tom ford

Comparing Santal 33 vs. Oud Wood

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Santal 33 from Le Labo and Oud Wood from Tom Ford are two very popular releases that people seem to have a tough time deciding between. I have never been a mega fan of either of these fragrances, but have tested each out repeatedly over the years.

So, today I am going to try and provide my own personal in depth takes while comparing these two perfumes, to see if I can help you get some clarity in this head to head matchup.

Tale of the Tape: Santal 33 vs. Oud Wood

Santal 33

Notes include: sandalwood, violet, iris, amber, cardamom, leather, papyrus, cedar

Click here to try: Santal 33 on Amazon

Read my original review: Santal 33

Oud Wood

Notes include: rosewood, sandalwood, oud, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, cardamom, and vetiver

Click here to try: Oud Wood on Amazon

Read my original review: Oud Wood

Opening

Oud Wood starts off with a strong blast of the oud note and cardamom. Underneath that, is a peppery sort of spice. It’s warm and dry, with sandalwood and rosewood, already being prominent at the base. It’s a very spicy and woody, sort of aroma up top.

Santal also has the cardamom and dry woods. Just without the oud. It’s not remotely as spicy as Oud Wood is either. This notes are joined by leather and violet. Papyrus is a oud which distinguishes itself from the oud used in the Tom Ford scent.

Which is better? The opening act of Oud Wood is a great array of the various wood notes and spices. It’s not completely amazing, but it captures my attention.

I like the leather facets, the use of the papyrus in Santal. Though, even with that I feel the opening act is the weakest of the perfume.

Not a huge win, but I’ll give this category to Oud.

Edge: Oud Wood

Projection

Both of these are perfumes with a moderate sillage which then turn into lighter fragrances. I don’t think either is weak and both of them are detectable for most of their wear.

That being said, the Tom Ford perfume feels heavier and like it has a further reach at its peak. Yes, Santal 33 is more sustained on my skin, but I think Oud Wood is technically the stronger of the two.

Edge: Oud Wood

Longevity

Oud Wood has always been a strange one for me. Anytime that I’ve tried this fragrance out, I’ve gotten 4-5 hours of wear from it. The Intense version, lasted over 10 hours for me, however.

The Le Labo perfume will hit the 7-8 hour range, on my skin.

Neither of these is an absolute beast with their performance, but Santal 33 takes this category fairly easily in my experience.

Edge: Santal 33

Versatility

Seasonally, Oud Wood always struck me as being built more for the autumn and winter months. Santal can do that too, but it also extends well into springtime. Honestly, outside of the height of summer, I think the Le Labo works.

Both of these are unisex, of course. But, I think Santal has a wider range of use cases as a signature scent or a daily wear. Neither is a nightlife beast, but Santal also just has a wider appeal than you’re going to get with the oud based scent.

Edge: Santal 33

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these perfumes do I like more? I’d go with Santal versus Oud Wood. Which, I think that Oud Wood Intense was the better of the two anyway. Of course, it’s the one that got discontinued.

Oud Wood starts out nice, but never really interests me much beyond that. Sure, it has similar vibes at times to Santal, but I just think that the Le Labo smells better.

Santal has a weaker start. It’s never been bad to me, just kind of meh, who cares? Though, it really gets going as it transitions into the heart of the wear.

Along with the scent itself, Santal has better performance and will fit the style of a wider range of people. Plus, a more extensive use case. Santal checks more boxes and gets the win here.

Winner: Santal 33

6 Perfumes Similar to Black Orchid by Tom Ford

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Black Orchid is one of the most beloved and unique fragrances from Tom Ford, that really helped to set the standard for the brand back in 2006. Since then, it has continued on, and there have been some flankers released based on the formula as well.

But, what if you want to find a fragrance that is similar to Black Orchid or the Parfum version? Maybe one that is cheaper and shares most all similarities with it. Or, you want something with closely related style, but gives you something a bit different? This is my page for keeping track of these options.

What Fragrances Smell Like or are Similar to Black Orchid?

Orchid Alternative

Spicy Orchid by Dossier– Spicy Orchid is the first on the list for ‘inspired by’ alternative perfumes based on the idea of Black Orchid.

Dossier does a lot of designer impressions and they tend to do them well. For under $40, you can get something that is very nearly the same as the Tom Ford scent, with a high extrait de parfum concentration level.

The notes here give you a plum, orchid, and spicy opening act of pink pepper and cinnamon. Good spice, nice tart, and a bold floral scent.

Celestial Spice

Celestial Flower by Dua– The Dua option is inspired by the original 2006 formula of Black Orchid. Taking what was great about the initial release and coming close to replicating it, with their own in house ingredients.

