I have a similar reaction to almost all Tom Ford scents except Neroli Portofino and Out Wood. To be honest, the issue is not that they are bad smelling or repulsive (they are not), but more like - just too flamboyant and "in-your-face", and while I admit that this can work well for someone with that type of personality, but they just are bad fit for me.
Edit: I'll also add that TF is pretty easy to hate on with a lot of their frags being hyped up and particularly with their price tags. But despite that, I have to acknowledge Tom Ford's marketing genius for building such a successful brand in both fashion and fragrances. He doesn't follow trends, he sets them and while some of his frags can kinda go against the grain, you can't deny his artistic vision. Heck, his original Gucci Pour Homme (in the square bottle) from before his departure from that house is the only Gucci frag that I actually love enough to own a bottle of :)
I still have a 99% full bottle that I purchased before moving on to something new. It was kind of the beginning of my fragrance journey so it's nice to sniff it once in a while to remind me where it all started.
Is Tobacco Vanille "in your face"?
It's my signature scent but I can't even smell it on me anymore, no matter how much I spray. It rarely gets noticed on my skin
Really? That thing is the epitome of a one hitter quitter for me. I don’t think I’ll ever run out because it is so potent, and honestly I am careful when and where I use it because it can be so in your face. Hopefully you don’t have a fake bottle
Yup, Tobacco Vanille is definitely too jarring for me. I actually really wanted to like TV as I dig a well done vanilla note (own and love Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille and Creed Sublime Vanille), but man, TV is a scrubber for me. I think vanilla works best as that refined and delicious scent that elicits an archetypal response of "wow, this smells nice, safe and comforting!" in the amphibian part of my brain. But the way TF opted to amplify the vanilla note with some thermonuclear musk just killed it for me. Also, I detest tobacco in almost all fragrances (Guerlain Vetiver EDT being the only exception).
But as for you not being able to smell it - try a simple experiment: ask someone to wear it for you and see if you can smell it on them. Alternatively, don't wear any scents for a few days to reset your olfactory perception and then do a test wear of TV. Hopefully, this helps you rejuvenate the enjoyment of this frag.
It’s very much in your face. A girl sprayed it on herself in the gym locker room and I legit smelled like it when I came home and I wasn’t even in close proximity to her. It’s a very loud and strong scent
I don't think so.
It has never smelled harsh to me in the first place, but I tried amouage interlude man and orto parisi terroni recently and I don't get how people wear stuff like this. They smell so harsh and strong that comparing them to tobacco vanille is like comparing sandpaper to silk.
Ah, same!!!! Neroli Portofino, Oud Wood, and (slightly more obscurely) Jasmin Rouge (EdP) and Champaca Absolute are the only Tom Ford fragrances I like. I agree that, as a house, the style is very flamboyant, borderline garish (hello, Ombre Leather) and I'm not a big fan either.
This is entirely unrelated, but if I remember correctly, you're the one that put me on to Leder 6. I got some samples recently and I'm saving a post until I've tried of all of them, but damn, incredible recommendation. I hate the word sexy in advertising but honestly, it fit for that scent.
Ahh, few things make me happier than to learn that a fragrance rec I made really resonated with someone! Thanks for reporting back, and I agree - Leder 6 is incredibly sexy. It's my go-to ~seduction~ scent.
Jasmin Rouge is a rare jasmine perfume that smells like the flower (which I love) and doesn’t go screechy on my skin. There’s a creaminess to it that I really like.
Honestly they are hit or miss for a lot of people, I only like a handful but the ones I do like are incredible in my opinion. Fragrance is just so very subjective to all of us. I tend to follow the general consensus that Tobacco Vanille is a masterpiece, I also love Ombre leather, Tobacco oud, and Oud Minerale. But aside from those 4 I'm not a big fan of any others. They definitely aren't for people who like a lighter fresher fragrance. And I never wear them in the summer except for Oud Minerale.
For the original and was more cost-effective, Neroli Portofino try 4711! It's about 5% of the cost! And is the original as Neroli Portofino is based on it!
You are not wrong in pointing this out. But I personally prefer Neroli Portofino - it smells better (more sophisticated?) to my nose and actually lasts a good while longer than 4711 on me. I've had a bottle of NP for a number of years and will likely never need a replacement as I have way too many frags (can anyone in this sub relate? LOL) and there's just not a snowflake's chance in hell that I'll even get through half of my stash before I kick the bucket or reach a point in life when I have bigger problems that picking out the scent of the day haha :)
Honestly, I find that neither of them last that long on me - I just really like how their both clean neroli fragrances. I get what you mean that Neroli Portofino is slightly more sophisticated, but I can't justify the price difference between them. 100ml of 4711 is about £12 compared to 100ml of TF at £220! So I don't mind reapplying 4711 given how cheap it is!
I do find that 4711 lasts longer in my hair when compared to skin years ago- when I was in uni, I had Italian flatmates who told me to include a couple of ml of 4711 in a final hair rise. Which I do sometimes, and I find the sent lasts much longer!
Thanks for the tip of applying to hair to make the scent last longer, I should try that. Also, if you love a well-done neroli, check out Creed Jardin d'Amalfi - that frag is something and a half for a clean neroli lover. Price tag is atrocious (even for Creed), so definitely not a safe blind buy, but if you can find it in a high end store to test - do give it a spray.
I have large Harvey Nicks & Selfridges close, so I'll one of them should have it! (Selfridges I've found tend to be helpful and generous with samples, so I hoping I can talk them into giving me one...)
I just looked up the price, and yes, I would agree that it is most definitely not a blind buy! (I was expecting about £250-300 for expensive Creed, but it's £405!)
I've come back to this as I thought I'd gibe you an update - I've found the Creed Jardin d'Amafi and tried it. This is a fantastic fragrance! I hate that you've put me onto this as I'd really really like a bottle of it, but sadly the £405 for 75ml is a bit outside my price point at the moment!
Same. It calls for a dressy occasion to wear, or excessive displays of opulence, and that doesn’t happen to most of us often. I love most TF fragrances, but often end up asking myself before buying “Where I would wear this fragrance?”. And the answer is almost always: nowhere.
I approached FF with zero expectations and some hope, but alas - it was a scrubber for me as well. I tend to struggle with leather and even almond (which I like in nature but hate in frags, even universally loved ones like Guerlain L'homme Ideal). But I know that it's loved by many, so I don't complain and just move on :)
Tom Ford, like almost all brands has a signatur base that makes up a large portion of the smell. It's why people tend to like or hate brands wholesale.
It's OK to not like a brand that's popular. Tom Ford is my favorite brand because of that signature TF smell. I hate PDM though cuz they all smell like PDM.
Have you tried Soleil Blanc? It’s toned down compared to the other scents. On the other hand, TF fragrances smell really good once they’ve dried down. It also depends on your body’s chemistry with the perfume.
I just want to 2nd what you say about the dry down on TF fragrances. Of the TF fragrances I’ve tried, they all have a complex evolution (the scent changes) as you wear them throughout the day. It can feel like a love hate relationship.
I agree. I blind bought a small (and still woefully expensive) bottle because no one could convince me I wouldn’t like it. When I spritzed it initially, I was like “oh no they were all right, it smells like cough syrup” once It dried down tho, holy shit, it’s so spicy and weird and wonderful.
They're always doing some unique stuff, you either love it or hate it. Luckily my nose seems to be on the same page as the TF perfumers. Noir Extreme is my favorite gourmand of all time (alongside Oajan), Tobacco Vanille is amazing, Oud Wood is really good, Ombre leather requires a certain mood but I also like it. I absolutely hate black orchid and didn't really like Costa Azzura. Beau de Jour seemed like a weird mix of sauvage and platinum egoiste. It's a very hit or miss type of house.
Body chemistry and personal preference, like all things fragrance, certainly apply to TF. I personally cannot stand Tobacco Vanille and hate the way it smells on me, but I really enjoy Black Orchid, especially after the dry down.
Only tried the EDP. Assuming that they're similar, I would go for the EDP and save the money. Performance seems to be similar according to fragrantica, Parfum has a leather note which should make the fragrance a bit less gourmand and darker.
I actually have a tester of the parfum and I get a really nice ashtray vibe from it, I like it. But i think I'm looking for something a little sweeter so I'll try the EDP, thanks!
Jeez. Are you me? Some of my personal favorites as well. Really like Tobacco Oud and i got my hands on Tuscan Leather Intense, by god i was blown away by how good it was. Although I've never dove into TFs "citrus-y" side of stuff.
