Lost Cherry by Tom Ford

Lost Cherry by Tom Ford has pretty quickly become a best seller for the designer. It came out in 2018 and has been one that people seem to enjoy. Maybe it’s the unique use of cherry or the great looking bottle, that it comes in. I recently bought a decant of this perfume to test out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?


What does Lost Cherry by Tom Ford Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, almond, tonka bean, Turkish rose, jasmine, cinnamon, cedar, and more

Click here to try: Tom Ford LOST CHERRY 3.4OZ / 100ML


My Full Review

Before we get into my review of Lost Cherry, let’s see what Tom Ford has to say about it: “LIKE THE PLUMP FRUIT WAITING TO BE EATEN, LOST CHERRY IS POWERFUL AND INSATIABLE. NOTES OF CHERRY LIQUEUR AND A TOUCH OF BITTER ALMOND DRIP INTO ITS HEART, GLOSSING IT WITH CANDY-LIKE GLEAM.”

The opening of Lost Cherry immediately reveals a warm and sweet blend, naturally led by the cherry note. This opening is very much like a cherry liqueur, but, when combined with the other notes it reminds me of Cherry Dr. Pepper in the syrup form.

Like if you took that soda syrup and then ramped up the cherry aroma, you’d have the start of this perfume. Better yet, like that amaretto mixed drink that mimics the taste and character of Dr. Pepper. But loaded with cherry.

Personally, I dig it. Very sweet and has that gourmand appeal. That will fade away and more of the almond nuttiness will come through, eventually.

The cherry seems to come across in two waves. First, the cherry liqueur. Then, a more naturalistic smelling cherry note. Less overtly sugary sweet and fresher.

This is somewhat different from Lost Cherry, but the La Petite Robe Noire fragrances have a similar aroma to this one, as well. I can’t remember which perfume is the closest to Lost Cherry, but one of them is pretty darn close.

As it dries down, you will be able to better detect the other ingredients beyond cherry. Tonka bean, almond, and some spiciness (cinnamon, mostly) are there and create a delicious aroma. It feels powdery, warm, and with a sweet booziness present throughout.

It stays in that soft and gentle mode from the remainder. Yes, there are some light floral touches from jasmine, and a detectable smokiness…it just doesn’t develop into numerous phases beyond that, on my skin.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty light to moderate. It seems like it’s going to have a strong projecting ability at first, then it quickly falls in line as a lighter scent.

Don’t expect a bomb, like so many other Tom Ford scents can be, Lost Cherry is pretty subtle.

For me, it does still seem to hang around in the air. Not reaching across the room, but Lost Cherry has a bit more projection than it gets credit for.

The longevity actually isn’t bad on my skin. I’ve read some reviews, where people said it doesn’t last. For me, it lasts pretty well, just not at a strong level. I can get 7-7.5 hours of use out of this one. Great? No, but not a complete joke, by any means.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter. It will be great in colder weather, probably up to something more temperate. Anything hotter, I’d pass.

It is a unisex fragrance, but has more of a feminine quality. I mean, one of its strongest comparable scents is a Guerlain perfume for women. But, I’ll still wear it without issue, and it is fine for almost anybody.

Lost Cherry actually has a sexy quality to it. It does grab attention when initially sprayed and is very appealing up close, when it settles. Great for nightlife and casual situations, but not too out of place for something like the workplace. 

 

Overall Impressions of Lost Cherry

Do I like this scent? I do enjoy the smell a lot. Sure, it leans more feminine than most of the fragrances that I usually wear, but it still sits in that unisex category.

I love the smell of cherry and that sort of Dr. Pepper and amaretto aroma, that comes out of the base here. The performance could be better, than what it is. Again, it’s not atrocious, just not a marathon runner.

The question really comes down to price. At $300+ per bottle, is it worthwhile? That’s going to depend on your personal preference. I’d want a bit more strength, if I were going to splurge on a bottle of this.

