Hermessence Vetiver Tonka Hermès for women and men

This fragrance is a bit of a mixed bag. It doesn't quite reach the heights of extraordinary; instead, it settles comfortably into the realm of the familiar. The Tonka bean note is the star here, making it reminiscent of many mainstream mall perfumes. Vetiver makes an appearance, but it's more of a background player, hesitant to step into the spotlight.

Yet, despite its lack of boldness, this perfume manages to evoke a sense of freshness that's perfect for a crisp summer morning. There's a certain lightness to it that feels uplifting, almost reminiscent of a leisurely stroll through a sun-dappled garden. It's been noted that there are similarities to the Bal d'Afrique Byredo fragrance, albeit with a less pronounced Vetiver presence.

However, its performance leaves something to be desired. It doesn't linger as long as one might hope, raising questions about its staying power throughout the day. Nevertheless, it's a solid choice for a relaxed summer outing, particularly if you envision yourself donning a classic white t-shirt and jeans on a cool morning.

Ultimately, if you're seeking a fragrance that prioritizes feeling good over making a statement, this could be the one for you. It's ideal for those laid-back summer weekend mornings when you want to exude a subtle aura of freshness without overwhelming those around you with an overpowering scent.

هرمس وتیور تونکا
همونطور که کاملا از اسم عطر مشخصه شروع کار با حجم کاملا مشخصی از وتیور و دانه های تونکا شروع میشه
یه وتیور خاکی که با گرمای تونکا داغ شده و در پس زمینه هم حالت دودی تنباکویی مانند بصورت کم مشخصه که پس از گذشت زمان اندکی شروع به خودنمایی بیشتری می کنه. البته نوع توتون شبیه انواع برازجونی خودمون هست

ترکیب این سه تا واقعا جالب و زیبا شده. رایحه خاکی دودی و گرم کاملا باهم همخوانی دارند

اهل رمانتیک گویی در توصیف عطرها نیستم ولی تصویرش رو میشه شبیه شب نشینی در کنار گرمای یه اتیش که هیزمش از چوب وتیور هست و درحال خالی کردن خاکستر توتون پیپ تون هستید تصور کرد. البته عطار معروف این عطر مثل همیشه شدت نت ها رو کاملا کنترل کرده و ترکیب شون اصلا ازاردهنده نیست

نوع ویتیور استفاده شده هم شبیه عطرهای هائیتین وتیور ارمنگیلدو زگنا و تام فورد گری وتیور هست.

مسیر رایحه و نت ها تقریبا خطی و بدون بازی زیادی تا انتها طی می شه و در اخر به یه وتیور اجیلی- اسپایسی ضعیف میرسید

کارامل رو هم میشه حس کرد ولی شیرینی اش رو خیر و نقش خوشمزه کردن عطر رو در درای داون برعهده داره، در کل نمیشه رایحه رو در هیچ دوره ای شیرین محسوب کرد

از نظر کیفیت روایح بسیار خوب هستند و از نظر جدید بودن رایحه کلی، چیزی نیست که به سادگی در عطر دیگه ای پیدا بشه ولی یونیک و منحصربفرد هم نیست.

یه کار دوست داشتنی و یونیسکس که بنظرم در فرهنگ ما بیشتر مردانه محسوب بشه و اگه درمورد فصل تابستان سخت گیری نکنیم تقریبا چهارفصله.

در مورد پخش و ماندگاری هم اگه توقعتون در حد برند هرمس و عطاریه النا باشه راضی میشید.

* امیدوارم همیشه شاد و معطر باشید

Opens as a citrusy ashtray, evolves into stale cigarettes amongst a woody fresh backdrop that reminds me of a senior living center, finally dries down into a mildly pleasant milky grass. 2/10

best scent on earth?

Hermessence Vetiver Tonka Hermès
(80 ml. left / USD 85)

First impression

I think Vetiver Tonka is a beautiful blend in realm of Sweet Vetiver.
In this realm we have JML Vetiver & Golden Vanilla and ELDO Semi-Modern Vetiver.

However, the essence of smoke vetiver reminds me much of Sycomore with moderate sweetness.
The Tobacco is so subtle, it merge to Vetiver.

If you like grey vetiver with more sweetness, I think ELDO semi-modern vetiver is more like your realm.
As usual work of Hermessence, it is very light. It provides details of Olfactive journey on the ethereal realm as usal.

Score 8 / 10
Projection: Moderate-soft
Longevity: 6-7 hours
Classification: Unisex
Summary: Sycomore but sweet. Both gender can wear.

This is a nice take on vetiver. The combination is unique and interesting, but i'm not the biggest fan of it. The vetiver here is the same as in grey vetiver from TF. I prefer the latter as it is more classic and masculine. Well done and interesting nonetheless.

7,5/10

I’m looking for a bottle does anyone have one? I love this stuff

Spicy in the sense that it feels like there is capsaicin in here. Between that, a piney note, something astringent/medicinal, the overall vibe is not doing it for me. I think there might even be a hint of licorice. It also has the pencil shaving thing that cedar can have, which is sometimes nice but not here. Quite a bizarre series of notes.

The deepest part of the dry down is purely pencil. It's better than the top because of all the weirdness up there, but still not very remarkable.

jesus.... this may be the best cologne i've ever smelled in my life..

Very spicy, aromatic vetiver. Not my type. Fairly unisex.

Savoury Gourmand flavours on my skin when first sprayed. Similar sourness to Osmanthus from this range. I get some fleeting sweetness. Very interesting notes, but not sweet enough to invest in a full bottle.

As good as it is light (very good, but very light). Genius combination of notes: soft tonka & smokey vetiver over smooth sandalwood, and lightly sweetened with nuttiness. It would have so much potential if only it were stronger. It's a savoury sweet eau fraiche. Decent longevity, but it's so light that you almost need to know what you're looking for in order to detect it. It's almost like a subliminal message to one's nose.The scent itself gives me the same vibes as Maison Violet's Un Air d'Apogee (also an earthy tobacco, except instead of vetiver it's hay and instead of tonka it's iris) - Un Air D'Apogee has much better performance.

Vetiver Tonka is a good option to wear on an airplane, or to a scent-free work environment. Unisex.

After used my 15 ml Decant. I make decition to order 100ML bottle

I know this fragrance is bad longivity and bad sillage
I know this fragrance is too expensive too overprice
But this smell is fxxking fxxking awesome for my nose.

Delight Vetiver nutty, almondy with a hint of Caramel.
very light but smell so good.

if you didn't love this scent it's didn't worth your money for sure (100ml EDT with 315$? Fxxking Dxxbshxt)
but if you love it. go for it. i never found this vibe of vetiver fragrance that better than this scent.

Smells good. Earthy vetiver mixed with a heavy dose of sweet tonka. Yes, it has a slight gourmand touch, but it's not overdone.
Classy stuff!

Sweet, green grass, like how a bog might smell. Overall composition smells natural, and unlike others I don’t pick up gourmand notes. This is relaxed but also a classy masculine leaning scent with surprisingly good stamina. For the right person, a great scent. Like vote but a personal pass.

I love this and I wanna get this

As a tobacco lover, the tabac seems like it would be an odd ball note here with the praline, lily etc. But it works beautifully here and I get consistent unlit cigarette style tobacco underneath! This does have decent performance. The 2 other notes I can detect are lime (not listed) and vetiver. There is sweetness but I think that's coming from hazelnuts and pralines. I love how this isn't tobacco themed but tobacco is a significant partner in this formulation. This is an absolute keeper for me.

This is one of the most bearable vetivers I have come across. Having said that, I don't like it at all, still.
It takes an EXCEPTIONAL kind of vetiver to move me, I'm just not a fan of the moist, earthy, unripe elements, and as a result, I just do NOT go for it at all...

Mostly softened and blunted by the tonka and tobacco, it still packs a vetiver punch, maybe not enough for some dedicated vetiverians out there (seriously, I don't get it!), but it's not a scent that spoke to me in any way, shape or form.

Still, well put together, I must say. Replace the vetiver with oak or pine and I might've gone for it...

Same as everything in this world where there is bad most of the time good is just around the corner
I tested a few fragrances from this line and a lot of them albeit being of high quality usually the weakness of the performance destroys the experience
But not with this one it’s a scent that is so balanced you just keep sniffing it with amusement
Just thinking about how harsh can vetiver be and how sweet other notes in this frag such as praline,caramel,Tonka the way JCE made them work in harmony together is a sight to behold
Performance is good
Don’t sleep on this
it’s one in this line that actually deserves the price

sweet-woody-spicy (ever so slightly, the tobacco?). the freshness prevents it from being feminine but the caramel prevents it from being too masculine. it's kind of like a sweet-sour man's shower gel on me, not my fave.

Genius play on vetiver. The mineralic, rooty aspects are there and somehow transformed into a praline-type accord with ethyl maltol, tonka bean, and some lily of the valley type aroma chemicals. Those notes combined bring to mind the tobacco-like feel of Guerlain's vetiver, but skewed even more modern and universal. This, to me, gets props for straddling a lot of different lines...it feels free of gender associations, it's accessible yet offbeat...sweet and "easy on the nose" while also not losing the herbal, dirty, and rooty facets of vetiver. An early and persistent niche fragrance love.

The chypre and boises notes hold the scene in all the grandiose olfactory performance. Vetiver reigns supreme, letting the Tonka bean emerge in all its warm and sweet enveloping. As usual, the Hermes fashion house does not miss a beat. Chapeau.

A Youtuber compared this to my beloved "Fat Electrician", and that Youtuber is so far off. This is nothing like "Fat Electrician" and I was steered in the wrong direction because of his comparison. So, if you're like me and looking for something similar to "Fat Electrician", this isn't it. Keep searching.

Side note:


This isn't a bad scent though, it's actually rather pleasant and relaxing.

You get what the bottle says. There is a bit of a surprise with a sligthly smoky vetiver and a sober tonka. Very transparent and delicate on my skin and i don’t get the sweetness. Maybe a hint of caramel but that’s it. I’ll have to try it again another day to see if I get the same thing

Vetiver Tonka....light haze of sweetness, smoke of vetiver, the smell of airy toasted nuttiness w/a touch of blond tobacco. It's a dream, a day dream perhaps.