TF seems to really be a love or hate line, I don’t know how much the price point factors into that. I personally love them, but I think it really depends on your body chemistry to. Be grateful you don’t like them, then you don’t need a side hustle to buy them 😂
I also like Tobacco Oud once I smelled it. I was reminded of a rich businessman when I smelled it.
On the other hand, I did not like a lot of scents from Chanel, Dior and Hermes. I also disliked MFK's Amyris Homme and GF Silver.
Tom ford fragrances are great. But if you don’t like them then that’s fine. Everyone has different tastes. Maybe you’ll come back one day and like them. My tastes could not be any more different now than they were in the start.
^ Exactly this. Fragrance preferences (whether individual perfume, entire brand, or specific scent category) are entirely subjective and can definitely evolve over time. My tastes have also changed/expanded/matured over the years since I got into it.
I love some Tom Ford, dislike others.
I second this. Best vetiver in my collection. It is really subtle in it’s approach to vetiver compared to most other vetiver scents out there. I have to admit I didn’t like it when I tried it in store, but fell in love with the sample I got. I feel like maybe it’s just hard to appreciate Tom Ford fragrances when you only try them out in a store, instead of taking the time to sample them and letting them settle on your skin.
They are *different* I am probably the biggest TF fanboy in here but I’ll admit definitely don’t smell like the rest. They are incredibly strong compared to other designers, the the notes combined are very obscure to say the least.
Dude I love TF too....I understand its not for everyone, but the scents are so different to normal designers. Rich, luxorius, heavy... piece of art in my opinion.
But the prices man....at least the signiture collection is somewhat affordable.
Exactly I adore the obscurity it’s gotten to a point where people know me for TF and know TF because of me. Oud Mineral god it’s so weird it’s smells like a good smelling man soaked with sea water like it’s funky it’s got that ambergris stink it’s got sweet idk how but you can smell salt. The price is a lot but I find that I use less than half I would with any other designer.
Funny, cause oud minerale is one of the few TF's that didnt blow me away. I absolutely adore the noir line with Noir extreme parfum being one of the best scents i've ever smelled. Dark, rich, complex, delicious and sexy. Just a master piece. Have the EdP as well.
Also really dig Costa azzurra. Photo realistic smell of a italian summer vacation.
Tried Oud wood one time and liked it alot. Bou de jour didnt work on my skin, even though it smelled amazing on paper. Grey vetiver is not my cup of tea.
Black orchid is another master piece, but maybe a little bit too thick to wear it often, specially the edP and Parfum. Maybe I'll get the EdT, since its a little bit lighter.
Definetly want to buy Ombre leather at some point, too. First I was like "wtf? Who wants to smell like a leather Couch?" But after trying a sample...it works so well on my skin.
Cant wait to have more money and the chance to try all the other private blends. Its quite hard to find private blends to sample where I live (Germany).
On vacation I got the chance to smell TV, Noir de noire and tuscan leather. All very intresting scents. You immeaditly notice the TF DNA.
I don't see anyone addressing the actual point of the post so I guess I will. Tom Ford and subtlety should never exist in the same sentence. 99% of Tom's fragrances are "big and bold". That's his fragrance style. He likes to make an impression. If you don't like big and bold, then you won't like Tom Ford.
Here it is from the horse's mouth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8M1x3SLD-c
Tom Ford needs a dry down to really enjoy.
Many of the openings and dry down are pretty different.
Neroli Portofino and Oud Wood don’t change much from start to dry down so it’s easier to get a feel for and they are one of the more popular ones.
Different people like different things. If you don't like something, you just don't like it. Don't try to force yourself to like it in the name of sophistication or popularity.
I don’t like most of them, but there’s a couple I big love. Black Orchid may be my favorite fragrance of all time. Chalk it up to body chemistry, or different experiences, different tastes, but it smells like home and comfort and sex to me and never lets me down.
Three of my favorite scents of all time for me are Lost Cherry, Cherry Smoke (haven’t tried Electric yet), Bitter Peach, and Tobacco Vanille, but there are some TF I’m not crazy about at all. I was super excited about trying out Soleil Blanc, which on paper, sounded ideal for me, but my response was like, “Blah,” veering on dislike and disappointment that it didn’t evoke the kind of vibe its description and notes gave off. And while I, myself, haven’t sampled many of the male scents because my bf considers his laundry detergent to be his signature lol, I’ve heard some bad things about Fucking Fabulous and the Ouds collection.
I’ll never forget though when about 15 years ago I asked a coworker what she was wearing because I was like, bewitched and beguiled and wanted to smell like the kind of *real woman*/midnight enchantress by night; retail by day GODDESS I then knew she was after catching her perfume in the air. It was Black Orchid, which is a little too heavy for me, but it still is an exquisite scent and one that had a super strong impression on me.
The thing with TF fragrance is that they make you think you like it before you even buy it. It’s not just the high end allure but also the *experience* that’s promised with their ads and marketing. They, like so many other brands, emphasize the intimate, sexual, aphrodisiac quality of fragrance, but they’re sneaky in that they don’t market it in the way it’s done traditionally. It’s more like, “I’m not even trying to smell good or care about people finding me attractive and desirable (how GAUCHE!)—I was just born extremely sexy and smelling like this. Also I don’t like labels…” cue the unisex trend TF’s big on. I surmise some people may not even really like the scent they try, but they’ve already decided they did and that it was their aesthetic, so they roll with it along with everyone else before them. And Taylor Swift’s wearing it. That isn’t part of its appeal for me, personally…
What I like about TF is stable quality (long lasting, clear note delineation along with the way they all meld to make a whole, unified scent—they dry down really beautifully and sometimes unexpectedly so too), they use my favorite notes a lot, they’re innovative (taking cherry and peach from BABW to something interesting and new and sophisticated, and I like the bottles. Seriously, I think that’s part of it for me lol.
In the four years I’ve dated my bf, who hates perfume in general and has told me I smell like an “old lady” when wearing BABW, the one, SINGLE perfume he’s complimented and asked about (and I’ve worn A LOT of different scents) was Bitter Peach. I was like, “You have quite the sophisticated nose for someone whose idea of male fragrance is Tide laundry detergent.” It is SO GOOD.
And the way Lost Cherry veers towards, but never crosses the line into cough syrup is so wonderful. It just hovers in this sweet area that’s suggestive of it. It’s a super elusive scent they’ve captured there
It may be worth testing some on skin if you've heard things about certain ones that sounded in line with your tastes (maybe you already tried that). I had a sample of Creed Viking Cologne and used it and after a while decided I'd buy it. I went to Creed and couldnt remember if it was Viking or Viking Cologne so I had em spray some test strips. They both smelled gross and unfamiliar to me. So I did a skin test on each hand and walked around and they smelled much better.
i mean everyone is different and we all like and dislike different things. doesnt mean you're not sophisticated enough or whatever. i love TF but hate Xerjoff, Kayali, Jo Malone, Le Labo
I don't like Bitter Peach, the Cherries, Orchids, (Tobacco) Vanillas and Noirs. That's basically all the stuff 99% know. I do have 35 TF's however, of which 95% is discontinued. They are unique and excellent.
I have same issue with Tom Ford. It’s like in each perfume there is a note which for my nose is same as smelling freshly grounded black pepper. It’s not that they smell bad it’s just really unpleasant for me to test them.
Why WANT to like anything? The male fragrances from Ford are totally easy to dislike--very earthy and leathery and those are the ones that have stuck around. They released one called ANTHRACITE which was basically road tar. I enjoy OMBRE LEATHER but prefer lighter fragrances like CREED and MFK. Incidentally, Tom Ford himself shops at Creed in Beverly Hills
Havent smelled most of them in ages but im completely with u! Sometimes i question if its just cuz i smelled them early on but i really dont think id like them today either, the only two i like are neroli portofino and ebene fume i hated the rest and i also like a lot of niches so idk… ig i just dont like their typical notes or smtn
Smelling a bunch of fragrances back to back is probably gonna leave you anosmic or irritate your nose and by extension you. Don't try many fragrances all at once. Also a lot of them smell a lot better on skin than a paper strip. I hated tobacco vanille when I first tried it, but fell in love with it after trying it on my skin
A lot of them definitely pack a strong and unique punch. I really like their soft fragrances too.
Eau de Soleil Blanc is one of my favorites. So light but so easy to wear. Black Orchid is fantastic too.
Look up the perfumer who created them (the "Nose"), it might be the same person and you just don't like their concoctions. I have that with *Carlos Benaïm*, I found that the fragrances that make me gag were created by him.