Update: Instead of Lost Cherry, I went with the ‘inspired by’ Popped Cherry from the Dua Brand, which is a lot less expensive. A very good take, on this fragrance, I reviewed it here: Popped Cherry Review

Plus, this isn’t one I’d wear on the daily. So, I’d have an expensive perfume, with middle of the road performance, and limited use for me personally.

Your case may vary, but I couldn’t justify it. I do enjoy this Tom Ford fragrance, it’s just a bit too much money for one bottle.

Oud Minerale by Tom Ford

I have finally reached my last Tom Ford fragrance review, from the huge batch of samples, I acquired some time back. Now, it’s not all of the brand’s perfumes, but I’ve gotten through a lot of them.

In this post, I am going to be sharing my experiences with, Oud Minerale. This is an aquatic fragrance that was released by Tom Ford in 2017. How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a buy?


What does Oud Minerale Smell Like?

Notes include: sea weed, oud, salt, pink pepper, marine notes, fir, and more

Click here to try: Oud Minerale Eau De Parfum


My Full Wear Review

The opening of Oud Minerale, immediately brings to mind two other fragrances, Light Blue Eau Intense and Blvgari Aqva. It’s as if you stripped out the citrus notes from those scents, combined them, and added oud.

Right away, I get a big dose of that calone aroma, which is so prevalent in Eau Intense. This is joined by a salt water/sea weed combination, that is found in the Bvlgari cologne.

This is going to be one, for those who are really into marine or oceanic smelling fragrances, as it is fully entrenched within that category.

Up top there is a slight pink pepper spice, for a time, it is seemingly blended with the light ambergris. The pink pepper later dies down, to my nose, but the ambergris remains for the duration as a light addition to the composition.

Anyway, getting to the oud. Oud Minerale, really isn’t all that packed with this note. The oud is there, but its usual intensity is tempered. In fact, much of the time, I actually smell more fir than oud. All of the woody notes, feel like water-logged driftwood, and secondary to the marine aromas.

The final dry down is sea weed, with some light saltiness and ambergris, sitting on top of water and with oud. The oud, at the end, becomes the dominant wood note over the fir.

Up close to your nose, the ambergris is more noticeable throughout. But when I catch whiffs of Oud Minerale, it is more of a refreshing and oceanic aquatic fragrance.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Oud Minerale is deceptively strong. If I spray it on clothes, I can pick it up from across the room, but on my skin it doesn’t seem all that strong. So, yes, this does have the capability to overwhelm a room. Don’t get carried away in application.

The longevity with this stuff is fantastic. Easily hits the double digit hours on my skin. I’m not sure the exact number, as I washed it off eventually, but no problem hitting 10+ hours. You will at least get your money’s worth, from a performance standpoint. Strong sillage and it doesn’t quit.

Seasonally, I guess I’d put it in the spring and summer months. It does well in warmer weather and would feel somewhat awkward to have on in the winter. It’s not something that fits, with that climate’s vibe.

This is more of a casual niche wear. You can wear it professionally, too. However, this isn’t a sex date night option or any sort of nightlife wear. Mostly, I’d stick to wearing it around on warm days, particularly spent outdoors.

Is it unisex? I’d say that it is. As a whole, it’s a fairly neutral scent.


Overall Impression of Oud Minerale

Do I like this scent? Personally, not really. It’s not my style and I don’t find this to be enjoyable. That being said, it will be a winner for the right person. You just have to completely love that marine environment smell.

I pretty much knew this wasn’t going be my thing, as seaweed is pretty much a non-starter for me in most every fragrance. Add, oud to the mix and I wasn’t too excited to test Oud Minerale.

It really does capture the smell of sea water and sea weed, though. The oud is there, but light, and won’t be too big of a distraction. The performance is top notch, so if you do like this Tom Ford, you will get your money’s worth.