Celestial Flower goes a little deeper with the ingredients than does the Dossier above. Truffle, gardenia, chocolate, blackcurrant, lotus, and more combine to create an amazing throwback olfactory experience.

It too, comes in an extrait de parfum concentration. I’d probably go with this one first, as it’s got the most ability to showcase the layers of notes, while having a high level of performance.

Never Forget

Unforgettable by Alexandria– The third of the four scents that try to closely replicate what Black Orchid provides. This time, from Alexandria, which is a brand that I’ve had good experience with.

They’ve always had the quality and I do like that you can pick up Unforgettable in multiple sizes, that aren’t available from some of the others on the list.

Unforgettable goes with ylang-ylang and jasmine up top with the black currant note. Spices and the patchouli note follow. I haven’t personally tried this one,  but it sounds right on target for what we want.

Orchid Parfum Alt

Guilty EDP Intense– Not exactly the same, but this release from the Guilty line has a lot in common with Black Orchid Parfum.

Here, we get violet instead of the orchid note. But, to me the ylang-ylang in Black Orchid Parfum was what I got more in the dry down, than the title note anyway.

With Guilty EDP Intense, violet and the ylang-ylang eventually merge into a generic floral aroma. It finishes with vanilla, patchouli, and plum. The undertones become a basically sweet floral perfume.

Still a dark formula, but this Gucci doesn’t have the same earthiness and spice as the Tom Ford. Depending who you are, that might be exactly what you want from an alternative. Guilty EDP Intense Review

guilty edp intense review

A bit different, more femme

Maremma by Tiziana Terenzi– Not exactly the same as Black Orchid, but it’s close. Actually, has some elements of the Parfum version. A bit in-between the two Tom Ford perfumes.

Maremma has an oak and a leathery aspect, that kind of differentiates it from our target. Plus, no actual orchid here. Still, even with the differences this one is pretty close and at a cheaper price.

You still get the blackcurrant and fruitiness. The opening act is thick with its sweetness and has a level of intensity. But, it’ll settle down into a woodier fruity scent, but you still get to keep a good deal of the honey.

Performance is decent, but nothing remarkable. A lighter fragrance than is the Tom Ford.


Solar Nights

Nuit Noor by Elie Saab– This one has a close opening act to Black Orchid and a similar style. To me, it ultimately comes across as being fairly different. While, being close enough to earn a spot here.

This one has the same dark qualities (for a time), floral notes, and woods. But, it’s a rose here instead of the jasmine and orchid in our target. Plus, this really lacks the plum and truffle notes that give Black Orchid its jammy and earthy aromas.

As we move forward, Nuit Noor really comes into its own. The spices calm, but you get a slight smokiness from incense. Mainly, its a solar accord that comes through with the floral notes and honey. At some point, the ylang-ylang feels stronger than the rose by a wide margin.

This is a good alternative for those who think Black Orchid is a bit too much. This feels more normal, while still having a uniqueness all of its own, and more wearable for lots of people.

Oud Wood Intense by Tom Ford

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Keeping things moving, in my remaining Tom Ford fragrance reviews, we have the flanker scent to the original Oud Wood. Oud Wood Intense, kicks things into a higher gear than its originator, but does it actually smell good? Is the performance great? Is it worth a buy?

What does Oud Wood Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: oud, juniper, leather, cypress, angelica, ginger

Click here to try: Tom Ford Oud Wood Intense 1.7 oz./ 50 ml Spray New 

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my review of Oud Wood Intense, let’s see how Tom Ford describes it: “Unrestrained. Lavish. Intense. Tom Ford Oud Wood Intense introduces new dimensions of oud at its richest, most luxurious saturation. Often imitated, never duplicated, the classic Tom Ford Oud Wood reveals its full force through bold intensification, ignited by the smoldering grip of angelica roots and cypress.”

Wow. Does this stuff ever hit hard. Upon immediate application to the skin, Oud Wood Intense, hits with a warm spice and leather. It’s not just a fresh ginger, but also an animalistic kind of aroma.

Is the original Oud Wood in there? Sort of. It’ll be closer to the original later on in the wear, but at first, its a completely different kind of scent.

After the original spice, fades a bit, I start to get more of the oud itself. However, it isn’t overpowering the composition. Instead, I get that burning quality from the angelica, and the distinct smell of cypress.

This cologne really does have a dark and as they described it, smoldering, aroma. It’s a smoky wood, but as if it is currently burning, and not already burnt.

From there, what I get is a blend of the oud and cypress, with a less prominent angelica, a leathery smell, and a faint hint of juniper.

