Tonka bean is vanilla's more complex, worldly cousin. Native to South America, the dried seeds contain coumarin — a molecule that smells of new-mown hay, almond, and warm spice. Where vanilla is straightforwardly sweet, tonka adds layers of tobacco, cherry, and warm caramel that give it a sophisticated, almost masculine edge.
Warm, almond-like, with facets of hay, tobacco, cherry, and caramel. Less sweet than vanilla, more complex, with a distinctive warm-spicy undertone. It's comfort food for grown-ups — sophisticated enough for evening, cozy enough for Sunday morning.
Tonka communicates approachable warmth with a twist of sophistication. It's less innocent than vanilla but less intense than amber. Tonka says "I'm warm and welcoming, but I have depth."