Tom Ford for Men by Tom Ford

Tom Ford’s first fragrance is a jewel. A jewel with a major problem that prevents you from buying it again: its minimal duration and trail. I remember when they gave it to me the year of its launch; in Spain, it was not yet on sale. The moment I opened the bottle, I was dazzled by the design of the striped glass and the cap. By the way, I have always associated the engraving and the phallic shape of the cap with one of those vibrators from the seventies, those missile-shaped dildos in makeup tones and striped. I would not be surprised if that was the inspiration, given the house’s taste for *porno chic*; the campaign for this perfume, for instance, was a refined obscenity signed by Terry Richardson, a controversial campaign featuring close-ups of male and female genitalia covered by the perfume bottle. Tom Ford for Men is a much more classic and refined fragrance than one might expect from the designer, yet there is still something in its composition that is openly sexual. If in Gucci Ford developed an overwhelming, androgynous, and very sexual perfumery, with this first perfume he distanced himself from the previous approach, opting for the idea of a gentleman in the old style. This fragrance is a handcrafted floral woody musk, the perfume of a gentleman with taste and style, yet it does not result in being outdated, but rather very modern. Tom Ford for Men is a fragrance with little evolution in its notes; it opens with a very refreshing ginger that quickly blends with the tobacco, a sweet tobacco with a spicy touch, delicious; there comes a moment when you feel the fresh/sour and fleshy ginger and the sparkling heat of the tobacco swimming over a very nice, creamy, non-acidic citrus base, elegant, refreshing but very sophisticated, with very luminous and almost veiled afternotes. At the end of the journey, remnants of the previous mixture remain with a musky and slightly woody residue, as Gelo999 says, a beautiful honeyed hay and amber note. In principle, it seems a classic composition without further discussion, yet there is something in this fragrance, a rebellious tinkling in its notes that makes you think of something openly obscene. To explain it in some way, Tom Ford for Men is a classic gentleman, a Gianni Agnelli, in his three-piece suit, with perfect hair, Persol glasses, and an attitude of travelled elegance that would allow him to enter the most exclusive club. However, when least expected, this gentleman is touching his package libidinously. Tom Ford for Men is Mick Jagger dressed as Cary Grant. A rogue dressed in formal attire. One of the positive points of this fragrance is the naturalness of its notes. They feel very real; it seems you are touching a fresh pipe tobacco just taken out of its box, or that you have a slice of ginger placed right before your nose; the ingredients are natural and of high quality. However, the only drawback is that it eats everything else and makes you never consider buying it again beyond giving it personal use or as a sleep fragrance: it lasts a sigh, and from the very moment at skin level. I have not tried the Extreme version and do not know if the aroma is similar, but certainly the great flaw of this first Tom Ford fragrance is the cause of its limited success.

I agree with my colleague Jerry Drake. One sees the abundance of ingredients in this EDT and gets excited; one observes the house and knows Tom Ford has its prestige; it is theoretically a promising proposal. It has a supremely elegant opening where the citrus and ginger take command, and a very soft tobacco gradually emerges. Floral notes begin to be noticed, assembling with the notes that have already surfaced, and after 15 minutes of application, one can appreciate an exquisite, well-defined fragrance. Unfortunately, it stays there because it lasts only about half an hour, projecting softly, but after two hours, it is barely perceptible at skin level. I carried out two tests on my forearms with three sprays; on one, I lubricated the skin beforehand with liquid vaseline, which only made it last half an hour longer at skin level, but without projection. With prior hydration, the fragrance lasted almost three hours, projecting for 30 minutes. Fortunately, it was a gift, but it is lamentable that Tom Ford fragrances have such poor performance. This is batch 02/2018 (A28), and while what one can smell is supremely elegant and exquisite, it is very volatile. Only recommended for situations requiring close proximity (I would say skin-to-skin), although given its aromatic characteristics, I see it more suited for formal outings or senior management work environments. Despite its quality and excellent aromatic result, I do not recommend purchasing it given its deficient performance and high cost. A warm greeting, colleagues.

