Theres something so special about this fragrance, when you sniff it you are mentally transported to a different place. All the notes meld together to form a scent that is beyond words, mature yet playful and rich yet wearable. This was created in 2008 and it feels timeless, you can sniff this 20 years from now and it will be considered just as great.
When you first spray you get the amazing cardamom, one of the most photorealistic and rich versions I’ve smelled. Pink pepper adds interest and a bit of “fizz”, in the background creamy sandalwood, floral rosewood and dark semi-medicinal oud add structure & power. Vetiver adds an earthy edge and the whole fragrance is enveloped with a medium anount of amber. Vanilla and tonka in the background make it a little sweet and more paletable to the public. In the drydown vanilla and sandalwood come more forward leading to a very creamy finish.
It lasts about 7-8 hours and projects for the first 2-3, by no means a weak fragrance but not strong either. Don’t obsess over preformance, you will never enjoy fragrance collecting if you do. Just put some in a travel atomizer and spray on the go, simple.
I paid $370 for this 100ml fragrance which is an amazing deal ($580 originally) thank you to Perfumeonline for the great price and service. For the money this is a decent value, Tom Ford makes fragrances that you will not get anywhere else, the clones are just not comparable. I got Versace Oud Noir that smells like Oud Wood but I can easily tell apart the nuances and quality overall, OW is just much richer, creamier, more complex and just better.
If you are on the fence about this fragrance I would get it, it’s so iconic for a reason. The nose who created this made history, they made something entirely new and beautiful.