Tag: oud

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-tobacco-oud-nordstrom
* Tobacco oud starts off spicy – cinnamon/cloves and a bit of sharp wood

* It reminds me of the top of Bois Marocain and it projects massively.

* Then the tobacco starts to show up and overpowers everything about it.  Buoyed by a subtle oud, the tobacco really is the star for a lot of the fragrance’s life.

* While it begins to calm down at this point (around three hours), it’s still present and projecting nicely.

* The dry down to sweet amber and vanilla takes a long time and lasts even longer.

Summary:  I thought I was having flashbacks when I wore this scent because like AKafkaesque I realize that each stage of the development was another Tom Ford Scent.   Whereas AK sees it as a mix of Amber Absolute, Sahara Noir, Cafe Rose, and Tobacco Vanille – being the DJ that I am, Tobacco Oud feels like a wonderful mashup of Bois Marocain, Amber Absolute, and Tobacco Vanille with a touch of oud.  When I first heard of Tobacco Oud, I was hoping that it would be Tobacco Vanille, plus oud.  I am happier with the results as this is very oud 2.0 (oud as subtle supporting flavor, rather than an ‘oud in your face’ bomb). It feels more like a greatest hits medley (kind of like Julet Has A Gun Mad Madame, but much more well-conceived) and is far better in my opinion than anything in the last two private blend collections (Atelier D’Orient and Jardin Noir). Since I already own the three scents it reminds me of, I probably would not buy this for myself, but for anyone who is strong enough to handle a powerful long term scent (more than 12 hours of wear), this could easily be a signature.  Because of the projection, it’s not office friendly, but the strength can be downplayed by wearing only one or two sprays.  This is also definitely a scent that needs to be skin tested, as reading through the various reviews online, I kept scratching my head wondering if we were all spraying the same juice.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon
Now Smell This
Perfume Possee
Kafkaesque
Scentrist
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume of Life
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise
Manface

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Plum Japonais Fragrance Review

tom-ford-plum-japonais
* The top starts with a sweet and slightly spicy mix of plum, cinnamon, and honey. 

* First whiff had me feeling deja vu.  It took me a minute, but I realized it was a fresher version of the Japon Noir opening.

* A thick sweetness comes in – like maple syrup and a bit fruity.   Although it’s dense, it’s not overly sweet.

* From this sweetness peaks out a little bit of sour wood which is the oud showing its presence.  It’s not strong or aggressive at all.

* The base of vanilla and amber lasts a good long time as a snuggly skin scent.

Summary: On a whole, I am unimpressed with the Atelier d’Orient collection because they are not my style/taste.  They are more sheer and restrained than you would expect a Tom Ford fragrance to be.  Plum Japonais isn’t bad, and as a candle or room spray it would be pretty amazing.  To me, it feels like a lighter version of Japon Noir (which I adore and own a full bottle of). Longevity is average for an EdP at 6-8 hours.  If you were a fan of the original Japan Noir and want a lighter version for summer or day wear, this would be a good fit.

Other opinions:

Man Love Cologne

Kafkaesque

The Candy Perfume Boy

Ca Fleure Bon

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Velvet Mood Fragrance Review

maison-francis-kurkdjian-oud-velvet-mood

* First sniff is quite confusing.  Am I really smelling motor oil,  burning plastic, tires, and construction materials?

* It’s really disconcerting – like you are walking by an construction site and they are illegally burning construction materials.  It’s also really strong.  Really strong.  

Continue reading “Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Velvet Mood Fragrance Review”
Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Silk Mood Fragrance Review

maison-francis-kurkdjian-oud-silk-mood

* Silk Mood starts off with a really strong rose that projects loudly. People several feet away will know that you are wearing a rose scent.

* It’s brazen and spiced, so it’s surprisingly appealing for both men and women.  It would be pure diva on a woman or robust yet sexy on a man

* The rose gets sweeter, yet more decadant. It’s a mature sweet that’s richly and seductive. 

* The first time I wore it, I got pear joining the rose.  The next time, I could swear it was apple.  The fruit note that boosts the rose seems to change with me each time.  

* Though the woods are subtly there through the whole development, they come most into the forefront in the base where they anchor what becomes a very green rose, as opposed to the sweeter rose present earlier.

Of the three Moods, I would say that Silk Mood is the one closest to its own name.  It’s smooth, sexy, and seductive – just like silk.  Silk is also the fabric of royalty, so the bold rose fits that symbolism as well.  I could say this is oud for girls, but that might be sexist and demeaning.  While it is soft, it is still strong and longevity is more than eight hours.  Guys who are confident in themselves and not afraid of florals would like this.  Rose and Oud is a classic combination in Arabic perfumery, Silk Mood is a modern interpretation that keeps the feel but makes it more appropriate for our current tastes.  Due to the projection of the rose, this is not an office-friendly fragrance.  If you are looking for an oud that is not dirty or skanky, Silk Mood might be the one for you.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances are available at Neiman Marcus, Luckyscent, and Osswald.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon

Candy Perfume Boy

Persolaise

Disclaimer: Sample provided by store for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus website.