The fir, ozonic, and aquatic aspects of this scent do draw me in at times. Just not enough, that I want to wear this perfume beyond this testing.

Oud Minerale is a niche scent, with limited appeal. It’s not a ‘bad’ fragrance, by any means, just one that isn’t going to have too many subscribers to its style.

This is also a really expensive fragrance, so, you’re most likely going to have to be in love with it for Oud Minerale to be worthwhile.

Sahara Noir by Tom Ford

In this post, I am going to tackle more of a niche type of fragrance by Tom Ford, 2013’s Sahara Noir. It is a scent that is highly influenced by the smells which are common to the Middle East. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, its ingredients, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy or not.


What does Sahara Noir Smell Like?

Notes include: frankincense, amber, papyrus, cinnamon, balsam, benzoin, rose, jasmine, oud, bitter orange

Click here to try: Tom Ford Sahara Noir Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce


My Full Wear Review

Just by looking at the ingredients, one can tell that Sahara Noir isn’t going to be your typical woman’s perfume. Right off the bat, I am struck by what an exotic fragrance it is but also how it is going to be completely niche.

I doubt that most non-enthusiast people would want to wear or even enjoy this scent, but there has to be a crowd who would find this delightful.

It’s oriental qualities does remind me of Opium Pour Homme, especially in it’s spicy/medicinal aspects. However, Sahara Noir continues down the smoky and warm path whereas Opium, begins to take on much more of a vanilla aroma.

I would actually dare to say that this Tom Ford perfume is even darker and more masculine than that YSL cologne for men. Again, this stuff is probably not for the majority of women.

I really pick up on the frankincense, amber, and oud notes initially. I am not a big fan of oud, unlike a lot of niche fragrance lovers. It’s use is sort of hit or miss for me. Sahara Noir is very dry and warm and feels to me quite ancient.

Update: Coming back to this again, I get more cypress on my skin. Particularly after the opening 30 minutes or so. Then, that fades away into a mass of other dry woods.

I do appreciate what Tom Ford did with this scent, it really does transport you mentally to distant lands. It’s exactly a desert landscape kind of perfume. Lots of wood, resin, and incense.

Kind of waxy at times, not much floral influence from the rose note. Dry, smoky, and warm.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Performance wise, it’s a fairly strong perfume. It isn’t the strongest and most overpowering scent ever, but it is definitely well above average. The sillage is worthy of the price.

Longevity wise, Sahara Noir is an absolute beast. I’d say it easily surpasses 12+ hour of wear. Scents with these kinds of notes always seem to deliver, but Sahara goes above and beyond.

This Tom Ford is worth the price, based on the performance for sure. If you like the smell, Sahara Noir isn’t going to quit on you.

I guess this would be for casual wear? It seems like such a niche fragrance, that I cannot really even classify it. It’ll fit for someone with a certain personal style.

I’d say it’s best for the colder months of the year, for sure. Stick to late autumn and the depths of winter, as a change of pace.

It’s not sexy at all to me or even something that most people want to smell on someone else. This perfume has to be something that you absolutely enjoy. Casual or lightly sprayed semi-formal.


Overall Impressions of Sahara Noir

Overall is Sahara Noir, worth a buy? If you really love incense, want to smell like them, and can handle wearing a quite masculine fragrance; then this one might be right up your alley.

Update: Personally, I’d pick Encens Satin or Velvet Incenso before this one. I think those are better uses of incense and the various resinous amber notes. This Tom Ford perfume is now discontinued and has been for some time. So, I guess I wasn’t the only one not very impressed.

Coming back to this many years later, it’s a lot less ‘challenging’ to me, but I still don’t find it to be great. The performance is amazing, but the rest…meh. Those other incense based perfumes are better and still available.

Anyone else, I can’t really see the mass public wearing this one, and since it’s been discontinued that’s probably a spot on assessment.

