"Vintage" Tabaróme (1875)
by Creed

Tabarome is a very good tobacco fragrance, though I wouldn't sell my soul for it. It has a warm, woody, but a little musty-smelling, tobacco accord for the first two hours, which is pretty enjoyable, though nothing amazing. The smell reminds me more of unsmoked cigarette tobacco than pipe tobacco, i.e. a light tobacco scent. Being a former smoker I can say that there is a difference in smell between tobaccos used in cigarettes and that meant for pipes. What makes Tabarome for me is the drydown - by hour three, the tobacco accord turns sweet, making Tabarome smell almost like a tobacco-tinged oriental fragrance. It's very nice. Longevity is good for me, about 6 to 8 hours.

Overall, I think Tabarome is quite good, and is one of Creed's better scents, but I don't think it lives up to all the hype and worship it gets (I think the whole hoopla by Creed about Winston Churchill wearing it is a bunch of baloney). If you love tobacco scents, then this is definitely worth seeking out if you can actually still find a bottle anymore.

Much more impressive than the dubious claim of having been made for George IV in 1875 (after all, the rake died in 1830) or worn by Churchill or Bogart, is the fact that this version of Tabarôme, whenever it may have actually been put together, perfectly evokes the late Victorian era and its slowly atrophying upper class, private club, leather chairs, Savile Row frocks and all.
This is certainly one of the more complex Creeds and the officially listed ingredients (bergamot, lime/clove, sandalwood, vetiver/leather, ambergris, tobacco leaves, tonka beans) cannot alone account for the overpowering effect that delights some and scares off others. To me, it seems, this pyramid completely omits the sweetness (save tonka) which I find characteristic of VT. In fact, I would go as far as to call it an occidental version of Fumerie Turque - less syrupy, not as harsh and smoky in the tobacco, but similar in blending tobacco, leather, florals, vanilla/tonka and perhaps beeswax or honey. I'm pretty sure there is tobacco blossom in VT, too, as well as jasmine, perhaps a little bit of rose and other florals. The clove&vetiver in the heart reminds me of Spiced Limes by Crown. There seems to be sweet-animalic castoreum here as well and orris provides a diffusive/powdery effect. The end result is a dense, sweet, yet also abrasively masculine powerhouse of a perfume which certainly will work best on an over-40 male in very formal attire. A superb scent and one of Creeds very finest.

astounding- my all time favorite scent ever. they just dont make them like this anymore (and they dont make this anymore either). my personal belief based on how hard it has been to obtain in recent years is that this hasnt actually been produced in at least a few years. ive heard it will be released every 5 years on a limited basis, ive been told it is available by writing to creed in paris, however the store in paris told me is is no longer available and will not be again-period. i have used many 8.4 oz. bottles and even a 16.8 oz size. ( i managed to locate a 1 liter size ) still i was able to find a couple of bottles after asking clerks who were willing to go digging around in stockrooms- and who found some dirty old, stained boxes with the bottles still sealed and intact! scent of this quality lasts many many years when stored properly and sometimes improperly as well, additionally i think this ages very, very well. -tobacco, ambergris, moss, and leather of several varities artfully combined which produces a very dark, haunting sort of undertone which no words can describe adequately that is very well loved by those who like it, with a sillage that is equally haunting. i have had people follow me around in shops many times while wearing this and always wonder why they dont ask what it is. that creed have stopped making this is to me the equivalent of chanel n.5 being discontinued. its unthinkable yet this is what has happened to 1875 tabarome. i would indeed consider this to be in many ways the mens equal to chanel n.5 totally unique to itself, and a timeless scent. creed has said they will be making available again 5 scents from their private collection as a replacement to those 5 who were removed, as well as a scent to commemorate their upcoming 250th. i just cannot imagine anything as a "replacement" to this. apparently the discontinuation was due to laws regarding ingredients. i just dont get it- and will add that if anyone was going to suffer from tabarome poisoining it would be me. the newer tabarome does not deserve to me mentioned in the same sentence as the original. if you have any of this and dont want it or find it somewhere in a shop make sure it gets a good home. sob

I do enjoy this very much: It is extremely aromatic, natural smelling. Balance is excellent, its very timelessly masculine and most importantly; the smell is very compelling.

Fresh tobacco leaves with green tea creates a wonderful, forest-like smell to it. I can imagine myself walking down the path in the woods; there is gentle breeze that carries whiffs of smell from the lake nearby.

Vintage Tabarome really does glue my nose to my wrist. This has slight similarities to Aramis Havana but the fact is that this is much better.
Behind the bitter green and slightly smoky smell there is an odd and completely intriguing nuance which I would call freshly balsamic medicinal; this tone smells somehow very luminous and mysterious. It is magic I say, magic.

I don’t think this is musty nor dated by any means. To me it is timeless, fresh, aromatic masculine. Perhaps minimalistic in ingredient wise, but it smells very rich and nuanced. Very easy to wear even in casual occasions.
If I should have to categorize this scent, it definitely would be a Fougere scent. Rich, aromatic fougere.

I haven’t been a Creed fan during the time of my hobby of fragrance, but Vintage Tabarome brings me down to my knees.

I read from somewhere that this Vintage Tabarome (Tabarome Private Collection) has been discontinued already in sometime ago; they said it was February 2009 when it was stopped from being made. I am not completely sure if this is the case for real, but it really might be true.
Vintage Tabarome is quite a treasure.

This stuff is awesome. I'm sure this will get its fair share of hate, but from me, it gets love. It's a formal scent; I'd feel most comfortable wearing this with a suit. But it's a big, rich, elegant, gentlemanly, aristocratic power scent.

Superb.
However, in the same vein in which some Basenoters argue that you have to be 'proud' or 'hold your head high' to wear a unisex niche frag which the unwashed masses would probably deem to be better suited to a female or a transvestite, I would likewise argue that you should rejoice in your manhood to wear this one. If this sounds too embarassing, if you feel that having balls is a subject for apology, then please stick to mainstream, bland and inoffensive scents.

Easy to see why Churchill and Bogart were fans. Not for the timid