Tobacco Oud Tom Ford

Desirability: Decant

Source: www.buro247.ru

I met Tobacco Oud while visiting a friend during my travels and became pleasantly acquainted with it over the course of my stay. I had previously bypassed the grey-bottled Oud trio from Tom Ford partly because I was a little weary of oud and partly because I flinch at the pricing of TF fragrances. Yes the range has a few fantastic scents but seriously? Anyway I digress.

A heavy scent this one is. I don't usually give a stuff as to whether my SOTD would be better suited to colder temperatures than the tropical humidity I live in 365 days of the year but I would advise that less is more with the likes of Tobacco Oud. It does quieten down but that's after at least 3-4 hours into the wearing.

I smell tobacco, whisky and wood. A rich, sweet and aromatic tobacco that feels warm and rugged. The whisky in Tobacco Oud is a mellow fellow, I'm on the very early stages of the learning curve for whisky and I still wince at the perceived harshness of Scottish malts I've been introduced to, but there are no rough edges to Tobacco Oud, it's smooth, smoky and very delicious. The drydown is sweeter than when it first started and reminds me of incense rather than tobacco by this stage. On a side note I prefer this to Phaedon's Tabac Rouge that my friend is partial to but which I found to be a little on the sweeter side of tobacco scents and while I do have a sweet tooth I don't always indulge it and Tabac Rouge is a sweet treat. Despite the dark tobacco and smoky whisky I don't find Tobacco Oud to be brooding or masculine, certainly it doesn't conjure up images of cowboys, instead it feels like it belongs in a swanky smoking lounge or whisky club where luxury is like daily bread for the crowd there.

Phenomenal longevity, a potent beginning that lasts for quite a few hours before it fades but remaining noticeable for days! So despite me failing to discover any oud in Tobacco Oud, I still think this is worth sampling and definitely worth getting a decant at least. Since it lasts forever and a day, a full bottle may not be required unless you are of the happy breed that is content with just one perfume in your closet. 

Ore Slumberhouse

Desirability: Sample

Source: pinterest.com

I've been searching for The One. I mean in terms of chocolate scent. I've tried The Body Shop's Chocomania ( a lovely malt chocolate), Guerlain's Elixir Charnel Gourmand Coquin ( it's more of a delicious boozy vanilla than chocolate on me and the jury is still out on whether I should splurge on a bottle), Montale's Chocolate Greedy and Comptoir Sud Pacifique's Amour De Cacao were both equally sweet milk chocolate on me, a little like wearing Terry's Chocolate Orange actually. Parfumerie Generale's PG04 Musc Maori was a dud on me, I smelt like sour milk and chocolate powder sadly. Histoires de Parfums 1969 Parfum de Revolte and Arquiste's Anima Dulcis are two spiced chocolates that I adore and En Voyage Perfumes' Café Cacao is a heavenly salted chocolate like the Lindt sea salt dark chocolate bars, but as delightful as they are, I'm still looking for the swoon-worthy one. 

Source: morningcigarette.com

Ore smells very strongly of wood, it feels like I've walked into a woodshop where all kinds of wood are piled up and the floor is covered with a layer of sawdust. There's a sweet tarry smell alongside the wood that makes me think of a polish or a layer of glaze over the woodwork, it's a little too harsh and pungent for my liking and I think this is the whisky note others are picking up. The chocolate is present but it smells thin or diluted and peppery, not quite the thick creamy chocolate I'm in the mood for i.e Ore is not a gourmand by my definition at least. Ore is interesting and unique without a doubt and I thoroughly enjoyed testing my sample. I won't recommend it as a gourmand but if you are looking for a powerhouse caramelized woody/boozy scent that's evocative of old Camel or Marlboro advertisements featuring cowboys or other macho sorts.