FRAGRANCE | Tobacco Oud EDP by Tom Ford: A confidently gorgeous but modest take on tobacco

halfwhiteboy - Tom Ford Tobacco Oud EDP

Tobacco and oud can have pretty strong personalities, so I didn't know what to expect of Tom Ford's Tobacco Oud at first. In my mind I was bracing for an epic clash between these two power notes but on the contrary, it isn't the raging monster I imagined it to be. There may be some, of course, who would find it strong but personally I think it's fine, more so when control is exercised with the sprayer.

Tobacco is arguably the star here, rich and gorgeously dry. With it comes a sweet, boozy accord that softens the tobacco's tough exterior, lending it a sweet alcoholic moistness and if I may, a more affable character. The resulting interplay, however linear, is just fantastic and I love it.

Tobacco Oud is quite modest in its projection. I think one of the reasons why it isn't as loud is because the oud is given the typical Westernized treatment, its supposed wild nature tamed. I have no problem with this take on oud, though. In as much as I appreciate oud in all its power, I also very much enjoy these "prettified" oud fragrances. I could rock some of those Middle Eastern ones like Ajmal's Dahn Oudh Al Shams but I also enjoy Westernized ouds like Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Oud Velvet Mood just the same. That said, this Tom Ford release isn't much of an issue for me, other than the expectations set by the name perhaps.

Tom Ford's Tobacco Oud strikes me as a mature scent, one of accomplished confidence that doesn't need to pander to other people's tastes to solicit compliments. It may be suited best for evening wear and for colder months but I wear it to the office any time I wish, and it lasts me the whole day each time. The scent is not for everybody but it's worth trying at least. The price, of course, is something else to consider.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LOOKBOOK | Barong Tagalog and sneakers for 'Buwan ng Wika'

Image
Looking oh, so dignified here. Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances. Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong . This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog , considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers . I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.
Read more

FRAGRANCE | Green Cedar EDT by Bench: An environmentally-conscious offering from the Philippines' premier retail brand

Image
A few weeks ago, I found myself wandering inside Bench Powerplant Mall. And what else would catch my eye but two fragrances by their lonesome twosome, positioned far away from the rest of the brand's scent offerings. They're Basil & Neroli and Green Cedar , both EDTs and part of the  Bench Better Made line . The frags are purported to be vegan and cruelty-free. They come in 125ml dark brown glass bottles and brown paper cylindrical boxes. Nice packaging there except for the cheap, plastic cap. No big deal, though, since they're just Php 428 apiece. 
Read more

FRAGRANCE | Rajo Uno EDT by Bench: An inexpensive local gem

Image
Philippine retail giant Bench has been many a high schooler's go-to shop for cheap colognes, myself included. And even during my college years, Bench has remained a staple. I remember  Bench Ei8ht was very popular with many people back then although my favorites were their body sprays Cielo and L'Amoureux . Through the years their roster of fragrances has only grown by leaps and bounds, with a lot of them made in collaboration with celebrities and fashion designers like Rajo Laurel .
Read more