From the whole Hermessence line, this one is my absolute favorite, together with rose ikebana. Such an enveloping, smoky hazy Vétiver tonka scent. It’s not a bright, happy fragrance, it represents more the deep, complex emotions. Life.
I can’t characterize it as sweet neither.
It sits pretty close to the skin: it’s a kind of an inner circle perfume, but it’s very long lasting: a couple of sprays in the morning will last me until I shower late at night.
It’s definitely unisex and if you’re into the sweetness/flowers, you probably won’t like it.
I don’t have any lily of the valley/praline/hazelnut on me, just the vetiver, tonka and incense, in a beautiful twisted combination.
One of a kind.

A gorgeous smoky vetiver combined with some sweetness, that comes from praline, caramel and tonka. It's sweet, but not overbearing. I honestly think this could be worn in summer also. This and Bal D'Afrique are really close in terms of smell. 90% the same i would say. It's the same destination, but different route. I would definitely say that you give this one a try, cause it's really unique (until the "clones" came out). This one to me smells like piece of mind, that feeling when you know everything is ok. This one is pure emotion.

Simple and delicious, but weak. Even as a skin scent it was pretty faint, and after an hour it was gone without a trace. Not the kind of performance I have come to expect from Hermès.

An earthy, nutty vetiver with a hit of tonka. It's a warm aromatic, not as gourmand as the notes would lead you to believe. It has some funk, and a little sourness to it - the tonka and vetiver notes aren't blended smooth, there's some tension there. It's a light scent, if I didn't know this was Hermes I would guess it to be a Jo Malone, performance-wise.

Very unique scent. Unfortunately I find it turns on my skin and smells like sweat and musty old leather with a sour note :(. Its very woody with 0 sweetness on my skin, smells alot like vetiver and tobacco. Theres a aromatic nutty note from the hazelnuts which I like but theres a earthiness in this scent that I dont love. I wish there was some vanilla notes in this scent to balance it out a bit.

For me, the hazelnut shows up as coffee so this is a yummy Vetiver coffee scent, but not sweet (which is the way I like it). After a few hours, a spicy Vetiver skin scent remains (which is where I can see how people compare this to bal D’Afrique), but they’re only similar after hours. Not in the first few hours.

The best and most unique tobacco fragrance in my opinion. Those who are fond of tobacco scents but are getting tired of the the usual vanilla-honey-tobacco combo should try this. It's not apparent at the start but on dry down its a gorgeous tobacco, nutty with a bit of leftover tonka (not too sweet) skin scent! (yes, it performs poorly though)

Hermes Vetiver Tonka (2004) - sweet Vetiver - amongst the #vetiver perfumes I own, #jeanclaudeellena ‘s perfume is one of my favorites. Vetiver can be harsh and sharp. Mr. Ellena made a creamy and warm Vetiver, by adding gourmand and sweeter elements such as Tonka Bean, Caramel and Hazelnuts. Yet, in typical Ellena-style, this is well-balanced, light and radiant. But what people don’t talk about is a floral #lilyofthevalley accord that contrasts and creates that balance.

Like Terre but without the bitter orange note. Love the scent. Performance not so much.

Received my 3.4oz flacon of VETIVER-TONKA EDT today, ordered directly from the Hermès website. It came in sumptuous emballage of nested Hermès boxes... pouches... tissue paper, chunky glass flacon with leather cap. For your money, the packaging really is over-the-top luxurious.

Spraying the jus, I get a mist of brilliant, sparkling aldehydes, laced with some lemon, and delicate hints of vetiver. This soon fades, and a barely-there little kiss of barely sweet tonka/amber remains. Perhaps a soupçon of tobacco. Caramel? Praline? Nyet. Sandalwood? Muguet? Mais non. All exceedingly elegant and subtle, you bet. The scent smells a bit like a woolen suit fresh back from the dry cleaners. Or like a brown cardboard box (?).

And kids, that's IT. The fragrance has done its dance for you. Bows, curtsies. The curtain falls. What little smell there is dissipates almost entirely within minutes. I have paid top perfume-dollar (only your Clive Christians and some Tom Fords, Malles and Roja Doves are more expensive) for what is essentially a summer "eau fraîche". If that. Even 4711 and Guerlain IMPÉRIALE have more substantivity, character and tenacity. A lover next to you in bed will not likely smell this on you.

I suppose there is a very silly, snobbish game going on... As in: "if you can afford this thing, then, dahling, naturally your senses are MUCH more refined and delicate than everyone else's." Very "Emperor's New Clothes".

Unless I am just crazy-anosmic to the aromachemicals in this thing.

I admit I am petit-bourgeois enough to expect a perfume to give real "bang for one's buck", hm? My $425 bottle of Malle UNE ROSE will give you a satisfyingly opaque pong that lasts 'til next Thursday. I guess when you make luxury goods your hobby, you can expect plenty of pretentiousness... even absurdity.

I don't expect I'll buy from the house of Hermès again. This is ridiculous.
I'd rather spritz on my $12 bottle of Dana TABU.

-Pleasant gourmand
-Vetiver lends this fragrance a soothing vibe.
-Shame the longevity isnt that great. But its a great scent to check out for sure. (-)

To me more like Vetiver Caramel. It's sweet and woody. You can definitely pick up the rootiness of the vetiver, no doubt about it. Slightly grassy and dusty overall. It then blends into a dry sort of sweetness, which is at times a bit piercing. But it's more of a caramelized sweetness. Praline, caramel, maybe some syrupy tonka. In typical Ellena fashion it's expertly blended and not overpowering at all, desipte its sweet nuances. It's a fairly linear composition of vetiver and a caramel accord. Smooth and versatile. It's quite nice actually. Unisex although I think the woody quality will appeal to men more. If you're looking for a sweeter take on vetiver, one to check out for sure.

Performance is average but it does stick nicely onto the skin. Final note: this doesn't remotely smell like Bal d'Afrique, save that they both feature vetiver. Bal d'Afrique is way more citrusy and floral, Vetiver Tonka is not. Just an FYI.

7,5/10

A unisex gourmand. Reminiscent of a softer version of TF's Tobacco Vanille.

Love this. Bought it years ago and let it sit. I'm not a big fan of what I've learned are referred to as 'gourmand' fragrances, but one day I took a chance and gave myself a spray before I left for work. Thought I was tolerating it at first, didn't expect much, but by mid afternoon I sensed an evolution to the fragrance, it unfolded again and again, and I was able to pick elements out as I had never before been able to. It was a pandora's box of of elegance, it became more beautiful by the minute.
The next day,( and the next ), I could still smell it on the clothing it had come into contact with.
Years passed and it was gone. Recently I bit the bullet and purchased a 15ml bottle, even that a little pricey for my covid budget,( I've been out of work since March ). It's my intoxication, I'm in love all over again. The only difference with the first 15 ml is that it doesn't seem to last quite as long, but it's the only go-to that I have when I'm feeling stressed and unhappy, and with recent personal losses and caring for my partner with dementia, that's been a lot, lately.
I wish you all health and happiness in the new year!

On me it opens with caramel and tonka, but it's not cloyingly sweet. The hazelnut and vetiver are there too, but caramel and tonka are what you really notice. It kinda reminds me of a flavored latte. You get that sweet caramel and nutty hazelnut, but the espresso kind of cuts the sweetness. This is like that, but instead of coffee you have the tobacco. I don’t really get a strong tobacco smell either, though. I just think it’s the tobacco that’s pulling back on the sweet smell.

Once it settles in the vetiver becomes the star. Very earthy, but the sweet scents are still hanging around it.

After reading the reviews here I’d love to smell this on a man. I’m thinking maybe the caramel doesn’t stand out on a man like it does on me? Not that caramel wouldn’t smell good on a man, but not a lot of people are mentioning it. I could really see this dry down being wonderful on a man, though. However, I still think it’s unisex.

The basics of this perfume is what it says on the tin; a gourmand vetiver, a mix of the earthy vetiver and the sweet tonka bean, softened with notes of hazelnut and some caramel. Sounds good, right?

Well... I've realized recently that I'm not a big fan of the vetiver that Hermès uses, like the one in Terre d'Hermes. To me it smells like plastic or like a plastic action figure, not the earthy dark smell that everyone else seems to get. I'm also not a fan of prominent tonka bean in perfume, so you can imagine that this is not a very good one for me.

For others though, this would probably work out great. Everything mixes well with each other, it lasts all day, and it's a very easy and safe vetiver for people who want to try the ingredient.

It reminds me of Etat Libre d'Orange - Fat Electrician (2009), a scent that goes for a more resinous approach with notes of myrrh, oppoponax, whipped cream, and marron glace, which to me is a lot more successful attempt at a gourmand vetiver.

CANDY FLOSS VETIVER

When I smelled Guerlain Vetiver all those years ago, I just thought “vetiver’s not for me”. I never knew the range of this important ingredient, one of the most important especially in mens perfumery. So watching Dan/Mymickers (RIP) rave about Vetiver Tonka all those years ago, it fell totally on deaf ears. I didn’t get it!

But there comes a time in every fragrant mans life that that he considers the age old question: to vetiver or not to vetiver? In the early days, sure, the answer was simple. With all the candy floss frags, aquatics and blue BS my newbie mind was in overdrive… I was a kid in a candy store magpie-ing my way through and finding the favorites. But the glory days don’t last long, waking up with a credit hangover and a collection worthy of being on the next teen idol …oh god, what have I done?! I had to grow up, once and for all… It was time to wake up and smell the vetiver!

COMPOSITION: Vetiver Tonka’s an easy entry point into the world of vetiver fragrances. It opens with a lot of tonka, comparable to Mugler’s Pure Tonka, Ferragamo Black and TF F-ing Fabulous. Moving into the drydown, the vetiver comes out to play as the composition gets darker, earthier and more mature. VT bridges the gap between designer level sweeties and mature man’s frags in an interesting way, and it might be to your taste if you like sweet frags with a slightly mature edge. Neither ‘too classic’ like Guerlain Vetiver, nor is it ‘too dark’ like Encre Noir - for some of you this might be your Goldie Locks vetiver scent. As for me? …not so much.

