Our take
What does Tonka Impériale smell like?
Tonka Impériale arrived in 2010 as the seventh scent in the L'Art et la Matière collection. Thierry Wasser, then fairly new as Guerlain's in-house perfumer, partly had Jicky in mind. The opening is boozy and woody, with bergamot, herbal rosemary and a very clear bitter almond. After fifteen minutes it turns gourmand. Tonka takes over with its dry hay and gingerbread facets. Honey and blond tobacco keep it company without weighing it down, and a quiet jasmine sits behind them. The sweetness peaks around the forty-minute mark. Then it dries out as incense, cedar and pine come back, while amber and vanilla keep the skin warm. Drier and more herbal than Spiritueuse Double Vanille, it remains one of the best tonka fragrances ever made. Several retailers now list it as discontinued.
When to wear it
A winter evening scent worn close to the neck. One or two sprays, or the honey can turn syrupy.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber family. Tonka Impériale is one of 89 creations by Guerlain in our encyclopedia.