It’s a bit smoother, at this point, and has flashes of the original Oud Wood. It’s still got that warm smoldering sort of feeling, but it has really developed into  the cypress/oud hybrid.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this fragrance is a bomb. Seriously, this can project like crazy, and easily be over sprayed. With that in mind, this is also a scent that you don’t want to overspray, because it ruins the experience. Plus, chokes out a room. Keep it to 1-2 sprays.

The longevity is also utterly fantastic. It can go all day, well into the double digit hours on my skin. Not that it’s going to be vital to do so, in most situations, but it is more than capable.

Climate wise, this is a cold weather fragrance. If you live in a tropical area, or if it’s summertime, I wouldn’t even bother. It’d be such a pungent mess, to not even be worth wearing, at this price point.

This is also much more of a niche fragrance, than was the original Oud Wood. It’s use and appeal is going to be limited, as it’s not the crowd pleasing type, and actually lives up to the intense name.

I’d probably say this is more of an evening wear or casual scent, that you’d wear because you enjoy it. Not many others, will agree, but it will have a small number of ardent fans.

Overall Impression of Oud Wood Intense

Do I like Oud Wood Intense? In a way, I actually do. Can I wear this, personally? Probably not.

I’m not a huge oud fan, but this strikes me as much more interesting, than the original. It’s got some real highlight moments, but ends up overwhelming my senses.

This is only going to really appeal to a select group of people. Not only is it prohibitively expensive, but the smell is going cut the number of potential buyers, even further. Oud Wood Intense is fairly niche with its style.

The performance is top notch, it’s unique, and comes together quite nicely. Not a blind buy candidate, but someone out there is going to find this to be an obsession.

Update: This seems to have been discontinued at some point. Not sure if Tom Ford is ever going to bring it back or do a limited run of it. So, you’ll have to track down a bottle online and pay whatever prices people are selling Intense for.

Again, this might not be something that everyone will enjoy. Don’t overpay for a bottle if you’re unsure.

11 Best Tom Ford Perfumes for Women

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Tom Ford fragrances fall into the more very expensive designer category of perfumes. They tend to be less synthetic and contain more ‘rare’ notes than other mainstream scents. However, Tom Ford also produces some really great scents for women. These perfumes tend to stand out and make a statement, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the person wearing it.

The scents on this list will be more along the lines of a signature perfume for the right lady and not all of them will have universal appeal.

What are the Best Smelling Ladies Fragrances by Tom Ford?

Popular Fragrance Choice

Tom Ford Black Orchid By Tom Ford For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4-Ounces– Dark, rich, and spicy. A loud and sensual gourmand fragrance featuring notes of black truffle, black orchid, plum, and patchouli.

Not quite feminine nor is it over to the masculine side of fragrance either. This one can be loved or hated, but it is bold and sexy, nevertheless.

Black Orchid is not only a top level fragrance with its sillage, but it seemingly lasts forever. Yes, Tom Ford fragrances are priced on the higher end, but you get every penny’s worth with this perfume’s performance.

It’s sweet, it’s dark and dry, it’s smokey, and then powdered. Black Orchid has a lot of personality and the composition has a very well done complexity. Marvelous.

Best Overall

Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme Eau De Parfum, 3.4 Ounce– A more moderate gourmand than Black Orchid. Noir has an alluring vibe created by the smooth vanilla notes, the floral notes like rose, and the sweetness of orange.

A beautiful fragrance that is soaked in amber, has a creamy tone, on top of smooth sandalwood. Noir Pour Femme is much more of a cold weather fragrance and hangs in the air wonderfully without being too in your face about it.

Noir Pour Femme has a lot of overlap with Noir Extreme for Men. Less intense at the start, but that beautfiul dry down is pretty close to one another. Noir Extreme is one of my favorite men’s offerings from this brand, so, it makes sense that I would enjoy this too.

This is probably my personal favorite and what I’d say is the best smelling. That being said, it is a fragrance for the colder months, which isn’t going to work well in heat. So, if that really applies to your living situation, I’d go with something else.

Cherry Delicious

Tom Ford Lost Cherry Unisex EDP Spray 1.7 oz– Lost Cherry has become recently very popular and it’s pretty easy to understand, once you smell it. Well, assuming you like sweet cherry.

The newer releases like Cherry Smoke and Electric Cherry, weren’t nearly as good as this one which kicked off the use of this note.

It starts off with that sweetness, but warm and with a thicker aroma. The cherry at the start, is very much like a liqueur or the syrup from Dr. Pepper’s Cherry flavor.  Amaretto and cherry syrup, yep, really reminds me of that Dr. Pepper.

Then, that will subside and the almond note will move in. The cherry liqueur seemingly gets replaced by a more naturalistic cherry aroma. Less thick, more fresh with some added spices.

The sillage however, is pretty light to moderate. Some folks have had a problem with performance, but it lasts 7-7.5 hours, on my skin. Again, not with a massive projection throughout.