WHAT I LEARNED: Here, Jean-Claude Ellena breaks with tradition, making a gourmand out of vetiver. Sure I admire his audacity, who wouldn’t? I love any innovator forging their own path. But upon first spray I quickly realized this isn’t the path for me. Ellena’s made a freakish hybrid between vetiver and candy floss, opening to a burnt caramel, moving into a heart of tonka and chocolate. Feels like a ride at the fair that people go on which turns my stomach - and nausea’s never been very thrilling for me, quirky I know! …I like my vetiver green and eu naturale, like my future alien princess. So I’m truly glad I started my vetiver journey with Encre Noir and Malle’s Vetiver Ex, those are two vetivers I can get on board with. This one, I could only recommend to very specific people, but unfortunately I’m not one of them. Because here I get all the tonka, and none of the vetiver.

VERDICT: If you’ve been having increased fantasies about a freakazoid candified vetiver master-race engulfing the planet forcing all of us mortal humans to bow down to our new vetiver overlords, this may curry favor with your new masters. Or if you just like sweets!

A wonderful, rich gourmand vetiver from the master, Jean-Claude Ellena. Of the Hermessence line from Hermés, this is the standout for me, along with Ambre Narguile and Agar Ebene. One of the principles of the Hermessence line I believe is to layer them; something I’m not necessarily a fan of doing as a rule & becomes quite an expensive prospect as they’re boutique exclusives but the above three work remarkably well in any combination.

As for Vetiver Tonka, it seems to have, on my skin at least, the greatest longevity and projection of any in the line that I have tried but that being said, neither are enormous by any means but the sillage is fairly impressive it has to be said and I get a solid 6+ hour scent bubble. The sandalwood note and caramel accord create a wonderful buttery, creamy undertone that is accompanied by the sweet hazelnut & praline accord that is ever so slightly syrupy but not sickly. I originally thought that all that might be a bit much accompanying the Tonka but with the inclusion of light white florals, tobacco & the Vetiver being ever so slightly astringent here, they meld beautifully together and I find I can wear it on all but the hotter days. I also find, in my personal experience of this fragrance, that although it is relatively linear in its nature; you pretty much get everything at once, it is a bit of a shape-shifter dependant on the temperature & humidity, so from that perspective and if you’re a Vetiver lover, this one is pretty versatile, definitely unisex and has many uses in the fragrance wardrobe. It’s super classy and refined, doesn’t shout out loud but rather it asserts itself in an assured and confident manner that will set you apart in a room, as it’s that intriguing.

I also have to say that in the deep dry-down, despite the relative linear nature of the fragrance, there is a beautiful richness where the tobacco really shows itself and combines beautifully with the Vetiver and a touch of the creamy hazelnut; it’s not loud but it really is quite stunning when you catch it.

If there was a Love + button for this amazing fragrance, I’d be jabbing it furiously...... it’s just that wonderful.

I imagine a Silicon Valley CEO wearing this. It’s a modern, politically correct power move. And in that way it’s a masterpiece. A lot of very powerful men undoubtedly have this as their signature scent as opposed to something like a Tom Ford. Tom Ford is loud and shouts about how wealthy you are. This Hermes is completely elegant but simultaneously doesn’t allow anyone to step on its wearer.

Freewheelingvagabond's review of Vetiver Tonka is exactly as I would describe it. This fragrance is a buttery, toasted, nutty gourmand made a little brighter and less sweet with vetiver. Nicely blended, good performance. One of the best in the Hermessence line in my opinion.

Notes sound somewhat like Angel Muse. Anyone agree? Do they smell alike?

Hyper quality dry vetiver midst hazelnut / vanilla. Opens with pure but in moderate volume vetiver, albeit very easily isolable, dried and ennobled by tobacco (clearly present only to assist the vetiver, to improve its quality sensation). Hand in hand comes a very subtle touch of hazelnut and tonka bean, both submissive to the vetiver. Simple aroma, but the few nuances that appear are of very high quality and in perfect harmony, easy to achieve because the "volume" of the fragrance is low. We have here a fragrance based on vetiver, but it is a calm, peaceful, comfortable work and VERY far away from any remote memory of being a gourmand (as the notes appointed could deceive you). I love the versatility in Vetiver Tonka: it would even be that perfect perfume when you want to use something fresh and at the same time just remotely sweet on a hot day so as not to bother other people's noses. This is, to me, at the top-3 perfect vetiver gods of modern perfumery, specially suited for those wanting a soft, high quality vetiver without any citrus mixture (which is a common partnership, but here intentionally avoided by the perfumer to escape this popular and dull trend).

Say hello to freshness and sweetness at the same time.Love this a lot, one of my favourites.

Vetiver as the name says, is very noticeable, but there is that sweet smell combined with a very little note of tobacco.

It smells great, especially after a good bath, the skin captures all the notes creating a fresh cleaned morning scent. 10 out of 10 again. I like everything about it.

For me, this varies between "decent" to a strong "love," and it's the scent that got me into the fragrance game. It hasn't been a crowdpleaser; I haven't gotten any unsolicited remarks about it, and when I've asked friends and family who aren't into fragrances at all, their expressions ranged from from neutral to furrowed brows ;)

This may not as vetiver-y as one may expect, as the overall composition doesn't necessarily tend towards a deep, soil/earthy way, nor a bright, citrus-laced direction. It's a creamy, nutty, almost-sweet vetiver that's well-mixed with tonka... As the name suggests. To me it it doesn't "feel" green; it ranges from a violet-grey to light brown; likely me making connections to velvety and, at times, nutty imagery. It's certainly light and airy. The projection and longevity haven't been great in my experience: Low-moderate duration, low sillage.

Especially for this one, testing it on paper certainly won't do it justice; you'll have to try it on skin. I particularly emphasize this because I've found the scent to be rather capricious to skin and environmental conditions, hence my wide range mentioned at the start. Sometimes it produces the light, soft, creamy wafts that I feel in love with, yet on some days it smells unpleasantly sour (actually, that's the only time this scent "feels" green to me...) In my experience I've found it to work best in cool, dry environments.

For more accessible scents available today (Q4 2019), Bal d'Afrique, Vetiver Fatal, and Nuit de Megeve all have varying levels of similarity to this scent. All of these are nice too. I'd say Bal d'Afrique and Vetiver Fatal are more bright/wearable/feminine, while Nuit de Megeve is more similar in character to this. Regardless, I don't plan on getting rid of my Vetiver Tonka bottle.

I ordered a sample of this and it's interesting to see that so many others say the longevity is amazing and the projection is moderate.

I have been applying fragrances with a q-tip using about the same amount each time. I've found this to be one with very little projection - it's basically a skin scent from the start.

It will stick around as a faint skin scent for some time, however it's performance was on par with Oud and Bergamot from Jo Malone... I'd say it's actually less noticeable.

The smell itself is nice however given that it's an EDT and I prefer something more substantial - it's a no go for me. Perhaps this fragrance is a different story if you douse yourself in it.

A brilliant vetiver, contemporary, concise and effective. Vetiver seated right next to tonka that cancel out each others' worst qualities. Green, light brown like early autumn, lightly toasted, nutty and slightly buttery without the fat; well-proportioned, sweetness without excess, and adorned with hints of praline. Diffusive, and reasonably tenacious; sumptuous and thoroughly charming.

4/5

So, you’ve finally made your way onto this page.

This bad boy does exactly what it says on the label.

Now, go to your local international airport terminal, or mosey on down to the neighborhood brick and mortar Hermes shop, and buy the biggest bottle they’ve got.

Get yourself a nice belt while you’re there, you deserve it.

This is really good juice! Warm creamy vetiver and woods, a little powdery but not suffocating like some other vetiver dominated scents. I can’t stop sniffing myself throughout the day! Bought a full bottle of this and I think it’s signature worthy!

My favorite Hermessence fragrance! Everything is here: smell, complexity, projection and longevity. There are other scents now (notably Byredo's Bal D'Afrique) but this one was first and still is a better blend and better performance, also a bit more masculine due to a hint of tobacco. Very original take on vetiver, probably the most youthful one for sure (any age can wear this one, where typically vetiver is for mature crowd). Hard to find but do check it out if you like modern vetiver!

I just wanted to come here and tell you all how rediculous the longevity of this fragrance is. I sprayed this on a cotton shirt at 7am in the morning, I can still smell it at 7pm at night. I keep on getting whiffs of it in the air. Creamy nutty woodsy. Just heaven. I love this fragrance.

This is dry vetiver drenched in hazelnut milk over top of smooth sandalwood and tonka. Even though this is a vetiver fragrance the vetiver isn't screechy. There is a streak of men's cologne-vibe running through it and I love that about it. I love when a female or unisex scent hints at men's cologne but is not so, which is VT. I'm a woman and any scent that leans too heavily toward the masculine side I steer clear from.

What makes the vetiver in VT special is it's steeped in delicious, light gourmand elements that allows this sometimes polarizing note to be softened and approachable but still present. Its earthy greenness I make out in equal parts to tonka, sandalwood and nuts so there is no one thing dominating. Hermes DNA is quite apparent as is the quality. I still believe the Hermessence line is overpriced for what they are, however there are a few stand outs and Veriver Tonka is absolutely one of them!

Longevity: 4-5 hours, moderate
Projection: Soft to average
Versatility: Any time, anywhere
Adjectives and imagery: Creamy, nutty, cozy, the color of a hot cup of green tea with a splash of milk

A few weeks ago I discovered that Jean-Claude Ellena was responsible for a lot of my favorite fragrances. I have nearly everything he has done for Hermes and love the Merveilles series in particular. Once I realized how many of my favorites he was responsible for I knew I had to try the Hermessence series. I bought a (Hermes) sample on ebay of the Amber and really liked it, so I went to my local Hermes store to try the others. They only had samples available of 2, the vetiver and sambac. I gratefully took those and put one of the others on each wrist and a third on my dress. (so I could sort it out when I got home).

The following day I tried the vetiver, and initially it smelled a great deal like Atelier's Vetiver Fatale. Both have a bright citrus opening, and they are even similar in the dry down... initially. I also have several perfumes with tonka, and I was waiting for that to show. It never did, because it was overwhelmed by a chemical reaction. I have identified what sets me off, and it is ambroxen (in a lot of perfumes and colognes, in know :( ).

