Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford

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Here’s a sample that I’ve had for probably over six months, at this point, and never got around to giving a proper review. Even though, I’ve worn it in the months it’s been in my possession. Tobacco Oud Intense is the flanker fragrance to the popular Tobacco Oud.

It was released in 2017, as a follow up. So, in this post, I will cover my experiences with Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford. How does it smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Tobacco Oud Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: oud, tobacco, amber, cedar, coriander, tonka bean, patchouli, sandalwood, labdanum

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford, 3.4 oz EDP Spray Unisex

My Full Review

The opening of this fragrance, definitely goes hard with the tobacco and oud note. It has a dark and smokey aroma, with a slight spice, which I take is from the coriander. It’s not an intense smell, in my opinion, but there is just a large abundance of those ingredients.

There is a dirty and outdoorsy undertone, throughout the whole wear. I guess, I should just call it earthy, but it is quite noticeable up top before Tobacco Oud Intense transitions to its next stage.

Underneath this initial layer, and what emerges more and more afterward, is an amber/tonka bean combination. This is when, the perfume starts to get good for me, the sweet smooth notes settling things down. Those two notes really makes the smokiness of the Tobacco Oud Intense, much more tolerable, and it sort of has a leathery quality to it.

Also, during the dry down, I find that the oud isn’t as present. Of course, it’s still there, but I get way more tobacco in the last 3/4’s of this fragrance. The other wood notes (cedar and sandalwood) do sit at the base and create a woodier scent, as it moves along, it’s just not that signature oud scent overpowering everything.

Ultimately, I get a smooth ambery tobacco, with a mix of sweet/smokey and a woodsy base. It’s a warm and very smooth aroma, with a definite masculine edge.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is fairly intense, but it’s not a crazy monster perfume. For the first few hours, you can definitely choke out a room, if you over-sprayed Tobacco Oud Intense. However, after that, this Tom Ford is more of a strong moderate.

While it’s not super powerful, this one does have a thick, almost enveloping aroma. Fairly complex with a density, common in winter fragrances.

The longevity seems to fall within the 7-9 hour range, again, not crazy but still very good. My skin doesn’t ‘eat up’ perfume, so, this probably about what one should expect. It was kind of surprising, as I would have thought that an intense Oud scent, would have gone on for ages.

Then again, the oud isn’t completely dominant here. Nonetheless, it is no slouch. On clothing, it does indeed last longer, than 9 hours.

Seasonally, it’s strictly for the cooler months of the year. This would be a mess in the heat of the summer. It’s a unisex scent, but it leans much more masculine, than other offerings from this brand.

It feels like something that should be worn at least in a semi-formal situation or business attire. Tobacco Oud Intense isn’t a Tom Ford fragrance for casual wear. Nor is it going to be something for the bar/nightlife scene.

It’s fairly niche and going to mostly appeal to oud fans and those who like these sorts of heavy scents.

Overall Impressions of Tobacco Oud Intense

Overall, do I like Tobacco Oud Intense. I like it for what it is, even if it’s not really my style of fragrance. It smells good, even though, I’m not personally a big oud fan. It does have a smoother and slightly sweeter smell versus the original Tobacco Oud.

If you’re a fan of these notes, this is probably one you’d want to consider. If you already have the original, this is close enough, that you probably don’t need it. Go with Intense, if you enjoy more amber and tonka bean, with a bigger dose of the tobacco note.

It’s not much more powerful or longer lasting. So, it really comes down to the level of sweetness, you enjoy.

6 Best Smelling Kenzo Colognes for Men

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Kenzo is a Japanese brand, which kind of flies under the radar, in the world of men’s fragrances. Yes, it is a super successful fashion brand, but the name isn’t well known among the masses. At least, not as well as it used to be in the late 1980s and 1990s. Nevertheless, it is a line of colognes which has plenty to offer those who are willing to step outside of the box of best sellers. In this post, I am going to present my top six Kenzo fragrances for guys, in no particular order. 

 

 

 

What are the Best Kenzo Colognes for Men?

