Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense

A soft, sweet and slightly smoky cologne from Jo Malone London, Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense was launched in 2019 and is built on just a handful of notes. Nearly everyone who describes it calls it gourmand, and about a third also find it resinous.

The pairing in the name tells the story. Tonka bean gives a warm, almond-like sweetness with hints of hay and vanilla, and that is reinforced by actual almond and vanilla notes, so the overall impression is creamy and dessert-like rather than sharp. Myrrh is what stops it becoming a plain pudding: it adds a dry, balsamic, faintly bitter depth that reads as incense and keeps the sweetness grounded on the skin.

It is worn by anyone, and the warmth of the composition points towards cooler months and evenings, when a cosy, enveloping scent makes most sense. If you enjoy the sweet side of resins without heavy spice, this is a simple and comfortable choice.

Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense — unisex fragrance by Jo Malone London (released 2019). Notes: Almond, Myrrh, Tonka Bean, Vanilla. — Parfica open fragrance database