Tobacco & Tonka Bean by Banana Republic

Sweet, unisex, and affordable fragrance that’s easy to enjoy. Perfect for avoiding the boring trend of ‘elixirs’ and ‘absolus.’ I bought it blindly because of the price, and it keeps surprising me. It’s quite similar to Issey Miyake Noir Ambré and has decent longevity.

I bought it blind based on social media reviews; I only found it in the US and risked ordering three bottles. And you know what? The vanilla is brutal. It’s one of the few perfumes I can truly call ‘unique.’ Delicious, unique, long-lasting, powerful, and subtle all at once.

Such a rich, warm, and cozy scent. A fine, seductive vanilla that invites people to get closer; it doesn’t project much, but just enough to be noticed. Today is my favorite designer fragrance. Great value for money, a real steal. 9/10

Very special and different from everything I own, which makes it unique to me. It doesn’t scream floral, but I detect a floral base with no fruity notes. In the dry down, there’s a very feminine musky sweetness and a hint of tobacco, all softened by the vanilla. The bottle does it justice; it smells like a deep purple. Performance matches the price: decent projection and trail for about 3 hours, then it sits close to the skin.

I love it; it leaves a trail wherever it goes. Sweet but not overpowering, with a summery twist from the coconut—my favorite note. It feels more feminine, yet it’s super versatile for day, night, or any occasion. Best of all, the price: I grabbed it for around $30 in my country.

It’s fascinating how everyone smells things differently. I read reviews and, quite the opposite, I find it super feminine. People say it causes olfactory fatigue, but on my skin it lasts very little and I have to reapply. They say it’s similar to Baco’s Triumph Argos, but to me, they’re as different as an egg and a nut—I’m wearing both on my wrists. They say it works all year, but I only see it for cold climates. Everyone draw their own conclusions, but for me, it’s a gourmand, fruity scent where you can smell plum, vanilla, and a very shy hint of tobacco in the background. I see it as feminine and great for daily wear. I have to reapply if I want it to be noticeable, but that’s no problem because on Notino, despite price fluctuations, it’s sometimes very affordable. I agree it’s similar to Dark Amber and Cherry from the same line, though they aren’t the same. I recommend it if you’re looking for something casual, sweet, and unpretentious that hugs you during the cold months.

Reminds me a lot of Zara’s Rich Warm Adictive from 2016, except Zara’s lasts longer—that’s my take. This Banana Republic one fades quickly and disappears sooner.

I detect a lot of tonka bean and plum. It has some resemblance to their Dark Cherry. A unisex scent. It reminds me slightly of something from Natura; similarly, Dark Cherry feels like it could be inspired by a Natura fragrance… Could it be Homme Potence?

A delight; it doesn’t project much, but it’s a treat. Very similar to Zara’s Rich Warm Addictive, but with less menthol. I’d say it’s for autumn-winter and leans more masculine than feminine. Edit: After using it quite a bit, I’m correcting myself; it leaves a lasting impression in the environment. When I said I didn’t notice it, it was because wearing it gave me olfactory fatigue, but it definitely leaves a mark where you go. I’ve noticed that on women’s skin, the projection can last all day. So my recommendation is no more than 3 sprays.

A great creation by Banana Republic 👍. Versatile for all seasons, just be mindful of the sprays. I don’t see it as very evening-appropriate, more for summer nights. Although the notes might suggest it’s warm and heavy, it’s actually soft and delicate. You feel it and those around you notice it at the perfect spot without being annoying…

I don’t know why no one has reviewed this perfume yet, because it’s a masterpiece. I was drawn to it because of the tobacco and tonka bean notes, which I love, and I bought it blind since there are almost no YouTube reviews and most are from men, so I was worried it might be too masculine. Many websites even list it as a men’s cologne instead of unisex. Well, let’s see: two sprays don’t do much, and it certainly doesn’t have that ‘OH MY GOD’ potency, but it doesn’t matter. You just spray it on and I promise you won’t get sick of it, overwhelmed, or dizzy, because it modulates without suffocating. The opening is a sweet fruity scent, like that pear and plum that almost border on raspberry; oh, so rich and sweet. It doesn’t smell like candy, but it’s not fresh either, nor is it winter-like; it’s balanced, a pleasant sweet fruit that’s neither heating up nor cooling down, just right. The fruity scent lasts a while, slightly warm, with a subtle vanilla base that’s barely noticeable at first. Over time, the creamier notes take away that slight fruit acidity, making it even sweeter, and a bit of coconut comes in, but not that beachy, after-sun kind of coconut; it’s more like coconut cream, a creamy coconut, probably thanks to the vanilla and tonka bean that make this perfume smell so creamy after about 20 minutes. Once it settles on the skin, it leaves an incredible vanilla scent with a sweet tonka touch and a very faint fruity note lingering in the background. I’ve finally found a vanilla perfume I like that doesn’t smell like air freshener or have too many notes hiding the vanilla; I almost wish they’d removed the fruits to make it even more vanilla-focused. And what about the tobacco? You might say it’s a bit eclipsed by the other notes, but I know it’s there because that’s what gives the perfume its unisex character; otherwise, it would just be a girl’s vanilla and fruity perfume with coconut. The tobacco is what ties the other notes together to give it character, and it blends perfectly with the plum, fusing so well that you notice the tobacco, but it’s so harmonious that instead of thinking of tobacco, you think of what the tobacco surrounds. I don’t know how long it lasts, but seeing that you need several sprays for good projection, I imagine it’s not too long-lasting; I’d guess around 4 hours, but I’ll update you as I use it more. 😀