I don’t particularly dig it. Though, I don’t think it’s horrendous. I just don’t particularly enjoy this type of scent, most of the time. This isn’t one of the exceptions.

16 Similar Perfumes to Lost Cherry

Lost Cherry has become a mass appealing favorite from the Tom Ford line. Over the past few years, people have been taken by it, but often don’t want to pay the high price to acquire it.

Also, some people want something that smells similar, but is distinct from the popular perfume. On this page, I am going to post the fragrances that I feel are close to Lost Cherry, near matches, or in between, and update it as I come across more options.


Key Takeaways of Lost Cherry Alternatives

Here are some of the highlights of this post, for those in a hurry. I go into much greater depth further down the page, on these options and many others.


Favorite Perfume Alternatives to Lost Cherry

The Dua Cherry

Popped Cherry by Dua– Popped Cherry from The Dua Brand is, based on the name alone, obviously designed to smell close to the Tom Ford fragrance. And, it does a very good job at it.

If you want a pure clone type of recreation of Lost Cherry, this is a great one to go with. It is not only cheaper, but also has a good performance, as well. The cherry liqueur, almond, and other gourmand notes blended together in its syrupy goodness.

Also, like other popular scents that Dua produces, they also have blends available that mix and match Popped Cherry with other perfumes. So, if you want to try a remix, there’s those too.

That being said, comparing my bottle of the Dua with the actual Lost Cherry, it isn’t an exact 1 to 1 smell. Very close, however.

Lost Cherry has more of an amaretto-like mixed drink quality early on, that I likened to a Dr. Pepper sort of aroma. That and it’s a bit less powdery in the dry down. My Review of Popped Cherry


Less Boozy and Spicy Aroma

Ambery Cherry by Dossier Cherry and almond dominant, especially in the early stages. In some ways, this feels a bit sweeter than Lost Cherry, maybe a little less of that spiciness. Or what I refer to as the “Dr. Pepper” sort of aroma that the Tom Ford gives off.

With Lost Cherry, I pick up a more naturalistic cherry note and then one of those syrupy red cherries that are used in bars. Ambery Cherry goes with the more naturalistic one alone. Also, without the boozy note.

The heart gets a bit more floral and vanilla based, than the early stages. Jasmine, clove, and vanilla come on. Pretty much the same weighting with Lost.

But, outside of that, this is really very close to being a full on match of our target perfume. The performance is okay, but not spectacular. A very nice pickup for around fifty bucks.


Syrupy Fruit

Cherry Smash by Alt Fragrances– Another inspired take on the Tom Ford scent. Cherry Smash is an affordable option that really strikes as a near match of what we’re wanting.

The good thing about this one, is that you get the syrupy sort of cherry to go along with the more straightforward cherry aroma. Liqueur and the fruit itself. The cherry is the dominant note, as expected, but perhaps the almond is a bit weaker than in Lost.

Also, feels slightly creamy, at times. But, it’s dead on once the opening act has faded.

Cherry Smash doesn’t skimp on the performance, like Popped Cherry, it will last all day and has a solid sillage. The price is right with Smash, providing a great cheap alternative to the expensive Ford.

lost cherry clone


Similar Almond and Cherry

Fructus virginis 1.8oz (Alexandria Fragrances) 55 ML– Fructus Virginis isn’t the same as Lost Cherry, but it does have plenty of overlap with notes and an overall similar style. Rose, cherry, and musk are some of the more prominent features of this one.

To me, Lost Cherry has more of a cherry Dr. Pepper sort of aroma. This also has a ton of cherry, almond, and more sweetness. But, doesn’t have that same exact vibe. It is darn close, but Fructus does have its own distinct style ultimately.

Also, while this really loads up on the syrupy (bar) cherry aroma. Lost Cherry has a second wave, with a more naturalistic one. But, if you want another cherry/almond option, this is a good one to check out.


