The last time I had a sip of cola was in 2012. A full 14 years ago. Back then, I would knock back a bottle almost every day, but when I turned 18, I suddenly thought, "what kind of unhealthy nonsense am I actually drinking here?" And so it happened that, from one moment to the next, I burned all "sweets" out of my life and haven't relapsed since. I was a little skeptical when I first saw Tonka Cola, because what works on the tongue doesn't necessarily have to work on the neck too, right? But if you want to broaden your fragrance horizons with a certain added value, you should also engage with those fragrances that make you doubt them beforehand. Because boy, oh boy, who could have guessed how sexy cola can be on the neck.
If I really had to describe Tonka Cola in just a few words, I would say sex appeal with elegance. If someone had told my 12-year-old self that cola could be this sexy, I probably would have eaten more little cola bottles instead of apple rings, Smurfs and frogs. The very ingredient that made me doubtful beforehand turns out to be a true highlight. Right from the start, this incredibly elegant cola note, brimming with sex appeal, unfolds. Slightly spicy but not over the top, everything is finely balanced. And with regret, I have to say that this cola opening doesn't even survive the first hour. If this initial character had lasted longer, an even higher rating would have been possible. That shouldn't lead to any misunderstanding, because the rest of the development remains very pleasant as well, and tonka and vanilla harmonize skillfully right up to the bitter end, but I simply miss the magic of the opening, that certain something. Personally, I find the fragrance rather masculine. Somehow, the opening immediately gave me a confidence boost when I walked through the door, and the numbers back up my impression, because of the 2,570 users on Parfumo, no fewer than 78 percent are male.
Mancera is partly known for monstrous performance, but Tonka Cola is more in the lower midfield. I was able to smell four sprays on my neck for around four hours.
The amber-colored bottle matches the fragrance perfectly in terms of color, and on Mancera's own website, it is set against a wave of cola.
Mancera almost always offers good value for money, and this fragrance proves that as well. The RRP for 120ml is 150,- euros. That is a good price. However, if you look online, you can already find offers for just under 80,- euros for 120ml, and despite the mediocre performance, that is a top price because the fragrance DNA is unique.
Tonka Cola is a bold fragrance that relies on an unusual combination, and that is precisely its recipe for success. With some Mancera releases, you miss that certain something, that distinctive feature, but as with Red Tobacco, the fragrance simply bubbles over with its own character. Will I become addicted to cola again now? No, my tongue will have to be disappointed, but I will be treating my neck to it more often from now on.