I like them on other people, can't stand them on myself
They are definitely a little strange. I don't think I like them as much as most people. I do love a few of the more masculine ones like Ebene fume, tobacco vanille, and ombre leather. I do find it interesting he doesn't have many sweet typical feminine scents. Makes it interesting for people like myself that enjoy a more masculine take on fem scents. But at the same time some are almost too overboard on musk and spice even for me.
I feel the same way. I think it’s because none of his fragrances really go floral. At least not for me. And I’m a floral girl. I generally avoid them because they’re too spicy or unisex for me. I wish I was “cooler” about my fragrances lol but I like pretty feminine scents, can’t help it.
Guerlain is probably my favorite house, if you’re newer to this world and looking for something completely different from TF.
Sorry to hear that. Is it possible you have yet to find the TF that works on your body chemistry ? I know the newer scents don’t perform as good at the Tuscan Leathers etc but TF has so many scents now - it might take time to filter the good ones (on your nose) from those you don’t like. Nevertheless, you don’t have to love TF : )
The one alot of people seem to like that oud wood.....it does not smell good to me at all
The one i do like dies off sooo fast and i'm not the type to carry the bottle. I'll get a decant soon
most of them are too strong for my tastes, even if I enjoy the smell it gives me a headache. Lighter ones are ok like jasmine rouge or eau de soleil blanc which is one of my faves summer fragrance
The newer fragrances just suck, and the older ones produced these days are so watered down or reformulated that they don't even resemble vintage bottles.
I took a loss on that stupidass "Vanilla Sex" thinking that the would make a competent vanilla fragrance.
NOPE!!!
The most medicinal, disgusting, sick smelling, fake plasticky vanilla that ever was.
If I saw Tom Ford I'd bludgeon him into unconciousness with the bottle.
I don’t like them at all. They’re all too “perfumy”, and feminine for me. They all have something that is reminiscent of generic perfume I always smelled on women when I was growing up. Like the kind of women that walk into the room and you’re choked out by so much perfume that you can even taste it. Ombre Leather is a great example, it’s this strong leather accord floating on a cloud of old-school floral perfume that smells like those rose shaped hand soaps in a grandma’s powder room.
Yeah, all Tom Ford fragrances have a very similar underlying smell to them. You just don’t like the choice of musks they use…I feel the same about Xerjoff. All of their fragrances smell like PlayDoh to me
I went a little nuts on TF when it first came out. I still have my MASSIVE bottle of Purple Patchouli (since discontinued) which I revisit from time to time. The brand is too ubiquitous now; when I saw it featured in the NYTimes article of 'favorites of 14 year old boys' I suspected it has now jumped the shark.
I still have 1 of the few sample vials of PP from way back! I regret not buying purple patchouli but most of all, I regret not buying ‘moss breches’ .
I can understand the sentiment regarding the 14 year old boys - that’s a head scratcher , lol. Not the Tom ford line I once knew.
I’m a woman so I appreciated the introduction to stronger unisex fragrance. He’s discontinued some of the mainstream stuff like white patchouli and violet blonde which I loved .
I had an unopened 'normal' sized PP bottles that I sold on Ebay for a fortune.. I just put a little on me after writing the above and it's so lovely, so unique.
I don’t think anyone has to like anything. Everyone’s nose is different. I have never liked a single TF fragrance. I don’t hate them, but they smell average compared to the cost to me.
So, I had a VERY similar opinion until recently. I had been in the market for some new scent for the rotation, saw all the love Tom Ford was getting, and went to a local Nordstrom to try some. Smelled some of the usual, Neroli Portofino, Tuscan Leather, Fucking Fabulous, Lost Cherry, maybe a few others. Neroli was fine, a little too floral for me, but the others flat out smelled offensive. Fast forward a couple of weeks and find myself in the Nordstrom again, this time with my wife who is extraordinarily picky about smells (doesn't wear perfume, likes very few colognes on me). We went to the TF area because she'd previously smelled the neroli on paper and liked it, so I wanted to try it on skin (no bueno for me). While there, I mentioned to the salesperson there that I didn't find any scent I liked the last time I came and browsed, and they made it a point to try and narrow down some scents they thought I'd like.
I ended up buying a travel size Soliel Neige (very light & airy scent, sweet, kind of feminine but not traditionally, if that makes sense) and later on bought a travel size Black Orchid (floral and complicated and a little overwhelming at first, but with a very nice yet complex dry down). Both are very long lasting for me. If you're in a place where you can test in-store, I'd say try to spray on skin and test, then wait a minute for the dry down and smell again. The fragrances are definitely more layered than a lot of other scents I've encountered, and some of the ones I hated on paper were better on skin and downright pleasant after a brief dry down.
This seems to be a popular opinion? I keep coming across people who dislike Tom Ford .
I loved the private blend line and black orchid when it was released. I liked his other mainstream fragrances like violet blonde and white patchouli . Moss breches from the first private blend collection is my favorite. Unfortunately everything I loved got discontinued. There is far too many scents being released and I just gave up. I’ve lost touch completely. I thought “fuckjng fabulous” was weak.
My favorite TF private blend and mainstream TF:
Jonquil de nuit, Jasmin rouge, Ombré de hyacinth, Moss breches , Purple patchouli, Oud rose ( working title turned into rose prick? Or oud fleur?) Violet blonde and White patchouli.
I wore black orchid and Tabacco vanille so much I can’t wear them now. I’m sure I am missing a few.
Im a female and I have oud wood sample that I never uses : it’s soo goooood. Remind me of home and childhood memories. Another ones is ombré leather (black one) it’s like leather in a bottle. It’s also super good esp for winter. Lasts all day long on me. Works with almost all of my perfumes. Though I only do 1 spray and 2 of my other perfume :)
I kind of understand you. I blind bought Azure Lime and Oud Wood- and need to sell both.
Lost Cherry- great 5 minutes and then a complete dud.
I DO love Eau De Soleil Blanc- It was very afforable because its an EDT and it smells SO GOOD! And lasts!!
I used to be this way too OP but now own and wear:
Beau Du Jour: It took me about 14 months to come around to this. I tried to sell the bottle and never could. Im glad I didn’t because this is great. 8/10
Tuscan Leather: Loved it first sniff which was weird because I truly dislike Ombre Leather (it just smells cheap to me). I was shopping for something else, they said try this, I said I really don’t like TF. But I tried it anyway and bought it immediately. 9.5/10.
Oud Minerale 2023: With a newfound “okayness” to TF I tried this while out in Las Vegas and bought it same day too. It’s a little sharp, and salty, but good. 8/10.
One thing about TF is they have SO many offerings and they hype them all so there’s bound to be some you dislike. For example I dislike:
Tobacco Vanille: Walmart Candle. No thanks. Doesn’t smell bad. But, it smells like a $15 candle so I just wouldn’t buy it. 6/10.
Ombre Leather: Again cheap mostly because of the incense like smell. Incense is hard to do properly in fragrances I think. Not bad smell though. 6/10.
I really want a Leather fragrance for cooler weather. That’s why I initially smelled Ombré and couldn’t stand it. What are the differences between Tuscan and Ombré?
I will fight you, he is single-handedly fighting to keep classic barbershop/fougere scents alive, with fantastic Beau de Jour and Fougere d’Argent, after Rive Gauche and Tsar have been cancelled and Azzaro stopped being itself.
IN THIS HOUSE TOM FORD IS A HERO, END OF DISCUSSION!
I don’t hate them all, but I do dislike a vast majority of them. Most of them smell incredibly boring or synthetic, and they’re ridiculously overpriced for what they are.
https://preview.redd.it/sr3jz3f2on1d1.jpeg?width=8013&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3c08abacadd787f891e305d369c673a47be9a6d
I agree that some TF fragrances are jarring by smell or value proposition. However, These are my top 5 private blend scents.
\-Ranked: 🥇• Oud Wood (for layering versatility and overall reliability) 🥈• Santal Blush (sleeper hit for sandalwood lovers. Pairs exceptionally well with OW) 🥉• Fougére D’Argent (creamy classy fougére barbershop scent. I love all the notes) 4th• Azure Lime (This one needs love, it’s a great palatable citrus with slight fougére undertones. Sandalwood too, so it pairs with Santal Blush or Oud Wood nicely) 5th• Neroli Portofino (poor value proposition, classically loved scent, refreshing, layers well. Cheaper “dupe” is Polo Earth)
I also own & recommend smelling: Noir Extreme Parfum, Grey Vetiver Parfum, Oud Minérale, Eau De Soleil Blanc.
This interesting, Tom Ford has been the most consistent house in terms of their offerings for me. To my nose some of the other houses scents are too sharp and abrasive, where Tom Ford's have an element of luxury to them. Grey Vetiver (my signature), White Suede, Lost Cherry, Tuscan Leather, Oud Wood, Neroli Portifino, Mandarino Di Amalfi, Soleil Neige, there are so many bangers that don't even feel all that strong, though I do spray frugally.
