TOB/02 Tobacco Tango

Originally founded along the Rio de la Plata, the river that separates Argentina from Uruguay, in the 1880s, it should come as no surprise that tango eventually took the world by storm, since so many corners of the globe influenced its creation. Drawing inspiration from both African and European cultures, tango was influenced by Cuba’s habanera dance, Argentinia’s milonga and the traditional candombe dances of Argentina’s African population. Much like the dance of the same name, tango music originated in lower-class areas of Buenos Aires and Montevideo and drew from multiple musical backgrounds, merging them to create the distinct style we recognize today. TOB/02 Tobacco Tango is like a tango between the Tobacco and Leather couple. It belongs to the Ingredients Stories series, according to the label that seals the box. From the first spray, I perceived a niche genre, a polarizing perfume not designed for mass pleasure. If you’re like me, you’ll love it. For me, this is my favourite of the three pieces in the TOB/ series. Even though I bought the "TOB/01 Tabac & Jazz | Zara" first (only Jazz and Treasure were available on the shelf), when I tried it later I couldn’t resist and bought it right away. Tobacco Tango begins with a creamy, slightly medicinal and alcoholic duo of mandarin and bergamot on a spicy background. The citrus accord is evanescent, calms down quickly and plays a supporting role, just like other flavours used in pipe tobacco, and never becomes too sweet or too pungent to fit comfortably into the blend. My skin seems to go straight from this orange/resinous opening to the narcotic tobacco and leather. That opening chord holds it up sweetly. For a while, I thought of a soft, tender pipe tobacco, but soon a very resinous, bitter, slightly acidic leathery edge popped out and turned the tobacco into something darker, bitter, dense and nutty. If you are familiar with the leathery, animalic, and bitter notes, you will immediately recognize the imposing presence of the notes of saffron flower and bitter almonds, very similar to the seeds we find inside the core of the peach, which have the same smell as almonds but much more bitter. I can summarize the opening as an alcoholic and spicy accord. As the fragrance warms with body heat, the floral notes of the rose make their way, not a moist and dewy or gelatinous rose, but a woody rose, similar to rosewood with those sweet, fresh, and herbaceous-woody accents, which delicately enhances the floral, spicy and amber notes. Despite the presence of the very sweet ylang-ylang flower, overall the fragrance does not appear too honeyed, sweet, or nauseating. Indeed, combined with the precious rose and guaiac wood, which we know is a little deep with burnt nuances. In the central phase, fruity notes also emerge, do not associate with fresh fruit such as apple, pear, or pineapple, but with dried fruit such as dates and candied citrus peels for example. The trail reveals a sweet fruitiness that the wearer may not perceive on their person. Now the bitter imprint of the almond has weakened in favour of the drier and amber ones of tobacco and coumarins. As TOB/02 approaches the dry-down, a sweet, powdery tonka exudes and blends with the tobacco. Drying becomes so wonderfully cosy. Spices, resins, leathery and tobacco notes provide subtle and silent support. There’s just a hint of sweetness and smokiness. The labdanum supports the initial leathery texture of the saffron, and the incense offers a hint of resinousness and smokiness without pushing the scent towards anything religious or liturgical. The scent is now close to the skin, a leathery fragrance with some sweet and sour powdery almond, also similar to heliotrope, and the initial creaminess and butteriness on the back. Beautiful, rich and luxurious. One of the best tobacco scents you can buy that isn’t disgustingly sweet. It may remind you of other tobacco fragrances, but it is truly seductive. Smooth and sensual. Unisex, I recommend all women who love light leather and dry tobacco notes to try it. The tobacco in this is very pronounced, with distinctive animalic facets. There’s something medicinal about it, band-aid-like and leathery, almost rubbery. Sillage is moderate but not overwhelming and longevity is average and better than the TOB/01 Jazz. So warm and welcoming that it undoubtedly suits the evenings and night outings of the colder autumn and winter months. How about the first cold mornings? I'm basing my opinion on a bottle I've owned since November 2023 (BC 32930).

I get mostly tobacco and lactones/coconut. In the drydown, some rose starts to come through and the scent gets airier and more transparent. There is some sweetness but it's quite balanced. Not much leather, if any at all. The opening smells a bit strange and cloying but it gets much better after 5-10 minutes or so. Very good for the price.

Definitely not for everyone, but I totally love this scent. I've been a fan of Velvet Rose and Oud by JM for a while now. While this is not a close scent, the rose notes in this perfume is similarly mature. I agree with everyone that the opening may be a little harsh but the drydown is what made this perfume special for me.

This has almost the Same exact Opening of Encelade! I'm Overly fascinated by it in a Way it has Directly Jumped into second Place all time Releases of ZARA After "Leather Jardin" Solid Nr.2 for me & easy 8,5/10 & yeah even better than Universal Oud Crazy gd!! Just get it

Smells typically arabic. Prominent saffron, almond, rose and tobacco. If you told me this was Montale I might’ve believed you. I’m shocked by all the negative reviews since I find it really pleasant.