Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka: Scent, Reviews & Buying Guide

If you’ve ever wondered why certain fragrances just feel right in winter — when the air is crisp and you want something warm that lingers — Jo Malone’s Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense has probably crossed your radar. Launched in 2016 by perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui, this scent quickly climbed to become one of the brand’s bestsellers, and it remains a standout in their intensive lineup. Whether you’re drawn to woodyoriental warmth or simply curious what all the fuss is about, here’s what you need to know.

Launch Year: 2016 · Perfumer: Mathilde Bijaoui · Top Note: Lavender · Size: 100ml

Here is how the fragrance stacks up across the key attributes that matter most when evaluating it.

What does Jo Malone myrrh & Tonka smell like?

The scent opens with a rush of lavender that feels almost medicinal in its intensity — reviewers consistently describe it as arid and slightly beeswaxed, like dried lavender being ignited (The Candy Perfume Boy). Within moments, the Omumbiri myrrh emerges, bringing its signature slightly smoky, resinous quality that Jo Malone’s official product page describes as “rich, hand-harvested sap of the Namibian myrrh tree” (Jo Malone Official). As the fragrance warms on skin, the myrrh combines with almond to create a sweet Amaretto-like note, while the tonka bean introduces warm vanilla undertones (Ms. Plainspoken).

Scent notes breakdown

• Top note: Lavender — arid, slightly anise-like with a spicy twist
• Middle note: Omumbiri myrrh — smoky, resinous, ancient, deeply comforting
• Base notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Almond — warm, creamy, subtly sweet

Official description

Jo Malone describes the fragrance as featuring “warming notes of vanilla, almond and lavender” sourced from the Namib desert in Namibia (Jo Malone Official). The tonka bean specifically contributes what the brand calls a “milky accord” that transitions seamlessly from top to base, creating the signature smoothness the scent is known for (The Candy Perfume Boy).

The longevity profile is notably strong compared to standard Jo Malone colognes. The fragrance offers strong projection for the first hour, with noticeable projection lasting one to two hours, and a wear time of approximately six hours overall (Oomph London). One reviewer testing multiple Jo Malone scents noted it had the biggest projection and longevity of the bunch (Ms. Plainspoken).

The pattern holds across wearer accounts: the scent evolves from sharp lavender through a creamy, slightly sweet middle phase before settling into a smoky powdery base encased in rich vanilla. What many reviewers note is the “lasting sweetness that dominates, touching on lavender’s medicinal clean herbal quality” — a balance that gives the fragrance its distinctive character (Basenotes community member review).

What this means: the warm, smoky myrrh base grounds the sharp lavender, creating balance rather than competition between the notes.

The fragrance opens with a rush of lavender described as ‘beeswaxed’ for sensory pleasure — there’s a juxtaposition between fresh aromatic lavender and blazing warmer myrrh that creates something genuinely distinctive.

— Basenotes community member review

Is Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka masculine or feminine?

The fragrance is officially marketed in the men’s section, yet the consensus among fragrance community members is that it’s genuinely unisex. Jo Malone lists it under their men’s offerings, but reviewers across platforms describe it as wearable by anyone — women included — with multiple accounts calling it “truly unisex” (Ms. Plainspoken).

Unisex appeal

The fragrance’s versatility stems from its balanced profile. The myrrh brings an ancient, slightly smoky quality that many associate with traditionally masculine scents, while the tonka and vanilla introduce warmth and sweetness that read as more neutral or even feminine. This duality means it works across gender presentations — reviewers note it’s “equally wearable by both genders” and has “more sillage than typical Jo Malone scents,” which helps it project confidence without overwhelming (Basenotes community member review).

Target marketing

Despite being categorized in the men’s range, the fragrance is popular irrespective of gender. Woman & Home’s analysis of Jo Malone’s top fragrances notes that Myrrh & Tonka “is popular irrespective of gender” — a finding that reflects both its broad appeal and the reality that fragrance gender categories are increasingly fluid (Woman & Home editorial analysis).

