Velvet Tonka

Velvet Tonka is a gourmand, Almond, Amber scent created for Men and Women in 2021 by perfumer Alexandra Carlin.

Review

This scent starts off sweet and playful. As this scent opens, the Orange Blossom and Almond blend to create an aroma that sits somewhere between a light and airy Vanilla scent, and something like salted Playdoh….but in a good way. It’s appealing and playful. That Playdoh essence begins to fade as the depth of Tonka Bean and Vanilla come in to add more of an actual Vanilla essence. Tonka Bean is naturally Vanilla-like, adding a warm Vanilla infusion to the Vanilla and Almond. It still remains light and playful, Rose Absolute comes in at the heart, adding its familiar nuance, but it blends into the sweetness and still remaining light and airy, but now with a faint elegance. Amber Woods and Amyris Wood come in at the end, adding the softest, creamy Wood essence that does add some depth, but allows the softer, sweeter notes to thrive. The Almond, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, and Amber all feel like they stand out alone, but also blend and weave with everything else. It’s soft and elegant, airy and playful, sweet, cozy and warm. It feels like a Vanilla Summer scent, sweet, airy, somehow salty, warm and inviting. It’s like salty, warm, sun kissed skin spritzed with a soft Vanilla lotion and/or fragrance. At the same time, it also has a very subtle essence like an Almond and Citrus Madeleine. You can almost picture the soft cookie, the airiness of the inside, how its aroma is so soft and light, but so addictive. Somehow it is both aromas. As everything dries down, this almost becomes a skin scent, but it’s got more going on than that. It becomes soft, delicate, almost shy. This scent does lean ever-so-slightly feminine, but is a scent that anyone can wear who likes Almond or a very soft Vanilla scent. It will work well year-round, though it might bea smidge too warm for the Summer, and while it will become soft and intimate on the skin, it will last for hours. You can wear this scent to an office, on an afternoon date, out for lunch, shopping, an afternoon in or anytime you want to feel light and playful. It has been compared to Shagaf Oud Tonka and Diptyque’s L’Eau Papier, as well as actual Marzipan. TRY THIS SAMPLE AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

Inspiration

Velvet Tonka takes inspiration from Tonka Bean itself, as well as memories of a favorite sweet treat of the perfumer, Proust’s Madeleines, The fragrance combines the natural warmth and sweetness of a fragrance ingredient, and the unforgettable aroma of pastries.

Notes

This scent opens with a blend of Orange Blossom and Almond, which is light and airy, but also sweet and nostalgic. It’s almost Playdoh-like, but only for a moment. Tonka Bean Absolute and Madagascan Vanilla Absolute creep up from the base, adding a more truly Vanilla essence with the natural warmth from the Tonka Bean. Rose Absolute comes in at the heart, adding a very subtle Rose essence. It blends effortlessly into the sweetness, never becoming powdery or overly sweet, or adding a realistic Rose quality. It just peeks out, then blends into the background. Amber Woods and Amyris Wood Essence bring a kind of creamy woody element to the dry down of the scent. It keeps things warm, and the softer notes lasting, without taking away from anything. You can’t really smell the Balkan Tobacco Absolute. It doesn’t really add a ‘Tobacco’ aroma, it doesn’t necessarily make anything spicy, but does what the wood notes do and adds depth and helps with longevity. 

Top Notes: Orange blossom, Almond

Heart Notes: Rose Absolute, Balkan Tobacco Absolute

Base Notes: Tonka Bean Absolute, Madagascan Vanilla Absolute, Amyris Wood Essence, Amber Woods