I have never had a chemical reaction to Hermes before. In fact it was one of the few houses on my safe list, in that respect but after a few hours I smelled distinctly of cat pee :( I had the same reaction to marine epice, which I also liked quite a lot initially.

I am so sad and disappointed that Hermes has gone to synthetics. I feel like I need to get back-up bottles of all of my favorites before the vintage bottles become unavailable. Clearly I can not replace them in store.
Vetiver Fatale was next on my list, if I were to buy another bottle of Atelier (I have half a dozen already,) and a very good replacement for vetiver tonka. I have never had a reaction to an Atelier, but they too have been scooped up by one of the large manufacturers, so I do not know if their current line is safe. I do know that Hermes no longer is.

Hermessence is a premium line. Why are they using synthetics? Not a good finish to an illustrious career for Jean-Claude. Very sad. very disappointed.

I think I can finally say that I love this. It took me long enough. In saying that, it really is just vetiver and chestnuts with a bit of caramel and sandalwood. It’s not a complex fragrance. Definitely leans a bit masculine.

I totally agree that Jerome Epinette brutally yet unskillfully copied this formula with limited secondary developments and released it twice under Byredo and Atelier Cologne, sequently. Don't be surprised, Epinette did this kind of tricks numerous times. And I might also add a hyped discontinued scent that took a lot of pages on it as well, i.e. Dior Vetiver. The point is that the quality of (Haitian) Vetiver in Vetiver Tonka is far more superior than Fatal Vetiver by Atelier Cologne, and the base is balanced way better than Dior Vetiver.

Technically, Vetiver Tonka is barely a gourmond fragrance, instead along the way of conventional interpretation of vetiver note, almostly. It reminds me of Guerlain Vetiver (current), with a skillful decoration by using hazelnut, tonka, probably plus toffee, which makes it sweet, silky, smooth and with a bit smoky nuance lingering across the space, yet not as consevative nor ascetic as Guerlain Vetiver that might push off the new generation. The only con for me is that the floral note (mostly the violet) in the opening, a little bit dandy-ish and puts me off, but to be noted, it deserves to wait for the elegent drydown when the floral note to be smoothened by the presence of realistic camp fire vibe. That is the very part Epinette fails to follow up.

No doubt, this is one of the better scents from Hermessence after big dispointments from the overhyped Osmanthus Yunnan and Iris Ukiyoe.

Rating: 8-8.5/10
If you are curious about Vetiver Fatal (Bal d'Afrique), just think about replacing only one note — the hazelnut — with much more violet leaf (herbal and fruity) note and dilute it with a bit more alcohol... wait a second, almost forget to add the Eau de Rochas-esque citrus note as Epinette always does, now shake it before you get Vetiver Fatal (Bal d'Afrique) ! Keep in mind, it maybe difficult for ones who have not smelt before to tell the differences among these three by drydowns and sillages.

After sampling Fat Electrician, I do get some comparisons. The opening of Fat Electrician is quite close to Vetiver Tonka, with darker and denser camp fire vibe akin to this, reminding me of Dsquared He Wood Rocky Mountain. At that moment I nearly decided to get a full bottle untill the drydown pulled me back. The Iso E Super in Fat Electrician's drydown really not my cup of tea.

A delicious vetiver. The smoky vetiver works very well with the nutty and creamy qualities and it smell delicious, but I wouldn't really call it a gourmand. It smells addictive and the composition is very smooth and rounded. It's just the perfect amount of smoke, green and caramel/praline. I only wish it was more tenacious.

Scent: 10/10
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 4/10

Smoky vetiver, sweet tobacco. OK.

i really don't care which one released first...consider that hermessense was a limited and low accessible perfume.i could hardly get hand to vetiver tonka even in 2018.both mentioned perfumes especially vetiver fatal are cheaper and more easy to find...so no matter which one launched for the first time...and obviously i can see the year of introduction mentioned below each perfume...
im not talkin about originality...both Vetiver fatal and bal d'afrique are easy to find so im talking based on my personal findings...if anyone is going to try it NOW,probably he/she won't be surprised...that all was trying to say
for example nowadays you cant say aventus is a unique scent!bcz of tones of clones out there.there are many alternatives to aventus with much lower price.

Yes, the point is that, as Oscarsh86 says, both Vetiver Fatal and Bal d'Afrique are clones (from the same perfumer, Jerome Epinette) of Hermes Vetiver Tonka.

Really nothing new here
if you have or tried Byredo Bal d'Afrique or Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatal don't waste your time and money on this one.not gonna say it's a bad one...just not new to be in exclusive line and deserving that price!
But have to mention the openning is really pleasent and new to me which i pretend to be the main accord of this fragrance...vetiver,hazelnut,tobacco and tonka made an interesting opening which i appreciate.unfortunately this accord disappears in the dry-down,which is a sad news.
In the dry-down it's a certain "NO" to me

Scent: 6/10
Longevity: 5/10
Sillage: 5/10

--------------------------------------------------------
Overall: 5.5/10

I fall in love. You know how it happens when you fall in love with someone who was supposed to be the last person for that. You feel confused and embarrassed, cheking again and again: "It must be a mistake! It will be gone soon!" But it is not. "He is not mine.Too expensive. Not available here. It's just a caprice, you know, I am very unstable sometimes. There are better ones". Then I put it away. In few months: "Well, now I will come back to get sure how ugly and alien it is!" But it is not. I'm still in love.

Hermessence Vetiver Tonka. I took a sample with curiosity and distrust. I don't like vetiver. Reading about the fragrance to know my love better, as it has already happened. Green woody - usually I don't like it. Tobacco... Oh my God! The most disgusting smell ever. Unisex - don't like. It smells like a man, but I am fascinated wearing it. You may say I'm old fashioned but I am not that girl wearing men perfume. Yes, I am out of trend but there are perfumes for men and for women (even if there are not my nose will specify them :) ). My new love is an exception.
Very intellectual, noble and intense, serious and profound, with such a deep inner world. I'm not joking, it will become your psychoanalitic, go with him and you will know yourself better. I am telling you.
P.S. The problem is that a sample lives a short life ...

Just wanted to throw this out there in case people were wondering the differences, as I too had the same question.

Vetiver Tonka: Sweet, Hazlenut, Vetiver, airy

Vetiver Fatal: Dryer, Fruit (plum), Vetiver, tad fresher

Bal D’Afrfrque: Sweeter, Powdery, vetiver, dense (IMO leans feminine)

No experience with Viaggio D’Africa

Le matin en Provence by Paul Cézanne 1900-06
++++

Once again, J.C. Ellena NAILS casual elegance. VT is a perfect balance between sweetness and woodiness. So classy, so handsome. Could be worn with a suit on a formal evening or a linen shirt on a spring day.

Interesting take on vetiver, a gourmand one! It smells like a mixture of praline and hay. The notes are well-balanced, I would even say that this leans slightly towards the feminine end of the spectrum. The hazelnuts and caramel add a chocolate-like aroma. This perfume is very similar to Mugler's Muse, but not as sweet. It is light enough to wear in the spring/summer, but can be worn year-round.

The Different Vetiver

First things first - Hats off to Jean-Claude Ellena! I believe no one else could've done this. He is undoubtedly one of greatest contemporary perfumers and also one of my personal favourites of all time. If one could perceive perfumery as music - for the nose, then JC Ellena could be likened to a contemporary composer mainly influenced by impressionist masters like Debussy & Ravel but with strong shades of late romanticism from Schubert, Schumann and Brahms. He takes his main motif/idea and juxtaposes it with some dissonant contrasts while keeping it very minimal and transparent all the time. But at the same time he embellishes each stage of the movement in a very romantic manner choosing very traditional, pleasing, consonant harmonic ornamentation. One can see this across his compositions, especially for the house of Hermes. (I think he probably got the most freedom from this house in terms exploring of his own creativity.) And I think Vetiver Tonka is, arguably, his pièce de résistance.

Vetiver is a grass native to India but is also found in abundance across Haiti, Indonesia, China, Java, and Reunion. The oil extracted from its roots has a distinctively complex scent ranging from wood shavings, wet earth, fresh green grass, roots to ink, licorice, nutty-roasted sugar, and cold-humid air - depending on it's origin. So a perfumer is to not only know what material to use but know each strain of that material intimately well to know what works best for the brief at hand. For instance, in my opinion, the vetiver used here is Bourbon vetiver (Reunion, Madagascar etc) which has more of the nutty, chocolate-y facets. Using Haitian vetiver or another kind would've taken this composition to a completely different place. Ellena takes this main motif of Vetiver & Tonka and gives it a form going from nutty (hazelnuts) to caramel-y/cacoa (praline) to an almost burnt sugar accord. And embellishing this main idea is a touch of flowers (Muguet) in the heart and some soft woods (Sandalwood and cedar probably) in the base just to balance the composition from getting overwhelming. And a dash of tobacco for some contrast and probably to accentuate the dry hay-like facets of tonka beans. Utterly fascinating! It's light, airy, sweet and extremely pleasant to wear. Quite a unique take on this multi-faceted root. Highly recommended if you are open to a different vetiver.

9/10

Vetiver Tonka is an intelligent mossy gourmand scent by JCE. It exudes class and confidence. The vetiver in this is hyper realistic and the essence of the material itself. Mixed strangely with edible ingredients such as tonka bean and almost chocolate things, it comes together well... on others. Sadly not on me.

On me, this goes very sour and, for the majority of the wear time (which is quite considerable compared to the others in this range), unbearable. I placed this at the end because I wanted to highlight that this fragrance has the potential to be stunning on certain skin types. My skin type allows me to wear most fragrances quite well, only compromising longevity. This is one of the only fragrances this has happened for and I couldn't be more saddened because I genuinely love it. I initially was scared off at the idea of a slightly gourmand vetiver scent, but this really did a 180 on me. Not entirely revolutionary from a perspective of the fragrance world, but it was new to me.

Very interesting indeed

I love vetiver, Terre has been the closest thing to a signature for me during the past 10 years, basically because it is fresh, interesting, very masculine and others love it on me too.

