Reviews of Black Orchid (2006)
by Tom Ford

I tried this on a whim at Sephora and left the store so I could experience it while shopping. As it was on my left wrist, I was checking it periodically, and was quite obsessed with its development. I have never had this sort of intriguing experience with a frag, even when I smelled something distinctly vetiver (abhorrent), I couldn't resist it. Will try this one again.

I don't know how to rate this - I loved it on the blotter; loved its opening, adored its heart... and right at the dry down when I was left with what the perfume would "smell like on me", out came a chemical spoiled fruit dipped in nail polish remover. Oh. Bugger.

Want to wear it; my skin disagrees.

Fascinating brew...certainly something to wear while playing old jazz records at midnight. On another site, I wrote that it made me think of chugging mugs of coffee while looking at the stars; that sort of caffeinated rebel-grunginess you feel, after staying awake while most of your neighbors are asleep. Long, tortured nights of creative contemplation or romantic drama. I can also imagine a sort of smoky haziness surounding the scene. Perhaps those nights even run into days without interruption from torment--"Black Orchid" could almost be interpreted as a layering of fragrance on body sebum. The best way I'd describe "Black Orchid" on my skin, is as an almost dirty chocolate---certainly truffle-like (some hints of the murky places where mushrooms grow) and of the earthy dark variety. It's also quite sweet, but powdered over with a heavy duskiness. Potent, strange but not unpleasant. I'd consider it a good replacement for Vivienne Westwood's "Boudoir", as I found that too "dirty-underwear-sprayed-with-perfume" for my tastes. But both have a similar quality of richly fragranced intimacy. This was released in 2006, around the time "The Black Dahlia" film was being promoted. While the film didn't have the massive following expected from such a star-littered cast, I can't help but think that mischevious Tom Ford was intending to ride that film-noir wave. A more sinister interpretation of "Black Orchid": I wouldn't be surprised to smell something like it wafting off the body of some poor, young thing left abandoned in the woods. There is a strange obsessive nature to this concept, the creepy combination of beauty, mystery, crime and death. A must-have scent for Film Noir junkies or those who can't get enough of Gothic literature.

I've eaten something like this before.
And it's not dark chocalte, Vanilla, or truffles...?...hmm...

This maybe could work on the right girl.
It's edible, sweet, but not soft enough, the base is too dark, thick, and cloying.

A fresher, softer version is in order.

It’s a good thing that I had a huge sample (Thanks, Buffalo_Gals): It took me at least ten trials to wrap my brain around this one, to get my nose to respond consistently and close enough to what others reviewers are saying so that I can believe we’re speaking of the same fragrance. My first few tests gave me Nu: Nu with more variety, more breadth, more depth…but Nu, nevertheless. Then came bubble gum—my next three testings gave me bubble gum—grape bubble gum to be exact. Finally, one night after a sushi meal in an excellent Japanese restaurant and half a bottle of very good Sake, I tested Black Orchid again and, there it was: Exotic, fruity, earthy—who knew that fruit, floral and fungi could achieve such a level of vibrancy? Although I recognize its daring, I’m not sure that I even like the opening—along with the impressively dark earthiness it carries an oozy fruity sweetness that I don’t care for—it’s too much: I live near a swamp and if I want that smell, all I have to do is open a window. When the orchid note kicks in, I am reminded of Nu and I can’t rise above that connection. I think that it is an interesting accord, but, in addition to being a bit too feminine for my tastes, it’s nothing that I really want to smell for very long, which is to say that I could enjoy this accord on another, but don’t want it on myself. Also, as others have mentioned, it has been seriously reduced in intensity from the beginning. While it has become quite wearable in that respect, it has lost much of the initial drama and intrigue. The dry down is excellent except that it should manage more substance and sillage. How could it miss with a luxurious lineup like chocolate, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, and vetiver? But it perhaps did miss…this is a balanced and refined base, but it is also quite anemic. The thing is, Black Orchid tends to too quickly lose its impact and settle into something more ordinary, and its similarity to Nu means that another Tom Ford variation of Black Orchid can be had at bargain basement prices. No thank you.