Famous Fashion Designers Tom Ford Best Known for

Although information technology's a bold assertion, there is truth in the thinking that there isn't anything Tom Ford can't turn his stylish mitt to, be it fashion, films or, in this instance, Tom Ford cologne.

While many designers accept successfully established a presence in the world of scents – Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior among them – few have had the same touch in such a brusque infinite of fourth dimension as the designer-turned-manager-turned-all-round-modern-Renaissance-Man.

Far from a flash-, or rather a splash-, in-the-pan, Tom Ford's fragrance collection is as impeccably edited as his own wardrobe, non to mention as abrupt, uncompromising and luxurious.

The History Of Tom Ford Fragrances

The first fragrance under the Tom Ford umbrella came in 2006, with the launch of Black Orchid – a scent that was aimed at women, merely whose customers grew to be 30 per cent men. A picayune over ten years on, the immaculately-dressed Texan now has over forty individual, predominantly genderless, eau de parfums to his name.

Many were surprised that fragrance was one of Ford's start proper solo ventures (his beginning menswear drove didn't come until a year after, in 2007), simply it turned out to be an inspired movement and one that revealed his genuine love of the art grade. He fifty-fifty once admitted during an interview that he believes cologne to exist more important than clothes.

Much of the success of his bestselling scents like Black Orchid, Noir and Oud Wood comes downwardly to their sheer quality. "They're distinctive, powerful and made to last," says Marcus Jay, author of The Chichi Geek'southward: Fashion, Grooming and Style Guide for Men.

The fact that Tom Ford has never been afraid to play with unexpected combinations is of import, likewise, whether that's teaming raspberry with leather for Tuscan Leather, or smoky oud wood with a salty sea accord, as he did for Oud Minérale.

"As well as a common sense of opulence and richness, there's a boldness to all his fragrances," says Josephine Fairley, an honour-winning journalist and co-founder of The Perfume Guild. "In that location's non a shrinking violet among them."

The key ingredient in these fragrances, however, isn't vetiver or vanilla, it's Tom Ford's own designer Dna. "He'southward the absolute master of seduction and really understands the attraction and sex appeal of fragrance," says Jaye.

The 56-year-old's legendary perfectionism and eye for item, meanwhile, ensures quality command. "It's well known in the manufacture that he is incredibly hands-on with the evolution of his colognes, and I think that shows," says Fairley. "At the end of the solar day, that'southward why they're considered 'cool in a bottle' and why Tom Ford isn't just a style icon merely a 'scent icon', too."

The Collections

In an effort to cater to both luxury fragrance connoisseurs and casual buyers (non to mention all pocket depths), Tom Ford's fragrances are split into two singled-out ranges: a premium Private Blend collection and a more than accessible Signature line, in add-on to several mini-groups within them.

Private Alloy

Luxurious and experimental, Tom Ford's Private Blend collection launched in 2007 and, in the designer'due south own words, is his very own "personal scent laboratory", where he can create original fragrances that are unconstrained by the conventions of mainstream olfactory property-making.

"These fragrances are a little edgier, a footling more challenging and generally more thought-provoking," says Fairley. "Each fragrance begins with the extract from a single note such every bit bister, tobacco, black violet, leather or gardenia."

Signature

If the Private Alloy collection is a laboratory for Tom Ford's wilder olfactory experiments, and so his Signature drove is where the most successful of those experiments are honed and presented to the wider market place.

Although more than affordable than Private Blend colognes, fragrances like Tom Ford Extreme, Velvet Orchid and Gray Vetiver still take the integrity and complexity of their higher-priced counterparts. "Regardless of the collection, Tom Ford's taste in fragrance is really good," says Nick Gilbert from perfume consultancy business firm Olfiction. "Every fragrance is well-constructed and perfectly polished."

Noir

Bound by a common, evening-appropriate sensuality, the Noir drove currently features four primal colognes: Noir, Noir Eau de Toilette, Noir Farthermost and Noir Anthracite. Unusually, given that they share a name, these fragrances are distant cousins rather than brothers, with each one a different limerick bearing piffling relation to each other.

The original Noir released in 2012 is warm and powdery, while the eau de toilette version is lighter and more than citrusy. Noir Farthermost is sweet, spicy and cakey, while the nearly recent, Noir Anthracite, is smoky and woody. To confuse things further, there's also Noir de Noir – an earthy, spicy, rose fragrance that falls under the Private Blend collection.

Portofino

Similar Doctor Who, Tom Ford'southward take on the classic eau de cologne, Neroli Portofino, exists in many incarnations and everyone has their favourite.

Neroli Portofino Acqua has a bitter, about sporty edge, while Fleur de Portofino is more honeyed and floral. The original, however, should be every fragrance lover's starting betoken. Comprising citrus fruits and aromatic herbs, it'south one of the best summer scents available and ideal for guys who like their colognes calorie-free, fresh and unobtrusive.

Oud

"The number of Tom Ford fragrances now available has expanded massively, but it'southward the woods and oud fragrances that men most acquaintance with him," says Jaye.