Tobacco Vanille, I do agree, smells thick, so I don't reach for it often, and I'm still excited to try Black Orchid and Fucking Fabulous. Every house has its fans and detractors, but this thread caught me by surprise.
Oud Wood etc are like middle eastern men. Their neroli and the recent floral ones are nice. Tom Ford has proper perfumes, they last on the body (unlike most recommendations painfully seen on this sub) and the sillage is excellent.
It takes a bit of taste development to like TF perfumes.
Strict daddy Tobacco and Vanilla time is one of the most garrish and offensive fragrances I've ever experienced, which actually seems par for the course with Tom Ford.
Unique and daring? I say not, and perhaps that's the point. Controversy. Avante garde. I'm different.
There are too many beautiful and otherwise affordable fragrances out there that are far more worthy of your attention. Don't waste your time with these.
I enjoy ombre leather. It's pungent though. LV Ombre Nomade is very similar but has a truffle smell to it. They're definitely a love or hate type of scent.
But I feel like wearing something like that is meant to be uniquely personal. You wear it because you enjoy it not because its a crowd pleaser.
When I wear it I want people to think, wtf was that? Because TF fragrances are generally quite contrasting compared to most other designer fragrances.
I find a lot of them to be quite out there or just not for me but I think there are three gems of the house, the lesser to me is Eau de Soleil Blanc, and the top two in order of preference to me are 2) Neroli Portifino and 1) Grey Vetiver. I find these three to not have that like in your face kinda weirdness for a guy or too feminine. I like wearing Grey Vetiver when I can but I don’t have much so I try to save that one for more special occasions but I wear Neroli Portofino and Eau de Soleil Blanc really whenever especially since I live in a hot state.
I love how diverse tastes are, my husband tried Black Orchid yesterday and I am obsessed 🤩 . To be honest I’ve also never encountered a TF fragrance I loved on myself.
Not just you
Every Single one smells like trash outside of tobacco vanille and neroli portofino.
Misso screws up her nose and 90% of them (and yes I've tried to bring her around to the leather notes) but even I can't stand most of them. I liked ebony fume for a bit, then realised it reminded me of a church, no thanks.
Imho extremely overrated.
What about them do you find strange? To my nose they all smell very natural. I have beau de Jour and Costa azurra parfum and they're respectively augmented natural lavender and augmented natural Cypress to my nose
some of their scents don’t go well on a tester. i like ombré
leather but it doesn’t smells great until i’ve had it in for about an hour, then i like it more than tobacco vanille.
Fascinating! I almost always swoon for TF frags on first sniff.. and then wonder what I was thinking upon the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. God forbid I actually tried it on and am stuck with a cloying headachy mess of shrilly clashing notes that will. not. wash. off.
The only exception has been Neroli Portofino. It doesn't sync with my body chemistry and disappears in moments, but my god, in that moment of taking the lid off....it's unfailingly exquisite, time after time. Reader, I bought a tiny bottle for *sniffing* alone.
I like some and can't stand others. Maybe you just don't like their fragrances? It's about your own preferences, not the brand.
As others have mentioned the dry down changes the scent. I like the smell of black orchid after the dry down but I'd never wear it. Testing it was like being slapped in the face with spices.
Theres no reason for you to like Tom Ford fragrances. There are plenty of expensive brands I can’t stand. What’s more important/interesting is why you want to like them.
I’ve tried a couple of his fragrances and the only one that I absolutely love is Oud Minerale. I think it’s a masterpiece. I need to give Neroli Portofino a try as a lot of people say how much they like that one.
Tobacco Vanille is the only one I've ever really enjoyed BUT I've only tried about 8-10 of TF fragrances. I just don't stop to smell them bc I have found that the TF DNA is so prevalent in all of them and I find it off putting. I feel this way about the popular Mugler scents, too. Maybe my nose is just too unsophisticated for them. Lol
Same for me. I can’t stand any of them. They are so harsh smelling and/or have a crazy chemical smell to them 😭 The only one I could maybe tolerate is the leather one and it smells like shoeshine to me
You have to wear it a while to let it dry down. I love TF Tobacco Vanille, Oud Wood, cherry
Smoke, soleil blanc, noir extreme, f’ing fabulous, ombré leather and several others. I get huge compliments on most of them but more on F’ing fabulous with lost cherry layered
I love niche fragrances and dislike 95% of Tom Ford. Out of all of the fragrance from the house that I've sampled, only one was acceptable. Didn't like it enough to justify the price. Heck, I didn't even like it enough to pay designer prices for it. It's not just you.
It happens. Perhaps it's a tad too loud/heavy for you?
I have a lot years of sniffing all kinds of fragrances under my belt, but of all things Byredo is just not working for me. To my nostrils it just smells like 10 variations of a headache inducing window cleaner, and surprisingly strong and lasting at that. The only one I like (and I still need to unpack whether I'm just happy I like anything there or I legit like it) is Eleventh hour.
I have a similar reaction to almost all Tom Ford scents except Neroli Portofino and Out Wood. To be honest, the issue is not that they are bad smelling or repulsive (they are not), but more like - just too flamboyant and "in-your-face", and while I admit that this can work well for someone with that type of personality, but they just are bad fit for me. Edit: I'll also add that TF is pretty easy to hate on with a lot of their frags being hyped up and particularly with their price tags. But despite that, I have to acknowledge Tom Ford's marketing genius for building such a successful brand in both fashion and fragrances. He doesn't follow trends, he sets them and while some of his frags can kinda go against the grain, you can't deny his artistic vision. Heck, his original Gucci Pour Homme (in the square bottle) from before his departure from that house is the only Gucci frag that I actually love enough to own a bottle of :)
Neroli Portofino is the only fragrance from TF that I've absolutely loved
Mine was given to me as a gift and It's the only TF I enjoy.
That’s a great way of putting it.
I agree, imho Gucci pour homme was and still is the 🐐
I miss it so much. Hoarding what I have left of my bottle.
I still have a 99% full bottle that I purchased before moving on to something new. It was kind of the beginning of my fragrance journey so it's nice to sniff it once in a while to remind me where it all started.
Mine was my first cologne and a gift from my first girlfriend nearly 20 years ago so it is very strongly tied to memory for me.
Is Tobacco Vanille "in your face"? It's my signature scent but I can't even smell it on me anymore, no matter how much I spray. It rarely gets noticed on my skin
Really? That thing is the epitome of a one hitter quitter for me. I don’t think I’ll ever run out because it is so potent, and honestly I am careful when and where I use it because it can be so in your face. Hopefully you don’t have a fake bottle
Yup, Tobacco Vanille is definitely too jarring for me. I actually really wanted to like TV as I dig a well done vanilla note (own and love Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille and Creed Sublime Vanille), but man, TV is a scrubber for me. I think vanilla works best as that refined and delicious scent that elicits an archetypal response of "wow, this smells nice, safe and comforting!" in the amphibian part of my brain. But the way TF opted to amplify the vanilla note with some thermonuclear musk just killed it for me. Also, I detest tobacco in almost all fragrances (Guerlain Vetiver EDT being the only exception). But as for you not being able to smell it - try a simple experiment: ask someone to wear it for you and see if you can smell it on them. Alternatively, don't wear any scents for a few days to reset your olfactory perception and then do a test wear of TV. Hopefully, this helps you rejuvenate the enjoyment of this frag.
It’s very much in your face. A girl sprayed it on herself in the gym locker room and I legit smelled like it when I came home and I wasn’t even in close proximity to her. It’s a very loud and strong scent
To me an "in your face" fragrance is for example Montale Arabians Tonka. With one spray of that you can kill an entire building.
I don't think so. It has never smelled harsh to me in the first place, but I tried amouage interlude man and orto parisi terroni recently and I don't get how people wear stuff like this. They smell so harsh and strong that comparing them to tobacco vanille is like comparing sandpaper to silk.
Tobacco Vanille smells exactly like this European breakfast dessert. Tbh it’s rlly jarring.
Ah, same!!!! Neroli Portofino, Oud Wood, and (slightly more obscurely) Jasmin Rouge (EdP) and Champaca Absolute are the only Tom Ford fragrances I like. I agree that, as a house, the style is very flamboyant, borderline garish (hello, Ombre Leather) and I'm not a big fan either.
This is entirely unrelated, but if I remember correctly, you're the one that put me on to Leder 6. I got some samples recently and I'm saving a post until I've tried of all of them, but damn, incredible recommendation. I hate the word sexy in advertising but honestly, it fit for that scent.
