Black Orchid Parfum by Tom Ford

Black Orchid Parfum is a release that I’ve heard a lot about since its debut back in 2020. The original EDP was one that I liked, so I was intrigued to see what Tom Ford did with this particular version. I grabbed a decanted sample of this a few months back and have been testing it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is Black Orchid Parfum worth a try?

What does Black Orchid Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: black orchid, ylang-ylang, patchouli, rum, truffle, plum

Click here to try: Black Orchid Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Tom Ford describes it: THE MOST LUXE, POTENT VERSION OF BLACK ORCHID EVER MADE, BLACK ORCHID PARFUM AMPLIFIES THE ICONIC SENSUALITY OF THE ORIGINAL FRAGRANCE. THE PERFUME’S APHRODISIAC EFFECT ELEVATES THE RARE, ELUSIVE FLOWER TO SEDUCTIVE NEW HEIGHTS – REVEALING A MAGNIFIED SIGNATURE OF YLANG-YLANG DIPPED IN GOLDEN RUM.

Note: I’m not going to compare this to the original Black Orchid EDP, since I don’t have a sample on hand, and it’s been years since I smelled that one. That may change in future updates to this page. As of now, just focused on Parfum.

Spraying this perfume always gives me a very dark purple impression. That plum note, the truffle, orchid…it just triggers thoughts of that shade of purple.

The opening is actually quite earthy and spicy. Truffle and the patchouli notes are huge here. It’s not my favorite, but I think that this does get better in the dry down. The orchid is apparent with its own spiciness/chocolatey nuances.

Plum is also a prominent note. It’s paired with rum, which gives it a very interesting and further spiced quality. Plummy rum doesn’t sound like it’d taste that great, but the smell is nice.

That opening blast will calm down after 10 minutes or so. The plum feels more defined and the balance of the composition is a lot better to my nose. That truffle sticks around, but the patchouli and rum will back off in intensity.

So, it’s earthier rather than a blend of earthy and spicy. Still, you have that sweet boozy quality and the ylang-ylang really begins to come into play.

At this stage, the orchid is superseded by that ylang-ylang. There is a creaminess to the blend. It’s funny, because it does have a dark chocolate-like aroma, but also an earthy almost dusty touches to it. Parfum strikes me as a very dry perfume.

The end is a ylang-ylang and truffle/patchoui mix. The other notes just sort of blend together into a sweetish dark concoction, that’s really attractive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Black Orchid Parfum isn’t the heaviest/thickest fragrance out there, but boy is it loud. This Tom Ford is an absolute monster with how it projects.

I can spray it on clothes and smell it in another room. It has a very far reach on my skin, also. Really, it gets a perfect score in terms of performance with just how it essentially takes over. Easy on the sprays, maybe even spray it under clothing.

The longevity is also top notch. I routinely get this one at over 12 hours. I’m not sure when it quits, as I shower and scrub before it dies down. I will say, I sprayed this on a shirt and my closet smelled like Black Orchid Parfum for two weeks.

Seasonally, I’d tend to wear this in autumn or winter. As I said though, it’s not a super ‘thick’ fragrance, so it’s not completely limited. Anytime it’s pretty moderate or cool outside or indoors, this could be used.

This is listed as a unisex. Like the original EDP, this one does skew more feminine with how it presents. Still safe for most guys to wear, but I think there are some who wouldn’t like this one for themselves.

Much more of a nighttime wear. That intensity, the boozy, the dirtiness gives Black Orchid Parfum a sexier vibe.  Nighttime or casual, mostly. You could venture to wearing this in some workplaces, if you go easy on the sprays.

Overall Impressions of Black Orchid Parfum

Overall, do I like this perfume? I do. The opening act almost steered me completely away from this, but it turns a corner and gets more likeable, the further into the wear that I go.

It’s not a complete love, personally. Though, I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing this out on certain evenings. It’s bold, sexy, and a fragrance that commands attention. Not one that everyone is going to enjoy or vibe with, but worth trying out, because you may love it.

Plum is a note that is hit or miss for me. Here, I like it. I think because the tart aspects of the fruit are toned down by the explosion of rum and truffle.

The orchid is around, but it’s not the main focus. Ylang-ylang is more of a floral factor and there is an earthiness here that really dirties up the composition.

Again, the performance is amazing on me. It only requires a few sprays and it indeed takes the crown in terms of ‘potency’, as the Tom Ford description suggests.

With any scent at this price point, I’d suggest getting a bit to try before putting down all that cash. I think this is a fragrance that’s worth the price of admission, but better be safe than sorry, if you don’t happen to click with it.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.