Cherry Sin

Sinful by Oakcha– Here’s another take on the Lost Cherry formula, this time from Oakcha. I haven’t tried this one out just yet, but I’m putting it on the list as another potential ‘inspired’ option for people to check out.

Oakcha has plenty of good inspired takes on designer fragrances available, a ton of positive reviews, and the price is in line with the others listed above. So, give it a try, if you want one from this brand.


High End, Not Exact

Duchessa by Gritti– I’m going to include Duchessa on the list, even if it’s not nearly a match to the same level as the others on this list. It has a stronger, sour cherry than does Lost. Not nearly as syrupy. Plus, it shares the almond note.

Yet, this one is probably somewhat overpriced and doesn’t have the booziness. Nevertheless, it’s still a really attractive perfume. The cherry is joined by a bitter orange note, the surrounding fragrance comes across like marzipan and there is a light sprinkling of powdered cocoa.

It’s warm with highlights of patchouli, a dash of cloves, and a light iris note which kind of comes and goes. Also, this is really hard to come by (in the US, at least). You can usually find some decants online, which I’d recommend before committing to a full bottle.


Smell Lovely

Lovely Cherie by Maison Alhambra– This is another affordable option that serves as an ‘inspired blend’ of the Tom Ford original. Maison Alhambra does a pretty good job with most of their scents and this is one of the better examples.

The cherry here is sweet and leans more toward the syrupy end of things, maybe even more than what you get with Tom Ford. It doesn’t have the same amaretto sort of booziness, more of a pure almond note, with an added smokiness to it.

Good performance and plenty of value for the money, if you can find a bottle.


Similar but Does its Own Thing

Cherry Syrup by Proad– Very much a thicker cherry with boozy elements (rum here). Yet, this doesn’t try to exactly mimic Lost Cherry. Instead, you get less of a nuttiness and an additional saffron note. Also, Cherry Syrup smells like a sweeter aroma.

The use of rum and oak, along with the sweetness gives it a slight resemblance to Angels’ Share. It’s faint, but it is there.

Cherry with a boozy spice and vanilla. That saffron note adds something different to the mix from our target perfume. A good choice, if you want something along the same lines, but doesn’t try to be exact.


Close Style from Dior

Fève Délicieuse– Okay, this Dior isn’t the same as Lost Cherry. But, I think this is another great fragrance with quite a similar style, and something many folks will enjoy.

It is also a warm and sweet fragrance, with a tonka bean really highlighting. But, beyond that, you also get cherry…and vanilla, prailine, coffee, chocolate, and caramel. But, while it has all that, it isn’t a baked goods-like aroma. Feve remains dynamic.

There are powdery qualities, lavender and rose touches, and a rather distinct herbal spiciness in the dry down. This one is kind of different, but feels familiar. I never tried the older version of Fève Délicieuse, so I’m not entirely sure if it changed a great deal or what. But, this is a great little perfume.


Smoky Fruit

Lovefest Burning Cherry– This Kayali offering has a very similar opening to Lost Cherry, but probably a bit more syrupy and thick. Our target note is joined by raspberry and the sweet gourmand smell of praline.

Yet, it will shift into something that is more influenced by amber, an incense smokiness, and a big dose of woods. This really separates Lovefest Burning Cherry from the other options of the list.

Palo santo and guaiac wood play a large role in this one, with the slightly resinous amber note. The cherry will stick around, while the other notes burn off. More balsamic, less floral and powdery, even though it does feature heliotrope and a Damask rose.

This has a very light sillage. It does last well enough, but it’s going to stick closer to the skin, so just be advised before purchasing. Lovefest Burning Cherry Review


Punk Cherry

Cherry Punk by Room 1015– This is an interesting perfume to compare to Lost Cherry. They both have plenty of cherry and a boozy air about it.

But, this one gives you that super candy sweetness with a smooth leather/saffron combination and a burst of smokiness in the early stages.

