Patchouli Absolu by Tom Ford

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I have only about a handful of Tom Ford samples to finish getting through, after this one, before I’m done with my current stash. Of course, I’ll have to acquire whatever scents are left, in order to do writeups another time.

However, today, we have an entry from the Private Blend collection: Patchouli Absolu. Yep, a patchouli based fragrance is going to be a bit polarizing, but we will see how this one ranks. How does it smell? What are the notes? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Patchouli Absolu Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, leather, cypriol oil, guaiac wood, moss, amber, bay leaf, tonka bean, rosemary, and cashmere wood

Click here to try: Tom Ford Patchouli Absolu Eau De Parfum 50 Ml

My Full Review

Patchouli Absolu is a part of Tom Ford’s Private Blend series of fragrances. From the start, this particular scent is going to be pretty niche, as patchouli isn’t always everyone’s favorite ingredient. It’s definitely not mine, but it is here in spades.

Will you have to like patchouli, to enjoy this? Yes. However, it really doesn’t strike me as, most other fragrances of this type.

The opening act is quite woody, dry, and with a slight spice. You do have rosemary and bay leaf, at the top, but neither strikes me as being all that strong for the duration of the wear. The patchouli is there, but it really starts to break out, a little later on.

Along with the main attraction and herbal spice is: oud, leather, moss/woods. The wood is definitely cypress to go along with that oud note, which isn’t very strong.

I like the addition of the leather here, I think that is what is making the patchouli itself, much more tolerable. It’s smooth while being quite earthy/woodsy, with that super dry profile.

During the dry down and the rest of the wear, the patchouli gets stronger, and is flanked by the leather. The moss is the next strongest note, to my nose, with woods underneath.

There does seem to be at least some amber and tonka bean in Patchouli Absolu, but it is very little, and really blends together.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of Patchouli Absolu is pretty strong. This isn’t one that you’ll want to douse yourself with, even if you really enjoy it. A little will go a long way.

Like most other Tom Ford fragrances, this one will last for a long time on the skin, as well. 10+ hours has been my experience with it. Really, it’s one that I just lose track of because it just keeps going.

Seasonally, stick mostly to the autumn and winter months with this one. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be bad on warm days, but keep away from the high heat.

This is a casual to formal wear fragrance. Not really a nightlife or date night sort of scent, unless whoever you’re dating, just loves patchouli.

It’s got a real mature sensibility about it. Most younger guys, would want nothing to do with wearing this. It’s not so offensive to a general audience, but in a lot of ways it will be more of a niche wear.

Overall Impressions of Patchouli Absolu

Overall, do I like Patchouli Absolu? It’s not my style, but for what it is, I do like it. The patchouli and leather are quite good together. Plus, that mossy dryness and wood, create a masculine and earthy scent.

It’s not too harsh, but has a definite classic feeling. I wouldn’t recommend this for most guys to just grab a bottle of. However, if you’re a patchouli fan, I’d definitely give this one a try. It’s right up there with the best of them.

Mont Blanc Explorer vs Legend

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Legend has been a best seller for Mont Blanc for many years now. A few years ago, they released Explorer, and it quickly became a favorite among consumers. They have somewhat differing styles, but which is the better cologne? Which fragrance lasts longer? Opens better? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Explorer

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Montblanc Explorer

Opening

Legend has a fruity opening of apple, bergamot, and pineapple. It has a very citrus beginning, but it features a dry scent, with creamy tonka bean and lavender coming through. Along with, the underlying woodsy notes.

Explorer kicks off with the bergamot citrus note going strong. With that is pink pepper and sage, giving it a fresh spiciness. Can be somewhat sharp, but honestly not overwhelming. The second layer consists of leather, ambroxan, and woods.

Which is better? They both give you the citrus opening, but Mont Blanc Explorer is just more dynamic and better to my nose. I like the sage and pink pepper more so than the dryness of Legend.

Edge: Explorer

Projection

Legend is a moderate fragrance throughout, pretty average, and never ventures into super strong territory. Meanwhile, Explorer is above average for a good deal of the wear, before settling into something closer to Legend.

Explorer hits higher highs and can project itself further from the skin.

Edge: Explorer

Longevity

On my skin, I get 5-6 hours of wear from Montblanc Legend. It never goes beyond that, but to its credit, also doesn’t fail to meet that target either. It’s pretty steady.

Explorer can go 6-8 hours and will usually hit at least 7 for me. Neither one of these is elite in its performance, but there is a clear winner.

Edge: Explorer

 

 

Versatility

Both of these scents are extremely versatile in terms of when they can be worn and who can wear them. Both are low key enough for work or for school. Yet, they can also venture into the nightlife and be fine in most climates, except for extreme heat. No real difference.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Legend has never been a personal favorite of mine. I’ve always found it to be just okay and kind of thought that it was a lesser version of the original bottles of Abercrombie Fierce. Well, since those aren’t great anymore, I guess Legend is it.

