Tom Ford
AMBER ABSOLUTE
I'm a huge TF devotee. But when he strikes out, he really strikes out. While I like this amber better than most other ambers, it still has a synthetic quality that kind of sickens me.
This is a unisex amber, definitely not sweet, and a very pure amber to a large extent. There isn't much else going on other than amber. But for an amber of the simple yet gorgeous kind, I greatly prefer L'Artisan's Ambre Extreme, which is by far the best and least synthetic amber I have ever smelled. (Jun 2014)
I'm a huge TF devotee. But when he strikes out, he really strikes out. While I like this amber better than most other ambers, it still has a synthetic quality that kind of sickens me.
This is a unisex amber, definitely not sweet, and a very pure amber to a large extent. There isn't much else going on other than amber. But for an amber of the simple yet gorgeous kind, I greatly prefer L'Artisan's Ambre Extreme, which is by far the best and least synthetic amber I have ever smelled. (Jun 2014)
ARABIAN WOOD
To my nose, Arabian Wood is really more of a floral perfume. Sometimes when I smell it, I swear that it smells eerily similar to Agent Provocateur. I detect intense gardenia and rose, a bit of freesia, a bit of lavender, and a bit of oakmoss. There is an underlying woody note, but it's not the star in this drama. Speaking of drama, I would say that this perfume is very much a dark, evening fragrance. It's the darkest Tom Ford I've smelled thus far. There is definitely a rich, syrupy, honeyed sweetness that keeps me wanting more. A very exotic, penetrating perfume that must be worn by someone who is not a wallflower. (Jun 2012)
To my nose, Arabian Wood is really more of a floral perfume. Sometimes when I smell it, I swear that it smells eerily similar to Agent Provocateur. I detect intense gardenia and rose, a bit of freesia, a bit of lavender, and a bit of oakmoss. There is an underlying woody note, but it's not the star in this drama. Speaking of drama, I would say that this perfume is very much a dark, evening fragrance. It's the darkest Tom Ford I've smelled thus far. There is definitely a rich, syrupy, honeyed sweetness that keeps me wanting more. A very exotic, penetrating perfume that must be worn by someone who is not a wallflower. (Jun 2012)
BLACK ORCHID
Black Orchid is a jungle cat--it sneaks up on you! It definitely smells black and enigmatic. It starts out with strong gardenia and patchouli, but as it dries down it becomes a mix of chocolate and vanilla with gentle spices. It's just yummy enough to be satisfying, yet not sooo yummy that everyone will say, "You smell like the county fair," like they would say if you were wearing Pink Sugar.
Have you ever seen those "chocolate potatoes", the ones that are marshmallow in the center, covered in chocolate, and rolled in cocoa powder? It's that tuber note that makes this smell like an earthy chocolate potato. It's such a weird perfume but endlessly fascinating!
The projection is not as strong as I'd like. By the time it wears down a bit, it becomes a skin scent on me. I have literally sprayed myself about 7 times. I'd only need ONE spray from Angel to equal the strength of Black Orchid. Still...I love it. It's a keeper. (May 2012)
Black Orchid is a jungle cat--it sneaks up on you! It definitely smells black and enigmatic. It starts out with strong gardenia and patchouli, but as it dries down it becomes a mix of chocolate and vanilla with gentle spices. It's just yummy enough to be satisfying, yet not sooo yummy that everyone will say, "You smell like the county fair," like they would say if you were wearing Pink Sugar.
Have you ever seen those "chocolate potatoes", the ones that are marshmallow in the center, covered in chocolate, and rolled in cocoa powder? It's that tuber note that makes this smell like an earthy chocolate potato. It's such a weird perfume but endlessly fascinating!
The projection is not as strong as I'd like. By the time it wears down a bit, it becomes a skin scent on me. I have literally sprayed myself about 7 times. I'd only need ONE spray from Angel to equal the strength of Black Orchid. Still...I love it. It's a keeper. (May 2012)
BLACK ORCHID VOILE DE FLEUR
Black Orchid and VdF have absolutely nothing in common. Are people lying about smelling milk, cinnamon, plum? I smell nothing but exceedingly heavy jasmine and woods. Nothing else. There is a sour note somewhere in there that is off-putting. This was very, very disappointing for me--my least favorite Tom Ford perfume thus far.
Black Orchid and VdF have absolutely nothing in common. Are people lying about smelling milk, cinnamon, plum? I smell nothing but exceedingly heavy jasmine and woods. Nothing else. There is a sour note somewhere in there that is off-putting. This was very, very disappointing for me--my least favorite Tom Ford perfume thus far.
NOIR DE NOIR
Mmmm... creamy, saffron-infused vanilla cream. As it dries down, it smells like vanilla ice cream with rose syrup.
Am I the only one who smells a strong resemblance to Black Orchid? The tuber is there, the patch is there, the vanilla is there; but the oud is a like a finer substitute for chocolate. Add some saffron, and you have an ultra exclusive, high-class Black Orchid.