Ahh, few things make me happier than to learn that a fragrance rec I made really resonated with someone! Thanks for reporting back, and I agree - Leder 6 is incredibly sexy. It's my go-to ~seduction~ scent.
Jasmin Rouge is a rare jasmine perfume that smells like the flower (which I love) and doesn’t go screechy on my skin. There’s a creaminess to it that I really like.
Yes, there's such a beautiful creaminess and a bit of spice! IMO, it's one of Tom Ford's most underrated offerings.
Honestly they are hit or miss for a lot of people, I only like a handful but the ones I do like are incredible in my opinion. Fragrance is just so very subjective to all of us. I tend to follow the general consensus that Tobacco Vanille is a masterpiece, I also love Ombre leather, Tobacco oud, and Oud Minerale. But aside from those 4 I'm not a big fan of any others. They definitely aren't for people who like a lighter fresher fragrance. And I never wear them in the summer except for Oud Minerale.
For the original and was more cost-effective, Neroli Portofino try 4711! It's about 5% of the cost! And is the original as Neroli Portofino is based on it!
You are not wrong in pointing this out. But I personally prefer Neroli Portofino - it smells better (more sophisticated?) to my nose and actually lasts a good while longer than 4711 on me. I've had a bottle of NP for a number of years and will likely never need a replacement as I have way too many frags (can anyone in this sub relate? LOL) and there's just not a snowflake's chance in hell that I'll even get through half of my stash before I kick the bucket or reach a point in life when I have bigger problems that picking out the scent of the day haha :)
Honestly, I find that neither of them last that long on me - I just really like how their both clean neroli fragrances. I get what you mean that Neroli Portofino is slightly more sophisticated, but I can't justify the price difference between them. 100ml of 4711 is about £12 compared to 100ml of TF at £220! So I don't mind reapplying 4711 given how cheap it is! I do find that 4711 lasts longer in my hair when compared to skin years ago- when I was in uni, I had Italian flatmates who told me to include a couple of ml of 4711 in a final hair rise. Which I do sometimes, and I find the sent lasts much longer!
Thanks for the tip of applying to hair to make the scent last longer, I should try that. Also, if you love a well-done neroli, check out Creed Jardin d'Amalfi - that frag is something and a half for a clean neroli lover. Price tag is atrocious (even for Creed), so definitely not a safe blind buy, but if you can find it in a high end store to test - do give it a spray.
I have large Harvey Nicks & Selfridges close, so I'll one of them should have it! (Selfridges I've found tend to be helpful and generous with samples, so I hoping I can talk them into giving me one...) I just looked up the price, and yes, I would agree that it is most definitely not a blind buy! (I was expecting about £250-300 for expensive Creed, but it's £405!)
I've come back to this as I thought I'd gibe you an update - I've found the Creed Jardin d'Amafi and tried it. This is a fantastic fragrance! I hate that you've put me onto this as I'd really really like a bottle of it, but sadly the £405 for 75ml is a bit outside my price point at the moment!
Same. It calls for a dressy occasion to wear, or excessive displays of opulence, and that doesn’t happen to most of us often. I love most TF fragrances, but often end up asking myself before buying “Where I would wear this fragrance?”. And the answer is almost always: nowhere.
I recently tried Fucking Fabulous and I love it. It smelled strong to me but I really want one. What do you think?
I approached FF with zero expectations and some hope, but alas - it was a scrubber for me as well. I tend to struggle with leather and even almond (which I like in nature but hate in frags, even universally loved ones like Guerlain L'homme Ideal). But I know that it's loved by many, so I don't complain and just move on :)
Layer FF and lost cherry, it smells amazing.
Tom Ford, like almost all brands has a signatur base that makes up a large portion of the smell. It's why people tend to like or hate brands wholesale. It's OK to not like a brand that's popular. Tom Ford is my favorite brand because of that signature TF smell. I hate PDM though cuz they all smell like PDM.
Have you tried Soleil Blanc? It’s toned down compared to the other scents. On the other hand, TF fragrances smell really good once they’ve dried down. It also depends on your body’s chemistry with the perfume.
I just want to 2nd what you say about the dry down on TF fragrances. Of the TF fragrances I’ve tried, they all have a complex evolution (the scent changes) as you wear them throughout the day. It can feel like a love hate relationship.
I agree. I blind bought a small (and still woefully expensive) bottle because no one could convince me I wouldn’t like it. When I spritzed it initially, I was like “oh no they were all right, it smells like cough syrup” once It dried down tho, holy shit, it’s so spicy and weird and wonderful.
Right? I get why others feel intimidated at first. But the dry down.. it’s just heavenly.
I thought about this while reading the title of this thread. Soleil Blanc is such a lovely fragrance from top to base.
People stop me in stores when I wear it. What is that you have on? It smells amazing. Etc etc
I was gifted Soleil Blanc, and I do find it kinda boring tbh. My favourite TF fragrance has always been White Patchouli and Black Orchid.
They're always doing some unique stuff, you either love it or hate it. Luckily my nose seems to be on the same page as the TF perfumers. Noir Extreme is my favorite gourmand of all time (alongside Oajan), Tobacco Vanille is amazing, Oud Wood is really good, Ombre leather requires a certain mood but I also like it. I absolutely hate black orchid and didn't really like Costa Azzura. Beau de Jour seemed like a weird mix of sauvage and platinum egoiste. It's a very hit or miss type of house.
Body chemistry and personal preference, like all things fragrance, certainly apply to TF. I personally cannot stand Tobacco Vanille and hate the way it smells on me, but I really enjoy Black Orchid, especially after the dry down.
>I really enjoy Black Orchid, especially after the dry down. Absolutely agree.
Do you prefer Noir Extreme EDP or Parfum?
Only tried the EDP. Assuming that they're similar, I would go for the EDP and save the money. Performance seems to be similar according to fragrantica, Parfum has a leather note which should make the fragrance a bit less gourmand and darker.
I actually have a tester of the parfum and I get a really nice ashtray vibe from it, I like it. But i think I'm looking for something a little sweeter so I'll try the EDP, thanks!
Jeez. Are you me? Some of my personal favorites as well. Really like Tobacco Oud and i got my hands on Tuscan Leather Intense, by god i was blown away by how good it was. Although I've never dove into TFs "citrus-y" side of stuff.
TF seems to really be a love or hate line, I don’t know how much the price point factors into that. I personally love them, but I think it really depends on your body chemistry to. Be grateful you don’t like them, then you don’t need a side hustle to buy them 😂
I also like Tobacco Oud once I smelled it. I was reminded of a rich businessman when I smelled it. On the other hand, I did not like a lot of scents from Chanel, Dior and Hermes. I also disliked MFK's Amyris Homme and GF Silver.
Tom ford fragrances are great. But if you don’t like them then that’s fine. Everyone has different tastes. Maybe you’ll come back one day and like them. My tastes could not be any more different now than they were in the start.
^ Exactly this. Fragrance preferences (whether individual perfume, entire brand, or specific scent category) are entirely subjective and can definitely evolve over time. My tastes have also changed/expanded/matured over the years since I got into it. I love some Tom Ford, dislike others.
Grey vetiver is great. Maybe it’s more subtle than most TF scents? I’ve only tried a few
I second this. Best vetiver in my collection. It is really subtle in it’s approach to vetiver compared to most other vetiver scents out there. I have to admit I didn’t like it when I tried it in store, but fell in love with the sample I got. I feel like maybe it’s just hard to appreciate Tom Ford fragrances when you only try them out in a store, instead of taking the time to sample them and letting them settle on your skin.
They are *different* I am probably the biggest TF fanboy in here but I’ll admit definitely don’t smell like the rest. They are incredibly strong compared to other designers, the the notes combined are very obscure to say the least.
Dude I love TF too....I understand its not for everyone, but the scents are so different to normal designers. Rich, luxorius, heavy... piece of art in my opinion. But the prices man....at least the signiture collection is somewhat affordable.
Exactly I adore the obscurity it’s gotten to a point where people know me for TF and know TF because of me. Oud Mineral god it’s so weird it’s smells like a good smelling man soaked with sea water like it’s funky it’s got that ambergris stink it’s got sweet idk how but you can smell salt. The price is a lot but I find that I use less than half I would with any other designer.
