Tom of Finland (2008)
by Etat Libre d'Orange

This fragrance is dominated by a fairly pleasant "dried fruit" accord, or at least that's the impression that I get. This is joined by a faint powder and latex smell that really puts TOF in unique territory. Despite it's uniqueness, I can't really heap any praise upon this beyond "solid fragrance."

14th January, 2012.

After a series of trial-and-errors (including Knize Ten) I realized that traditional hardcore leathers were not for me. What I really wanted was the perfect suede – and this is it!

The opening of Tom of Finland can admittedly be slightly overwhelming. There really is a lot going on here: boozy notes, rubber, smoke, leather, aldehydes, and more. But after half an hour ToF settles into a delightful vanilla/suede note on a dark background of smoky vetiver with a slight hint of rubber. Very subtle and just enough to keep the scent from becoming too sweet. This phase goes on forever and it just gets even better as the drydown sets in.

Tom of Finland reminds of the fabulous Bulgari Black, but with less smoke and rubber. Or l’Essence de Cerruti with smoke instead of toothpaste-mint (which is nice, by the way). Or a masculine version of the great Cuir de Lancome. But ToF is not a compromise – it stands firmly on its own feet. Suede heaven in a bottle!

Forget all the hype about gay/straight, naughty marketing, condom smell, Village People and all the other stuff that leads the attention away from the scent itself. Tom of Finland is utterly wonderful and it stands a good chance of becoming my new signature scent. For the cold season at least.

A bit expensive, but worth every penny. Try l’Essence de Cerruti (and add a bit of imaginary Bulgari Black) if you want a small and more budget-friendly foretaste of the real thing. Strongly recommended!

9th January, 2012.

This is in my opinion the best that this house has to offer. A citrus and aldehyde opening that smoothes into a leathery/musk base. Not an over powering leather ala Knize 10 by any means. Just a wonderful and smooth accord. An overall easy fragrance to wear anywhere and it is just balanced oh so well.

25th July, 2011.

It was supposedly the Tom of Finland Foundation that commissioned this fragrance; yet it's more likely to have been put out by the Family Planning Association smelling, as it does, like a big ol' condom. It has heaving aldehydic pecs topped with sassy lemon nipples, and street fighter arms of vanilla and tonka; it tapers down to a 14 year old boy's waist of saffron – slight yet striking. Longevity is faultless, but the drydown comes too quickly and is a mess, ousting the far more interesting rubber accord and Depeche Mode-type stuff, and Tom of Finland lingers on as an insufferably sweet and nondescript mishap. What a bummer.

15th July, 2011.

I have to agree with most of the reviews here - It's a very pleasant fragrance, soft, slightly sweet, warm, kind. I agree with the review that said it's a perfume for men. Trying it on for the first time today I had expected more of the leather/macho vibe but I really feel this is more of a sweet almost (almost!) feminine fragrance that has been dialed down by omitting florals and it's the edit thereof that makes it masculine. I get the leather/suede but its so soft - I don't get the "bull-whip". I am tempted - just - to say this is a Calvin Klein Obsession for Men 21st Century rather than 1986. It's not the in your face like the 80's were - it's scaled way way back. Knowing a few leatherbears myself I would say this absolutely wouldn't fly at a leather bar. Ballet flats are a much safer bet than TOF at the Eagle beer bust.

The fragrance is long lasting. Someone here said something about coconut and I smell none of that but it does have a warm beachy smell to me - not aquatic but sand and suede. It''s sophistication lies in it's editing.

11th July, 2011.

Tom of Finland is, by my standards, the ultimate Antoine Lie masterpiece (forget Secretions, not my thing). It is thoroughly genderless, heartbreakingly beautiful and transcends the boundaries of traditional perfumery in all the right ways. It is my favorite perfume using vetiver, as well. It wears fairly close to the skin, so this is one I'm always lifting my wrist to my nose to sniff. Over and over, obsessively.

23rd May, 2011.