I fell in love with Encre Noir, it's a total masterpiece, but when I wear it too often it weighs me down with it's darkness. I found Creed's OV to be a bit boring and Guerlain's Vetiver seems slightly dated after a while. Tom Ford's GV was fresh and sexy but not very interesting as time passed. I'm currently enjoying L'occitane Vetyver and Ferrari Vetiver Essence and now my wife bought me this...

What can I say? The scent is gorgeous. Earthy sweetness in a bottle. Blending and quality perfection and you know it is Ellena from first sniff. I love the combination of sweetness with vetiver which is why I enjoy the L'occitane offering. I have a shaving cream called French Vetiver which smells like a swamp fire coupled with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Yep, sounds weird but I love it, I will layer the shaving cream with Vetiver Tonka. Will it be my signature? No. Will I get tired of it by the time the tank is dry? Too early to say.

As they say, thumbs way up!

Vetiver Tonka is a really enjoyable gourmand fragrance for those who don't like them over-the-top sweet. Indeed this has some sugar too but it's balanced with warm woody notes and diffused with some light airiness and a hint of manly green.

This is really smooth and luscious and somewhat linear. I think I enjoy Pierre Guillaume's Aomassai better for that woody hazelnut-caramel fix as it has some interesting spices and a darker earthiness going on.

Straightforward sweet, aromatic hazelnut and caramel, a bit overpriced for the scent but the quality is certainly there.

This is way more masculine for a unisex scent. The projection is pretty strong. A little goes a long way.

Yet another masterpiece from Ellena. This fragrance takes two notes, vetiver and tonka bean, that I wouldn't expect to work well together, but it is blended to perfection. It provides a wonderful balance of earthy and sweet, while still having an inoffensive, mass appeal quality. I think this works well on a man or woman, ages 25+ and can be worn year round. This can also be worn any occasion, but I tend to wear it casually during the day when it's a bit cooler outside. Performance is very solid lasting 8 hours or so, with above average projection. Overall, a brilliant composition and a must-have for me.

9/10

To me, this vetiver is mostly a gourmand and it feels odd. The vétiver note is beautiful, fresh and green, but I can't deal with all the pastry notes. Too bad!

In my opinion this is exactly what Terre d'Hermes should've been, by the same perfumers no less. The vetiver is coarse, foresty and animalistic, creating a strong and interesting accord with the tonka. Aiding this is a deep if somewhat rough bed of nuts and spicy tobacco, with hints of sweetness and citrus in wisps. An odd sweetness appears from the tonka, aided by the praline, forming a roundness in the vetiver-dominant scent.
Vetiver and Tonka is quintessentially masculine without the melodrama or excess of many men's fragrances. This scent is serious but not dark or overtly formal, avoiding the errant sexuality of many modern men's fragrances, more like the early-30s owner of a bourbon distillery than a count at a ball.
It garnered some massive compliments from my partner a bit further than an arm's length away, but overall it tends to invoke more of a reaction of interest than attraction, which I'm definitely appreciative of.

I never thought a vetiver gourmand would be possible, but here it is. This is cool and warm at the same time - perfectly balanced and sophisticated, with no conflict. All my "vivaldi" all-season fragrances are that way incidentally. This is the first that has seemed very purposeful in this regard - it is an all-season fragrance by design and definition.

This is fresh, unique, and could be a great year-round signature scent. I highly recommend checking out a sample if you can.

I agree with Shiva, this a vetiver gourmand, which is an odd experience, if not an altogether unpleasant one. The sense I get from this is of a vetiver-garnished soufflé, the kind of odd savory dessert you sometimes get at high-end restaurants with something to prove. The tonka presents very heavily and when paired with the chestnut and sandalwood accords gives the whole composition a sweetened caramel sense about it. In addition, the dessert notes project much further on my skin than the vetiver, which again diminishes its presence.

I would not really recommend this fragrance, especially not to vetiver fans. If you're looking for a sweet dessert cut with a little something extra, maybe this is for you.

This is a surprisingly "gourmand" vetiver which I find disconcerting. The praline, caramel, tonka, hazelnut aspects compete with the vetiver and LOTV rather than smooth it out for me. The tobacco, one of my favorite scents amps up the "sweet" notes and creates a further tension with the vetiver/LOTV. The sweet notes also have a somewhat synthetic quality, one that is terribly familiar with the last few years' of mall-frags. I prefer my scents a bit darker. This is an interesting twist on vetiver, so I do recommend trying if you haven't been a fan of the note thus far. For me this if a pass on a FB.

I remember its smoothness--nothing is rough, pungent, or out of balance. Then there is the way that it seamlessly combines coolness and warmth without either quality losing its identity. This duality makes it wearable year round. It is gourmand, but light. Cereals, hay, dry vetiver, and mild tobacco keep the praline and hazelnut out of sticky-sweet territory, and give it an earthy feel.

I'm surprised there aren't more female reviewers for this scent; to me it sits on the feminine side of unisex. For added warmth, it is luxurious with Ambre Narguile. To sharpen it, use with Poivre Samarcande. Though wonderful on its own, it is a versatile layer too.

I remember reading that the scent was meant to evoke wool, and the wool in this imagination is not angora or cashmere but raw and soft, and meant for hugging shoulders. I will receive the fragrance in a few days, and of course I wonder how my memories compare.

EDIT: I've now acquired a bottle, my first in years. Since I've worn this, I've begun wearing sweeter scents, which no doubt alters my experience of this one. The vetiver is so warm and clean and gentle here, and hovers above the sweet, faintly rich nuttiness. The tobacco note is more prominent than I remember, and might even prohibit me wearing it alone as I used to. Now my favorite way to wear it is under L'Ambre Des Merveilles. Do give this a try if you like smooth vetiver or tobacco fragrances.

scent : 10/10
sillage : 8/10
longevity :8/10
60% day / 40% night fragrance
reminds me a little bit of chanel Sycomore and Encre Noire by Lalique
nice smoky and vetiver scent

I'm not a huge fan of this kind of composition but I do like it as a change of pace. That said, I don't really like this particular composition. I'd rather wear the Pal Zileri Africa scent or Cereus #5. This one, though, seems designed to be "safe," to the point that even those other two scents, which are rather tame too, seem wild by comparison. There's not enough of a gourmand element for the gourmand fans like myself and of course if you want a strong vetiver scent along these lines (but with no gourmand element) you can spend a lot less on Encre Noire. So, my thought is that this is a kind of introductory scent for those with "fat wallets." Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but there's nothing I find special about this one.

I fall in love. You know how it happens when you fall in love with someone who was supposed to be the last person for that. You feel confused and embarrassed, cheking again and again: "It must be a mistake! It will be gone soon!" But it is not. "He is not mine.Too expensive. Not available here. It's just a caprice, you know, I am very unstable sometimes. There are better ones". Then I put it away. In few months: "Well, now I will come back to get sure how ugly and alien it is!" But it is not. I'm still in love.

Hermessence Vetiver Tonka. I took a sample with curiosity and distrust. I don't like vetiver. Reading about the fragrance to know my love better, as it has already happened. Green woody - usually I don't like it. Tobacco... Oh my God! The most disgusting smell ever. Unisex - don't like. It smells like a man, but I am fascinated wearing it. You may say I'm old fashioned but I am not that girl wearing men perfume. Yes, I am out of trend but there are perfumes for men and for women (even if there are not my nose will specify them :) ). My new love is an exception.
Very intellectual, noble and intense, serious and profound, with such a deep inner world. I'm not joking, it will become your psychoanalitic, go with him and you will know yourself better. I am telling you.
P.S. The problem is that a sample lives a short life ...

My second Hermessence sample.

Vetiver is a difficult note for me. Here, however, it is very soft, warm, nutty. I also get a tobacco note which I love.

This would be perfect for autumn, if it lasted more than five minutes on me. As it is, I appreciate its fleeting beauty but there would be no point in investing in a bottle.

very lovely and quite addictive, soft vetiver fragrance: the plush version of ellena's very dry terre d'hermes, which i also have (aftershave is my favorite formulation in that one) and love.

Fragrances based on vetiver are usually ''harsh''. This it's rather smooth and sweet due to caramel and praline mainly. Hence, I could say that Vetiver Tonka it's a ''gourmand vetiver''. Mainly, I detect the aforementioned notes and the ''unusual hazelnut''. A very elegant and original. Suitable for all occasions since it's not overpowering. IMO a ''crowd pleaser''!!

Scent: 10
Longevity: 5
Projection: 5
Sillage: 5
Uniqueness: 10
Versatility: 7


Overall: 7

I got this as a swap for a tiny 1/4ml vial of Roja's Diaghilev and honestly I regret the swap.

The start was nice, emphasising the nutty and caramel side of vetiver, turning it into a socially acceptable scent, well realised, balanced and thoughtful, and I initially thought I had found something else to wear professionally without being too boring.

After just an hour, it started turning into the sweet synthetic woods that Encre Noire is made of, which I find slightly sickening and bearing little relation with vetiver except if I think about it quite hard. If you actually like this kind of thing, Encre Noire is much cheaper per bottle.

Unfortunately, this means I won't be wearing it. I prefer Carven's and Givenchy's vintage vetivers which actually do keep smelling like vetiver past the first hour. Is it IFRA's fault?

"Elegant and sophisticated... an epitome of the modern gentleman."

Vétiver Tonka is a 2004 fragrance from Hermès, and is one of the first fragrances to the exclusive Hermèssence line by Hermès' in-house perfumer, Jean-Claude Ellena. This is another decant that I have from the French luxury brand, and is easily my favourite among the Hermèssence.

Jean-Claude Ellena is no stranger in the perfume industry. He is one of the most prominent and respected perfumers in the modern perfume world and his fragrances have a distinctive signature which many have called it the "watercolour" effect: transparent, light, simple and there elegant.

Vétiver Tonka is Ellena's take on the classic tobacco fragrance that conventionally caters to male users. There's something very distinguishable about Vétiver Tonka that sets itself apart from other fragrances of its kind. The main notes are tobacco, vetiver, tonka beans and hazelnut, the fourth note being something I only realised much later after using for some time.

On my skin, it works exactly as how I had expected from a perfume by Ellena: transparent and elegant, the unmistakable "watercolour" effect. The tobacco is utterly smooth and refined, and blends seamlessly with the hazelnut-praline accords to make it deliciously gourmand. The vetiver is earthy, which is a very typical description, but at the same time, it's surprisingly clean and works well with the other notes. Because of its gourmand notes, I think it may also work for female users, especially those who are quietly confident and mature enough to take on it.