It seems that Tom Ford for Men was the first men’s fragrance from Tom Ford. And when I smell it, it seems to me that the concept of the fragrance draws inspiration from fragrances from another era; I would even dare to say that one can feel the style he already managed in other creations that were under his direction, an example being Envy for Men by Gucci. The opening is citrusy, seasoned with ginger and some other floral note, quite pleasant, which over time gives way to woody notes, tobacco, and amber. Its aroma is very rich, however, the drawback, as everyone who reviewed it before me has already mentioned, is the weak trail and short duration. This ends up ruining a fragrance that could have been a great one, especially when you know what you have to pay for a fragrance that after three hours you have to press your nose against the skin to perceive it. I had already heard it in a department store and liked it very much, but I needed to test it, and I went from illusion to disillusionment in very little time. If it cost less, I might dare to have it, as I like its smell, but even so, I feel that besides the low performance, something was missing at the end to make it better. Definitely not one of Tom Ford’s best fragrances.

〰 Tom Ford – for Men 〰 ▪ This is an elegant and sophisticated fragrance designed for the modern man who appreciates refined details. This scent stands out for its blend of classic and contemporary notes, offering a unique and timeless olfactory experience. ▪ It opens with a fresh and citrusy blend of bergamot, lemon, and mandarin, enhanced by ginger. In the heart, notes of tobacco and black pepper add a spicy warmth, while vetiver, cedar, and amber in the base provide a deep, earthy, and masculine foundation. 💲 Price: Moderate to high. ⛔ Caution: Due to its intensity and longevity, apply with moderation to avoid it becoming overwhelming. 💨 Scent: 9/10 – Sweet, fresh, spicy, and warm. 🕒 Longevity: 8.5/10 – Moderate, perfect for a full day. ⏩ Projection: 9/10 – High, ensuring the fragrance is felt at a distance and is very noticeable. ▫ Conclusion: ▪ Offers a sophisticated and modern olfactory experience, blending fresh and warm notes to create a distinctive and memorable fragrance. ✔ Highly recommended. ▪ Offers a very satisfactory experience and meets expectations. It is a standout option worthy of serious consideration.

It is an interesting fragrance, particularly in concept, but I believe it falls short in every aspect. The citrus opening is well-blended with ginger, which gradually dries down into tobacco, amber, and woods. The pity is that everything is excessively diluted in that typical and clichéd white musk. The quality I perceive in the notes, especially the tobacco, feels quite poor. The result, to my taste, is an ill-defined, excessively discreet, and “watery” fragrance. This could be due to that white musk which, often, makes me feel that the notes, besides being diluted, float in that aura of clean cotton, so common nowadays. Do not misunderstand me: I like the scent and the composition; it seems very interesting and on paper it suited me perfectly, but I think they have fallen too short on the components. They lack sharpness and have left a fragrance that is excessively discreet, even for the office, which is the only occasion I see as appropriate for this perfume. Longevity is around 3-4 hours, with an almost imperceptible trail on my skin.

I used this perfume for a season and found it good. Its performance is scarce, and it seems expensive for what it offers, but it is a pleasant fragrance to wear. Tom Ford is an expert in selling its products and creating very groundbreaking advertising, but the perfume is neither groundbreaking nor eager to stand out; it has a very timid aroma. It starts fresh, quickly moving to a sweet floral scent, a blend of amber and woods. It is a unisex fragrance, I would say, and does not smell synthetic at all. This also makes it important for those who are tired of current musky aromas. It smells very natural. Would I buy it again? No. It is surpassed in longevity and trail by many existing men’s perfumes, but it is a very pleasant and versatile aroma, just not for the evening because it does not stand out. A young and well-balanced scent. That said, do not expect an aromatic bomb because it is not one.

Do not judge by first impressions, as I was initially mistaken in thinking this was a mediocre scent; the reality is that Tom Ford for Men exceeds expectations, even if it isn’t an absolute masterpiece. I adored that fresh, pleasant citrus opening with ginger, possessing a distinguished touch and a tobacco sweetness that leads into the heart notes, which are the best: a solid, balanced sweet tobacco with herbaceous nuances of hay and a honeyed hint reminiscent of coumarin used in tobacco. Then come the woods and amber, which sweeten it further and give it an enveloping, warm character, albeit slightly conventional. From there, the trail fades quickly and clings to the skin. In summary, Ford has convinced me more than other designer offerings; it is versatile for daytime, classic, and tasteful. Rating: 6/10

It is a very good perfume, if it were not for the fact that it lasts only about 20 minutes once applied.