Nonetheless, this one smells delicious, and for sure one to test if it sounds like something you’d like. Lost Cherry Full Review

Best Summer Tom Ford Perfume

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc Spray, 3.4 Ounce, Eau de Toilette Spray– Soleil Blanc features 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.

As it moves along, the floral notes really begin to emerge and blend with a creamier and less sweetened coconut note. A very light warmth and spice is there from the cardamom. 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. Eau de Soleil Blanc is the flanker to this. It has more of a citrus opening and sun tan lotion dry down. I only tried that one, once. So, I’m not positive which I prefer, as of this update.  Soleil Blanc Full Review

Most Interesting

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Citrus sweet, smooth, and floral at the start. This is a great and seductive perfume which lightens and brightens as a scent during the dry down period.

Similar to Black Orchid? Yes. However, it is less intense, and has a sweeter and boozier profile. Warm rum with thick honey, creamy vanilla, and the floral bouquet led by the orchid note. Quite rich with a dark depth.

Top Woody Perfume

Tom Ford Santal Blush Eau De Parfum, 1.7 Ounce– Woodsy and spicy fragrance that airs towards Oriental. Santal Blush is pretty unisex and a fragrance designed for sandalwood lovers.

It’s very clean and fresh with powdered elements and the aforementioned spices sitting underneath. Mostly though, Santal Blush is a woody fragrance, first and foremost. At times, it is creamy. Other times, it’s musky. Overall, it is simply great.

Easy to Love Citrus and Floral

Tom Ford Sole di Positano Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz– The Acqua version is the more recent release. It’s much lighter and slightly different to this one. However, I think the original Sole di Positano is the better of the two.

Zesty citrus blend up top that is dominated by a mix of orange notes. Slight greenish and herbal spice sitting underneath that, but not to the same extent as other Tom Ford citrus offerings.

Jasmine and ylang-ylang really emerge later on. But, with the orange blossom and neroli, this one still retains a balance with its citrus beginnings.

A great spring and summer option with decent, but not amazing performance. Sole di Positano Review

Just Peachy

Tom Ford Bitter Peach by Tom Ford Eau De Parfum Spray (Unisex) 1.7 oz Men– Bitter Peach is a newer edition to the list, but I think that it’s well worth putting on and gives a different experience from the other options.

I was also tempted to put Soleil Neige on, but that while enjoyable, never reaches a higher level.

You get a lot of the peach as expected, early on. However, it is flanked by orange and patchouli notes, as well.

It is a ripe peach, with that bitterness, and a great gourmand package of vanilla and patchouli. The former gives the juicy fruit a creaminess and is joined by floral notes including heliotrope. The peach is the main star and the scent is quite bold and provides a very long lasting wear.

Top Floral Perfume

Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge eau de parfum for women 1.7 oz– Jasmin Rouge is a jasmine sambac led floral perfume with warmth and underlying spices from notes like cinnamon, ginger, and sage.

The jasmine is mostly paired with ylang-ylang and this is wrapped up in a nice amber on top of smooth wood.

Jasmin Rouge has a moderate and refined sillage, which won’t overpower, but does have a terrific modern floral aroma. This Tom Ford is very well blended and at times the supporting notes won’t really stand out from one another.

Though, this is one of the top fragrances for those who love jasmine. Jasmin Rouge Review

Sweet Wintertime Scent

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– One of the absolute classic presentations of a fully developed tobacco note blended with sweet elements, like the namesake, vanilla. It’s warm and bold and extremely pleasant to wear.

Tonka bean, dried fruits, and cacao join some spices to help round out the main tobacco/vanilla combination.

Tobacco Vanille is another beast performer by Tom Ford. It will last all day and doesn’t take much to have it be noticed.

I used to enjoy this one more, in the past. It’s still good, but doesn’t capture my attention in the same way it once did. Very worth checking out, though. Tobacco Vanille Review

Best Leather Fragrance

Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7-oz.– Ombre Leather is a new 2018 release, but one that I’m really enjoying. It is unisex, maybe slightly masculine, but from online store reviews plenty of women are wearing this one.

This fragrance is very dry and warm, with leather being the main star.

However, it is joined by amber and moss, that play the background. Jasmine is quite noticeable and plays amazingly off of the leather note.

I do personally like this Ombre Leather more than the Parfum version. That edition utilizes a violet leaf note, giving things a slightly different vibe. It is still very good, though.

Super smooth and rich leather, like an enveloping jacket. A moderate wear with an overall clean aroma, but with an earthy dirtiness underneath. Awesome. Ombre Leather Review

Sole di Positano by Tom Ford

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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.

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

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.

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.

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.