Tolu

This is a beautifully subtle perfume. Yes, it has depth and warmth, but it does not sit heavily. Woody and resinous spices, and the smoke of incense curl through it. But the lightness of the orange blossom, and the spark of the sage balance the richness quite perfectly right from the beginning. It manages to be of the earth and the air simultaneously. The drydown is gently warm and rich, with glints of the florals continuing to lighten and animate it. It remains three dimensional until the end, not powdery flat. This is the first Ormonde Jayne I have tried and it is quite lovely in a thoughtful way.

Gorgeous, Rich, Resinous, Spicy and Warm composition from a lady who knows how to create an unforgettable scent that will stay with you for a lifetime. I initially tried a sample from the discovery set and immediately fell in love with it; ordered a bottle and have since enjoyed many winter nights enveloped in this deep scent made with tolu, muguet (I love this note present at the beginning), rose, amber and frankincense notes. I have also tried a mini candle, courtesy of the Ormonde Jayne Boutique in Bond Street which is absolutely lovely and hypnotic. I shall be getting the travel spray set to be able to enjoy the scent while on my travels. I do look forward to many years of pleasure surrounded by this beautiful perfume. Excellent longevity and sillage. Double thumbs up! Thank You...x

I have been trying to wrap my head around this frag in order to write a review for the past couple of weeks now and every time I think I have got a handle on it, it shows me another facet. Tolu is one of those frags that is deceptively simple at first but as you live with it for a while, it starts of show off different layers. It is one of those frags you need to invest a relationship in before you truly appreciate it. Geza Schoen has produced a gem here. The top notes of Tolu are very bright citrus and a spicy, green, herbal note. It reminds me of the opening of Nicolai New York Intense actually even though that is mostly Bergamot with pepper n cloves and I dont find any corresponding notes here. But oh well, just know it smells immediately captivating. The heart phase here is pretty muted, the floral notes mentioned are mostly minor facets adorning the glorious Tolu Balsam note. For once, a Perfume has been aptly named as the balsamic amber note here is the central deity here around which the others notes offer obeisance. The tolu balsam is adorned with tonka to give it a sweet edge and the ambery frankincense to give it the familiar rich amber note. All in all, truly a work of art by a Master Perfumer. Projection is nice and strong for about 3-4 hours and longevity is a solid 8 hours on my skin. I get a full work day out of it easy. In conclusion I would say None of these notes used in Tolu are things you have not smelled a thousand times before but they have been brought together here with a fresh flourish and aplomb that is truly something to behold. If you are an Amber lover of any sort, you owe it to yourself to get your nose on this. The simplest way I can describe this frag would be Nicolai New York Intense meets Tom Ford Amber Absolute. That is not really doing it justice but should give you an idea. I love this one and it's definitely become one of my all time favourites. 9.5/10

Dior Dune is one of my favourites in this genre and Tolu has a very similar vibe; It's a mysterious mix of hot and cold, seduction and reservedness, and sweetness and dryness. Compared to Dune in the perfume extrait format, Tolu is definitely more aromatic and I can smell roses much more vividly than in the Dune perfume extrait, which I find more ambery and slightly denser. It projects better than the Dune perfume extrait. Overall, I find the quality of Ormonde Jayne excellent! I think Tolu will work wonders on all genders who carry sophisticated and mysterious air around them. A fascinating scent 👍

This has to be one of the classiest yet still accessible perfumes I've ever smelled. This smells like quiet luxury to me. It smells like someone with generational wealth, as opposed to nouveau riche. It is so well-constructed and smells high quality. It's present without being ostentatious. The opening reminds me of a more modern Sisley Eau du Soir, which I thought was really lovely but I didn't have the vibe to pull it off (I may revisit in another 10 years). But this takes the best parts of Eau du Soir and makes it more down to earth and cozy. It's spicy and balsamic. As it dries down, it almost becomes soapy but not in a bad way. It's like the most luxuriously fragrant soap I've ever smelled, mixed with spices and amber. Also becomes a little sweeter. This can be a casual fragrance for every day and it can be used for special occasions. I love Ormonde Jayne, they make truly special fragrances that are elegant but never snobby and make me feel truly put together even when I'm not!