Best Winter Scent

Kenzo Jungle– The rest of the list, is going to mostly go in the opposite direction of Jungle. This cologne does have a standout profile, which is headed by spices, and provides a warm and enveloping sort of aroma.

There’s enough sweetness, to keep it interesting. However, Jungle is all about the exotic feel and spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, and more. The cinnamon in the opening, with some light citrus notes and nutmeg, is really great. 

The final act, brings out some woody notes. Mostly, it’s all about those spices. Surprisingly, it isn’t too heavy or demanding. This is the best option for winter, though, Jungle isn’t limited to the colder months. It does have some well-done versatility. 

Best Summer Kenzo

L’eau Par Kenzo– L’eau Par Kenzo is a delightfully refreshing summertime wear, highlighted by both lemon and yuzu. Yes, the two citrus notes are similar but still remain distinct from one another. The juicy citrus sits on top of a watery aquatic base, with a familiar lotus and lighter musk, coming in the dry down.

Not a huge sillage here, but pretty good longevity for such a light warm weather cologne. The opening act has almost a bubbly aroma, with a crisp cold spiciness, provided by the moderate mint note. 

L’eau Par Kenzo is a clean and masculine aquatic, that can be a joy to wear casually around town, when the heat rises. 

Best Seller

Kenzo Pour Homme– So, Kenzo Pour Homme has been around for decades now. However, it has apparently been reformulated from the original, and lost some of its luster. I’m not familiar with the original blend, but I still think that this cologne is definitely worthwhile.

What you’re going to get is an 80s inspired aquatic scent, that is big on the woody notes. Fir, pine, and sandalwood give Kenzo Pour Homme a cutting freshness. The opening aquatic rush, is actually really great, and there is only a bit of citrus with some herbal aromas from notes, like sage. 

Very interesting and gives you a throwback scent, that is both unique and still very charming. Lots of wood, during the dry down, but can be a great pickup, even with the changes.

Awesome Aquatic

L’eau Kenzo Intense– L’eau  Kenzo Intense is none too complicated, but does bring the wearer quite a pleasant aquatic experience. This one is headed by its marine accord, a nice salty sea water, that is flanked by citrus notes (yuzu and lime).

The next level, brings on lotus, cedar, and basil. The basil is the most noticeable, but there is also plenty of lotus here. Less complex than L’eau Par Kenzo, but has a greater use of the oceanic ingredients, and really has much more of that classic marine appeal. L’eau Par Kenzo is better, in my opinion, but this is the better bet for those who want that oceanic style. 

 

Most Unique Fragrance

Power by Kenzo– Power is a fragrance from Kenzo that has been discontinued, but is good enough to make the list, regardless. Now, it isn’t going to be a scent that appeals to all men, and that’s okay.

Power is rather bold, but takes a different direction from the others on this list. You get a lovely blend of floral notes, spices, and woods. It is masculine without being overbearing and delivers a stylish and somewhat powdery finish. 

Soft and fresh, with a cardamom and coriander spice blend, that gives Power its strength. If you can track it down, at a decent price, it may be worth a shot for the right guy.

Underrated Kenzo Cologne

Kenzo Homme Night– This one adds a unique tropical type of flair, to the mix. Mango with hints of citrus, serve as part of the main attraction. The other, is a very attractive tonka bean note, which actually works in the warmer weather without melting away. 

Cardamom is the lead spice and the one that I could pick up most, when I tried this out once. There was some other vague spices, but my nose couldn’t really distinguish. Kenzo Homme Night is both underrated and can be somewhat difficult to find.

Nonetheless, Night is a very nice performer, with an attractive tropical sweetness and enough spice to give it an edge. 

9 Best Tropical Scented Perfumes for Her

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The tropics conjure up images of exotic fruits, beaches, and salty days spent at the beach. A sort of, never-ending summer, and the freedom of vacation. It’s no wonder why so many ladies want to wear perfumes with a tropical bent. In this post, I am going to put forth what I feel are the best fragrance options in this category, and provide choices which capture different aspects of the tropic sensibility.

9 Tropical Fragrances for Her

Celebrity Tropical Scent

Britney Spears Sunset Fantasy EDT Spray, 3.3 Ounce– Sunset Fantasy takes the Fantasy moniker in a fruity direction. It opens up with a zesty citrus combo of mandarin orange and grapefruit. These notes are supported by apple and peach. It feels summery and much more tropical, than you’d think.

