I never intended to order a sample of Tobacco Honey from eBay. Last year, while perusing the site, I came across a sample of Vétiver Fauve for sale. Knowing that this fragrance line is particularly difficult to find in Australia, I ordered the sample and had it sent to my sister’s apartment. Imagine my horror (well, that’s overstating it a bit), imagine my disappointment when I opened the package and found Tobacco Honey instead. Fortunately, I managed to get a refund, but I still have never tried the vetiver, and I’m left with a bit of a lemon of a sample. Tobacco Honey wasn’t something I was particularly eager to try, and after wearing it a few times, I can confirm it is not for me. Here are my thoughts.
Tobacco Honey forms part of the L’Art & La Matière collection. It’s a 2023 release, and the perfumer behind the fragrance is Delphine Jelk. Incorporating honey into a fragrance is challenging, and unfortunately, I don’t believe Guerlain has succeeded with Tobacco Honey. There are obscene levels of the stuff in this perfume, and it renders it so sweet that I felt my enamel dissolving the moment I sprayed it. The overwhelming honey overdose is like incessant laser light beams glaring into your vision—it’s quite off-putting. Consequently, there’s little room for nuance. Instead, we’re left with a saccharine, treacly, cloying mess of a perfume. Indeed, very much on brand for this overrated, overpriced line.
Yes, there’s some tobacco, vanilla, and tonka. But that’s a profile we’ve seen a million times before. Additionally, the pyramid mentions oud, sesame, and anise. However, I have a hard time picking them out through the thick, gooey gloop of honey. I find it similar to Tobacco Vanille, Naxos, and cohort, and I’m sure it will find many fans. It’ll probably be a best seller, since these sorts of warm, sweet fragrances always find an audience. Many adore this line from Guerlain, but it’s just not my thing. I’ve worn Tobacco Honey three times, and the first two times it projected strongly for over 12 hours. The third time, I had to save my flailing faculties, so I washed it off after 30 minutes. Three strikes and you’re out, Tobacco Honey. I’ll stick with the classics.
Top: honey, cloves, anise.
Mid: tobacco, vanilla, tonka, sesame.
Base: oud, sandalwood.
Note: Bottle image from Guerlain. The other images are mine.