This is a long overdue review having received in at Christmas 2017 from Ben’s parents as a gift. Tom Ford Velvet Orchid was a total surprise and not one I’d asked for – risky when it comes to fragrances, but one I was sure would deliver positive results as Tom Ford’s Black Orchid is my favourite perfume ever. How could it’s sister Velvet Orchid possibly not give me similar hopes for a scent that would blow my socks off?
I think Ben must have given him some steer when it came to this gift, knowing just how much I loved Black Orchid was probably a fairly good nod in the right direction for something new to Ben’s Mum who always likes to buy us all some kind of perfume or beauty product (last year I got this Drunk Elephant set). I am sure it’s one I had smelt along the way in shops and I’m pretty sure I had mentioned wanting it – probably due to it’s gorgeous deep velvety purple packaging (I’m a sucker for this shade).
Tom Ford’s perfumes are classic luxe from the outside in. The box features the matching purple striped texture, similar to the perfume with the matching gold square badged upon the front. The perfume bottle is a deep sparkling purple glass – as of course you’d expect – and has a mostly opaque which leaves a slight ability to see through to how much is left inside. A touch I like as with my Black Orchid it’s completely opaque and one day it’s going to surprise me that it’s empty, something I won’t be emotionally prepared for! The golden square in the middle is metal and adds an opulent finish on top of an already regal colour. Around the cap is a piece of elastic finished with a little Tom Ford monogram, again in the complimenting gold.
Let’s move on to talking about the fragrance itself now – since I’m sure that’s what we’re all here for. I must admit that the first few months I had this this fragrance was quite overlooked in my collection – I wore it a few times but I struggled to find it as distinguishable against others like I had Black Orchid. It’s only when I started putting pen to paper for this post that I started being able to find it’s uniqueness.
This is a darker floral fragrance that’s met with a some slight warm spiciness – I’ve been known to wear it all times of day thinking mostly in the beginning it was more of a daytime floral, but as time goes on for some reason the darker warmer notes appear to jump out me more in the evening and it seems to take on a more exotic tone. Velvet seems to be the perfect namesake for this perfume, the way that plush fabric moves and changes in the light feels entirely appropriate for how this fragrance seems to shift. Tom Ford describe this fragrance as timeless and I have to agree whilst this I don’t think will appeal to those that are younger as much I can imagine it being something that appeals to all ages after that and it feels like a classic (but not old) fragrance that’s going to stand the test of time in a collection.
There’s A LOT of notes in this fragrance, which I think on first sniff can be a little bit overwhelming but as the fragrance settles each layer reveals itself more. Top notes are warm of bergamot, mandarin, Succan absolute (purified rum to you and me!) and honey. The middle notes are all about floral – the note that jumps out me most is the orchid/black orchid, but the other notes of rose, jasmine, orange blossom, magnolia, hyacinth, daffodil and heliotrope form the biggest bouquet. Whilst there are warm notes again forming a sandwich in the base – vanilla, myrrh, sandalwood, Peru Balsam, ladbdanum and suede offer a silky and spicy base.
The most obvious notes to me are the Orchid, Myrrh, Rose and the Rum. I’m a floral or gourmand girl at heart, and I don’t think I’d ever pick Rum as a note of choice – but I love it in this as it does make the fragrance feel different to everything else in my collection or ones that I’ve tried previously.
I only need a couple of spritzes of Tom Ford Velvet Orchid at a time and I’m not running through this bottle quickly at all, with only about a quarter used. Longevity of this fragrance is good and lasts a full day, Black Orchid I find lingers for days and days on clothes and scarves, and this one isn’t as potent – but it’s nothing to complain about.
Tom Ford fragrances are up there in price there’s no doubting it, but I’ve had this in my collection for 18 months and my 50ml bottle is only about a quarter done – I think that’s pretty good going! Although it has been an under appreciated perfume in my collection and I can see it starting to become a more regular go from now on. Tom Ford do make incredible and unique fragrances that I think are very distinguishable as from his line whilst feeling very unique to one another – I’ve got my eye on several others from the line although some of the others on my list get a little pricier as they’re from the more premium line.
This can be found at Boots and prices start at £58 for a 30ml bottle – I’d always pick Boots to pick up my fragrances to get those Boots points and you can find it online here.
Have you tried TF Fragrances before or have you tried Tom Ford Velvet Orchid?
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These fragrances are gorgeous.
Candice x
Beautiful review! Thank you for sharing.