Asura by Tobba: An Addictive Balance of Smoke and Sweetness
Written by Kristina Kybartaite-Damule
With the latest perfume Asura, Tobba is starting a new chapter. Not only has the bottle turned from transparent to black, but the scent itself also takes a much darker and more seductive direction than before.
Image credit: Instagram / @kristinakii.scents
The brand, founded in Hong Kong by Jasper Li and Adrian Yu, has already built a strong following in Europe thanks to its artistic approach to perfumery and its ability to mix Asian inspirations with modern French perfumery. Until now, Tobba’s creations to me often felt lighter, softer, almost pastel-like in mood. Asura changes that completely. It feels bolder and deeper while still keeping the emotional and creative identity that makes the brand stand out.
Asura is also the second perfume for the brand created together with perfumer Maxime Exler. Previous fragrances were created by one of the founders himself, Jasper Li, whose background as a painter has always strongly influenced the visual and emotional side of Tobba.
I first tried Asura during Paris Perfume Week, where the perfume was introduced for the first time. It instantly caught my attention. There was something intriguing about it from the very beginning. The opening feels creamy and nutty because of the hazelnut, but very quickly the scent becomes darker and smokier. Still, this smoke never turns harsh or bitter. Instead, it stays smooth, elegant and beautifully balanced with sweetness.
The tuberose here is impossible to ignore too. It is rich, sensual and slightly creamy, giving the perfume a seductive side without making it overly floral. Combined with vanilla, soft woods and smoky accords, it creates something that feels both comforting and mysterious at the same time.
What impressed me the most is how unique the composition feels. In a market, lately flooded by gourmands, Asura genuinely smells different. Even though the hazelnut might hint to gourmand category too, it’s never sticky, or sweet, or even overly edible. The way nuttiness and vanilla are combined with white florals and smoke creates a very original atmosphere.
The inspiration behind the perfume comes from the duality of Asura in Indian Buddhism – sacred and profane, desire and envy. And honestly, the fragrance captures this idea very well. It moves between softness and darkness, sweetness and smoke, comfort and tension. On skin it feels surprisingly smooth and addictive.
Asura also feels like a sign of where Tobba is heading next. During my interview with the founders last year, both Jasper and Adrian spoke a lot about courage, experimentation and not being afraid to create something different. Asura feels exactly like that – a perfume that is not trying to please everyone, but instead confidently creates its own world.
And perhaps that is exactly why it is so difficult to stop smelling – my wrist feels as if it’s glued to my nose.
[the sample kindly gifted by the brand, opinions my own]