Oud combines with the other notes to create a scent that's truly rare and exquisite. The intensity of the oud is so perfect that I don't wish it would fade a little, the way I wish it would in other oud perfumes. The blending is just seamless. This is the oud perfume I've been searching for.
It's so luxurious, well-balanced, simply perfect. So worthy of all its praise. (Jun 2012)
Mmmm... creamy, saffron-infused vanilla cream. As it dries down, it smells like vanilla ice cream with rose syrup.
Am I the only one who smells a strong resemblance to Black Orchid? The tuber is there, the patch is there, the vanilla is there; but the oud is a like a finer substitute for chocolate. Add some saffron, and you have an ultra exclusive, high-class Black Orchid.
Oud combines with the other notes to create a scent that's truly rare and exquisite. The intensity of the oud is so perfect that I don't wish it would fade a little, the way I wish it would in other oud perfumes. The blending is just seamless. This is the oud perfume I've been searching for.
It's so luxurious, well-balanced, simply perfect. So worthy of all its praise. (Jun 2012)
OUD WOOD
Oh my, with all due respect, I can't help but think that people who say this smells sharp and medicinal haven't smelled many oud perfumes. Tom Ford's is velvety smooth, probably the least medicinal of the ouds I've encountered.
It's a soft, creamy oud, heavy on amber, and sweetened with a bit of vanilla. What drives me bonkers about Oud Wood is the use of cardamom. How did Tom Ford know that cardamom is my weakness, lol?!
This perfume is mysterious and beautiful on me, but I would really enjoy the smell of Oud Wood on a sexy man as well! (Jun 2012)
Oh my, with all due respect, I can't help but think that people who say this smells sharp and medicinal haven't smelled many oud perfumes. Tom Ford's is velvety smooth, probably the least medicinal of the ouds I've encountered.
It's a soft, creamy oud, heavy on amber, and sweetened with a bit of vanilla. What drives me bonkers about Oud Wood is the use of cardamom. How did Tom Ford know that cardamom is my weakness, lol?!
This perfume is mysterious and beautiful on me, but I would really enjoy the smell of Oud Wood on a sexy man as well! (Jun 2012)
SAHARA NOIR
I LOVE Tom Ford, and this perfume was disappointing! It's nowhere near as good or as dark as many of the private collection perfumes. What I get from this is loads of Iso-E-Super in the base. It starts out promising, with some spice and some woods, perhaps a little rose, but sillage is almost non-existent. If you want a perfume of this nature, Tauer's L'Air du Desert Marocain is so much better. I think Tom Ford was trying to accomplish something very similar, to mimic the sandy desert--dry, woody, amber, spicy...but in this instance it doesn't work. This was a blind-buy, and I got rid of it quickly. (Jun 2014)
I LOVE Tom Ford, and this perfume was disappointing! It's nowhere near as good or as dark as many of the private collection perfumes. What I get from this is loads of Iso-E-Super in the base. It starts out promising, with some spice and some woods, perhaps a little rose, but sillage is almost non-existent. If you want a perfume of this nature, Tauer's L'Air du Desert Marocain is so much better. I think Tom Ford was trying to accomplish something very similar, to mimic the sandy desert--dry, woody, amber, spicy...but in this instance it doesn't work. This was a blind-buy, and I got rid of it quickly. (Jun 2014)
SANTAL BLUSH
This perfume is predominantly sandalwood, but the other, extremely subtle, notes add direction to the overall composition so you end up with a sandalwood that is soft, smooth, aromatic, and even a bit coconutty, which is how sandalwood tends to smell on me. This one's CREAMY. I get a touch of cinnamon just in the first several minutes. As the perfume dries down I notice some exotic florals as well as a pretty strong resinous note, which I guess would be the benzoin. It all makes for a casual yet elegant sandalwood.
I am not a fan of Diptyque's Tam Dao, which is weak and smells like particle board. Tom Ford's take on sandalwood is so much finer and more natural, probably the most distinct sandalwood I've had the pleasure of wearing (well, Santal 33 by Le Labo is equally impressive). Lovers of sandalwood should definitely test. Love the blush-colored bottle too! (Jun 2012)
This perfume is predominantly sandalwood, but the other, extremely subtle, notes add direction to the overall composition so you end up with a sandalwood that is soft, smooth, aromatic, and even a bit coconutty, which is how sandalwood tends to smell on me. This one's CREAMY. I get a touch of cinnamon just in the first several minutes. As the perfume dries down I notice some exotic florals as well as a pretty strong resinous note, which I guess would be the benzoin. It all makes for a casual yet elegant sandalwood.