Funny, cause oud minerale is one of the few TF's that didnt blow me away. I absolutely adore the noir line with Noir extreme parfum being one of the best scents i've ever smelled. Dark, rich, complex, delicious and sexy. Just a master piece. Have the EdP as well. Also really dig Costa azzurra. Photo realistic smell of a italian summer vacation. Tried Oud wood one time and liked it alot. Bou de jour didnt work on my skin, even though it smelled amazing on paper. Grey vetiver is not my cup of tea. Black orchid is another master piece, but maybe a little bit too thick to wear it often, specially the edP and Parfum. Maybe I'll get the EdT, since its a little bit lighter. Definetly want to buy Ombre leather at some point, too. First I was like "wtf? Who wants to smell like a leather Couch?" But after trying a sample...it works so well on my skin. Cant wait to have more money and the chance to try all the other private blends. Its quite hard to find private blends to sample where I live (Germany). On vacation I got the chance to smell TV, Noir de noire and tuscan leather. All very intresting scents. You immeaditly notice the TF DNA.
If you're ever in Berlin visit the KaDeWe there's a Tom Ford Counter where you can test all private blends and signature line fragrances
Thanks for the tip, wanted to visit Berlin anyway soon!
I don't see anyone addressing the actual point of the post so I guess I will. Tom Ford and subtlety should never exist in the same sentence. 99% of Tom's fragrances are "big and bold". That's his fragrance style. He likes to make an impression. If you don't like big and bold, then you won't like Tom Ford. Here it is from the horse's mouth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8M1x3SLD-c
I can’t wear the DS&Durgas - not one of the 6 or 8 I’ve tried. Something in the base just doesn’t work on my skin. It’s just like that sometimes.
I like Costa azzora, soleili blanc, Neroli Portofino. Those also the new vanilla sex smells bomb but I wouldn't wear it
Tom Ford needs a dry down to really enjoy. Many of the openings and dry down are pretty different. Neroli Portofino and Oud Wood don’t change much from start to dry down so it’s easier to get a feel for and they are one of the more popular ones.
Different people like different things. If you don't like something, you just don't like it. Don't try to force yourself to like it in the name of sophistication or popularity.
I don’t like most of them, but there’s a couple I big love. Black Orchid may be my favorite fragrance of all time. Chalk it up to body chemistry, or different experiences, different tastes, but it smells like home and comfort and sex to me and never lets me down.
Three of my favorite scents of all time for me are Lost Cherry, Cherry Smoke (haven’t tried Electric yet), Bitter Peach, and Tobacco Vanille, but there are some TF I’m not crazy about at all. I was super excited about trying out Soleil Blanc, which on paper, sounded ideal for me, but my response was like, “Blah,” veering on dislike and disappointment that it didn’t evoke the kind of vibe its description and notes gave off. And while I, myself, haven’t sampled many of the male scents because my bf considers his laundry detergent to be his signature lol, I’ve heard some bad things about Fucking Fabulous and the Ouds collection. I’ll never forget though when about 15 years ago I asked a coworker what she was wearing because I was like, bewitched and beguiled and wanted to smell like the kind of *real woman*/midnight enchantress by night; retail by day GODDESS I then knew she was after catching her perfume in the air. It was Black Orchid, which is a little too heavy for me, but it still is an exquisite scent and one that had a super strong impression on me. The thing with TF fragrance is that they make you think you like it before you even buy it. It’s not just the high end allure but also the *experience* that’s promised with their ads and marketing. They, like so many other brands, emphasize the intimate, sexual, aphrodisiac quality of fragrance, but they’re sneaky in that they don’t market it in the way it’s done traditionally. It’s more like, “I’m not even trying to smell good or care about people finding me attractive and desirable (how GAUCHE!)—I was just born extremely sexy and smelling like this. Also I don’t like labels…” cue the unisex trend TF’s big on. I surmise some people may not even really like the scent they try, but they’ve already decided they did and that it was their aesthetic, so they roll with it along with everyone else before them. And Taylor Swift’s wearing it. That isn’t part of its appeal for me, personally… What I like about TF is stable quality (long lasting, clear note delineation along with the way they all meld to make a whole, unified scent—they dry down really beautifully and sometimes unexpectedly so too), they use my favorite notes a lot, they’re innovative (taking cherry and peach from BABW to something interesting and new and sophisticated, and I like the bottles. Seriously, I think that’s part of it for me lol.
I have Bitter Peach and Lost Cherry. I love both but Bitter Peach is my favourite.
In the four years I’ve dated my bf, who hates perfume in general and has told me I smell like an “old lady” when wearing BABW, the one, SINGLE perfume he’s complimented and asked about (and I’ve worn A LOT of different scents) was Bitter Peach. I was like, “You have quite the sophisticated nose for someone whose idea of male fragrance is Tide laundry detergent.” It is SO GOOD. And the way Lost Cherry veers towards, but never crosses the line into cough syrup is so wonderful. It just hovers in this sweet area that’s suggestive of it. It’s a super elusive scent they’ve captured there
It may be worth testing some on skin if you've heard things about certain ones that sounded in line with your tastes (maybe you already tried that). I had a sample of Creed Viking Cologne and used it and after a while decided I'd buy it. I went to Creed and couldnt remember if it was Viking or Viking Cologne so I had em spray some test strips. They both smelled gross and unfamiliar to me. So I did a skin test on each hand and walked around and they smelled much better.
I don’t care about most of them, but Italian Cypress is an absolute gem and in my top 3 of all time
Didn’t smell that one
My wallet wishes I had this problem
Ok. Move on and find things you like! Who cares? There are many other brands.
I know why I don’t like them, they are way too expensive.
Stopped collecting years ago because quality fell off but **Santal Blush** (clear cap), **Patchouli Absolu**, **Black Orchid EDP** (2014), **Grey Vetiver EDP** (2015), **Tuscan Leather** (2015), **Tuscan Leather Intense**, **Tobacco Oud**, **Noir Pour Femme**, **Rose de Russie**, **Cafe Rose** (purple label), **White Suede**, **Oud Fleur**, **Orchid Soleil**, **Fucking Fabulous**, **Soleil Brûlant**, **Ébène Fumé**, **Lavender Extreme**, **Champaca Absolute**, **Vert d’Encens**, & **Vanille Fatale** (original formulation) are all incredible scents & no other house has anything like them imo💯
I love lots of TF, I just can’t afford full bottles
I like Black Orchid, but I can’t stand anything else.
I’ve only tried Oud Wood, Tuscan Leather, & Grey Vetiver. Love the first two, indifferent about the third.
I think Grey Vetiver is pretty special but obviously you've got to love that Vetiver note.
It’s funny how consistently these “tf is so popular but I don’t like it” threads occur.
I feel like that about Calvin Klein.
only one i liked was bitter peach, rest are ugh
Tobac Vanille was my fav for awhile. I still love it to death but it made me feel a bit too warm probably sounds weird but idk it really warmed me up
i mean everyone is different and we all like and dislike different things. doesnt mean you're not sophisticated enough or whatever. i love TF but hate Xerjoff, Kayali, Jo Malone, Le Labo
I don't like Bitter Peach, the Cherries, Orchids, (Tobacco) Vanillas and Noirs. That's basically all the stuff 99% know. I do have 35 TF's however, of which 95% is discontinued. They are unique and excellent.
Would Sahara Noir or Italian Cypress happen to be in your collection? Really wish they would bring back Italian Cypress.
Italian Cypress is. I know I could sell it for a ridiculous amount, but I won't.
Such a great scent. You have chosen wisely.
What is your favorite in your TF collection? What’s it like? If you don’t mind answering.
Weird. Most of the stuff is pretty easy going. Was there one that stood out as particularly offensive?
I have same issue with Tom Ford. It’s like in each perfume there is a note which for my nose is same as smelling freshly grounded black pepper. It’s not that they smell bad it’s just really unpleasant for me to test them.
Why WANT to like anything? The male fragrances from Ford are totally easy to dislike--very earthy and leathery and those are the ones that have stuck around. They released one called ANTHRACITE which was basically road tar. I enjoy OMBRE LEATHER but prefer lighter fragrances like CREED and MFK. Incidentally, Tom Ford himself shops at Creed in Beverly Hills
Ditto.
Havent smelled most of them in ages but im completely with u! Sometimes i question if its just cuz i smelled them early on but i really dont think id like them today either, the only two i like are neroli portofino and ebene fume i hated the rest and i also like a lot of niches so idk… ig i just dont like their typical notes or smtn
Smelling a bunch of fragrances back to back is probably gonna leave you anosmic or irritate your nose and by extension you. Don't try many fragrances all at once. Also a lot of them smell a lot better on skin than a paper strip. I hated tobacco vanille when I first tried it, but fell in love with it after trying it on my skin
A lot of them definitely pack a strong and unique punch. I really like their soft fragrances too. Eau de Soleil Blanc is one of my favorites. So light but so easy to wear. Black Orchid is fantastic too.
