Sole di Positano by Tom Ford

I have come to realize that, I still have so many Tom Ford fragrance reviews to post up on the site, even months after beginning the task. Well, better late than never, I suppose. In this edition, I want to take a closer look at the unisex fragrance, Sole di Positano.

This one was released in 2017. What does it smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a purchase? Note: I’ve updated since the original posting.

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What does Sole di Positano Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, lemon, bergamot, bitter orange, orange blossom, jasmine, neroli, ylang-ylang, moss, lily of the valley, shisho leaf

Click here to try: Tom Ford Sole di Positano Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz

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My Full Review

Sole di Positano opens with a beautiful blend of citrus notes, but mainly consists of the orange ones. It immediately brings to mind Mandarino di Amalfi by Tom Ford, which is near identical to this fragrance, at the start.

However, Mandarino has much more of an herbal spicy profile, than does Sole di Positano which goes with a white floral blend later on.

I think that I prefer this one to Mandarino, as well as some of the Acqua di Parma line and other Tom Ford citrus/floral fragrances, like the Portofinos.

Sole di Positano has such a brilliant zesty aroma at the top, with only a slight herbal/spicy flavor, from the shisho leaf and neroli notes. The whole thing is super fresh and bright, like a summer’s day, and really does capture that Mediterranean coastal vibe.

After the initial citrus wave, the floral notes begin to emerge. For me, they never fully overtake the citrus, but do support those notes (particularly the orange blossom and neroli). What I really like about this blend, is that the dry down doesn’t go completely ‘soapy’ with the smell.

You get the jasmine and ylang-ylang, but that beautiful citrus stays around, even if it becomes greener and more floral.

In its final stages, what I mainly get from Sole di Positano is: the mandarin/bergamot blend, jasmine, neroli, some oak moss (love this added touch), and the other floral notes battling it out. It is a very clean and attractive scent, which sits very well when out and about, in the sunshine.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t too strong, but it was more than a skin scent for me. It starts in the 4-5 foot range from the wearer and moves progressively in from there. Decent, but by no means a sillage bomb.

The longevity is actually fairly good, for a citrus based scent like this. I’ve gotten 6 hours from it, and maybe, closer to 7 during a few wears. Again, not amazing, but very solid for this style. There are plenty of summer citrus perfumes that are lucky to last half of this.

Sole di Positano is a unisex fragrance and I had no problems wearing it, as a man. Yes, it is a citrus/floral, but doesn’t feel hyper feminine at all. Not to say, everyone would want to wear this, but you could. This Tom Ford is a spring/summer wear, all the way.

It is solid for office wear or casual or perhaps a formal summertime event. It is pleasing and is light enough, to fit in for nearly any occasion. Very middle of the road, with a near universal appeal and application.

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Overall Impressions of Sole di Positano

Overall, do I like Sole di Positano? I do. It does have plenty of similarities with other fragrances of this ilk, from both Tom Ford, and other designers. However, the overall composition, performance, and smell is such that I have to give it a high grade.

Is it an amazing must have? Probably not a ‘must have’, but it is a very good perfume across the board. It is worth the high price of admission.

I love the citrus opening, along with the orange blossom. The performance is actually quite good for this sort of summertime wear.

There are so many other examples of this style of scent, that only bring it for 2-3 hours, that Sole di Positano kind of seems like a beast in comparison.

It comes across as a clean citrus, but with those underlying base notes of oak moss and what I take to be, shiso leaves; Sole di Positano does take on a distinct character of its own. Yes, similar to others, but it does its own thing quite well.

This is an easy pickup for almost anyone looking for a great summer fragrance. It’s not one that’s going to cover all of your bases, as a year round perfume, but it’s one that’s an awesome add-on for when the temperatures heat up.