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.

Very natural sophisticated rose in my opinion. It's the more original and sophisticated of the tobacco line from my personal tastes

very gourmand and pure arabic scent...ilike it..

Delicious, Zara has done a god job.

Normally, I don't blindly buy a fragrance unless I know what "This perfume reminds me of" has a fragrance that I know or have smelled before, but this one was an actual blind buy. This is the longest-lasting, strong-sillage fragrance that I have seen from Zara. It's strong, woody, and for some reason, there's a noticeable hint of cinnamon; whenever I wear it, one asks me, "Why do you smell like cinnamon." I understand that this fragrance is not for everyone (My dad hates the smell of it when I put on some), but it kind of grew on me; it smells nice but not on a daily basis. So before you buy this, do try it because it's a 50/50 chance that you like it or not.

Update MAR 2025: So after the fragrance had time to macerate for 8 months, the opening has become softer. Now it smells like a lovely Middle Eastern parfum without being overpowering or harsh. Original review JUL 2024: Blind bought this. Smells typically Arabic and very strong in the opening. After about an hour it becomes more tolerable but use it sparingly or this scent could come-off as offensive. Not a safe office work scent. It might smell better in the cold winter but Malaysia is Summer all year round. Generally I would not get this again as it’s much too pungent and reminds me of strong overpowering Arabic scents.

Got it for 6 euros as it is on sale. This is a perfect example of a polarizing scent. I do like the scent profile. It is a heavy, warm, sticky, balsamic, smoked rose with hints of spices and a cigar like accord. The opening is, indeed, a bit strong and I get a burnt rubber smell. It has a vintage feel to it, very 70’s, 80’s. At this price, I would say that this is an interesting addition to anyone’s collection. Update: After wearing this, I can confirm that this is such a nice blended almond - rose scent. At times it kind of reminded me of Givenchy Pi. Get your hands on this one until it’s too late!

En mi opinión que la he probado hoy huele muy especial ...a madera, especies, pimienta y almendra con un toque a coco que acompaña a la fragancia desde su secado. Su duración como las de Zara 6 horas y estela pues moderada. Es una fragancia un poco diferente y si coincido en que parece un poco Árabe. No la comprarla a ciegas. Pero si recomiendo su compra

I love this new release from Zara. The almond note is on the powdery side and combined with tonka creates a coconut like accord. I never would’ve thought to put together coconut and tobacco, but it works for me. Cigar cereal and milk under a coconut palm. Unisex and daytime.

It opens nicely with the almond note mostly marzipan note being the dominant note! I don't get much rose but rather light floral note, as it dry down it moves very close to zara full moon over the desert, it's OK scent but I was expecting more

La compre hoy la recomiendo aunque no comprar a ciegas. Tiene un aroma a tabaco, Especiada, almendra, coco.. Calidad precio adecuada... Duración 5-6 horas después en piel... Proyección moderada. De lo mejor de Zara

It’s almost Identical to “Guess Type3 : Tobacco and Amberwood”. Sweet, Ambery faint Tobacco

Now this one stands out amongst the 35 thousand fragrances Zara releases yearly. It's well done, interesting and lasts longer than most. Not a blind buy though, It's challenging for what they usually do, opening is a bit pungent, I probably wouldn't have liked this in my 20s. It's a little stanky but in a good way that draws you in, probably how the rose is being used, also it's not shown in the notes but it does have a leathery accord along with the bitter almond and frankincense, presumably from emulating the Byredo which originally has it. One thing to note is that there are a lot of Zara men fragrances that have the same frankincense note in the base which ends up dominating the dry down, this one is not an exception, but this is the only one I could still smell pretty strongly as a skin scent after about 6 hours.

Ok release from Zara. Opens up very resinous, chemically and sour leather( like pickled cucumbers). Dries down to a fruity/floral, (cheap) leather fragrance with some powdery almond/heliotrope in the back. Sample before buying.

I smell cherry, not almonds. And honey for some reason. Vibe reminds Cherry Smoke. Nothing in common with Tobacco Mandarin at all.

Mature and Stern Gent. This has a sharp bitterness, leathery facet to it that I didn't particularly enjoy. Almond usually plays out somewhat oily/greasy/milky/creamy on my skin, but I couldn't detect it. Resinous bed supports this leathery accord, which the tobacco is sitting in the center. I was expecting more sweeter tobacco found in the other fragrances, but this tobacco is dry hay like tobacco. Dislike for day-to-day wear. May wear for something more serious and formal.