Tom Ford Smells

Tom Ford: American fashion designer, fan of modern architecture, gay, white, misogynist

Also: Name attached to fragrances I like.

Black Orchid - Tom Ford: Harsh, spicy and earthy at first, then the overripe plums come out and flirt with just a touch of weird floral. The plums are not the "fresh & fruity" sort of thing one might expect. It's like summertime when there are so many plums available that one inevitably goes a bit soft on your counter. So when you reach for it, the skin is velvety soft and the flesh gives just a little too much. Your plum feels uncomfortably like human flesh. It's hot and you've punctured the skin and juice leaks onto the counter and the fruit flies are going to have a field day.

On the dry down Black Orchid is a dirty, spicy gourmand. There is some vanilla in there, which I often dislike, but it is vanilla that has been very, very bad, so I like it. The overall effect is raunchy.

Notes include: black truffle, ylang ylang, bergamot, effervescent citrus, black currant, jasmine, the specially-grown-for-Tom black orchid, fruit, spicy florals, lotus wood, patchouli, incense, vetiver, vanilla, balsam and sandalwood.

Black Orchid Voile de Fleur [Flower Veil] - Tom Ford: This is a "flanker" to the original Black Orchid. It only comes in EdT and is meant to be lighter. I don't know why anyone would dislike this. Voile de Fleur (VdF becuase I'm lazy) is the pretty kind of sexy. She blushes, look downward, and touches the back of her neck. Crisp white florals, without the headiness you'd expect, but not cold either. The florals are layered over a warm, comfy base. Just interesting enough with dark fruits and truffle, without annoying or offending most other people.

But, why does this share a name with the original Black Orchid? They are quite different. Maybe the original Black Orchid is the alter ego of VdF. You think she's a VdF kind of girl in a pressed, floral skirt, but lurking within is the voluptuously debauched bad girl of the original Black Orchid.

Notes include: black truffle, ylang ylang, bergamot, blackcurrant, honeysuckle, gardenia, spicy lily, black orchid, black plum, black pepper, lotus wood, succulent fruit, warm milk, cinnamon, vanilla tears, patchouli, balsam and sandalwood