Oud Wood, the star of the collection, has become so successful that it's one of the few Ford colognes to boast its ain ancillaries, including a torso moisturiser, shower gel and beard oil. Also worth a sniff are Tobacco Oud (spicier and, equally the proper noun suggests, with a tobacco edge), Oud Fleur (floral, with plenty of rose) and the shouldn't-work-but-does Oud Minérale, which combines the smoky wood with a salty marine accordance.

The 10 Best Tom Ford Colognes

Patchouli Absolu

Patchouli has long been a mainstay of men'due south fragrances thanks to its earthy aroma, only Tom Ford's Private Blend interpretation rounds things out with touches of amber, musk and leather, so you don't smell like someone who's just attended Woodstock.

"Like all of Ford'south fragrances, Patchouli Absolu is essentially genderless, but it smells particularly good on a man'due south skin," says Fairley. "On a woman, the creamy, suede-like notes emerge, simply when men wearable it, it's the woodsiness that comes out."

Buy Now

Neroli Portofino

With inspiration taken from the sparkling bluish waters, cool breezes and lush foliage of the Mediterranean, it'due south footling wonder Tom Ford'south Neroli Portofino has become i of the designer'south best-selling creations.

A wonderfully fresh alloy of Sicilian lemon, neroli, bergamot, lavender and amber, the aroma's accent on uplifting citrus notes means it's the perfect selection-me-up for travel, sport or those disappointing summertime days when all y'all come across are clouds. Call up of it equally sunshine in a canteen.

Buy At present

Noir

Congenital around a whopping big violet floral note, this fragrance from 2012 starts off smelling powdery and spicy, attributable to a combination of iris and black pepper, before maturing on the pare into something warm and creamy, thanks to its employ of vanilla and amber.

Too every bit offering proficient longevity on the peel, the notes in Tom Ford Noir add together up to an evening scent that's worth having in any fragrance collection.

Purchase Now

Orchid Soleil

"The original Black Orchid was a fragrance marketed at women, simply men take fully embraced it," says Gilbert. And information technology's piece of cake to run into why with this summer version, which fuses floral notes of tuberose, lily and orchid with pinkish pepper, vanilla and patchouli.

Borrowing from or sharing fragrances with the fairer sex is goose egg new, merely information technology's off-white to say Tom Ford has fabricated information technology not merely acceptable but desirable. "I think that men could embrace any Tom Ford fragrance, merely in I'm a item fan of this one, which smells similar a suntan."

Buy Now

Oud Forest

One of the standout colognes from the Private Blend Collection, Oud Wood takes one of perfumery'south virtually recognisable, nonetheless polarising, ingredients – oud – and makes it accessible to all.

Exotic and sensual without beingness overly rich or strong, its smokiness is tempered by citrus notes, cedarwood and patchouli. "Already something of a classic, Oud Forest is rich, lush and warm – everything y'all desire from a men's fragrance," says Jaye.

Buy Now

Bois Morocain

Warm, spicy and, thanks to a huge dose of incense, Bois Morocain was originally launched in 2009 before vanishing off shelves merely to reappear for a second shot at success in 2017.

With cypress, cedar and thuya (a wood found in Morocco), it smells like a cross betwixt a hot, dry sauna and an old church pew. Quirky and demanding rather than straightforwardly highly-seasoned, but well worth a go.

Purchase Now

Grey Vetiver

Based effectually i of Tom Ford's favourite notes, this contemporary estimation of a classic vetiver cologne benefits from a tart, fresh, citrusy opening, which ways information technology works merely equally well during the daytime as information technology does in the evening.

"I absolutely love Greyness Vetiver," says Gilbert. "It's zingy, clean, perfectly woodsy and very well-counterbalanced."

Buy At present

Tuscan Leather

Loved by both men and women, Tom Ford'south punchy take on a traditional leather fragrance oozes sensuality with notes of saffron, black pepper, jasmine, tobacco and bister forest.

But it's the unexpected addition of raspberry – a move that takes it in an unexpected direction and i that'due south very 'Tom Ford' – that prevents Tuscan Leather from existence just another animalic number. It's potent stuff though, then be careful not to overspray.

Buy Now

Tom Ford For Men

Already 10 years old (which practically makes information technology a modern archetype) this woody, spicy signature cologne is everything a Tom Ford fragrance should exist – sensual, exciting and circuitous – but comes at a price most fans can afford.

The twist comes with the addition of Moroccan grapefruit blossom – a precious ingredient paw-harvested from blossoms just three weeks a twelvemonth – to peak notes of ginger, tobacco leafage and bergamot.

Buy At present

Fucking Fabulous

Released at the stop of 2017, this deliciously creamy, almost edible alloy of almond oil, tonka bean and clary sage provoked the kind of publicity virtually brands tin can simply dream of.

"The fragrance isn't as quite as fabulous as the name suggests," says Jaye, "but it'south worth wearing only so you lot can say 'Fucking Fabulous' when somebody asks what scent you accept on." Somehow, we doubtable nobody would honey the reaction you'll go more than Tom Ford himself.

Buy Now

Share this post