As it dries down, Sunset Fantasy has a much more creamy aroma with milk froth and the peach note becomes much stronger. It’s juicy, smooth, creamy, and a bit warm with amber. This Britney perfume exudes a beachy summer vibe and has elements of a tropical drink. Good projection and performance. A very nice new addition to the lineup. Full Sunset Fantasy Review

Clean Aquatic

Davidoff Cool Water Eau De Toilette Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce–  Cool Water for Women gives you initial blast of citrus notes, mainly lemon, with its aquatic undertones. Then, the floral ingredients come in and give Cool Water a different tone, along with sandalwood for its soapiness.

It’s overall vibe is very clean, breezy, and definitely evokes memories of life at the beach. Nice performance and extremely affordable. This one has stuck around for a long time and delivers a lot for a low price.

cool water cheap perfume

Island Party Vibes

Escada 100 Ml EDT Spray, Rockin Rio, 3.3 Fl Oz– Citrus and floral notes that give Rockin’ Rio a very tropical feel as the name would indicate. Pineapple, pina coloda, sugar cane, tangerine, and papaya are the highlights. Rockin’ Rio is a fantastically delicious summertime scent, with an upbeat and sunny aroma.

This is the kind of Escada perfume that you would wear casually to a party or outdoor event, not an office or close quartered environment. Rockin’ Rio has a very large sillage with plenty of pineapple, papaya, and a sugar note running throughout. Probably best for younger ladies, who want a fun and flirty scent.

High End Designer Perfume

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc Spray, 3.4 Ounce, Eau de Toilette Spray– Soleil Blanc gets compared to the unisex, Virgin Island Water, a lot. Yes, there are similarities, but I think that this Tom Ford is actually the better scent. First, Soleil Blanc doesn’t have the boozy elements or as much citrus, as VIW does.

What it does feature, is floral notes: jasmine, ylang-ylang, and tuberose. Also, a unique pistachio, and enough amber to make it inviting.  Soleil opens with that coconut note, and a very juicy bergamot, with an underlying tuberose floral note.

These ingredients pair well and add the sweet creaminess of the perfume, but this is made spicier by the cardamom and just a hint of warm pink pepper.

The dry down becomes more floral and creamier with the coconut. The cardamom sticks around, but this is ultimately a white flower bouquet and coconut experience with a sunny personality. It has really good performance and delivers that day at the beach vibe to perfection. The sillage isn’t super strong, but Soleil Blanc will last for 10+ hours.  Soleil Blanc Full Review

Unique Blend

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Fico Di Amalfi Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce– This one gives you that familiar Blue Mediterraneo burst of citrus notes, including grapefruit and bergamot. Then, the outstanding fig note comes along as the dominant force, to create a sweet and unique experience.

The grapefruit and lemon are strongest at the top, but it leans more grapefruit, than the other perfumes on this list. Once the citrus settles down, it plays very well off of the fig, and light cedar base. I don’t always like fig in fragrances, but this has to be one of the best examples, of how to do it right.

Tropical Coconut Floral

Comptoir Sud Pacifique ALOHA TIARA EDT, 1 fl. oz.– Here is another option for those who want a tropical floral perfume. Aloha Tiara utilizes both frangipani and tiare flowers. The tiare flower dominates the composition, including over the ylang-ylang and vanilla notes. However, it does take on a further sweet creamy/milky quality with the coconut.

The coconut, is very present during the drydown, and even overtakes the tiare note with its power, at times. The performance is great and you do ultimately get a more floral experience, versus just a coconut bomb, or some other fruity notes.

Oceanic Perfume

Comptoir Sud Pacifique Eau de Toilette Spray, Aqua Motu, 3.3 fl. Oz.– Another entry from Comptoir Sud Pacifique, because this one presents a different and more oceanic, kind of take on this category. In fact, this is one that I can say, won’t be appealing to everyone.