Cherry Punk is syrupy and sweet, with added floral notes of jasmine and mimosa. Sichuan pepper gives it an early punch, that the Tom Ford doesn’t really have.

This syrupy/candy/soda like cherry is found in the Tom Ford, but balanced with a more naturalistic variety. Cherry Punk, just goes with the former.

This isn’t a 100 percent match or completely similar. Just one that you might enjoy trying out, if you want to go in a bit of a different direction than Lost Cherry, while not straying too far.


Another Inspired Cheapie

Amarena Cherry by Fragrenza– I haven’t gotten to try this one, as of yet. However, I want to include it on the list for those searching for a Lost Cherry alternative. It’s supposed to be quite good.

Here’s how their site describes Amarena, An intriguing blend of tart cherries, sensual rose, and enigmatic woody notes yields a delightfully stimulating cherry fragrance. The heart is a rich, boozy cherry liqueur with a sweeter, almond note and a flowery touch of Turkish rose and jasmine sambac.

Sounds pretty much like what it is we’re looking for here.

Update: I’ve gotten a hold of a sample of Amarena Cherry. It is legit, smells very close to what we want, maybe a tad less boozy. Overall, very nice option.


Overlaps, But Ultimately a Different Cherry

Prada Candy Gloss– The Prada Candy line has come out with a bunch of different formulations over the years. I like L’eau and Night, but Gloss, is the one that’s going to get you a fragrance in the same ballpark as Lost Cherry.

Now, I will say, it’s not the same. This is a distinct fragrance that shares: cherry, almond, vanilla, and a powdery heliotrope in the dry down. You won’t get booziness, this is more green with its cassis note, and it is very sweet in comparison to the Tom Ford.

The rose and peach notes do give this one a nice touch to really make it distinct. The performance is good and I think it’ll do better in warmer weather than Lost Cherry can.

The sugary candy name and lip gloss imagery, does hold true, and that’s what you should expect. Later, it gets muskier with plenty of floral notes and some amber too.

Pretty sure it’s been discontinued recently. So, if you want to try, move quickly before prices get outrageous.


Zara Fruitiness

Cherry Smoothie by Zara– This is another kindred fragrance, but not a complete match of our target.

Cherry Smoothie focuses more on the fruitiness with a bit more plum in the mix versus the Tom Ford. Also, the cherry is the fruit and not the liqueur version early on. So, you’re basically getting the same cherry throughout and not multiple types.

It lacks spice, the booziness, and some of the warmer thickness of Lost Cherry. You do get a nice and different floral mix, that is led by heliotrope, which gives it a good powdery quality.

The nuttiness of the almond comes through more at times. The sillage here is lighter and it doesn’t have the best performance, but this is a good option for cheap.


An Expensive Near Match

Cherry by Max Philip– Here’s another option that I’ve come across, but haven’t yet tried out. Cherry by Max Philip, looks like it’s got the notes that we’re looking for and is also fairly well regarded.

Cherry, liquor, almonds, plum, etc. The questions I have come less from the ingredients (it should be 85+% of what you get with the Tom Ford, at least) and more from the potential quality of the perfume.

Also, it costs almost as much as the real thing. At that point, just get the Tom Ford, if that’s what you want.


Cherry with Different Highlights

Cherry Fever by Lunio– Another one that isn’t an exactly smelling like Lost Cherry. However, it shares lots of notes with the Tom Ford.

The main difference is the note strengths are sort of inverted. So, while Lost Cherry has patchouli, cinnamon, amber, and sandalwood…with Cherry Fever those ingredients are given prominence alongside the cherry.

No booze here, more amber and spicy highlights. A newer release, that you have to order from Europe.

6 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Tobacco Vanille

Tobacco Vanille is one of the most popular perfumes from the Tom Ford line. It’s unisex appeal has become a staple scent for many in the autumn and winter months. But, sometimes you want something along the same lines, but a little different. Or you want a cheaper option that can come close to the same experience. This is the page where I keep track of these options.


