Notes on Tom Ford Private Collection

Cosmetic World has recently featured an article that offers a glimpse into the creation of Tom Ford's Private Collection, which is describe as a concept behind the line that is about to enter stores in May of this year. The article offers more information on the notes of Ford's 12 new fragrances:

Amber Absolute (oriental) with notes of amber, African incense, labdanum, rich woods, vanilla bean.
Noir de Noir (oriental-chypre) with notes of saffron, black rose, black truffle, vanilla, patchouli, oud wood, tree moss.
Velvet Gardenia (floral) with notes of black gardenia, orange, jasmine, rose muguet, tuberose, dark plum,, honey, beeswax, incense, labdanum.
Black Violet (floral) with notes of citrus, pulpy fruit accord, black violet, woody notes, oakmoss.
Tobacco Vanille (tobacco) with notes of tobacco leaf, spice notes, tonka bean, tobacco flower, vanilal, cocoa, dry fruit, sweetwood sap.

Oud Wood (woods) with notes of rosewood, cardamon, Chinese pepper, oud wood, sandalwood, vetiver, tonka bean, vanilla, amber.
Purple Patchouli woods) with notes of orchid, citrus, leather, purple patchouli accord, spices, amber, patchouli, Peru balsam, vetiver.
Bois Rouge (woods) with notes of citrus, spice, cedarwood, patchouli, jasmine muguet, sandalwood, vetiver, amber, leather, vanilla and tonka bean.
Moss Breches (woods-chypre) with notes of fresh wood, spice notes, beeswax absolute, Moroccan clary sage, Hungarian tarragon, Corsican rosemary, labdanum, patchouli, benzoin.
Tuscan Leather (leather-chypre) with notes of saffron, raspberry, thyme, olibanum, jasmine, leather, black suede, amberwood.
Neroli Portofino (cologne) with notes of citrus, floral notes, amber.
Japan Noir (cologne) with notes of spices, purple patchouli, porto noir, night blooming jasmine, leather, amber, vetiver.

1.7oz Eau de Parfum will cost $165 and an 8.3oz decanter will be priced at $450. The fragrances will be available from the Tom Ford retail store in New York, Bergdorf Goodman, select Neiman Marcus and Saks 5th Avenue stores. In Europe, the collection will be sold in the UK, France, German, Italy and Switzerland. While there are 12 fragrances to begin with, the Cosmetic World reports that "the collection will be 'renewed', with some scents added and others subtracted" (p. 64). Information from Cosmetic World, Tom Ford Creates Connoisseur Collection, p. 64 (February 26, 2007, Vol. XLIII/No.8)

Comments

[aryse]

Thanks for the news Victoria.That seems to be a very interesting collection.

I enjoy very much leather-chypre perfumes.So, I will test Tuscan leather in first.Bois rouge will come after...

[Judith]

So many of these sound good--but the fact that there are so many makes me a bit suspicious. Maybe I'm just trying to preserve my very fragile No-Buy, but I keep telling myself that I didn't care for Black Orchid, so. . .

[March]

V -- well ... that's weird. There isn't a single one of these that makes my mouth water in the description. Some of them sound too sweet, some of them just sound reeeally busy! Obviously we won't know until we smell them ... are there any that sound particularly appealing to you?

[Elle]

Am trying very, very hard to tell myself these will *not* be that good. Quantity over quality and all that. But, quietly, discreetly, not letting my saner side notice, I'm adding Noir de Noir, Oud Wood, Velvet Gardenia, Moss Breches and Purple Patchouli (Peru Balsam love overrides all eye rolling over the name) to my serious potential lemming list. Praying to the cosmos that I'm as indifferent to these as my saner side tells me I'll be.

[newproducts]

I'm interested in Amber Absolute, Noir de Noir, Oud Wood, and Bois Rouge. I wonder if they will turn out as interesting as the sound of the notes...

[Marina]

I want 11 out of 12. This is a disaster.

[Patty]

I've got strong wants on 2-3, but the rest do sound interesting. I'm assuming there will be some dogs in there (hope!).

[Ina]

This has a lot of potential to cause my financial ruin. I pray most of them will be in the style of Black Orchid, and I won't love them.

[violetnoir]

Dang, V, why did you do that?

I promised myself that I would ignore this Tom Ford collection, but he has me at the names. I love the names Noir de Noir, Japan Noir and Black Violet...Gee! I wonder why? Add to that, the fact that the notes of all three sound very interesting, I find myself losing my resolve.

Hugs!

[Fragrant Funster]

My mind just puzzles over why the release is in May of all months? 1) these ain't no "mommy" perfumes for Mothers' Day 2) The majority of them sound like big heavies that would give one the big heavesies in the summer months (meaning a vv small window in which to wear them before the weather really heats up). Would have been a near perfect release timing if done in later October perhaps. Just cannot see many of these appealing when sundress weather would be just around the corner.

[minette]

is it me, or does it sound like he's trying on the serge lutens aesthetic with these? hope they turn out better than black orchid did. or maybe not. it's not like i need to buy more scents. and what is with that price point? 1.7 for $165? they'd better be amazing for that much and that little.

[Karin]

I get a kick out of the price point of $165/1.7 oz. I bet everyone follows sooner or later. They will be pricing perfumes out of the range of the average customer. Unless they bottle smaller amounts.

That said, they sound very good. I look forward to smelling them, as I'm sure they won't all do on me.

my blog: www.savvythinker.com

[Mike P]

Not to go too much off topic...

BUT, did anyone notice that Mr. Ford released a new PERFUME version of Black Orchid, exclusively at Neimans, in a Lalique signed & numbered bottle, at $600 for a 1/2 ounce bottle..?

$165 for a 1.7oz bottle of the 12 now sounds kinda cheap now, doesn't it? (smile)

[aimtx]

Twelve?? Good gravy, TWELVE??? I'm still reeling from the Chanels! I'm actually not terribly tempted, I'm not a fan of Tom Ford in general, didn't love Amber Dude, loathed Black Orchid, in general am not impressed with his look-how-chicly-perverse-I-am sensibility. But I'll sniff. Oh, you can bet I'll sniff...

[Katia]

Hi,
I would like to tell you - your blog is simply amazing !
Thank you for share !
Here in Brazil we don't have many good perfume stores, but I really can enjoy the fragrances reading your reviews.
Thank you again !

[SYLVIE]

These are supposed to be unisex? I hope not!!!

[SYLVIE]

These are supposed to be unisex? I hope not!!!

[basco]

Ladies, sorry, but these are ALL mens colognes!

[Emmanuel]

A representative for this line at the David Jones store in Brisbane (Australia) said these were unisex. After "sampling" all of them, I think my favourite was Absolute Amber. I liked it because it was almost offensive. Quite musky... reminded me of talcum powder in old suitcases... antique wood. Almost had an "old man" smell to it. I like it because it is a challenging one to boast at a formal event. I think it might be a classic.

[Emmanuel]

... not too mention that these are quite new... so if you really want to stand out... wear the one no-one else likes! Absolute Amber for me is a winner :)