Intoxicatingly weird is really the only way to describe Tom Ford’s Black Orchid fragrance. I love it, but all I could say for the whole time I was testing it out before I decided to buy a bottle was, “That is so…weird.” Then I’d sniff again.
It’s earthy, with dark, ripe fruits, and a hint of sandalwood and vanilla once it’s dried down. The opening is big and bold, completely strange and mysterious, even forbidden. Then it dries down to a “nice” scent that still retains a bit of that sex appeal.
This started out as a scent for women, but as time passed and more and more men tried it on, it caught on as a unisex scent. If you don’t mind sharing a fragrance with your significant other, this isn’t too bad on the budget (the one ounce bottle is $70, the 1.7 ounce bottle is $105, and the 3.4 ounce bottle is $150). Otherwise, a larger bottle may be a bit of a splurge.
I got lucky on eBay when I got mine, so it’s worth checking out, but as always, be sure to do your homework on the seller because there are fake fragrances out there.
The notes listed for Black Orchid on Sephora.com include: bergamot, citrus, mandarin, black gardenia, jasmine, ylang-ylang, lotus wood, orchid, spicy floral accord, black orchid, patchouli, sandalwood, incense, and vanilla.
Black truffle is mentioned on Fragrantica.com and worth pointing out because when I first spray it on, I am overwhelmed with the scent of truffle and dark chocolate, with a hint of florals. As the scent develops, it becomes a spicy floral before settling into an incense, vanilla, and sandalwood mix.
It’s dark and completely different, in my opinion, from most of the other scents on the market.
Photo credit: Sephora
