16 Best Tonka Bean Fragrances to Sweeten Your Vibe

• Fragrance family: Musky, vanilla, balsamic
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Intoxicating

One part of Le Labo's classic collection of fine fragrances that deify an individual ingredient, Tonka 25 follows the trend of its classmates whereby the number (in this case 25) informs how many ingredients have been used in its formulation. Expect a syrupy, cozy and hypnotic mix of orange flower absolute from the New York based niche-scent dynamo, with cedar atlas (a much-loved ingredient of the Le Labo team), woody resins, and musks also present.

• Fragrance family: Warm, spicy, vanilla
• Concentration: Cologne
• Motivation: Attraction

Described by its creator, master perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui, as having “an atmosphere of addiction and carnal richness that appeals to both men and women” this scent makes our list for its surprisingly easy-to-wear, day through to night dual-purpose—a difficult balance to reach with tonka. Unpretentious in its composition, it opens with lavender before moving on to a punch of Omumbiri myrrh. Finally, it sets down into a bed of sensual almond-like tonka.

• Fragrance family: Warm, spicy, tonka
• Concentration: Parfum
• Motivation: Provocative and hedonistic

Rehoused in a gilded cube for 2022, Tom Ford’s Noir Extreme amplifies the decadence of its EDP predecessor. Here, Tonka's delicious sweetness is drenched in a Christmassy mulled spice mix, effusing cardamom, bourbon vanilla, and pomander orange wherever it’s applied. So sumptuous is the scent that you’ll be tempted to put it everywhere, but its potent parfum concentration calls for restraint. Luxuriate in a little on date night, or give it as a standout gift for him on a special occasion. With that packaging, the present wraps itself.

• Fragrance family: Woody
• Concentration: Eau de toilette
• Motivation: Energizing, comforting

With the philosophy to capture fictional olfactory “memories” of a specific place and at a specific moment in time, Maison Margiela’s Replica series of fine fragrances is a library of progressive scents with something to suit every taste. One part of the project, Coffee Break, conjures up the aromas of a café in the heart of a city. Genderless but veering more toward the traditionally masculine, the top note of the scent uses rich, smooth coffee, bolstered with energizing pepper. Its fresh heart notes of lavender essence and green mint, mixed with orange blossom absolute, are contrasted with the rich, creamy qualities of tonka bean, benzoin, and Cypriol oil. Sandalwood, Virginia cedar, and vetiver, meanwhile, give the fragrance a more woody and solid base. A great “comfort” fragrance to combat a dull or dreary day, its sensory combination of arabica coffee beans, freshly baked pastries, and warm frothy milk make it addictive in so many ways.

• Fragrance family: Citrussy, tonka
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Mystery

What would the last fragrance on earth smell like? Eleventh Hour is an exploration of exactly that. Imagine the smell of things ending; a journey to the end of time. Top notes of bergamot and ban timmur move on to a heart of rum, carrot seed, and wild fig, ending the scent story with a base of tonka bean and cashmere woods. Eleventh Hour dives into the mysteries surrounding time and everything in between. Spray onto pulse points to awaken your mind, body and senses.

• Fragrance family: Herby, citrus, amber
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Refreshing

One of the standouts from Acqua Di Parma’s Signatures Of The Sun collection, Sandalo sees the iconic Colonia fragrance used as a base then enhanced with other precious ingredients. While sandalwood is the key focus, the use of tonka in this scent’s base is crucial for balance. Intense but with a radiant freshness that bursts forward with the bright contrast of citrus fruits, it opens with bergamot, lemon, orange, and petitgrain before exploring the more herbal qualities of cardamom and lavender, drying down to a base of sandalwood, tonka bean, and amber.

• Fragrance family: Almondy, sweet, woody
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Seductive, irresistible

Black cherry, bitter almond oil, griotte syrup, Turkish rose, balsam from Peru, and roasted tonka… What’s not to like about this fragrance? Cherry is a fruit that is rarely used in perfumery because of its "tart" qualities, but Tom Ford manages (as he does with most things) to make it not only desirable, he also makes it infectiously addictive and (naturally) sexy. The addition of vetiver, cedar, jasmine and sandalwood move it to a higher plane and avoid it falling into the trap of just smelling like a posh bakery.