Vétiver Tonka is an Eau de Toilette, and thus I can see it being worn at any time of the day and any season of the year. Ideally, because of its semi-dark notes and above-average sillage, I think it works best in the autumn followed by the winter. This is also a perfect scent to be worn daily in the office because of its lightness and subtlety.

Vétiver Tonka is personally one of the first fragrances I smelled that made me learn about Ellena, and understand his talent in the art. It's the epitome of what a modern gentleman is: refined and mature, pleasant to the people around him and quietly confident of his own abilities. Unfortunately, I can't afford to get a full bottle because the price is too extravagant for me, as expected from the brand name. Alas, there's no denying how beautiful the fragrance really is and I offer my applause to Ellena for his masterpiece.

Vétiver Tonka is with no doubt the best Hermessence, and one of the few "gourmand-ish" colognes that I really care about.

This fragrance develops in my skin, in such a beautiful way! The vétiver in here, it's a eatable one, due to the amazing concoction with the hazelnut/tonka/praliné notes. Vétiver Tonka is the finest fragrance in my collection, and the one that I'm really in love with, and that love will last, oh it will...

Whenever I wanna feel special and unique, I go for it! Another mesmerizing factor, is that almost no one in my surroundings knows or wears it. A real masterpiece, a true gem fragrance!

9/10

I love it soo much .. Very cool

This smells like Nutella... :/

The strength of vetiver and smooth,mouth-watering hazelnut.Supple,sensual.
Vetiver,dried fruits,cereals,roasted and caramelised hazelnut.

On colder days, Vetiver Tonka comes straight out as Tobacco Caramel. Fortunately, with temperatures increasing great changes do take place- becoming far more complex, smooth and utterly attractive.

Overall VT acts as a refined gourmand. The most prominent note, tobacco is fine, dry and aromatic, and brilliantly well paired with the sweetness of pralinee and the freshness of lily. Moderately warm, chilly and humid weather brings out the full richness in VT- adding layers of deepness and creaminess, reaching almost delectable character. Projection is decent and lasts all day.

Though in a way that bottle is a challenge to me, I think it is a very elegant and thoroughly refined creation, and even more attractive when worn by a man.

Sublime fragrance which had me "at hello". So ethereal and light! Some reviewers here complained about low projection but this is actually to my liking. Vetyver Tonka is elusive and makes you focus on itself.
I get mostly Vetyver and Tonka as the name suggests
The middles notes are lily of the valley, caramel, more vetyver and sandalwood. This olfactory dance lasts for hours and ends in a beautiful classy and refreshing drydown.
Full bottle is a must!

Love this,
starts with smoke, ends with a flower,( lily of the valley ) brilliant!
I wasn't sure what to expect at first sniff, but the orchestration of elements, along with my chemistry, made sense of it. It's at peace on me, and lingers long through my day, revealing itself, nurturing me, with it's subtle notes.

It's not perfect, but what it gives is something I can live with very nicely.

Vétiver Tonka, as indicated by its name, manifests on my skin as a juxtaposition of vetiver and gourmand notes led by tonka beans. The vetiver is grassy, almost sharp with a lemony nuance, while the tonka enveloppes the vetiver with its sweet, warm tide.

At first, the fragrance feels a little bit dry and earthy, as the vetiver is more prominent, and the hazelnut also contributes with its woody and nutty nuance. With time, as the praline and caramel get stronger, the fragrance embraces their velvety texture, and the vetiver now provides freshness to the sweet, roasted aroma.

The transition between different stages is very smooth, and Vétiver Tonka feels more or less linear during its 10 hours longevity. The sillage is relatively soft, and the fragrance has a certain translucency inherent to the Hermessence collection.

I find Vétiver Tonka an interesting exercice of the two namesake materials, and the contrast between the sharp/grassy and velvety/sweet aspects is quite intriguing. At the same time, I can see how those who prefer tough, stark vetiver might be disappointed, and the combination of the lemony nuance and caramel might occasionally turn out too sugary to some. I think Vétiver Tonka definitely worths a try, but I'd recommend it as a refined gourmand fragrance and a relatively radical vetiver interpretation.

Surprisingly made me think of Chanel's Sycomore, like its younger clean-cut brother. I was hoping it'd be more gourmand with all that promising nutty goodness (was even hoping it'd be chocolately, but not overly sweet of course).
*So turns out Dior's Vetiver actually smells more gourmand!

Jean-Claude Ellena set out to tame vetiver's harsh scent in the creation of this Hermessence fragrance. He achieved this by adding the soothing and caressing qualities of tonka bean to round out the rough edges of the root's odor. The scent of vetiver is naturally pungent, woody and roughly hewn, with subtle facets of nut, smoke and earthiness. Tonka bean's natural coumarin scent profile helps to lend a nuanced sweetness to the fragrance, much like the that of freshly mown hay or cut grass, along with a slight vanillic overtone. It is for this reason Ellena chose to combine other beautiful gourmand notes in his ode to vetiver, in what is one of the most creative interpretations featuring the fragrant root I have encountered.

'Vétiver Tonka' begins with heavy handed gourmand notes of dark praline, rich caramel and warm hazelnut. The scent seems to glaze over one's skin as if being poured. I notice hints of maple syrup with its smokey and caramelic features here as well as an odor of slightly burnt toffee. As the fragrance dries on the skin, one is able to note the familiar scent of vetiver piercing through. Ellena expertly amplifies the nutty qualities of vetiver root by the addition of pralines and hazelnut respectively, as well as its smokier nuances by the addition of blonde tobacco notes. The composition is so well blended that the included tonka bean seems to gently come in and out of focus, hidden amongst the gourmand notes of the opening. Sandalwood's creaminess furthers aids in the blurring of focus away from vetiver's harsh qualities and lending with it a tonality of calm and relaxation.

Read the complete review at my personal blog
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I didn't expect to like this but I love it, despite its shamelessly marked up price for a low sillage EDT.

It dries down so smooth and creamy with a hint of bittersweet woods. The caramel in this is tastefully done and not overwhelming. I also get wafts of warm tobacco which always brightens my mood.

So far, this is my favorite of the line.

Smooth and elegant. A very good scent. Wish the projection was better. I sampled this today and will confirm I don't need a bottle for that price.

One of the worlds great fragrances. Elegant and refined, Grassy and sugared. A spring masterpiece.10/ 10 on scent.

The most beautiful, perfectly blended vetiver over there. Hermes quality. So elegant, understated and classy. The projection could be a bit stronger though

I tested it yesterday and immediatly thought I've smelt it before and loved it. Yes this is an even spicier bal d'Afrique. I test them now side by side and they are extremely alike. BdA has a flower note that makes it more feminine and fresher.

A nice vetiver with a sweet twist. The green earthiness of vetiver pairs effortlessly with some licorice and caramellic notes for a fragrance that is very comforting and elegant. I won’t go after it for half-dozen reasons but mainly because a. own better vetivers and b. hasn’t anything to teach me.

i like it, it smells nutty and earthy is ok but i would buy something else for that price, the sillage is not so good i prefer santal masoia

I tried this on my wrist in the store where I truly liked it. Then again on my neck with a sample. The opening is undoubtedly a grand firework. But it's also the bouquet final: as the vetiver dries down, about an hour later, my skin projects only almonds! Such a pity. It's not even a woody/sweet almond scent, but the cloying kind - think of an unsweetened, pungent almond liqueur that hits your nose buds. Someone below mentions nutmeg, I think that could play a role in giving this scent that "particular" feel. Not for me.

This is one fragrance I pretty much can not live without. I am a huge vetiver lover. I am so very much in love with this one that I have been reordering it for about 9 years now. The first time I "met" this fragrance was at work. I had a meeting with a new client and she walked in and she was a pure class, elegant and beautiful lady. I went as far as asking her what fr. she was wearing and it was VT. The next time we met she brought back 2 bottles from NY with her for me. :) I never ran out since then. I smells clean and warm to me at the same time. Never fail to get compliments and my husband - loves it. One thing that I am sad about it does not last very long on me at ALL...3-4 hours and it's gone. I go through this like it is water. I just recently discovered Sycomore and I have to say..it might be new love for me. VT is definitely more girly with that tonka bean coming through.

Top notch Brown sugar crusted Vetiver, but just wanted to write that this doesn't hold up to cold weather. Save it for mild spring days and nights. Wore it today in 30 degree winter day and VT was way too gentle and ended up having to apply a different fragrance.

The top notes remind me a bit of Chanel Sycamore, with its creamy, nutty vetiver. As it progresses, I find it to be more of a dryer grassier vetiver, like Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. From top to bottom, I prefer Sycamore to Vetiver Tonka.

I bought a vial, foolishly thinking it would smell like vetiver plus something close to vanilla. It opens much sweeter, more nutty and caramel candy-like than I expected, but right away I can tell that the show's already over for me. It has that rotting fetid ashtray component that overruns Floris Elite...not quite as much as FE but still it's at center stage. From what I can tell, some intrepid florals are struggling to break free of the horrific oppression of the ashtray, but aren't quite able to make it out. There is in fact some vetiver in here, manifesting itself as the greener portion of the mostly light brown sharp sourness. Then, oddly enough, the sour ashiness is almost gone in a very quick transition, leaving a weak, nutty vetiver. This phase in and of itself is OK, reminding me a lot of Black Vetyver Cafe with only a little sourness, but I've already been punished enough by the top and mid notes; I've seriously come across bums that smelled just like that. I can't believe what a racket Hermes has going with this line, though I still like most of their other offerings.

Well well… I guess I won’t make new friends today given the great hype behind this but I have to say it: I don’t find Vetiver tonka any special.

I don’t say it smells bad, not at all… it even has an interesting side when just applied due to the mix of strong vetiver paired with sweetness… which lasts for some minutes…but I must confess I find tonka as an ingredient very boring lately… every single new release for men is full of that sweet bean and here it is in a bunch of other teeth rotting ingredients like caramel and praline and hazelnuts… simply too much. It is a complex scent but it would have been a total hit for me were the sweet elements handled in a subtler way.

