White Patchouli (2008)
by Tom Ford

I wanted to love this. It looked so good on paper. Sadly I didnt get much of the elements of patchouli I like, all I ended up with was a headache inducing scrubber. Morgaine in my opinion said it all really.

14th October, 2010.

I love spicy scents like this one, with a nice touch of floral. Patchouli has a stigma where I live, but I think the floral notes blend so nicely with the patchouli that it isn't really obvious that that's what you're smelling, especially after dry down and on the right person. Usually not my pick for warm weather, but it was my pick today. I think it's normally soo yummy with a soft sweater and a great pair of stilettos for an evening out!

15th July, 2010.

This scent has one of the best advertising campaigns ever in my opinion. Erykah Badu, just stunning. Well I wasnt expecting any subtlety with this one and a good job too. Like all of Tom Fords fragrances there is absolutely no subtlety. To me they are a bit like being slapped across the face by an alligator skin clutch, an experience I both hate and love all at the same time, craving it again and again! Along the same lines as Black Orchid, which I love. I really liked the patchouli note in this scent and was glad to see that the it takes centre stage as patchouli fragrances have been somewhat subdued in recent years. The scent does start to calm down a little some 10 minutes after your first spritz, thankfully, allowing the peony and jasmine to start blooming through giving the scent its 'whiteness'. Like all of Fords fragrances there is an omnipresent sweet,musky, spiciness to the overall timbre. These tones are represented by ambrette seed, coriander, incense and a hint of vanilla. The evaporation curve is sheer perfection, very even and very smooth which just emphasizes the overall smoothness this scent exudes.


This fragrance, like all Tom Fords designs is ohh so very chic.

29th April, 2010.

Even though I enjoy this fragrance, I was expecting something different from Tom Ford Black Orchid. To me White Patchouli seems similar. It contains the creaminess aspect but from a different venue; whereas Black Orchid's cream-smoothness comes from Vanilla, White Patchouli's is from Amberette seed and Amber. They both contain the following ingredients: Sandalwood, Bergamot, Incense, Mandarin and Jasmine too similar and yet totally deviating. White Patchouli smells of warm vinyl, rubbery-plastic [picture Barbie's skin] and dirty, Earthy white flowers not clean, pretty bouquets. This has the same animalic undertone as does Black Orchid but it's cameo appearance is intertwined with the florals.

The sillage is close to the skin if worn sparingly, but ostentatious if spritzed generously. The longevity is excellent. I feel this fragrance can be worn by men as well as women [and I am a guy who enjoys this Eau de Parfum] if the guy has a strong self-worth and is confident. White Patchouli is a sensual fragrance worn with confidence. You can wear this to a dinner out, a black-tie affair, or on a romantic date; this is not a casual, weekend scent.

Would I recommend this fragrance, yes...but to reiterate, one has to have a strong self-worth and confidence to pull it off.

I also, recommend trying a sample first before shelling out the big bucks for a bottle because it's not for everyone.

18th February, 2010.

I'm not particularly fond of White Patchouli on its own BUT mixed with Black Orchid, it really makes for a beautiful scent. I love it for the mixture with Black Orchid.

16th October, 2009.

Notes include florals (bergamot, peony, jasmine, rose), spice (coriander, ambrette seeds), blond wood, incense, patchouli
Not a bad scent – it starts quite well but runs out of steam at the end. The opening is a beautiful cloud of white floral notes, married with a rich citrus chord from the bergamot. The scent here is lovely, juicy, vibrant, lush but not heavy. It is a darling sort of scent, very attractive and romantic, and largely feminine. Then it moves into an interesting clean-soapy phase, with the coriander giving a fresh and woody aspect. The scent here is bright and fresh, and seems unisex to me. The dry-down is less interesting, being a light and sweet patchouli note, with predictably tangy and slightly nutty tones. This is not my style at all, but I can find some things to commend.

21st September, 2009.