I am not a fan of Diptyque's Tam Dao, which is weak and smells like particle board. Tom Ford's take on sandalwood is so much finer and more natural, probably the most distinct sandalwood I've had the pleasure of wearing (well, Santal 33 by Le Labo is equally impressive). Lovers of sandalwood should definitely test. Love the blush-colored bottle too! (Jun 2012)
VELVET ORCHID
Nicely done flanker of Black Orchid. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a flanker, but it behaves like one. At first spritz, it's reminiscent of Black Orchid, with that unmistakable earthy, chocolaty, tuber scent that either hooks you for life or offends you. But that's where the similarities end. It is not so potent as Black Orchid, although I would not call the perfume weak by any means.
Moving into the heart phase, the Black Orchid semblance retreats further and further as some heady white florals bloom, giving the perfume an interesting exotic twist, like Black Orchid for Tahiti or something. These florals are quite creamy, so I am not surprised to see vanilla among the list of notes. By the drydown, the perfume smells absolutely nothing like Black Orchid.
Yes, this seems like a creamier, more floral, more elegant, more rounded, less earthy version of Black Orchid. Velvet Orchid reminds me of Noir de Noir too, due to the vanilla. One who is familiar with Tom Ford's fragrances can't deny at this point that he has developed his fingerprint, his "Tom Ford-aid", for most of his dark perfumes are like beads on a common thread.
While Black Orchid is a modern masterpiece, I personally can't tolerate the intense earthiness; patchouli and tuber are a tad too strong. Velvet Orchid is a lot more wearable. I love how the notes mimic a realistic creamy gardenia, instead of the screechy gardenia in the original Black Orchid. Velvet Orchid is not so delicious as Black Orchid, but it is equally voluptuous and sumptuous. (May 2014)
Nicely done flanker of Black Orchid. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a flanker, but it behaves like one. At first spritz, it's reminiscent of Black Orchid, with that unmistakable earthy, chocolaty, tuber scent that either hooks you for life or offends you. But that's where the similarities end. It is not so potent as Black Orchid, although I would not call the perfume weak by any means.
Moving into the heart phase, the Black Orchid semblance retreats further and further as some heady white florals bloom, giving the perfume an interesting exotic twist, like Black Orchid for Tahiti or something. These florals are quite creamy, so I am not surprised to see vanilla among the list of notes. By the drydown, the perfume smells absolutely nothing like Black Orchid.
Yes, this seems like a creamier, more floral, more elegant, more rounded, less earthy version of Black Orchid. Velvet Orchid reminds me of Noir de Noir too, due to the vanilla. One who is familiar with Tom Ford's fragrances can't deny at this point that he has developed his fingerprint, his "Tom Ford-aid", for most of his dark perfumes are like beads on a common thread.
While Black Orchid is a modern masterpiece, I personally can't tolerate the intense earthiness; patchouli and tuber are a tad too strong. Velvet Orchid is a lot more wearable. I love how the notes mimic a realistic creamy gardenia, instead of the screechy gardenia in the original Black Orchid. Velvet Orchid is not so delicious as Black Orchid, but it is equally voluptuous and sumptuous. (May 2014)
WHITE SUEDE
Tres, tres chic! Amaaaaaazing use of suede in a perfume! I can't stop sniffing myself. I bought the full bottle on the spot. It smells really, really classy. It's "casual elegance," as I like to say.
I love musk, but it's a chore to find a good one that doesn't smell totally synthetic. When I heard about suede and musk together, I thought it was genius--the perfect combination. I smell so much suede here. It's like the perfume is 50/50 suede and musk. I can definitely detect some resins, flowers, and a lot of honey-scented saffron, but the focus is mostly on suede and musk. Sometimes I find the scent of leather too harsh, somewhat jarring, but suede is the perfect, maybe even more luxurious, compromise.
The scent is very cozy, with "classic projection", as I like to call it, meaning it's not far too strong, but it's also not a skin scent. A few sprays last 18+ hours on my skin, through my entire work day, commute time, and even the gym, and although light, I could still smell it on myself. I'm sure it will do wonders in the colder months, but right now it's 80 degrees, and it's blossoming beautifully on me. (Jun 2012)
Tres, tres chic! Amaaaaaazing use of suede in a perfume! I can't stop sniffing myself. I bought the full bottle on the spot. It smells really, really classy. It's "casual elegance," as I like to say.
I love musk, but it's a chore to find a good one that doesn't smell totally synthetic. When I heard about suede and musk together, I thought it was genius--the perfect combination. I smell so much suede here. It's like the perfume is 50/50 suede and musk. I can definitely detect some resins, flowers, and a lot of honey-scented saffron, but the focus is mostly on suede and musk. Sometimes I find the scent of leather too harsh, somewhat jarring, but suede is the perfect, maybe even more luxurious, compromise.
The scent is very cozy, with "classic projection", as I like to call it, meaning it's not far too strong, but it's also not a skin scent. A few sprays last 18+ hours on my skin, through my entire work day, commute time, and even the gym, and although light, I could still smell it on myself. I'm sure it will do wonders in the colder months, but right now it's 80 degrees, and it's blossoming beautifully on me. (Jun 2012)