White Patchouli by Tom Ford

The patchouli in this perfume impressed me a lot; it’s ceremonial and the most elegant I’ve noticed. It smells like ultra-luxurious incense. I gifted it to my sister because it’s not my style, but it is hers; on her, it becomes powdery—not talcum-like, but incense-dusty. If you’re one of those people who meditate but don’t shy away from luxury, this is your chance to smell like the planet’s most opulent ashram.

It’s not totally feminine, it leans unisex. It smells elegant and opulent; the whiteness is only in the bottle; the reality is dark, earthy, and spicy. The patchouli is peculiar and unique, blending great with the florals, coriander, and woods. The musk and incense just support. It’s linear but perfect, neither for women nor men blindly.

This isn’t purely a feminine scent; it sits right on the unisex line. It smells elegant and opulent, but the whiteness of the name only comes from the bottle; the reality is a dark, earthy, strong, and spicy scent. The patchouli note is peculiar and unique, and I love it; it blends beautifully with all the flowers, the whites and the rose, along with the cilantro. The woods are always present, and although the musk and incense are there, they just serve as support. It’s a good perfume, definitely not something to buy blindly, nor exclusive to women or men. It’s linear, but perfect as is.

I love the patchouli; it transports me and is very present mixed with citrus and white florals. The base is weird, the only thing I don’t like. A man can wear it without issues.

It feels like a scent that embraces you but has a ‘hollowness,’ as if someone ran a eraser over it; the heart is empty, and then you get a patchouli that’s not incisive but persistent, surrounded by white flowers and jasmine. Compared to Black Orchid, this is much more versatile and still elegant. [Update] If you’re looking for something subtler but persistent, I recommend Starry Nights by Montale. It’s a toned-down patchouli: if Tom Ford’s Woody Oud is a 10 in patchouli concentration, Montale’s SN would be a 7 minus the incense. With careful application, it works well in warm weather, is easy in moderate climates, and on rainy days.

I tested it on a blotter a few days ago. The opening wasn’t anything outside of the classic, but once it settled, what a beauty! It reminded me a bit of Narciso Rodriguez’s For Her EDP, probably because of the rose. The patchouli comes in slowly—earthy but very harmonious. The florals are always there, soft, creamy, and powdery. I kept the blotter in my jacket pocket, and every time I opened the flap, the scent would rise up. It dried down a bit more citrusy, and even three days later, it’s still noticeable on the blotter… Oh, if only I had the money, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it. This one and Orchid Soleil…

I found it in my mom’s closet today and, without a second thought, I sprayed it on my forearm. I remembered it as a half-baked smell, but what a surprise—it now smells like iron rust. When I tried it at a perfume store, it gave me exactly the same unpleasant sensation.

Today I finally found Tom Ford in my city, almost cried with joy hahaha. I was dying to try it and today I started with two. Then I’ll go testing more and posting reviews. This perfume is very linear and much softer than expected, but it’s very good. It’s a masculine patchouli but softened by the white florals, which are very perceptible and pleasant. I’m sorry I can’t say more because my nose isn’t in shape these days hehe, I’ll re-review and comment more later.