That’s not to say I dislike it. I do enjoy the citrus, sandalwood, and lavender blend. It’s a very easy fragrance to wear, not going to offend, and can be a go to starter fragrance for younger guys.

That being said, Explorer absolutely is a better fragrance. Yes, it’s a pretty good dupe of Aventus, but it does have some personality of its own. It smells better, lasts longer, and is just all around more enjoyable than Legend. No brainer here for me.

Winner: Explorer

5 Best Smelling Vince Camuto Perfumes

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Vince Camuto isn’t the best well known brand. However, it does have some very nice fragrances out there, that provide quality at a fair price. I wouldn’t say that the brand has any bonafide classics.

Though, they have plenty of options that can provide for a great scent experience. In this post, I want to list my top 5 pick from the brand’s lineup of perfumes. It should give you enough to go on or find for yourself a new fragrance to try out. 

What are the Best Camuto Fragrances for Her?

Most Popular Perfume

Vince Camuto Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Fl Oz– An interesting fragrance that utilizes rum, patchouli, amber, and leather. However, this is blended with sweetness and floral notes. 

Vince Camuto EDP starts off with a nice dose of rum surrounded by the thickness of the amber and vanilla combination. It has an underlying earthy patchouli note, to dirty things up a bit.

As it moves along, the leather becomes more of a factor and the rum note fades. It’s a leather floral fragrance, with a nice rose and light jasmine combination, and underlying spiciness. It finally settles into just leather, amber, and vanilla. 

Watery Floral

Vince Camuto Eau de Parfum Spray Capri, 3.4 Fl Oz– Capri is much more of a straightforward fragrance than the one above. You do get some citrus and aquatic aromas here, as the island name would suggest.

However, it isn’t an oceanic scent. The watery note is from the violet and the juiciness of the citrus. It comes across as bright and clean. Then, settling down into a light musky floral, that is still led by that violet note. 

Very nice for the summer months. Pretty much an easy to wear scent, when you want something that’s not overwhelming, but fresh.

The Chanel-like Perfume

Fiori by Vince Camuto– This is a great option for those who want an alternative fragrance that smells quite similar to Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. 

Peach, grapefruit, and nectarine up top with powdery floral notes in the middle. Iris, jasmine, and a musky/amber finish. Not super powerful, though, strong enough to last most of the day and at a fair price point. 

Simple Summer Wear

Bella by Camuto– A light citrus and floral blend for the summer months. Bella gives you a great and juicy bergamot opening, that sits on top of jasmine and nectarine blossoms, while swimming in a pool of amber. It does have a watery, almost semi-aquatic aroma. 

It’s got a warm quality with enough sweetness to keep things interesting, while not being a complex fragrance at all. The performance isn’t top notch, but this is a fun one for when it gets warmer outside. 

 

 

Fruity Floral

Amore by Vince Camuto– Amore is an upbeat little blend of fruits and floral notes. Early stages are dominated by the lovely fruit notes, led by passionfruit. It is sugary and has a somewhat tropical vibe.

Next, the floral notes come into the picture. Orchid, freesia, and lily which come together to give it  a green-ish watery sort of aroma. The sweetness and fruitiness by this point have toned way down and this is more of a traditional floral fragrance with a hint of powder. 

Soft, but can be an awesome perfume to wear during the spring. Passionfruit is the highlight though. 

Coco Mademoiselle vs La Vie Est Belle Comparison

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Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel and Lancome’s La Vie est Belle are and have been two of the most popular women’s fragrances on the market. There’s not a whole lot of overlap between them in terms of how they smell, but because of their versatility and great aromas, it can often come down to them when choosing a daily wear scent.

In this post, I am going to give my head to head comparison. From how each smells, to their performance, and ultimately which is the better buy.

Tale of the Tape: Mademoiselle vs. La Vie Est Belle

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: jasmine, rose, orange, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

La Vie Est Belle

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla, blackberry, iris, pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

Click here to try: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce

Read my Review: La Vie Est Belle

Opening

The start of La Vie est Belle is more about its fruity notes. Blueberry and pear are present at first, giving it sparkling, somewhat juicy, and tart aroma. This is then followed by an earthy patchouli note and the powdery nature of the iris.

Coco Mademoiselle begins as a blend of fruity and floral. The citrus notes are present, but supported by ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine, and the neroli note. There is also an underlying patchouli note present, but it doesn’t feel as strong to my nose.