What is Kate Middleton’s favorite Jo Malone perfume?

While Kate Middleton has been associated with several Jo Malone fragrances over the years, there is no verified direct statement from her or her office confirming Myrrh & Tonka as her specific favorite. Royal fragrance preferences are often inferred from public engagements, press coverage, and anecdotal accounts rather than confirmed by the Princess of Wales herself.

Celebrity associations

The broader pattern shows the Duchess of Cambridge has been photographed purchasing Jo Malone products and has been linked to scents like Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Lime Basil & Mandarin. However, Myrrh & Tonka does not appear in verified royal fragrance accounts — what Woman & Home identifies as “Spring-ready note in favorites” refers more broadly to the brand’s lightweight offerings rather than this specific intense fragrance (Woman & Home).

Royal preferences

Princess Diana’s fragrance preferences have been similarly documented, with Mulberry associations in earlier periods, though direct links to Myrrh & Tonka are not confirmed in verified sources. The celebrity fragrance landscape is largely based on observation and inference — the royals themselves rarely publicly endorse specific scents.

What is the most popular Jo Malone smell?

Based on multiple retailer and editorial rankings, Jo Malone’s most popular fragrances consistently include Wood Sage & Sea Salt, Lime Basil & Mandarin, and Peony & Blush Suede. Myrrh & Tonka ranks second among the brand’s most popular offerings according to Woman & Home’s analysis — a remarkable achievement for a fragrance launched in 2016, particularly within the Cologne Intense sub-line (Woman & Home).

Best sellers list

• Wood Sage & Sea Salt — often cited as the number one bestseller globally
• Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense — second place, notable for being part of the intensive line
• Lime Basil & Mandarin — perennial favorite, frequently in top three
• Peony & Blush Suede — floral bestseller, popular for spring/summer
• English Pear & Freesia — consistently popular since launch

User favorites

Fragrance community feedback on Basenotes and Sephora reviews highlights Myrrh & Tonka as particularly beloved among those seeking longevity — one of the common criticisms of Jo Malone’s standard colognes is their shorter wear time, which the Cologne Intense line specifically addresses (Awren Says blog review). Sephora classifies the fragrance as part of their “Earthy & Woody fragrance family,” reflecting its positioning among the brand’s more mature, complex offerings (Sephora product classification).

Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka Cologne Intense

The Cologne Intense collection represents Jo Malone’s answer to the longevity question. These fragrances feature richer, deeper profiles created using precious ingredients — the Myrrh & Tonka variant uses the Namibian Omumbiri myrrh, which the brand describes in considerable detail on their product page (Jo Malone Official).

Where to buy

• Duty free — available at airport shops including Dublin Airport retailers
• Department stores — Brown Thomas (Ireland), House of Fraser (UK)
• Official Jo Malone website — direct purchase with personalization options
• Specialty retailers — Sephora, selected fragrance specialists

Dupes and alternatives

Fragrance comparison tool Fragplace identifies Assam & Grapefruit as having a 58% similarity score with Myrrh & Tonka, sharing aromatic accords and the almond note (Fragplace fragrance comparison tool). For those seeking alternatives at different price points, the market offers several woody-oriental fragrances featuring myrrh, tonka, or both — though exact dupe quality varies significantly.

Reviewers also note the fragrance layers beautifully with Pomegranate Noir, which adds a jammy pomegranate dimension to the already warm myrrh base (Oomph London review). This layering capability is a hallmark of the Jo Malone approach, and Myrrh & Tonka’s rich profile makes it particularly versatile for combination.

Here is how the fragrance stacks up across the technical specifications that shoppers most frequently ask about.

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Myrrh and Tonka’s warm oriental depth finds a fruity counterpart in English Pear and Freesia, another Jo Malone staple blending pear freshness with freesia elegance.

Frequently asked questions

Rich, hand-harvested sap of the Namibian myrrh tree — that’s what you’re smelling when the heart note emerges. It’s ancient, slightly smoky, and deeply comforting in a way that synthetic approximations simply cannot replicate.

— Jo Malone official product description