Pernoire Poka Extrait de Parfum

What it smells like

Pernoire Poka is an amber vanilla gourmand designed, in the house's words, as the ultimate dessert in scent form. It opens with caramel popcorn: warm, buttery, toasted and sweet, with that slightly salty, crackly edge that makes real popcorn so moreish. Apple pie adds baked fruit and pastry, and cinnamon brings a warm spice that ties the two together. The opening is playful and instantly recognisable.

In the heart, Poka gains depth. Roasted hazelnut adds a nutty, toasty richness, labdanum brings a resinous, slightly leathery amber warmth, and dried apricot contributes a soft, jammy fruitiness. This is where the fragrance moves from simple sweetness towards something more layered, like a dessert with several textures rather than a single sugary note.

The base is creamy and comforting. Vanilla and tonka bean give a smooth, almond-like sweetness, musk adds skin-like softness, and cedarwood provides a dry woody frame so the composition does not collapse into pure sugar. As an extrait de parfum from Pernoire's Odus line at 30% concentration, Poka is rich and long-lasting, and it leaves a warm, noticeable trail.

Who made it

Poka was composed by Andreas Wilhelm, the Zurich perfumer credited on every fragrance in Pernoire's current range. Wilhelm began in perfumery at Givaudan in 1993, trained as a perfumer at Luzi, and founded Wilhelm Perfume in 2008. He creates Pernoire's fragrances in close collaboration with founders Robin Dünner and Nico Mannino.

The idea behind Poka was to push into gourmand territory with confidence. Its name is short for popcorn-caramel, and its bottle carries a line drawing of lips. Poka was released in 2024.

Who it’s for

Poka is for gourmand lovers: people who enjoy caramel, vanilla, praline and baked-dessert fragrances and want one with real presence. It is unisex and works well for anyone who likes warm, cosy scents that feel fun rather than serious.

If you have enjoyed popular vanilla or caramel fragrances but want something more distinctive, the popcorn and apple pie notes give Poka a clearer identity. Those who prefer fresh or very dry fragrances may find it too sweet, so it is worth sampling first if you are unsure about gourmands.

When to wear it

Poka is at its best in autumn and winter, when cold air lets sweet, warm notes shine without becoming heavy. It is ideal for evenings, casual dinners, date nights, cinema trips and relaxed weekends, and it makes a comforting everyday scent through the colder months.

In warm weather, a single spray is enough, ideally in the evening. Because it is an extrait, avoid over-applying in small offices or closed spaces.

About the house

Pernoire is an independent Swiss niche perfume house founded in Basel in 2020 by childhood friends Robin Dünner and Nico Mannino. The house sees fragrance as a way to express personality, so each scent grows from a character or story and carries its own line-drawn symbol. All Pernoire fragrances are unisex extraits de parfum in 50 ml flacons. Poka belongs to the white-bottled Odus line, made at 30% concentration. Pernoire Poka Extrait de Parfum is available at Redolia Perfumery as a full 50 ml bottle.