Purple Patchouli (2007)
by Tom Ford

This seemed very sweet and somewhat fruity on first application, but after a fairly long drydown, it goes to a very woody-oriental accord which is both warm and soothing. The spices in the heart note boost this effect slightly. The early stages have a lot of sillage, but even after it dries down a while it retains a moderate projection. Maybe not for office wear, but in situations where deeper, firmer scents are welcome, this is nice.

I share the same sentiment with other reviewers of Purple Patchouli that it is a strange and bizarre fragrance. Violet and Patcholi notes come through strongly. The Patchouli is definitely there. I enjoy wearing this fragrance; it is very potent and long lasting (9+ hours) on me through it's various stages - spicy, floral, woody, etc. It's not always the first fragrance I reach for, but I do wear it on occasion and I think it's extremely well crafted. It is definitely a fragrance to try (maybe even twice) before you buy.

Easily the strangest of Tom Ford's Private Blends.

Like, White Patchouli (Mr. Ford's mainstream womans fragrance) this scent features very little patchouli and much more bizarre accords. Decomposing fruit, fizzy and sweet violet notes (not barbershop oriented, rather something confectionery).

Smell yoursefl one minute and it's dark, brooding and formal. The very next minute, the scent has moved to floral, bright and effervescent. Then, a whiff of woods and patchouli. Slightly chypre-ish in nature.

I detect very little sillage from this scent and it has poor longevity.

A very fun (and expensive) journey, if you're up for it.

Candied violets and patchouli? Yep, that's what you'll get with Tom Ford's Purple Patchouli! Must say that I love it though, and find the patchouli base to be just the right potency.

I didn’t know what to expect when I purchased this, the name just sounded yummy. The opening is something floral and sparkly, which I can only assume is the orchid accord melding sweetly with it citrus counterpart. The two of them linger for 45 minutes or so until succumbing to the amber and Peru balsam. The funny thing I get with this scent is an ever present honey note. It’s not, “knock your hat off ninja in the face” like Serge’s Miel de bois or anything. It just makes the fragrance surprising and charming in its dry down. I can’t say that the fragrance vanishes; more that I forget it’s there until I move and catch it by surprise. Make sense? And, that quick hello is soft, human and lovely in its greeting. It’s subtle and I think modern, unlike the Peace & Patchouli of Haight and Ashbury, San Francisco.

This one's just bizarre. Fascinating, yes, but definitely bizarre. It is, I imagine, something that a Goth dandy might wear with an Adam Ant-esque outfit, lacy cravat and all. Very sweet at first, with a dark and woody, violet-strewn path to go down after that.

As fascinating as I find it, though, I cannot honestly say that I'd pay the price that Ford wants for this little gem. For a complex take on patchouli, I can do far better in terms of cost.