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Guerlain Tonka Imperiale ~ new fragrance

Posted by Robin on 12 February 2010 60 Comments

Guerlain Tonka Imperiale

Tonka Impériale, launching this month, will be the seventh fragrance in Guerlain's L’Art et la Matière line.

The new scent was developed by Guerlain house perfumer Thierry Wasser. The notes for the gourmand oriental include rosemary, tonka bean, honey, spices, almond, vanilla, woods, tobacco and amber. Sylvaine Delacourte of Guerlain describes it as "between gingerbread and chocolate".

Guerlain Tonka Impériale will be available in 75 ml Eau de Parfum. (via osmoz.fr, espritdeparfum)

Update: see a review of Guerlain Tonka Impériale.

Filed Under: new fragrances
Tagged With: guerlain, lart et la matiere, thierry wasser

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60 Comments

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  1. www.mybeautyblog.de says:
    12 February 2010 at 9:39 am

    This sounds great! Guerlains niche are so far away from me, literally, but I pla a trip to Duesseldorf just to visit the Schnitzler perfumery who has the only counter with Les Exclusifs in Germany.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 10:27 am

      It does sound nice. Hope it is not as sweet as the Iris Ganache.

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      • Carlos BFL 319 says:
        12 February 2010 at 12:33 pm

        Yeah a Tad sweet the Iris Ganache…but liked it.

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    • parfumliefhebber says:
      12 February 2010 at 12:14 pm

      Such a pity it is only available in Düsseldorf. Do you think they will fill little vials of the perfume, as Douglas is not allowed to do that anymore?

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      • flittersniffer says:
        12 February 2010 at 1:40 pm

        I am pleased that they are available anywhere in Germany. Are there any stockists in Britain? I have always assumed not. : – (

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    • Indre says:
      15 February 2010 at 5:11 am

      thank you for this tip! I am going to Dusseldorf in two weeks so I will check this out :-)

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  2. Daisy says:
    12 February 2010 at 9:44 am

    I totally missed the split on this one…..so now I’m frothing at the mouth for a bottle. I can hardly wait!!!!!
    lemm, lemm, lemm, lemm, lemm….ad infinitum

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 10:27 am

      Patience…

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      • Daisy says:
        12 February 2010 at 11:10 am

        what is this word ‘patience’ ? I know it not. ;-)

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    • Carlos BFL 319 says:
      12 February 2010 at 12:29 pm

      and lemm and lemm and lemm

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  3. cjordan says:
    12 February 2010 at 9:46 am

    That sounds so nice!

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 10:27 am

      It does.

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  4. lovethescents says:
    12 February 2010 at 9:53 am

    This sounds so wonderful but I’m holding out on any blind buying til I hit the Spa de Guerlain for a sample first (being semi good for a change!)

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 10:27 am

      Good thinking.

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  5. OperaFan says:
    12 February 2010 at 9:54 am

    Is this the one Denyse was praising on Grain de Musc? I’m also feeling the lemming….

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 10:28 am

      I think so! I need to go read that.

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    • mals86 says:
      12 February 2010 at 11:17 am

      I think it is. Review was very complimentary.

      At the same time, any suggestion of “chocolate” makes me shudder.

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      • carmencanada says:
        12 February 2010 at 2:43 pm

        Yes, I did review it very positively. It does have a chocolate-like richness but it doesn’t actually smell of it. There’s a rosemary note that cuts through the almond/hay note of the tonka bean and keep it from being too cloying. I’ve been wearing quite a lot of my decant, and I’m not much of a gourmand lover.

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  6. parfumliefhebber says:
    12 February 2010 at 9:58 am

    Oh oh, this sounds really great.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 10:28 am

      :-)

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  7. RusticDove says:
    12 February 2010 at 10:52 am

    Sounds like a winner. Will be keeping my eye open for a split… ;-) The bottle is quite handsome too.

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    • Daisy says:
      12 February 2010 at 11:10 am

      ;-)

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    • miss kitty v. says:
      12 February 2010 at 12:07 pm

      Me, too! Just wait until after I get everything squared away from having my bank account hacked into. THEN you can do the split!

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      • boojum says:
        12 February 2010 at 12:11 pm

        Uh oh. Do we need to hold off on OJ? I was going to order tomorrow (having ALSO been recently hacked, I need to do it on a day when I’m home so the fraud alert folks can reach me and let the tx through). :O grrrr.

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        • Daisy says:
          12 February 2010 at 12:19 pm

          they get a little protective after an “incident” –been there, hated that——try calling just before you place the charge to alert them and answer all their questions about your great grandmother’s blood type.

          Oh—you all know that this’ll be split as soon as it’s available….la,la, la ,la la…..

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        • miss kitty v. says:
          12 February 2010 at 12:49 pm

          Oh, no, E. Forge ahead!

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          • RusticDove says:
            12 February 2010 at 1:10 pm

            I second that ‘go ahead’ E!! :-) Oh & goody that Daisy saw my comment about a split on this GTI. My plan worked. *Rubbing hands together* hehe

          • Daisy says:
            12 February 2010 at 1:33 pm

            sigh, it’s true….I”m so easy.

  8. Joe says:
    12 February 2010 at 11:19 am

    This is really nice. I have a small decant, and I think it’s more my taste than SDV, even though SDV is lovely.

    I don’t find it too sweet at all. Robin, I’m wondering if you’ve revisited a vial of Iris Ganache recently? I was expecting it to be a sugary hot mess, but I find it very woody and slightly sweet, but no sweeter than Bois Farine. This will sound crazy, but there’s also something in the top notes that reminds me of latex wall paint, which I find enjoyable. I’d gladly own a bottle if this Guerlain series wasn’t so expensive.