It’s the beach in a bottle. A stroll along the shore. Dry sand with hints of driftwood, sitting in a salty aquatic environment, with a helping a seaweed. Reminds me of a more feminine take on the Bvlgari Aqva series. Again, this is a unique tropical scent, but one which might find a home for a certain percentage of women.

A Boozy Cocktail

Bond No. 9 Coney Island Eau De Parfums Spray, 3.4 Ounce– An interesting, aquatic, and somewhat boozy summertime wear from Bond No. 9. Coney Island kicks off with a burst of citrus, melon, and a really nice oceanic note.

A few minutes in, it feels like a cold tequila based cocktail, that is full of melon, guava, and strong citrus. The oceanic note, does feel salty, and actually comes across as being quite breezy. That is certainly helpful in adding to the cocktail effect, of this scent. That’s pretty much what you’re going to get from Coney Island, with some light woods in the latter stages.

This one, isn’t a daily wear, but can be a fun wear for casual days during the summertime. Sort of niche and limited, while having its positive qualities.

Simple and Unique Tropics

JO MALONE LONDON Tropical Cherimoya Cologne 100 ml. Limited Edition– A fruity fragrance from Jo Malone, led by cherimoya, that gives it a magnificent tropics vibe. I didn’t know what that fruit was, but I enjoy the vibe that it puts out, and the use of pear along side of the cherimoya.

This one is super sweet, beachy, with a freshness that permeates the entire thing. Underneath all of that, there is a tonka bean creaminess, and a floral influence.

6 Best Smelling Annick Goutal Perfumes

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Annick Goutal is a French designer with a long history of putting out fragrances, that often are related to a story or an experience in some part of the world. There are dozens of these perfumes for women, men, and unisex. As such, it can be quite difficult to narrow down all of these choices, and know where to start. No worries, in this post I have chopped it down to six scents for women, which could be considered the best of the bunch.

What are the Top Annick Goutal Fragrances?

Fresh Casual Fragrance

ANNICK GOUTAL Petite Cherie Eau de Parfum, 1.7 Ounce– A blend of peach and pear at the top, with a rose note, and freshly cut grass. Petite Cherie is fresh and juicy, with a green dewy background from the prominent grass note.

It is a very clean scent, which is led by the pear, and flanked by the sweet peach. As it dries down, the rose and musk note come out more, but are never all that heavy. This one is upbeat, youthful, and a nice daily wear for spring/summer.

The pear and the grass give Petite Cherie an interesting combination, with a crisp and dewy finish. This isn’t an overly complex fragrance, but one that does have a upbeat personality, that is great on an early spring day.

Best Smelling Floral Goutal

UN MATIN D’ORAGE Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– According to Goutal, Un Matin d’Orage, is supposed to be based on being in a Japanese garden following a rain storm. It is dominated by notes of magnolia and tuberose, which do give off that white floral aroma, and it does have a green watery scent that hangs in the air.

Close enough to the humid air after a rain. There is also a soft oriental spice of myrrh and a dash of sweet vanilla. Mostly, it is floral and green, with some herbal spice qualities. Straightforward, but a gorgeous wear for floral lovers.

This is another one like Ninfeo Mio, further down below, that delivers a natural and garden-like kind of perfume. I like that one better, in that vein, but this is probably the better choice for those who want a floral leaning scent. Clean, with a dewy and at times, airy quality.

Most Popular

Songes By Annick Goutal For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 OZ– A very floral scent, namely from tropical flowers such as frangipani and tiare, with vanilla and light spice from cumin and cinnamon. Songes opens up with those tropical flowers and along the way is joined by plenty of jasmine and a bit of ylang ylang.

It dries down with a creamy soft finish of mainly the frangipani, jasmine, and vanilla notes. A great and beautiful warm weather wear, which evokes thoughts of distant tropical islands.

Best Natural Green-ish Scent

Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This is another of the unisex entries on this list. Ninfeo Mio blends bright and juicy citrus notes with fig, and woody/floral base ingredients.

Very green like being in a garden or park with a beautiful fig note leading the way and catching wafts of the lemon throughout. Solid performance and the sillage is not too heavy. Definitely a nice unisex to wear on warm days.

