead. A really good buy, and a safe bet for gourmand lovers. A great warming cosy fragrance - I'll be wearing this to bed.

Yet another charming small from this brand. Love the vanilla almond here, sweet but not flat with wonderful framboise hints. There are also some vaguely soapy accords of jasmine and rose that make the scent lighter: it's a good choice for spring, too. Al always the only problem is longevity...

I love this scent, very gentle, yet it makes a statement. The tonka and almond alternate in the beginning, but at one point they merge into a sublime scent.