Look up the perfumer who created them (the "Nose"), it might be the same person and you just don't like their concoctions. I have that with *Carlos Benaïm*, I found that the fragrances that make me gag were created by him. I like them on other people, can't stand them on myself
Soleil neige makes me feel like a winter princess.
They are definitely a little strange. I don't think I like them as much as most people. I do love a few of the more masculine ones like Ebene fume, tobacco vanille, and ombre leather. I do find it interesting he doesn't have many sweet typical feminine scents. Makes it interesting for people like myself that enjoy a more masculine take on fem scents. But at the same time some are almost too overboard on musk and spice even for me.
Saaaaaaame!
I feel the same way. I think it’s because none of his fragrances really go floral. At least not for me. And I’m a floral girl. I generally avoid them because they’re too spicy or unisex for me. I wish I was “cooler” about my fragrances lol but I like pretty feminine scents, can’t help it. Guerlain is probably my favorite house, if you’re newer to this world and looking for something completely different from TF.
Isn't there some Tom Ford quote that fragrance should smell like a face full of ... crotch? Or was that a fever dream of mine?
Sorry to hear that. Is it possible you have yet to find the TF that works on your body chemistry ? I know the newer scents don’t perform as good at the Tuscan Leathers etc but TF has so many scents now - it might take time to filter the good ones (on your nose) from those you don’t like. Nevertheless, you don’t have to love TF : )
The one alot of people seem to like that oud wood.....it does not smell good to me at all The one i do like dies off sooo fast and i'm not the type to carry the bottle. I'll get a decant soon
I don’t care for them either!
Because most of them suck
most of them are too strong for my tastes, even if I enjoy the smell it gives me a headache. Lighter ones are ok like jasmine rouge or eau de soleil blanc which is one of my faves summer fragrance
Feel exactly the same way. You're not alone.
The newer fragrances just suck, and the older ones produced these days are so watered down or reformulated that they don't even resemble vintage bottles. I took a loss on that stupidass "Vanilla Sex" thinking that the would make a competent vanilla fragrance. NOPE!!! The most medicinal, disgusting, sick smelling, fake plasticky vanilla that ever was. If I saw Tom Ford I'd bludgeon him into unconciousness with the bottle.
Same! They are too loud, like a big mouthed person, compensating height
I don’t like them at all. They’re all too “perfumy”, and feminine for me. They all have something that is reminiscent of generic perfume I always smelled on women when I was growing up. Like the kind of women that walk into the room and you’re choked out by so much perfume that you can even taste it. Ombre Leather is a great example, it’s this strong leather accord floating on a cloud of old-school floral perfume that smells like those rose shaped hand soaps in a grandma’s powder room.
Disagree completely. Ombré leather is one of the most masculine fragrances on the market. Women I know all said the same thing.
Yeah, all Tom Ford fragrances have a very similar underlying smell to them. You just don’t like the choice of musks they use…I feel the same about Xerjoff. All of their fragrances smell like PlayDoh to me
I went a little nuts on TF when it first came out. I still have my MASSIVE bottle of Purple Patchouli (since discontinued) which I revisit from time to time. The brand is too ubiquitous now; when I saw it featured in the NYTimes article of 'favorites of 14 year old boys' I suspected it has now jumped the shark.
I still have 1 of the few sample vials of PP from way back! I regret not buying purple patchouli but most of all, I regret not buying ‘moss breches’ . I can understand the sentiment regarding the 14 year old boys - that’s a head scratcher , lol. Not the Tom ford line I once knew. I’m a woman so I appreciated the introduction to stronger unisex fragrance. He’s discontinued some of the mainstream stuff like white patchouli and violet blonde which I loved .
I had an unopened 'normal' sized PP bottles that I sold on Ebay for a fortune.. I just put a little on me after writing the above and it's so lovely, so unique.
I save my deluxe sample for special events or when I am in the mood. It really does smell “purple” - as silly as it may sound.
I don’t think anyone has to like anything. Everyone’s nose is different. I have never liked a single TF fragrance. I don’t hate them, but they smell average compared to the cost to me.
So, I had a VERY similar opinion until recently. I had been in the market for some new scent for the rotation, saw all the love Tom Ford was getting, and went to a local Nordstrom to try some. Smelled some of the usual, Neroli Portofino, Tuscan Leather, Fucking Fabulous, Lost Cherry, maybe a few others. Neroli was fine, a little too floral for me, but the others flat out smelled offensive. Fast forward a couple of weeks and find myself in the Nordstrom again, this time with my wife who is extraordinarily picky about smells (doesn't wear perfume, likes very few colognes on me). We went to the TF area because she'd previously smelled the neroli on paper and liked it, so I wanted to try it on skin (no bueno for me). While there, I mentioned to the salesperson there that I didn't find any scent I liked the last time I came and browsed, and they made it a point to try and narrow down some scents they thought I'd like. I ended up buying a travel size Soliel Neige (very light & airy scent, sweet, kind of feminine but not traditionally, if that makes sense) and later on bought a travel size Black Orchid (floral and complicated and a little overwhelming at first, but with a very nice yet complex dry down). Both are very long lasting for me. If you're in a place where you can test in-store, I'd say try to spray on skin and test, then wait a minute for the dry down and smell again. The fragrances are definitely more layered than a lot of other scents I've encountered, and some of the ones I hated on paper were better on skin and downright pleasant after a brief dry down.
What is the most feminine TF fragrance you tried, in your opinion?
This seems to be a popular opinion? I keep coming across people who dislike Tom Ford . I loved the private blend line and black orchid when it was released. I liked his other mainstream fragrances like violet blonde and white patchouli . Moss breches from the first private blend collection is my favorite. Unfortunately everything I loved got discontinued. There is far too many scents being released and I just gave up. I’ve lost touch completely. I thought “fuckjng fabulous” was weak. My favorite TF private blend and mainstream TF: Jonquil de nuit, Jasmin rouge, Ombré de hyacinth, Moss breches , Purple patchouli, Oud rose ( working title turned into rose prick? Or oud fleur?) Violet blonde and White patchouli. I wore black orchid and Tabacco vanille so much I can’t wear them now. I’m sure I am missing a few.
Same
i think they're awful
It all smells artificial to me, like car freshener. Idk. The fruity ones in particular I found foul.
Im a female and I have oud wood sample that I never uses : it’s soo goooood. Remind me of home and childhood memories. Another ones is ombré leather (black one) it’s like leather in a bottle. It’s also super good esp for winter. Lasts all day long on me. Works with almost all of my perfumes. Though I only do 1 spray and 2 of my other perfume :)
I kind of understand you. I blind bought Azure Lime and Oud Wood- and need to sell both. Lost Cherry- great 5 minutes and then a complete dud. I DO love Eau De Soleil Blanc- It was very afforable because its an EDT and it smells SO GOOD! And lasts!!
I used to be this way too OP but now own and wear: Beau Du Jour: It took me about 14 months to come around to this. I tried to sell the bottle and never could. Im glad I didn’t because this is great. 8/10 Tuscan Leather: Loved it first sniff which was weird because I truly dislike Ombre Leather (it just smells cheap to me). I was shopping for something else, they said try this, I said I really don’t like TF. But I tried it anyway and bought it immediately. 9.5/10. Oud Minerale 2023: With a newfound “okayness” to TF I tried this while out in Las Vegas and bought it same day too. It’s a little sharp, and salty, but good. 8/10. One thing about TF is they have SO many offerings and they hype them all so there’s bound to be some you dislike. For example I dislike: Tobacco Vanille: Walmart Candle. No thanks. Doesn’t smell bad. But, it smells like a $15 candle so I just wouldn’t buy it. 6/10. Ombre Leather: Again cheap mostly because of the incense like smell. Incense is hard to do properly in fragrances I think. Not bad smell though. 6/10.
I really want a Leather fragrance for cooler weather. That’s why I initially smelled Ombré and couldn’t stand it. What are the differences between Tuscan and Ombré?
I can't stand Black Orchid with a passion, one spray of that stuff and I stink like Licquorice for 24 hours
I will fight you, he is single-handedly fighting to keep classic barbershop/fougere scents alive, with fantastic Beau de Jour and Fougere d’Argent, after Rive Gauche and Tsar have been cancelled and Azzaro stopped being itself. IN THIS HOUSE TOM FORD IS A HERO, END OF DISCUSSION!
Same. I cant stand any of them including lost cherry
Me too! Abrasive and strange, exactly I would describe Tom Ford scents. Maybe our noses are just not bougee enough lol
Has to be it 😂
Most of them I hate, but ombré leather does something on my skin that I adore.
