Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford

It smells like the younger sister of Tom Ford Noir Extreme; two distinct vampires, one Dracula and the other Alucard. It’s intense, luxurious velvet vanilla with a hint of rattan or vegetal leather. It’s not for everyone, as the rum and tobacco can give off a ‘drunken man’ vibe. Don’t be fooled by the vanilla: it’s not sweet or friendly, but it’s much more wearable than its sister, which is sharper and more wicked.

I don’t know how much I like the plum note, yet it smells so much like it. But when I wear it, I feel like young Nikki Sixx, so I have no complaints.

There was a time when smoking in clubs was glamorous and rebellious: walking in with a cigar, a glass of rum, a leather jacket and an intense perfume. Red lips, teased hair, a glam rock star like Blondie or some rock icon. When I smelled this interesting and exquisite fragrance, I was reminded of those eighties stars, men with long hair, tight leather trousers, even wearing makeup; yet they didn’t lose their masculinity and were chased by hordes of fans. That’s what it evokes for me: sensuality, night. Excellent longevity and sillage, not for everyday wear, but for the night, a winter night with attitude. Not for the shy.

It opens floral with rum and lots of coffee. In the heart, the coffee softens, and vanilla appears in the dry down.

Pure vanilla, but not the typical pastry kind; it’s fine, luxurious, and very refined. You can detect the rum, barley, suede, coffee, myrrh, and frankincense, though the other notes fade because the vanilla is potent. It’s very pleasant, stately, and will never pass for a cheap perfume; it’s one of those that makes people turn to see who walked by smelling so different, bottled luxury. Is it worth it? Yes, although for now I wouldn’t spend what Tom Ford asks for a 30ml bottle; it seems outrageous, but I would gladly do so if it were a bit more affordable. Longevity is extraordinary, lasting until the next day with a kilometre-long sillage, as all perfumes should, alas, not what we are sold and which are colognes. Purely winter and perhaps in autumn on cold days. I’ve never heard anything like it; it resembles no other. 10 out of 10.

Intense vanilla, pipe tobacco, milky coffee and a touch of rum, but also sweet and rich. If you dab it on your hand, you’ll want to lick it off 😁😁. Very good.

Exquisite. It reminds me of Killian’s Black Phantom, but Vanille Fatale is friendlier. I see it as a perfume for people with a lot of personality.

An exquisite vanilla with beastly longevity. This perfume is straight onto my wishlist. It’s true that I wonder if it’s worth the price for something that, despite its notes, smells fairly linearly of vanilla. But this vanilla is delicious and addictive… I just don’t know if it’ll get boring over time. Scent: 10, Longevity: 10, Sillage: 7, Value for money: 5, Versatility: 9, Overall: 9.

A very good perfume if you don’t mind the obscene price. I struggle to describe it according to the pyramid; in fact, it suits me more with tonka and almond than what Fucking Fabulous declares. I tested it blind and images of almond and liqueur notes came to mind, alongside the star vanilla, which is very balanced and elegant, nothing cloying. I don’t know what the barley smells like or if the liqueur effect comes from there, although more than barley it would be malt; in any case, it’s a nuance that suits it well. Perhaps a touch of narcissus and suede refine the olfactory experience, but undoubtedly the queen is the vanilla and, despite the extensive pyramid, it’s not a torrent of nuances. As for longevity, no complaints whatsoever.