Tonka Musk

It doesn’t seem real to me. I’ve had my eyes on these AA perfumes since they were launched on the market in 2020, but the average 50ml format compared to the slightly higher price has always discouraged the purchase. Until today, when the Tigotà chain of stores put this Tonka Musk on super-promo, at €19.90 the EdP. Without hesitating for a moment, I put it in the cart and now it is in my collection. Meanwhile, I’m waiting for the right time to arrive at "Amber Musk | Alyssa Ashley" and "Rose Musk | Alyssa Ashley" too. Others were added in the following years, but these three represented the first big breakthrough after the original Musk. Before describing the perfume, I would like to point out that Alyssa Ashley perfumes, despite often being very affordable, are not of poor quality and indeed, often include noble raw materials and ingredients, and the noses that create them are also prestigious. What to say about him? An unexpected explosion of toasted bitter almonds is what I smell at the opening. Unexpected, because my nose and my mind are calibrated on white musk with hints of blackberry, my instinct expects a variant of this accord, and this bitter almond aftertaste catches me unprepared. It is very strong and inebriating, perhaps the result of the ingenious melange between cinnamon and tonka. I imagine myself spreading a mix of cinnamon sticks and tonka beans on a baking tray, and then baking them at a medium, slow temperature to toast them; throughout the kitchen, and slowly throughout the house, this almond aroma spreads, a little gourmand but very bitter and not nauseating. The cinnamon arrives immediately, warm, and pungent, but not the sweetish cinnamon we are all used to. For example, you don’t feel the cinnamon-like in "Potion (Eau de Parfum) | Dsquared2", where the spicy aspect is very marked. Here it is already wrapped in a cloak of toasted tonka, on a sensual background of white musk, what we learned about with #ashley musk. I let some time pass, and the cinnamon reduces its potency, leaving room for the tonka. Its smell has caramelized facets, with tones of vanilla and almond. Sometimes I also find touches of hay and tobacco. However, tonka produces a smooth, very warm, and balsamic olfactory result. If I smell the box where I sprayed the perfume, I get alcoholic scents, almost reminiscent of the Amaretto di Saronno liqueur. The skin mitigates this nuance, which with its warmth and chemistry highlights the notes of tonka and the slightly animalic and salty notes of amber. Now the essence also takes on sweetish tones, which override the more bitter ones, while always remaining on the border between the masculine and the feminine, never too saccharine or saccharine and not even virile or rude. Minutes, and hours pass, and the softness of musk and vanilla emerge in all their splendour. The fragrance takes on powdery, powdery and musky nuances. Now it’s a skin scent, but its warmth and delicate sweetness can be perceived if you get close to the places where it was sprayed. Clean and powdery is the last trail. Tonka Musk is not intrusive, despite having an important character. In its evolution, it touches accords of almonds, coumarins, and caramel, as well as musk. I would say that both the duration and the projection are moderate, and those accustomed to the extraordinary performance of the original might be disappointed. But those who love intimate perfumes will appreciate this essence. If used in the cold seasons, in the autumn and winter months, the perfume can be worn both during the day and in the evening. It is good for going to work, or for dinner or an evening event. Did I like it? Yes, it did not disappoint my expectations, and I have not regretted the purchase. I wrote the review based on a bottle I have owned since April 2024 (BC 3501268A, PD 2021-09).

Such a nice balance of sweet & spicy. It's so warm & cozy and will be perfect for cold weather. I've only tested this out by spritzing myself a couple of times and it's pretty weak. I don't smell it unless I press my nose against my skin but what I do smell is sooo good. The amber is pretty strong in the opening, which almost turned me off, but the dry down is where it's at!! I get sweet, warm cinnamon and this delicate musk. Ahhhhh! I love it. I'm waiting for a really cool day so I can spray myself all over and really test it out.

Very warm, fresh, amber, vanilla, spicy scent that is not overtly feminine, but neither it is overtly masculine. Definitely a unisex scent that makes the best of the cinnamon, vanilla, amber, musk combination. Perfect for office or whenever you don't want an overpowering scent. Tonka Musk leaves a faint musky, tonka trail on the skin like aromatherapy.

Tonka is my latest obsession. I find Tonka to be vanilla's sexy older brother, dark, mature and suave. While vanilla is it's playful and sweet and girly sister, lol. Does it make any sense? I've the Solinotes Tonka as well and this is very similar to it. This feels like wearing your favorite winter thick wooly sweater, curling up on a cozy sofa beside a crackling fire. It's got enough spice to make you crave a hot cocoa drink, but it's not OTT. Very good for layering with Swiss Arabian Oud Tonka or SJP Stash or Katie Perry's Indie. I just wish it lasted longer.

So i made an account just to review this and help you guys! It's definitley unisex. Starts off quite strong with sweet amber and drydown more tonka. But to me it smells alot like ambre reminiscence! I like it:) and last about 4 hours on my skin. Very good for the price!

On my skin the very first spray is all about vanilla+amber+ a hint of cinnamon. Then the cinnamon grows and meets the tonka... I wish it had more tonka :( it's a pleasent scent... unisex, a little 'dirty', oriental for sure.

Feels like a thick winter sweater on clean skin. Not loud, not flashy. Just comforting, slightly spicy, and addictive up close. Tonka Musk by Alyssa Ashley is made for cold weather and effortless layering.

Probably the most marzipan-resembling scent I have. Quite pretty, a nice blend and the cinnamon is delicious. But very much in the ”what pastry filling does this remind of?”-territory.

Straight up antiseptic spray on my skin sadly! On card and deep dry down it’s definitely similar to reminiscence Heliotrope and that one is way nicer imho!

I enjoy most of the Alyssa Ashley fragrances, but mainly Essence the Patchouli and Ambre Gris (which are even better layered). Last year I snatched up a bottle of Esoteric, which I can recommend to anyone who loves Alien. The Oud pour Elle is also a really nice one, in short I’d say a boozy rose, just not me though. Sometimes, I find it helpful to get/give an overall idea of the vibe, rather than the notes, by a comparison; So, I just got this and upon first try, this is like a mixture of Reminiscence Tonka and Ambre (or Alyssa Ashley’s Essence de Patchouli to which I find the latter similar). In the opening (only) I get a similar vibe to Mugler’s Alien Musc Mysterieux for a second. Once dried down, a very slight resemblance to Killian’s Back to Black is there as well, les honeylike though. Throughout the scent, however, this mainly reminds me of Christian Dior Fève Délicieuse, perhaps a touch drier.