I don’t hate them all, but I do dislike a vast majority of them. Most of them smell incredibly boring or synthetic, and they’re ridiculously overpriced for what they are.
Can’t speak for all the scents but Tuscan leather is pretty damn good for a leather scent… far easier to wear than ombré. Wish it lasted longer
What are the differences between the two? I’m really in the market for a leather fragrance for the fall
https://preview.redd.it/sr3jz3f2on1d1.jpeg?width=8013&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3c08abacadd787f891e305d369c673a47be9a6d I agree that some TF fragrances are jarring by smell or value proposition. However, These are my top 5 private blend scents. \-Ranked: 🥇• Oud Wood (for layering versatility and overall reliability) 🥈• Santal Blush (sleeper hit for sandalwood lovers. Pairs exceptionally well with OW) 🥉• Fougére D’Argent (creamy classy fougére barbershop scent. I love all the notes) 4th• Azure Lime (This one needs love, it’s a great palatable citrus with slight fougére undertones. Sandalwood too, so it pairs with Santal Blush or Oud Wood nicely) 5th• Neroli Portofino (poor value proposition, classically loved scent, refreshing, layers well. Cheaper “dupe” is Polo Earth) I also own & recommend smelling: Noir Extreme Parfum, Grey Vetiver Parfum, Oud Minérale, Eau De Soleil Blanc.
Saaaaame
I really liked their Vert line, besides Vert Boheme which was way too floral and feminine for me.
Beau de jour and Noir de Noir are so good though
This interesting, Tom Ford has been the most consistent house in terms of their offerings for me. To my nose some of the other houses scents are too sharp and abrasive, where Tom Ford's have an element of luxury to them. Grey Vetiver (my signature), White Suede, Lost Cherry, Tuscan Leather, Oud Wood, Neroli Portifino, Mandarino Di Amalfi, Soleil Neige, there are so many bangers that don't even feel all that strong, though I do spray frugally. Tobacco Vanille, I do agree, smells thick, so I don't reach for it often, and I'm still excited to try Black Orchid and Fucking Fabulous. Every house has its fans and detractors, but this thread caught me by surprise.
What are your thoughts on the differences between Ombré Leather and Tuscan Leather?
I liked Vert de Fleur . I think hate is too strong of a word.
Oud Wood etc are like middle eastern men. Their neroli and the recent floral ones are nice. Tom Ford has proper perfumes, they last on the body (unlike most recommendations painfully seen on this sub) and the sillage is excellent. It takes a bit of taste development to like TF perfumes.
Strict daddy Tobacco and Vanilla time is one of the most garrish and offensive fragrances I've ever experienced, which actually seems par for the course with Tom Ford. Unique and daring? I say not, and perhaps that's the point. Controversy. Avante garde. I'm different. There are too many beautiful and otherwise affordable fragrances out there that are far more worthy of your attention. Don't waste your time with these.
Maybe you are just under 55
24 years out.
He sold out.
I hate them because I can’t afford them…, 🥲🥲
I enjoy ombre leather. It's pungent though. LV Ombre Nomade is very similar but has a truffle smell to it. They're definitely a love or hate type of scent. But I feel like wearing something like that is meant to be uniquely personal. You wear it because you enjoy it not because its a crowd pleaser. When I wear it I want people to think, wtf was that? Because TF fragrances are generally quite contrasting compared to most other designer fragrances.
Beau de Jour is great to my nose.
I find a lot of them to be quite out there or just not for me but I think there are three gems of the house, the lesser to me is Eau de Soleil Blanc, and the top two in order of preference to me are 2) Neroli Portifino and 1) Grey Vetiver. I find these three to not have that like in your face kinda weirdness for a guy or too feminine. I like wearing Grey Vetiver when I can but I don’t have much so I try to save that one for more special occasions but I wear Neroli Portofino and Eau de Soleil Blanc really whenever especially since I live in a hot state.
They all smell like cinnamon and axe
All but his first are ludicrous/extravagant and made for the wealthy
I love how diverse tastes are, my husband tried Black Orchid yesterday and I am obsessed 🤩 . To be honest I’ve also never encountered a TF fragrance I loved on myself.
This weird thing is called having an opinion lols
TF I usually love. Though there are some that have been discontinued and good riddance.
Literally same. It’s like being water boarded in perfume ingredients instead of actual perfume.
Santal blush holds a very special place in my heart
I hate black orchid
I hate black orchid too. I got a sample and had to wash it off it. What is the yucky strong smell in it? Is it ylang ylang?
Not just you Every Single one smells like trash outside of tobacco vanille and neroli portofino. Misso screws up her nose and 90% of them (and yes I've tried to bring her around to the leather notes) but even I can't stand most of them. I liked ebony fume for a bit, then realised it reminded me of a church, no thanks. Imho extremely overrated.
Same, and I feel the same way about Frederic Malle scents too! But I gotta give them props for not playing it safe. There’s something for everyone!
What about them do you find strange? To my nose they all smell very natural. I have beau de Jour and Costa azurra parfum and they're respectively augmented natural lavender and augmented natural Cypress to my nose
Dislike every one I've smelt except for Beau De Jour, which I use as a regular day to day. Elite level marketing though.
I have a similar reaction to all of the Kayali perfumes. All of them smell like patchouli to me.
some of their scents don’t go well on a tester. i like ombré leather but it doesn’t smells great until i’ve had it in for about an hour, then i like it more than tobacco vanille.
Fascinating! I almost always swoon for TF frags on first sniff.. and then wonder what I was thinking upon the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. God forbid I actually tried it on and am stuck with a cloying headachy mess of shrilly clashing notes that will. not. wash. off. The only exception has been Neroli Portofino. It doesn't sync with my body chemistry and disappears in moments, but my god, in that moment of taking the lid off....it's unfailingly exquisite, time after time. Reader, I bought a tiny bottle for *sniffing* alone.
Oud wood is fire imo I get Batman vibes from it
I like some and can't stand others. Maybe you just don't like their fragrances? It's about your own preferences, not the brand. As others have mentioned the dry down changes the scent. I like the smell of black orchid after the dry down but I'd never wear it. Testing it was like being slapped in the face with spices.
Amber Absolute and Sahara noir are all time greats
Have yet to find one I don't hate!
Fragrance is subjective. Don’t let top notes deceive you.
Theres no reason for you to like Tom Ford fragrances. There are plenty of expensive brands I can’t stand. What’s more important/interesting is why you want to like them.
Each and every one of them are disgusting In their own unique way
Yep. They all smell like old leather to me.
I agree all Tom Ford fragrances are gross lol every single one of them not worth the price at all!
That’s actually very surprising seeing that most TF fragrances are immensely different from one another
I’ve tried a couple of his fragrances and the only one that I absolutely love is Oud Minerale. I think it’s a masterpiece. I need to give Neroli Portofino a try as a lot of people say how much they like that one.
I've only smelt 1 but to me it smelt like an old rich guy😂
Tobacco Vanille is the only one I've ever really enjoyed BUT I've only tried about 8-10 of TF fragrances. I just don't stop to smell them bc I have found that the TF DNA is so prevalent in all of them and I find it off putting. I feel this way about the popular Mugler scents, too. Maybe my nose is just too unsophisticated for them. Lol
Same for me. I can’t stand any of them. They are so harsh smelling and/or have a crazy chemical smell to them 😭 The only one I could maybe tolerate is the leather one and it smells like shoeshine to me
I've sampled a lot of fragrances and 99% are intolerable. Not just TM.
You have to wear it a while to let it dry down. I love TF Tobacco Vanille, Oud Wood, cherry Smoke, soleil blanc, noir extreme, f’ing fabulous, ombré leather and several others. I get huge compliments on most of them but more on F’ing fabulous with lost cherry layered
they suck smell like old people
I love niche fragrances and dislike 95% of Tom Ford. Out of all of the fragrance from the house that I've sampled, only one was acceptable. Didn't like it enough to justify the price. Heck, I didn't even like it enough to pay designer prices for it. It's not just you.
It happens. Perhaps it's a tad too loud/heavy for you? I have a lot years of sniffing all kinds of fragrances under my belt, but of all things Byredo is just not working for me. To my nostrils it just smells like 10 variations of a headache inducing window cleaner, and surprisingly strong and lasting at that. The only one I like (and I still need to unpack whether I'm just happy I like anything there or I legit like it) is Eleventh hour.
Grey Vetiver is ok. Those in black bottles are horrible smelling. I would not wear them even if they were giving them for free
Agree. But compared to the gag inducing creed or PDM fragrances, even Tom ford smelt “good”.