Someone mentioned Aomassai and I can see the connection but whilst that one is openly a gourmand this one tries to cover it a bit and that is what I eventually find annoying because it smells less versatile and more for older men. Every time I have worn this I’ve had people saying things like “it’s sweet… commonplace… cosy…”. No one has even asked what it is. Smelling the latest Valentino (Uomo) just drove me up the wall praying tonka is not used for a few years. So again: the problem is tonka in my case.

I like the fact some great perfumers like Ellena work new blends but at least in this case it doesn’t work for me. The fact is I am crazy for vetiver and here it is of great quality but the sweetness overshadows it to the point it is hard to enjoy it without getting the nose tired. I definitely prefer my vetiver to be starker and/or paired with less suffocating partners. In the same family of this I would rather go for Fat electrician. I want to make clear though this is a very well made fragrance and everyone should give it a try. (Plus the bottle and packaging are unrivalled!!!)

After a great first impression of the Hermessence line I am having troubles now. No doubt they are all chic, quality stuff, but I have a few having holidays on my wardrobe… we’ll see if I can fall for them again. It won’t be the case with this, that’s for sure.

The "Sweet" Vetiver

This is a good one. It's also a good contender for the best performing out of the Hermessence line. A sweet Vetiver fragrance that combines a nutty, almost edible like smoothness with the dry, earthy Vetiver root in the background. I really like it.

I feel that what is different here is Ellena's use of Tonka, Caramel and especially Praline to give the standard vetiver a nice "twist", and make it likeable to many people. It almost reminds me of a marriage between Lolita Lempicka au Masculin and Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver. The Vetiver itself here is dry and earthy, but is balanced perfectly well with the almost gourmand like sweetness of the Hazelnut, Tonka and Praline notes.

That being said, Vetiver Tonka is definitely not a gourmand type of scent. It has the balance just right between sweet and sour. I also notice the Lilly of the Valley note which gives a soft floral touch in the dry down, which slightly reminds me of Andy Tauer's Vetiver Dance.

Highly recommended, especially as a very unique and different take on a vetiver perfume.

Initially it was pure candy, which I don't like. After ~1hour, the sweetness eases & I get a little vetiver and maybe a tiny bit of smoke. Not for me.

Got a sample vial of this. Too much tobacco. While I appreciate the quality of Hermes perfumes, as a non smoker, I don't want to smell like I've just had a cigarette!

spicy sweet fresh.. different .. i kinda like it :P

Vetiver tonka is simply amazing. Different from any other vetiver you have tried. It opens with smoky grassy traditional vetiver and then a little something almost sour - I believe it's the muguet in an indolic mode- comes in. A few minutes later the sharpness of the vetiver is covered in creamy praline caramel, smelling almost like burnt toast with caramel sauce.

This part of the development is not my favorite- it's a bit "funky," at least it was on my skin. But the burnt vibe fades and some pretty tobacco and nutty notes come out to join and temper the sweetness a bit. The drydown is a beautiful smoky vetiver that is creamy and sweet at the same time. It seems like it would never work, this combination, but it is divine. This is a must try for every perfumista and for anyone who likes thinking "outside the box." This is outside the stratosphere but in a beautiful other worldly way.

For a truly amazing combination, try Iris Ukiyoe on your arms and Vetiver Tonka on the backs of your hands. You would think they would clash, but there is some of that Jean-Claude Ellena magic in both of them that makes this a true feast for the senses.

Absolutely gorgeous. If you want a vetiver/gourmand scent that lasts but doesn't overpower your presence, this is for you. Not vetiver like Sycamore or Encre Noir, but muted beautifully by the marriage with the gourmand notes. I found the tobacco note perfect as well. Just there, peaking over the fence, not overwrought like so many vetiver and tobacco fragrances.
As someone else said, warm and calm. What could be better in Winter......

I am not a huge fan of Jean Claude Ellen as I like to be able to smell my frags and his creations are much too subtle to my nose, but I must admit this one is special.
I absolutely love wearing this one to work as is quite light and very pleasing on the nose, yet rich enough to give me 5-8 hrs performance wise every wear.
Every time I put this one on It really gives me something different sometimes is heavy tobacco, sometimes is the fresh Vetiver and sometimes the edible sweetness and creamy opening that I can hardly detect the Vetiver, it has many faces.The projection is moderate, but I think it was designed that way on purpose, it is not a work horse. Instead it offers incredible quality of natural ingredient and does not at all smell synthetic, a true gem!
If you are NOT the avarage perfume wearer ( consumer) you would like that one in your collection for sure.

Smell 10/10
Projection 6/10
Longevity 8/10
Overall 8.5/10

A must try (buy)

A warm and almost gourmand vetiver fragrance with the addition of praline and hazelnut.Not quite the earthy and robust vetiver found in Dior Private Collections Vetiver,more a caramelised and ever so slightly muted version.
Very elegant indeed and well suited for all seasons.
Well composed and thorough frag from Ellena.The scent pyramid includes lily and tobacco as notes but they have a minor non speaking role in this play for mine.
Average staying power and projection but worth sniffing out if you are into classy vetiver fragrances.
Just a shame it doesnt last the distance to justify the price.

A unique and interesting take on vetiver's earthy and rustic qualities. Jean-Claude Ellena expertly pairs it with the gourmand notes of hazelnut; an interesting juxtaposition between the verdant/vegetal qualities of vetiver with the warm, roasted aroma of hazelnut. Coumaric tonka bean offers a slight hay-like scent as well as a vanilla overtone. Unlike the usual vetiver fragrance, this is not dry but instead imbues a creamy tonality likely thanks impart to the addition of tonka bean as well as sandalwood. In the opening I notice a very subtle, albeit brief hint of muguet which here seems more lemony and less floral. This is a reassuring scent; comforting without becoming cloying. (104)

This is incredibly fresh vetiver and a dash of nutty hazelnut to me. Blind bought expecting something close to gourmand but found a great summer scent! I can see this being a great signature scent, and it's very clean. The drydown introduces the slightest bit of tonka and mutes the vetiver a tad. The sandalwood joins in a bit more pungently here as well. It's still fresh throughout though. Very versatile scent. Not getting the dirty aspects some reviewers mentioned other than in the first 15 minutes or so when the hazlenut joins in with very strong vetiver. The hazlenut here is not sweet, rather nutty and earthy so it does a fantastic job complimenting the fresh vetiver.

The projection and longevity(8 hrs) is pretty good on me. This is vetiver through and through, so sample first if you do not enjoy the note. Otherwise, I think it's the easiest vetiver to wear so you can't really go wrong with this one. You can definitely smell the quality in this one. Classic hermessence.

I'M IN A FILM NOIR…

And In walks a dark and handsome man with a bit of a an elegant swagger wearing a custom made suit. A lit cigarette dangles from his sensual lips. He gives a slight, yet mysterious nod to the maitre D'.

Ah, of course. He's wearing Hermessence Vetiver Tonka.

Bit sweet and nutty with that somewhat rough smokey vetiver note. It's a unusual take on a vetiver fragrance but it smells nice. It's not very fresh imo but quality is definitely there...so if you want a fresh vetiver there are thousands of vetivers to pick before you look at this but its unique. It was average to below average on longevity and projection which is disappointing.Scent is good.

A lot of times my friends asks, "Why do you spend so much money on these fragrances"? My reply is simple. It's because they create concoctions such as the Hermessence line. Vetiver Tonka wasn't designed for the casual fragrance wearer. It was made for the individual that's unconventional without being weird. It's hard for me to sit here and tell you if you would like this or not. It really depends on who's reading this. Go to the Hermes boutique and check it out for yourself. As for me, it's a winner.

This smells very strange to me in that the vetiver note is coupled with Tonka, tobacco and other sweet notes.

I get a slightly creamy & sweet nutty aroma that projects off my skin mixed in with the vetiver note whilst wearing this scent. There is a slight sour note that I'm picking up and the fragrance smells like nail polish remover to me that has been sweetened.

I'm not really liking this scent the vetiver and Tonka sweet notes just do not seem to go together naturally. Projection and longevity are just average on my skin.

Vetiver Tonka starts off very woody and slightly smoky (think of a way better Aventus smoky vibe). And I got a very very slight hint of citrus, which reminded me of TdH. Pretty nice opening. But the magic really happens once the sweetness and nuttiness comes in. I didn't get much tonka like the name implies but I did get this roasted nuts smell with a bit of sweetness. Not too sweet, which is perfect for my taste. I love it because it's sexy, sophisticated, and very classy. It's masculine and it fits my personality. Lasts a good 8hrs on my skin.

A vetiver masterpiece from Jean-Claude Ellena.

This is wonderful.
This collection is amazing Hermessence, Jean-Claude Ellena do well knew their fragrances. It is very similar to Bal D'Afrique say they are almost twin sisters, just think Vetiver Tonka is thicker in vetiver, but less than the projection Byredo.
But just a Great Perfume that is worth having in your collection.

I classify it thus:

Smell: 1000/10
Projection: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10

A stunning and unique fragrance from Hermes. It opens with very prominent Vetiver and Tonka bean notes. There is a light veil of roasted nuttiness surrounding around the two notes. It later introduces the tobacco which intensifies as the frag develops. The tobacco blends perfectly well in yielding this woody, smooth and gourmand ambience which just beautiful... The sweetness is half-baked but i like that it is not actually sweet but it leaves you hanging later for you to enjoy the other notes. Rate: 4.5/5

Went from loving it to hating it. Made me sick, had to leave work earlier to go home and shower. It is overpowering with tobbaco. Anything more than one spray is dangerous.

Sort of an odd opening. Definitely vetiver and Tonka right away, the Tonka smells like a roasted vanilla bean, not sweet dessert-like vanilla. The vetiver gets a little bit too reminiscent of nail varnish remover. Not sure I like this on me, but it has potential for the husband.

The only reason I don't wear this 24/7 is that it's pricey and I save it for a treat. Incredible. dry and warm and sexy all at the same time
NOTHING but compliments when I'm wearing this, I fear I have to buy another bottle sooner than I expected and the damned exchange rate sucks on imported items like this.... but well worth it

Vetiver Tonka is probably the best of the Hermessence line and one of my favorite Hermes fragrances.

