Velvet Tonka bdk Parfums 2021

I adore Tonka beans.
My benchmark for THE Tonka fragrance is Guerlain’s Tonka Imperiale: in Tonka Imperiale, the many facets of Tonka are highlighted. I wanted to love Velvet Tonka.
From the notes I should but something is missing: Tonka.
I will say this is velvety smooth. I experience a very rich creamy texture, almost like a luxury almond oil.
I definitely smell the amber wood in the dry down but mostly I get a almond oil fragrance.
No rose, Jasmine or tobacco.
No hay like nuances from the coumarin, no Marzipane almond. No pastry accord.

I definitely perceive nothing that smells like a gazelle horn (a South African pastry filled with almond paste and orange blossom and topped with nuts) that the fragrance was inspired by.

From marketing materials: “The composition is a nod to the Moroccan origins of David Benedek, founder of the brand, who wanted to pay tribute to the flavors and colors of this region. Alexandra Carlin first imagined a "gazelle horn" accord that represents the regional sweet treat with its light texture, elegantly sprinkled with powdered sugar and nuances of rose, orange blossom, almond, and vanilla.”

I keep hoping with time I’ll be able to smell something more.
I think others feel the same because i often see it up for sale in fragrance groups.

This aroma for me is a true Amarguinha, which is the name of a drink in Portugal, from the Algarve region.
It's a bitter almond drink that can be drunk over ice, and that's what this aroma reminds me of in the opening.

I love almonds in perfumes but it is usually accompanied by something too creamy and milky. This aroma as I said is quite fresh and sweet at the same time which makes it curious, and the evolution goes to tobacco without being too much tabacco but with a focus on tonka bean and amberwood.
Cheerful and distinct, it's a girl next door scent.

I can taste this fragrance in the back of my throat and back of my nose. I have two other BDK scents I love, being Gris Charnel and Tabac Rose. Now just because I don't like it, that is not the fragrance's fault. To me, this fits into the 'smells like cosmetics' category, of which there are many fans. But I am not.

Edited to add, the scent smells a bit muddy to me, meaning a bit jumbled and dense. It's rated highly here, so I'm not going to rate it terribly. Obviously, I'm missing individual notes others are enjoying.

Sweet, powdery, nutty almond start, quite close to marzipan. It's almost overpowering and quite realistic. When it starts to settle (after about 15 minutes), I start getting a more layered and complex fragrance. Very, very subtle tobacco that lends a more grounded aspect to the scent and the rose is but a whisper of sweetness, almost candied. Tonka bean is the star here on my skin, with its strong gourmand facet and powderiness. It almost smells like a luxurious, yummy, gourmand body butter. The drydown becomes warm, creamy, sweet, comfy and powdery vanilla with a sprinke of tonka goodness.

Overall it's a very nice fragrance, but it's something I'd want to smell on other people, not on me. I'm not a fan of powdery scents, although I do admit this one gives comforting vibes (especially for colder weather) and a classy feeling. I'm also not a fan of smelling like almonds which is why I am glad I got to try it, but it won't be making a place in my collection. I do suggest you try it out for yourself!

The most intense marzipan I’ve ever smelled in a perfume. The opening is like one of those freshly baked flaked almond croissants. There’s both delicacy and intensity in the fragrance, however, it dries down to a sweet powdery soap on my skin. Absolutely not blind buy safe. Suited to Autumn/Winter but it is not something I would add to my library!