Tabac Exquis (2021)

What a wonderful creation! You get both the slightly spicy tobacco, which has a damp and sensual character to it; but then you also get one of the most authentic chocolate milk notes as well. This mixture borders close to being mainstream at times, since the tonka bean also plays significant part in creating the gorumand tones. And we all know how tonka bean is found in pretty much every mainstream gourmand fragrance, but luckily, Tabac Exquis is made of much higher quality ingredients than those. The superb materials used in the formula prevent the fragrance from ever smelling banal. But it's not only thanks to the quality of the single ingredients that makes this such a special experience, but also the way perfumer Jean Jacques uses tiny nuances to accentuate the "chocolate-milk-tobacco" mixture. For example, the olibanum and especially the wonderful iris lend Tabac Exquis tiny bits of a silvery sheen, which lightens up the mixture, so it never becomes too dense. If you seek a gourmand fragrance that is simply comforting, yet elegant and highly enjoyable, look no further! Tabac Exquis has all you need: Rich tobacco, delicious chocolate, little quirks to keep it interesting, and above all, exceptional materials and skill went into the creation. Longevity and sillage are superb as well, applying this scent in the morning before work, I can still smell it on myself in the evening. People around me compliment me a LOT on Tabac Exquis, so that's a win too. Plus these new Caron bottles are beautiful, especially the 100 ml bottles are a real treat to look at, very heavy too! Great work, Caron!

Half a year ago I wandered into a perfume boutique in Zurich. They had a whole modern Caron lineup. I confidently reached for what I thought was Tabac Blond (because it's the only one I heard of), sprayed myself generously and left (because no self-respecting American perfume-addicted degenerate is gonna pay those Switzerland prices). The scent haunted me the entire day and well into the night. Back in the USA, I found Tabac Blond, bought it, and was immensely disappointed because this was not at all the scent I fell in love with. On a mission to find "my" Caron's Tabac, I ordered samples of the other three Tabacs offered by the brand. And this is it! I have found it! The deepest, richest and the most realistic tobacco I have encountered in perfumery, complete with stale ashy notes that some might find offputting. Tobacco is framed with dark chocolate, as those two go so well together. But what distinguishes this from other tobacco scents here is the Iris. OMG, the Iris. It adds this amazing powdery-ness that I personally find nearly orgasmic. A full bottle worthy fragrance. 9.5/10.

Oh my, I really love this one. And it was love at first sniff. Literally! I remember how I came across Caron’s fragrances, and without knowing anything about them, I tested a few. This one immediately got my attention. Then, in a short time, I got a full bottle. The cocoa note here is amazing. As much as I love chocolate, in perfumes it often annoys me, and to be straightforward - it stinks to me. But in Tabac Exquis, this is the most delicious smell ever. It's prominent yet not overwhelming, perfectly balanced with ashy tobacco and powdery tonka bean. Then, benzoin gives it a bit of sweetness, but the smell never becomes cloying. It has an airiness to it... It’s simply wonderful. When it comes to performance, the projection is moderate, but the longevity is great. Highly recommended for all tobacco lovers, as well as others who are picky about chocolate notes in perfume and look for a delicious yet not 100% gourmand, addictive smell.

simply put, a tobacco-/gourmand-lover's dream. this has pretty much everything that i like in perfume: tobacco, iris, lots of resins, chocolate and tonka. kind of resembles les indemodables vanille havane but it's more wearable and toned down, also lacks the booziness. it's perfectly tobacco-heavy upon first spray, not damp or too smoky, quite balanced. you're hit with this cacao powder that's not too chocolate caky/edible, it's more so like a dark cacao. beyond that, i get some resinous touches but it's not too overly sweet or sticky. however, i liked it better with 2 sprays vs. 4. for some reason i got a bit of a caramel when i did 4 sprays and i'm not a fan of sweet scents, also resembled a bit the tonka of tonka de canaima, it was perfect at 2.

For a few years in my youth my dad smoked a pipe. Not cigarettes (that would be my mom) and not cigars (thank goodness). Because we didn't have much money, he didn't smoke his pipe often so it was kind of a special occasion when he did, and he would be in a happy mood. This frag scent takes me back to that time, when things were happy and food plentiful. For those without that limbic sense of goodness, this is at first heady sweet tobacco, warming to frothy cocoa and finally a powdery warmth. Wrap yourself in a down blanket on a cold winter evening. All is right with the world. This.