Tocade by Rochas

A synthetic bomb of geranium, vanilla, and talc. Its scent is very particular: homogeneous and flat, yet rich and complex. It’s like hands playing the piano with ten notes at once, ranging from forte to pianissimo. It resembles a laboratory cleaning scent, modern and ethereal, though the geranium betrays its age. Today it competes with metallic, bright niche perfumery. Contemporary cleanliness with geranium and vanilla crafted with artificial intelligence.

Tocade (1994) is a beautiful floral amber where powdery vanilla, iris, and a very warm amber base are the essence. I have always been amazed by the balance of its accords, where the floral notes are slightly displaced, and upon first sniff, you are left speechless until the rose, wrapped in lily of the valley, emerges. Furthermore, the bottle design, resembling a Vietnamese hat, is very original.

A rather rich sweet scent: warm and powdery, yet not cloying. It is more of a fine, delicate confection; I liked it immensely.

A potent, characterful vintage aroma. It is not among my scents for wearing, but I acknowledge it is a very good perfume.

I used this perfume when my mother was little. Along with Tresor, it is one of the ones that smell “like mum” to me (she also used Poeme, Dalí Laguna, Hypnose, and more recently Fuel for Life, Insolence EDP, and Coco Mademoiselle). It is a warm and cosy scent, with an imprint of earthy/talcum-powdered vanilla and citrus that envelops all the notes. At the same time it is fresh, sparkling, and not overwhelming. It lasts a long time. It is a classic combination, perfectly assembled; I have nothing to criticise about this little masterpiece. When the first one finished (would it have been when it came out? I was 5 years old!), we used the cap to play. It is a perfume that brings me very beautiful memories ^^.

I bought it a while ago based on your reviews and liked it very much. But with my habit of trying new perfumes, I set it aside a bit… Today I wore it again and my goodness, what a wonder!!!! Vanilla and a fresh scent, so original and so different from today’s, which are all the same. For me, totally recommended, it lasts a long time and the price is fantastic. It is one I intend to repurchase.

I had never seen it for sale until I discovered it today in a perfumery that still sells discontinued vintage. Its scent is caramelised sweet (like liqueur) and old-fashioned floral (like dried flowers), a charming vintage perfume, potent and long-lasting like the ones of yore. Its bottle is so fun and colourful. It is a wonder worth seeking for your collection if you enjoy sweet, very vintage oriental scents. Just smelling it fills you with joy and warmth.

I remember Tocade as something citrusy, sweet, vanilla-scented, and talcum-powdered, with rose and geranium very much present. In its day, when everything smelled clean and aquatic, Tocade went against the grain with its sweet and vanilla touch. It had many followers, me among them; people would ask for the name and receive compliments. It is feminine, coquettish, vibrant, strong, and subtle at the same time. It has a wonderful duality; it is challenging and bewitching.

It is a classic of refinement, a distinctive trait of Rochas before Procter & Gamble bought the brand. Being an oriental fragrance and admiring other legends like Alchimie or Byzance, I wanted a bottle that recalls Murano glass. It has good sillage and longevity, things I value, but it is a pity that this stylised lady and I do not get along. I have problems with its main note: that creamy, sweet, warm, powdery, and sometimes caramelised vanilla. Tocade gets too close to gourmand, and that is where I want to step away. I gave it chances in winter, as it is not for the heat, but the sensation is the same. I only perceive the base (vanilla, amber, cedar) and perhaps the rose or geranium, but since they are noticeable to others, I suppose it is self-suggestion. I wish I could detect those fresh orange accords like CokeChile. If it were like the vanilla-citrus of L de Lempicka, I would love it. Or better still, if an intense patchouli and green notes could change that milky vanilla that gives me nausea. I know my aversion to that vanilla does not do justice to Tocade. I felt that same discomfort with Vanille Noire and Cocoon by Yves Rocher: rough, dark, creamy, almost with chocolate. I like them as a concept, but my nose and stomach feel differently. Now I want to try its reformulation, richer in citrus, cedar, and iris, without amber. Despite its name, “passing fashion”, it is still here 22 years after its creation. For a reason, in a world where perfumes last a year. Enjoy the jewel if you can.

To my nose it is floral and very sweet… specifically it smells like a Venezuelan fizzy drink called “Frescolita” with a ruby red colour. Could they have a chemical in common? That aspect makes me categorise it as gourmand. Beyond that, I associate it with multicoloured images, red lipsticks, and women with a carefree attitude. I like its bottle; it makes me think of an amphora with a pendulum or a hanbok. These details are the greatest reminiscences to associate it with the “oriental”, as I find it a universal and very “pop” scent. I do not feel it is old; in fact, it could be a tribute to young women of the 90s, with a sweet and vibrant sillage. In me, the amber stands out, which is warm, as well as the sweetness. For that reason, I prefer to use it when it is cold, like this morning.

Sweet, warm, and orangey… it reminds me of sweet oranges and ripe peaches. It was my friend’s favourite perfume in the early 2000s. Excellent sillage and longevity, a youthful and fresh perfume.

This perfume is enchanting to me. The scent it emits is of dried roses and talcum powder. It brings to mind an old powder puff, like the fragrances of an old dressing table. The longevity is high. It is timeless, a true classic. Its definition would be talcum-powdered roses with a touch of vanilla, without further pretensions. I give it an outstanding mark for its simplicity and elegance.