What Fragrances Smell Close to Tobacco Vanille?


A Close Designer Scent

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz– Spicebomb Extreme is one mainstream designer fragrance that has pretty close profile to what you get with our Tom Ford target scent.

This one is actually less spicy than the other Spicebomb fragrances. Tobacco and vanilla are the main notes here, but this one also has a warmth and sweetness to it. Cinnamon and cumin are the spice notes, that are blended well in the rest of the composition.

Personally, I like the way Extreme smells more than I do Tobacco Vanille. They’re not exactly the same either, just have a similar style. Plus, at a lower price point, I think that it is more of a value play. Bold and lasts more than 10 hours on my skin. Spicebomb Extreme Review


Sweet Powder

Powdery Tobacco by Dossier– This one from Dossier is the first of our fragrances that are inspired by Tobacco Vanille. This one is pretty darn close. Yet, it’s lighter, sweeter, and perhaps less spicy in that opening. Here, the formula uses ginger.

Still, this one isn’t a ‘thin’ attempt at what we’re looking for. You still get plenty of warmth and the cozy attractiveness that people love with the Tom Ford. Definitely seems to lean more in the tobacco side of things, even in those early stages, but the spice is still there.

Very affordable and Dossier does a great job at getting the right vibe with Powdery Tobacco.


Inspired Tabac

Sweet Tabacum by Dua– Sweet Tabacum is the Dua inspired version of what we’re looking for. Fairly inexpensive and well performing. Plus, a very close rendition of the Tom Ford aroma.

Sweet Tabacum kicks off with the bold spice mix out in full force. It may have a little more of those notes versus Tobacco Vanille. The tobacco note is obviously also present, with a dry down that is sweet and getting to a powdery finish.

Cacao, tonka bean, and vanilla round things out. Dua usually does a really good job with their inspired scents and this one is no exception.


Zara Warmth

Warm Black by Zara- Warm Black gives you a closely related style to Vanille, but doesn’t hit the mark exactly. It’s got plenty of vanilla and a spicy kick from the ginger note. Though, it is much more streamlined and has much less of a tobacco influence, as well.

The ginger here isn’t great, in my opinion. It’s fine, but I feel it’s less like the Tom Ford in its spices. Not a bad thing, since that’s not a favorite aspect of mine from Tobacco Vanille. It settles, but that opening can be rough.

After that, it’s a warm embracing vanilla with hints of tobacco and maybe some amber? Closer to our target in the back half, but less of a high quality tobacco (and in the amount too).

Not sure if this is still around or has been re-labeled or issued by Zara. I can’t seem to find it on their site, at the moment. But, if you can this is a solid cheapie.


Amber and More

Amber Oud Tobacco Edition by Al Haramain– I haven’t actually gotten to try this one out personally. However, this seems to be one perfume similar to Tobacco Vanille, which gets plenty of hype in the fragrance world…and is a decent price.

Tobacco, vanilla, dried fruit, cinnamon, and further spices. It’s all there it seems, plenty of overlap between them. My guess is the main difference is going to be a different weighting with the note concentration when compared to the Tom Ford.

So, not exact, but probably close enough for most people to give it a go.


MAC

Velvet Teddy–  Velvet Teddy is a sweeter, less dense, and less tobacco heavy perfume than our target. It just otherwise, smells an awfully a lot like it.

The tobacco here is the more actual floral tobacco blossom, less of a refined pipe tobacco. You don’t get much spiciness with this one either and the vanilla, is replaced by a similar vibe from the tonka bean. The spice is there, just the Tom Ford always is more of a punch in the face.

What more do you get? Honey. Warm, delicious, and a cozy wear. In some ways, it feels like a version of Tobacco Vanille, that is simply approachable. Great performance, while not feeling cloying or stuffy.

The problem nowadays, is finding a bottle in stock anywhere. If you can, it might be preferable for many to the Tom Ford.