Apple
Benzoin
Civet
Labdanum
Mulling spices
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Tobacco absolute
Tonka bean
Vanilla absolute07/30/2025
DrB1414
259 Reviews
DrB1414
Helpful Review
3
He got the "Cider" part right
Another unusual craving for this time of the year. Hendley's Tobacco Cider. The temperature has taken a significant dive over the last few days. And then, the garden floor is decorated with summer apples, and since we can't collect and eat all of them, a vast amount starts to ferment, resulting in a beautiful "apple cider" aroma that permeates the air. Hence, I have been craving Tobacco Cider, which remains to this day my favorite interpretation of this phantasmal "boozy accord." Then, I realized I had never reviewed it, and since I know it's difficult to sample, perhaps my thoughts will help some of you who are looking for it.
Tobacco Cider has grown to be my favorite creation from Hendley Perfumes. While I also love Myst and Narcis, the former came to feel incomplete, rather a base for a perfume than a final product, while the latter is not as distinctive, although charming. Tobacco Cider has also significantly changed, to my nose, since 2021; it is lovely and unique, making it a high-ranking composition in Hendley's catalog for me.
The name is partly misleading because I never got much tobacco from it. In the beginning, I didn't get any, but lately I do see how it might play its part in the later stages of the fragrance. Still, it's not a major player. To me, the most prominent notes and accords are: the woods, the boozy apple cider accord, the spices, and unexpectedly, the civet.
For the longest time, I had been searching for a perfume to capture the perfect apple cider accord, but was unable to find one. "Apple accords" in general are more mishaps than hits for me, just like with coffee. They either smell like toilet freshener (Apple Tabac), too sweet (Mond), or are overtaken by annoying synthetics that wreck the entire composition (Promise). This one is perfect: the fruit accord smells like summer apples, with that nice balance between sweet and sour, on the verge of turning, showcasing this fermented-boozy quality that makes me think of the alcoholic beverage. Hans perfectly complemented this accord with woods, a touch of vanillic sweetness, mulled spices, and added a good measure of all. The spices are strong in the opening and tame down gradually. The woods are the hallmark of this fragrance, smelling like a combination of cedar, oakwood, and sandalwood. There is a perfect touch of sweet vanilla and benzoin. The big surprise was the addition of a rather loud civet note, most welcomed, I might add, as it gives the fragrance a nice dirty edge, yet just like the sweetness, it's kept in check and never crosses the line. Moreover, I feel this perfume has only aged for the better. In the beginning, I felt that if the sweetness from the vanilla had been dialed down a notch, it could have been perfect. Time worked its magic, and now it's just like that with the woods coming more to the forefront and overshadowing the vanilla. I get plenty of cedar and oakwood, not much of the sandalwood. They give the impression of an oak barrel where the apples were left to ferment and later used to flavor the cider. I love the way he worked the wood base in here. As for the tobacco, as mentioned, it is hardly detectable and smells on the leafy and wet side of the spectrum. I don't complain, though, I like it much better as it is.
If you love the idea of a boozy apple (cider) with spices and lots of woods, and you're not afraid of the extra dirtiness from the civet, chances are you'll love this one. If you like Hans' woody and smoky perfumes, add some spices, light sweetness, and cider, and you'll get a good impression of Tobacco Cider. I find it fairly unique and an Autumn staple, although I enjoyed it immensely over the past few Summer days.
IG:@memory.of.scents
Tobacco Cider has grown to be my favorite creation from Hendley Perfumes. While I also love Myst and Narcis, the former came to feel incomplete, rather a base for a perfume than a final product, while the latter is not as distinctive, although charming. Tobacco Cider has also significantly changed, to my nose, since 2021; it is lovely and unique, making it a high-ranking composition in Hendley's catalog for me.
The name is partly misleading because I never got much tobacco from it. In the beginning, I didn't get any, but lately I do see how it might play its part in the later stages of the fragrance. Still, it's not a major player. To me, the most prominent notes and accords are: the woods, the boozy apple cider accord, the spices, and unexpectedly, the civet.
For the longest time, I had been searching for a perfume to capture the perfect apple cider accord, but was unable to find one. "Apple accords" in general are more mishaps than hits for me, just like with coffee. They either smell like toilet freshener (Apple Tabac), too sweet (Mond), or are overtaken by annoying synthetics that wreck the entire composition (Promise). This one is perfect: the fruit accord smells like summer apples, with that nice balance between sweet and sour, on the verge of turning, showcasing this fermented-boozy quality that makes me think of the alcoholic beverage. Hans perfectly complemented this accord with woods, a touch of vanillic sweetness, mulled spices, and added a good measure of all. The spices are strong in the opening and tame down gradually. The woods are the hallmark of this fragrance, smelling like a combination of cedar, oakwood, and sandalwood. There is a perfect touch of sweet vanilla and benzoin. The big surprise was the addition of a rather loud civet note, most welcomed, I might add, as it gives the fragrance a nice dirty edge, yet just like the sweetness, it's kept in check and never crosses the line. Moreover, I feel this perfume has only aged for the better. In the beginning, I felt that if the sweetness from the vanilla had been dialed down a notch, it could have been perfect. Time worked its magic, and now it's just like that with the woods coming more to the forefront and overshadowing the vanilla. I get plenty of cedar and oakwood, not much of the sandalwood. They give the impression of an oak barrel where the apples were left to ferment and later used to flavor the cider. I love the way he worked the wood base in here. As for the tobacco, as mentioned, it is hardly detectable and smells on the leafy and wet side of the spectrum. I don't complain, though, I like it much better as it is.
If you love the idea of a boozy apple (cider) with spices and lots of woods, and you're not afraid of the extra dirtiness from the civet, chances are you'll love this one. If you like Hans' woody and smoky perfumes, add some spices, light sweetness, and cider, and you'll get a good impression of Tobacco Cider. I find it fairly unique and an Autumn staple, although I enjoyed it immensely over the past few Summer days.
IG:@memory.of.scents
DrB1414