Which is better? I do like the Lancome fragrance, but comparatively, it has more of a tart and sour aroma that can be more off-putting. Not bad, but just doesn’t come across as pleasing as the Chanel.

I enjoy the citrus notes and how balanced that Mademoiselle is. It takes this category.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Projection

Having tested out both of these perfumes, I can say that they are both quite strong in their presentation. Either one of them could be over-sprayed and have the ability to fill a room. Neither is elite, but are well above average.

Honestly, I don’t really notice a difference here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

In terms of how long each of these perfumes lasts on the skin, they have the ability to go over 10 hours each.

However, Coco Mademoiselle will consistently last over 10 hours. La Vie est Bell can. Though, it may also just hit 8 hours. I’d say 8-11 is its range, depending on the climate.

The Chanel? 10, as a baseline and can go for a few hours beyond that.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Versatility

These two fragrance each has extremely good versatility. They can be worn in a wide variety of situations from formal to more casual events. Each has also proven itself to be well-liked and generally won’t offend.

The only slight distinction I’d make, is that Coco Mademoiselle can hold up better in the heat. Neither of these is a summertime wear predominantly, but the Chanel can venture into these months, more easily.

Edge: Mademoiselle (slightly)

Overall Scent

La Vie Est Belle is a really great performer. The opening can be too much for some people, but it really settles down into a nice gourmand fragrance. There is the later inclusion of vanilla and praline, which flank the patchouli, and fruit notes perfectly. Not to mention, the iris powdery note.

There is a reason that it has become such a popular fragrance over the years. Really, there’s not too much to complain about.

However, I think that Coco Mademoiselle not only smells better, but also has the better performance overall. The citrus opening is great, as is the floral/vanilla/musky ending. It is well blended and a great perfume overall.

If it’s a choice based solely on scent and performance, the more expensive scent wins here. If price is a major concern, La Vie est Belle is still good enough to warrant a purchase.

Winner: Coco Mademoiselle

Armani Si vs La Vie Est Belle Perfume Comparison

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Getting back into the women’s perfume space, I wanted to do a comparison post about two of the more popular fragrances on the market: Si by Armani vs. La Vie Est Belle by Lancome. Which of these two best-sellers smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

La Vie Est Belle

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla, blackberry, iris, pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

Click here to try: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce

Read my Review: La Vie Est Belle

Si by Armani

Notes include: rose, vanilla, freesia, black currant, patchouli, amber, woods

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Si Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Review: Si Perfume

Opening

La Vie est Belle starts things off with its fruity elements. You get pear and blueberry in combination with one another. It can have a bit of a tart profile at first, but it’s very nice, and is followed by patchouli and iris.

Meanwhile, Si, opens up with also brings some tart fruitiness with black currant, that gets smoothed out by vanilla and rose. Actually, it takes on a sweet quality which sort of smells like peach, rather than the individual parts of the perfume. Patchouli also comes into the picture.

Which is better? Well, they’re both a mix of fruity and patchouli. I think that I prefer Si, out of the two. It doesn’t have the same tart or sour qualities, as does La Vie, and smells juicier to me.

Edge: Si

Projection

La Vie est Belle is a pretty darn strong perfume. The sillage is fairly large and if over-sprayed, it can overpower a room. You definitely get the performance with this one.

The Armani perfume, isn’t all that heavy, but not weak. It seems to be strictly moderate during the entirety of the wear, never really touching the same heights as La Vie.

Edge: La Vie

Longevity

When testing out Si, I could get it to last for 6-7 hours, on my skin. Not amazing, but quite good, for most purposes. The Lancome scent will go for at least 8 hours, but can often exceed 10. It’s the clear performance winner.

Edge: La Vie

Versatility

To me, these are both extremely versatile fragrances, which is why they are so popular as daily wears. Each can go to the office, out for casual events, and even serve as romantic wears. Neither of them, are built for summer, however. 

Cold weather to more temperate climates, are their sweet spot. There’s no noticeable difference in this category.

Edge: Push

 

 

Overall Scent

These two perfumes often get compared because they do occupy the same space. Not only that, there is overlap in the composition of each. As such, the head to head comparison is quite close.

La Vie Est Belle is a really great performer. The opening can be too much for some people, but it really settles down into a nice gourmand fragrance. There is the later inclusion of vanilla and praline, which flank the patchouli, and fruit notes perfectly. Not to mention, the iris powdery note. 

I happen to like SI by Armani, a bit better. Not by a huge margin, and no, the performance isn’t as good. However, I think the smell is better. It starts off with the juicy berry/fruitiness and then moves into something more floral and woody. 

For me, the rose and freesia, with amber and woods really create the distinction between these perfumes. Those notes coming in later, separates Si, and gives it the low key quality to make it a winner.

Winner: Si