Vetiver is not an easy note to like for many people, but here, it is delicately sweetened with a refined tonka note making it a high quality. It’s a really sexy and warm scent with a very subtle and nice tobacco note in the background. Absolutely delicious.

Longevity is good. Projection could be better. Scent is amazing.

Just another Jean Claude Ellena win!

Interesting fragrance. It smells green/earthy and gourmand at the same time. At the begining tonka and tobacco notes are quite pronounced which gives a darker aspect but after a while scent becomes creamy gourmand (reminds me a little bit of nutella). It really reminds Bal d'Afrique and Vetiver Fatal but this one has bolder and brigter character than previous two. Great longevity and moderate sillage.
One of the best 10/10.

This is lovely beyond words. My decant is almost finished and it´s going to be hard to find another one I guess. Woody- gourmand treasure. Unique!

I purchased this based on all the reviews and was excited to try it but when I first sprayed it what I got was wave of synthetic/plastic which is odd since these scents are based off essential oils I thought.
I figured that was just the initial spritz and once it melded with my chemisty then it would show its true self.
However, what I ended out with once my body chemistry mixed with this scent was...Dawn dish detergent (the original formulation)! I kid you not!! It's the most bizarre thing. I can't even articulate because all I can smell is Dawn.
I do not detect anything that smells remotely like vetyver, tonka, tobacco, praline, or hazelnut. The closest I get to any of the described notes is a faint, faraway floral that doesn't resemble anything I've ever smelled irl.
Is it perhaps a compromised bottle? How else could it be so far off from anything anyone else has experienced with this perfume?
For anyone this works on, it lasts 10+ hours

Very unusual. For women I think this would be best for fall and winter. For men, so so sexy!!! I agree with someone else who said this is a cozy scent. I can smell just a hint of the tobacco right away. It's just so unusual!! I couldn't see grabbing this every day but it will be nice to have in my mix. If you are looking for something different give this a try!!!

Ok so I received three bottles of this as a gift and I have fallen in LOVE! I don't know why, but it reminds me of truffles on a fall day. Maybe too feminine for a man, but perfect for a woman. It's very calm and earthy. THe woody fragrance is simply amazing. I am used this at a dance, and I got so many compliments! Wonderful. SImply wonderful. Also gives me a very strong and independent feel, but it can also give a very warm, cuddly vibe. I love this so much, I don't know what to say!

This is very pleasant, and my husband says he can still smell it 3 hours after I applied the entire 1/2 ml sample vial. Yet, to me, it is much too subtle. I won't be going for the full bottle.

If you cant afford this,do yourself a favour and grab Collezione Privata Viaggio d`Africa Pal Zileri for half the price as they are practically the same smell.you will be left with a huge sense of waste when you buy both hoping for a significantly different experience.the vetiver in this is slightly more prominent while the tonka features more in Viaggio.I can only tell them apart from the top notes.Viaggio has that burnt smell and that's it.In the dry down,VT just slightly edges Viaggio with the vetiver.
Both last long on my skin and smell rich.

You will have to be a huge Hermes fan or be really loaded to want this when you can get Viaggio .they are both that similar

An understated fragrance that smells exactly as the name implies, like vetiver and tonka. It’s a light, sweet, grassy-woody, slightly powdery scent with hints of violet, fruit and spice, but never departing significantly from the vetiver main theme.

As it dries down it strengthens a bit, although it is never more than a low stage whisper. A slight tobacco leaf aroma joins the other players to produce a light veil of powdery, gourmand vetiver, and the whole stays quietly linear for 5-6 hours, gradually fading away.

V-T is an easy, comfortable scent to wear, with just enough presence to make itself known, but not strong enough to intrude into the space of others, at least not in an obvious way.

My heart skips a beat every time I catch a whiff of this! It's that sweet, slightly salty tonka that does it. I get exactly the same feeling from Byredo's Bal D'Afrique, but Vetiver Tonka is smokier, heavier, stronger... I feel aroused and seduced! The unisex ambiguity is provoking and challenging, but in a gooooooood way.

One spritz on my wrist lasted ALL DAY which I think is amazing considering that this is an EDT. Lasts longer and has much better projection than many EDPs I've known. In fact, if I wear more than a couple of spritzes it can bring on a headache, which tends to happen to me with heavy vanilla- or tonka-based fragrances.

Sublime, I love it. I'd wear it all the time if my man were a little more enthusiastic about it!

Sweet vetiver is not that common in my experience of perfumes, but Hermès offers precisely that in Hermessence VETIVER TONKA. Intially, I was unsure what I thought about this combination of tonka, nuts, and vetiver, which seems more oriental than chypre (though not quite gourmand). I do think that the habit of smelling savory or woody or green or salty vetiver, is just that: a habit.

Still, I suspect that I am not alone in tending to associate the smell of vetiver with aromatic men's colognes such as Lalique ENCRE NOIR. As a matter of fact, I kept thinking of the Lalique while wearing this composition, though their only overlap is the strong vetiver note.

I could definitely see developing a taste for this composition, but it would take a few more wears. At this point, I feel a bit as though someone sprinkled salt on top of a piece of hazelnut cake!

Read the down belows, have been smelling Vetiver Tonka for the last 3 hours--I don't think it is going anywhere soon--parts of it are and have gone perhaps. I love a good vetiver. I love vetiver straight up, I love vetiver shaken not stirred, I love vetiver with salt, I love vetiver with flowers, I love vetiver with smoke. I can't say I love Vetiver Tonka, as Ambrosia8 hit the nail on the head with "smells like vetiver flavoured crème brulée to me" --I'll add with a twist, and a zest of a clementine orange(it does sound wonderful), until the drydown, now it is a vetiver I love. Vetiver Tonka: orange crush soda pop cotten candy with lurking vetiver saltwater taffy waiting for the circus to leave, when it did there was peace, woods, and the quiet forsest floor. Fine I love Vetiver Tonka too.

This is a perfection in a bottle. It is just amazing, but the lasting power is not worth the price. On me it lasts a bit under an hour.

Absolutely fantastic scent! I won't re-tread the other reviews that address the notes nicely. I just simply wish that it had some longevity and any sillage at all! It's a stupendous concoction worthy of Jean Claude Ellena's legacy, but it just doesn't last or carry much - at least on my bod. For those of you concerned about a strong tobacco note - don't be - it's quite subtle IMO. GORGEOUS juice, Hermes. Kudos! Please figure out how to make it l a s t :-)

Vetiver Tonka is an amazing fragrance, that I can say for sure!

It opens up with a sensational vetiver note. Pure, earthy and resembling Encre Noire from Lalique (in a matter of fact this entirely fragrance seems to be a corpulent version of this designer fragrance).

After a couple of minutes, the tobacco note kicks in together with vetiver giving to this particular fragrance a slight smoky aspect.

Unfortunately the chocolate aspect of it it's not so evident on my skin, but this doesn't take away points from this wonderful fragrance.

WOW! Very nice. The tonka bean, and nuts really soften this, and make it far less green than your average vetiver. Very creamy,and musky but still earthy and lush. This would be fantastic on a man. Lasts forever and has great sillage.

Impressive. subtle, deep and sophisticated. Vetiver and nutmeg with a hint of tobacco creates a wonderful composition of the smell. Charming. It makes me smile.

Vetiver. Tonka. Together forever.

At first the tonka is stronger than the vetiver (with an anise note), and then the vetiver takes over during the drydown. The vetiver in this one is really nice, and has a smooth "nutty" aroma.

Good, quality, long-lasting stuff that actually kind of reminds me of Yohji Homme (of course not as smooth as Yohji). Would I buy a full bottle of this one? I dunno yet, but I definitely enjoy it.

This is absolute heaven in a bottle! I dont want to use it because I'm scared I will never get my hands on another bottle!The price is high,but its worth it! Anyone loving tobacco scents has to try this! :)

my all time favorite frag i guess, its not a frag actually, its more something between aroma therapy and medicine for the soul, its a masterpiece.

I like this but it feels like a Prada. 1/3 Prada Prada and 2/3 Infusion d'Iris.Very nice though for anyone .The price is a bit steep -I'll be on the lookout for a good deal.

I love this stuff! A creamy, classy vetiver perfect for most occasions and seasons. I`m Impressed of the Hermessence line!

Nice release from Hermes. In the opening I get exactly what the name of this fragrance says: Vetiver and Tonka Beans. In the drydown things get a little more complex with hints of chocolate (praline) and green notes. A well executed light and minimal gourmandic vetiver. If you think it's overpriced, you might want to consider Etat Libre D'Orange Fat Electrician as an alternative.

Rating: 7-7.5/10

All Hermessence scents are like journey - you never know how it will be a hour later. The true pleasure, they are like opera between usual perfumes.

I really like this, mostly the top notes, smells like vetiver flavoured crème brulée to me, if such a thing existed! Still, i find it quite hard to wear, the bitter aspect comes off a little more than i'd like it to on me. nonetheless, a great perfume that i love to wear, just not for everyday use.

The strength of vetiver and smooth,mouth-watering hazelnut.Supple,sensual.

WOW. This scent is stunning. It starts off as a very lush vetiver, which you'd expect to be paired with other woody green notes. . . but instead, this scent takes a totally unexpected turn into a sweet coffee note that lasts as a gentle, warm scent on the skin. It reminds me of a first date on a wintry afternoon - turtleneck sweaters and sipping hot latte's in a room with deep green walls. Very charming.

Warm and calm, woodsy vetyver enriched with nougat-caramel-resin aromas, so delicate and perfect for my senses and sensibility. This composition is keeping balance of taste woody notes and bitter but gentle light chords. So simple, so natural but so good. I`m in love in this perfume:)

I oddly get almost no tonka at all. What I get is smooth, cool, woody vetiver start to finish. It's lovely and it's a touch masculine for what I normally wear, but I could wish for more tonka. How about ANY tonka. Sigh.

I remeber the first time i opened the sample vial,i found it nice, elegant but not extremely new.But now i wish i had the ability to spend the kind of money they ask because this is love.With a nicely judged sandalwood, the vanillic vetiver is bittersweet intelligent and melancholic like a Pina Bausch dance sequence with a surreal feeling.This is also a scent that gives me lot of good comments