• Fragrance family: Aromatic, woody, vanilla
• Concentration: Eau de toilette
• Motivation: Comforting

This brand’s uncomplicated and no-nonsense approach to perfumery has made it a favorite with the same set who buys into mid-century furniture and Scandi fashion essentials. UK-based (and extremely proud of it), its catalogue of fragrances harness herbs, flowers, and aromatic botanicals. This one, which is like a hug in a bottle, combines the sweet vanilla essence of tonka beans with woodland aromatics, zingy mandarin, and spicy pink peppercorns.

• Fragrance family: Woody, floral, musk
• Concentration: Parfum
• Motivation: Everyday, seasonless scent

Composed by the nose behind Tom Ford’s Noir Extreme, Bleu Noir makes this list for its versatility. In its base, the intoxicating creaminess of tonka is cut through with clean white musk, whilst an energizing citrus top refreshes the scent. With fresh notes that deepen as they dry down on the skin, this day-to-night fragrance is one to grab when you have the gym in the morning and the office ‘til five, with a lingering tonka base that’ll impress at post-work drinks. Add it to your cart for a deluge of compliments.

• Fragrance family: Fresh, green
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Mindfulness

Gabar’s avant-garde offering has a tonka heart, which finds shade under a luscious canopy of galbanum and fig, grounded in a masculine cedar bark base. A novel arrangement that envelops the senses, No III Swim is named in line with the founder's philosophy of curating fragrances that inspire “conscious presence.” Swim invites you to imagine a dip under a rainforest waterfall; Ground and Float in Gabar’s wider collection encourage your mind to wander elsewhere. More than just a tonka fragrance, its storied scent offers aromatherapy. Spray this whenever the day calls for a moment’s meditation.

• Fragrance family: Smoky, sweet, citrus
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Masculinity, adventure

Inspired by the Dunhill man’s spirit for adventure, the original Icon Racing fragrance was aimed at a younger customer with a more casual lifestyle, and soon became the go-to for a crowd that live for the weekends. The Icon Racing journey continues with the addition of two distinctive spin-off scents under Dunhill Icon Racing Sport, a fragrance duo inspired by the love of supercars and a passion for living in the fast lane. The Red edition is for anyone who is here for a great time, not a long time. Opening with a blend of energizing citrus notes and the intensity of black pepper, the heart holds aromatic nuances of cypress, geranium, and shadows of smokey incense. The scents dry down blends modern ambers and masculine woods with the sweet addictive facets of tonka bean.

• Fragrance family: Aromatic, gourmand
• Concentration: Eau de toilette
• Motivation: Sensual

Vetiver Tonka, which is an eau de toilette, is a reinterpretation of vetiver seen through the amber-tinted sweetness of the tonka bean. Nutty, aromatic and woody with a honeyed glaze, it has a classic, timeless quality which can be attributed to vetiver playing such a pivotal role. With notes of hazelnut, praline, caramel, blonde tobacco, and the all-important tonka bean, it has a soft, sensual, and warm personality and a mellow roundness. It's a scent that will effortlessly take you from day through to evening.

• Fragrance family: Sweet and spicy leather
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Bold elegance

Flame, while very much having its own identity, is a bigger and bolder brother to the original Versace Eros men’s fragrance that was launched in 2012. This reincarnation is strong, passionate, and self-confident, described by its makers as being “cold and hot, sweet and spicy, light and shadow.” Composed by perfumer Olivier Pescheux, it's a combo of majestic notes that harbor an almost heroic quality and the vivacious freshness of Italian fruits. Opening with the zest of lemon, tangerine and bitter orange, heart notes consist of black pepper from Madagascar, aromatic wild rosemary, pepperwood, geranium, and rose. A tried and tested signature masculine base of Texan cedar, patchouli, Haitian vetiver, mountain oak moss accord, and sandalwood is then sweetened with a pronounced shot of tonka and vanilla.

• Fragrance family: Woody
• Concentration: Eau de parfum
• Motivation: Sensual, summery romantic

The founders of DS & Durga describe Debaser as a scent that captures the nostalgia of “summer heat, August humidity and young romance.” We can thank the blend of ripe fig, iris, coconut milk, tonka bean, and dry white woods for that. Hot, humid, and sexy.