SOTD: Ombre Tonka by Mancera 20/02/2026

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This was a bit of a difficult one for me, initially I was not taken by it, but over the first few hours it grew on me. It is a 2025 release that appears to mark a shift toward a more quietly luxurious & refined profile for the house. While Mancera is famous for its high-octane beast mode scents, Ombre Tonka balances that signature power with a sophisticated, creamy, and slightly earthy gourmand structure.Ombre Tonka is essentially a dialling scent. An olfactory battle between the bright, nutty top notes

Up top you get a Turkish Pistachio, Calabrian Bergamot,& Thai Oud. The opening is surprisingly bright. The pistachio provides a crunchy, nutty texture that isn't overly sugary, while a "whisper" of Thai Oud adds a dry, woody backbone rather than a medicinal or "funky" scent. At its core, Venezuelan Tonka Bean, Intense Amberwood & Rose de Mai. As it settles, the Tonka Bean takes center stage,it is creamy, almond-like, and smooth. The inclusion of Rose de Mai is subtle; it doesn't turn the fragrance floral but instead rounds out the edges of the woods. Finally to the Base with Madagascar Vanilla, Malaysian Patchouli & Sumatran Benzoin. The dry-down is a warm, balsamic hug of vanilla & benzoin, kept from becoming a cupcake scent by the earthy, grounded patchouli.

Performance is fairly solid here, about 7hrs on skin, with a moderate protection. Unlike Red Tobacco, which can fill a room, Ombre Tonka has a radius of elegance. It projects well for the first 90 minutes before settling into a dense, magnetic scent bubble. This is extremely versatile for cold weather/evenings.Ombre Tonka is an excellent choice for someone who finds Mancera Tonka Cola too playful or Montale Arabians Tonka too aggressive.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Scent: 2.5

Longevity: 2

Sillage: 2

Y/N: 1

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