This isn’t a wear that is going to please everyone, but it is absolutely one to check out for those who love naturalistic and fresh sorts of perfumes. Ninfeo Mio is definitely one of the best by Annick Goutal, with the case that it is the top choice, not being that difficult to prove.

Top Summertime Fragrance

Annick Goutal 256550 Eau D’hadrien Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This is a unisex fragrance which uses plenty of different types of citrus with a cypress wood base and a touch of ylang ylang. You have citron, Sicilian lemon, grapefruit, mandarin orange, and bergamot.

Yep, so expect a great summer’s day full of juicy fruit, and lovely zest. The blend comes off a tart, and then, becomes sweeter as it moves along. The cypress adds some needed depth and a nice green woodsy background.

This one is light, as is typical with citrus based scents, but really darn good. Consider getting the EDP version, for a bit more strength.

Most Unique Fragrance

EAU DE CHARLOTTE Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Eau de Charlotte is a wonderfully unique yet simple blend of floral notes, vanilla, and cacao. You get a strong mimosa in the start of the perfume, then the floral aroma shifts more to lily of the valley.

Meanwhile, the clean and sweet undertones, create a powdery and ever so slight gourmand scent. This one is light with decent performance and a cheerful disposition. Eau de Charlotte isn’t a heavy fragrance, by any means, but it does have a lot of depth.

Multi-faceted, might be a better way of putting it. The different floral notes, get their own times to shine. Then, there are the periods of vanilla sweetness, musk, and a powdery smelling cacao.

Best Perfumes by Celine Dion: Top 4 Scents

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Celine Dion is not only an amazingly popular singer, most popularly associated with “My Heart Will Go On”. She is also a successful businesswoman and her fragrance line produces beautifully scented perfumes for women, that aren’t at absurd designer prices. For this list, I have selected four scents by Celine which are the best of the bunch. As of this latest update in 2020, there haven’t been any new releases in many years from this line, and it may be defunct. Nonetheless, these were some of the best options, and bottles are still floating around for sale.

What are the Best Smelling Celine Dion Fragrances?

Pure Brilliance– A semi-sweet and fruity fragrance with notes of apple, lilies, pear, freesia, and greens. Pure Brilliance has an energetic and feminine quality to it that is bound to attract and draw complements.

It kicks things off with the crispness of apple and pear, which give the fragrance a somewhat aquatic feeling with that familiar juiciness. Then, you move into a dewy floral heart with freesia, lily, and honeysuckle combining for a fresh and beautiful aroma.

Pure Brilliance is very clean, light, and easy to wear. It is a good option for a do-everything sort of daily wear, with a balanced profile, and attractive scent.

Celine Dion– The namesake of the fragrance line, this perfume is soft and airy and will not create a heavy cloud of scent surrounding you. An inexpensive daily wear choice, which gives off a fresh vibe that is versatile enough to be worn anywhere.

This one gives you a different kind of impression, than something like, Pure Brilliance. Celine Dion has a warmer feeling with notes like sandalwood, leading the way. Woody without being overbearing and keeping a lighter sillage, with additional floral notes to round things out.

Belong– Not sure if they still make this one, but it was one of the most popular scents from Celine Dion. Flowers, pineapple, berries, and bergamot. Fresh and inviting fragrance.

The tart fruity notes, tend to dominate the opening stages of Belong. However, things become more floral, as the perfume wears on. At that point, you get a really unique blend of peony and cotton flower, with some woodsy notes to boot.

Belong isn’t a heavy scent at all, but provides a sweet/tart opening, with a very interesting almost soapy dry down. Quite a unique experience for a celebrity fragrance offering.

Sensational– A clean and moderate scent that can be worn on nearly any occasion. Notes include: plum, amber, apple, sandalwood, and pear. An overall great perfume that could easily fit into any woman’s style.

Sensational was a best seller from this line and shares some overlap with Pure Brilliance. However, it eventually deviates from that fragrance, to stand out on its own accord. This one is juicier with a tart plum note, added in there. It’s also not as floral, but gives you a great base of amber and sandalwood.

Again, this is another one to wear casually or in a semi-formal situation. Lighter to moderate sillage, but with a pretty good longevity.