Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka is the newest introduction to the brand's Cologne Intense line. These colognes are meant to be richer and fuller than the offerings in the main line, which tend to be lighter scents based on flower notes.
I sprayed myself liberally with Myrrh & Tonka at Singapore Ngee Ann City. Perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui used a lavender top note but it is blended and doesn't stand out as a distinct note to me. The myrrh adds initial warmth and sparkle and is immediately apparent to my nose. Myrrh is a resin from a small spiney tree and Jo Malone copy says that it is sourced in Namibia. Myrrh has an ancient history of being used in religious practice, as well as in Chinese and ayurvedic medicine. I really enjoy the aromatic fragrance of myrrh and I wish that note lasted a little longer. Tonka appears rather quickly and from that point on the cologne is all about the tonka on my skin. Tonka bean can give fragrances a vanilla gourmand feel that leans less sweet and more balmy and comforting. There can also be almond facets with tonka and as this cologne settles both the vanilla and almond notes contribute to the warmth and creaminess. Tonka can remind me of a milder and more subtle version of amber in perfumes and this is true with Myrrh & Tonka.
Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka is a well done scent and different from anything they currently have in the line, but I found I kept waiting for something else to happen. It developed pretty quickly and then didn't change in the hours of wear. As a point of reference, I am not a fan of Guerlain's Tonka Imperiale. If you are a tonka fan you may appreciate this but I eventually got bored. If I decide to add one of the Cologne Intense bottles to my collection I will probably go for Velvet Rose & Oud, a gorgeous deep red rose wrapped in a warm Oud.
Top photo from the Jo Malone website. Perfume sample sprayed at Jo Malone boutique.
2 comments :
I also tried this one recently. I rather liked it than not but didn't feel a compelling need to own this scent: I could wear it occasionally if it'd somehow landed on my lap (though I might want to re-thing that metaphor taking into the account the only size and the form of the bottle it comes in ;) ) but it's not interesting enough for me to pursue it on my own. But definitely not bad, they can be proud with this release, in my opinion.
Hi Undina, I felt the same, more or less. I didn't dislike it. While I love tonka as a background player, I just don't think I like it so much as the star of the show.I didn't think it was bad, but they have others I would buy first. It does fill a gap...they didn't have anything like it.
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