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    • boojum says:
      12 February 2010 at 12:18 pm

      Grrrr. Thanks a lot, Joe. I’ve been easily resisting these because “I don’t like Guerlain”. Except, of course, SDV.

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      • Joe says:
        12 February 2010 at 1:08 pm

        I’m always happy to help. But even fraternal scent twins sometimes have differences of taste, so there’s hope. ;)

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        • boojum says:
          12 February 2010 at 1:10 pm

          Right, but my point was that NOW I actually have to try them, instead of happily ignoring them altogether.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 2:10 pm

      Joe, I haven’t. But found it a scrubber the first time around, sorry to say.

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  9. miss kitty v. says:
    12 February 2010 at 12:19 pm

    I thought maybe someone was using a jackhammer outside my office, but then realized, no, that’s the sound of my heart beating frantically. I want!!!!! Tonka bean? Honey? Tobacco? Sign me up!!

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    • Daisy says:
      12 February 2010 at 12:21 pm

      …handing Kitty a paper bag….breathe, breathe..it’ll be ok….

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    • boojum says:
      12 February 2010 at 1:11 pm

      You’re channeling. There’s construction right outside MY office, and has been all week. Ugh.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 2:10 pm

      LOL!

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    • lemonprint says:
      12 February 2010 at 3:06 pm

      I’m with you! this baby might get bought unsniffed. it’s calling me!

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    • www.mybeautyblog.de says:
      14 February 2010 at 2:12 pm

      Lemm lemm lemm – but did I hear almond? Almond is a no go. On the other hand, Cologne de 68 has this touch of chocolate I cannot resist. Something similar without the cologne… mmmh.

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  10. SmokeyToes says:
    12 February 2010 at 12:27 pm

    This sounds yummy! I must smell it when it comes out.

    So far, the only one from the L’AMatière line that was full-bottle worthy was Angelique Noir. I loved that juice-so warm and womanly, and it lasted forever on skin.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 2:10 pm

      I really liked Bois d’Armenie. And haven’t even tried Cruel Gardenia.

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      • SmokeyToes says:
        12 February 2010 at 4:42 pm

        I don’t think I’ve tried Cruel Gardenia either, now that you mention it. I liked Rose Barbare, but have LA’s Voleur de Roses. Didn’t see the need to have both. Gardenia does funny things on me so it’s a must try several times before buying-especially at that price!

        I didn’t keep the Angelique Noir very long, my mom fell in love with it so I gave her my bottle….. I get to spritz when I’m visiting though, so I can’t complain.

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  11. Absolute Scentualist says:
    12 February 2010 at 12:48 pm

    Oh, wantidy want want! I loved Iris Ganache and had to spring for an fb of SDV. Tonka, honey, tobacco, almond and vanilla? Egads! It sounds lovely! Be still, my racing heart…

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 2:11 pm

      LOL…you’re sold already :-)

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  12. hotlanta linda says:
    12 February 2010 at 2:04 pm

    OK, all, DEEP breathing, very slowly, and when you pulse is `normal`, calmly alert your bank and make the purchase; it is MUCH better for your overall health to spend on a Guerlain than to pay hospital emergency room bills! :-)

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    • Daisy says:
      12 February 2010 at 2:10 pm

      oooooo— you’re good! :-) I’m going to use that.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 2:11 pm

      You guys are easily stirred up, LOL…

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    • SmokeyToes says:
      12 February 2010 at 4:43 pm

      I like the way you think…. how about hospital bills for husband when he sees the bill??

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  13. aimiliona says:
    12 February 2010 at 3:09 pm

    Rosemary and spices and amber? Like gingerbread? Yes!

    Harry Turtledove wrote a series of novels about alien invaders for whom ginger is addictive. I might be distantly related to the Race.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 3:31 pm

      I love anything gingery too :-)

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      • boojum says:
        12 February 2010 at 5:54 pm

        That caught my attention, but Joe did me in.

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  14. maggiecat says:
    12 February 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Oh dear…I see at the very least another decant in my future. DH will not be happy….

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 6:58 pm

      Happier than he’d be if you bought the bottle though :-)

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  15. CynthiaW says:
    12 February 2010 at 4:39 pm

    It’s funny that it’s listed as a gourmand because I don’t find it too sweet at all – there is a smokiness to it that cuts the tonka. It’s not as sweet at Iris Ganache and nowhere near as sweet as SDV, which was vile on me. I suppose if anything it’s gourmand in that non-edible gourmand manner. I adore it – if I buy an FB of anything in this line, this will be it.

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    • RusticDove says:
      12 February 2010 at 4:53 pm

      Oooh – lucky girl – you’ve tried it already! Your feedback has me lemming even more now. ;-)

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      • CynthiaW says:
        12 February 2010 at 5:09 pm

        Fortunately, someone was able to talk a friend who was going to Paris into bringing some back, so I was able to get a nice decant. It’s fabulous – it’s one of those scents that makes me think that I could be a signature scent girl (and then I remember the other 10 scents that make me feel that way and remember why I’m *not* a signature scent girl).

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        • RusticDove says:
          12 February 2010 at 5:15 pm

          Wow – that’s quite an endorsement Cyn! I’m so excited about this one.

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    • Robin says:
      12 February 2010 at 6:58 pm

      Sounds wonderful, thanks!

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  16. prism says:
    14 February 2010 at 2:21 pm

    oh, this sounds delicious… i LOVE tonka bean! :D

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    • Robin says:
      15 February 2010 at 9:14 am

      Start saving your pennies!

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