Tom Ford Tobacco Oud and Oud Fleur Perfume Review

Tom Ford Tobacco Oud and Oud Fleur join Tom Ford Oud Wood to form the new oud trio in the Private Blend line.  Oud Wood has been around, I believe, since the time the line first launched or came out maybe a year or so after the launch.

Tom Ford Tobacco Oud

Tobacco Oud was created by the same perfumer who made Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille – one of the flagship best-sellers in the Private Blend line.  I’ve seen several comparisons to Amber Absolute in existing reviews, but I’m not getting that. I hate Amber Absolute with a passion and danced and ate cake on its grave when they discontinued it.  My son described it as “like getting punched in the nose with a beehive.”  Or maybe it was having an amber beehive on your head?  I don’t remember.  If it smelled like that, this review would have been short, sweet and gutting.  Since it nods to Tobacco Vanille, another one in his line that I pretty much hate to wear, I was fearing a vanilla laced tobacco with thick oud sucking the air and joy out of my lungs and life  Nope.  Oh to explain, I can’t bear to wear Tobacco Vanille, it’s just too heavy, but I like sniffing it on other people, as long as they aren’t in my bed or the elevator doesn’t break. with one of its wearers in it with me  It’s just too much to smell more than a few minutes at a time, much like Hermessence Ambre Narguile (The Nazgul).

Tom Ford Tobacco Oud is  more about tobacco on the open.  It’s like they stripped out the sweet bits from Tobacco Vanille and Amber Absolute – the parts I can’t bear – and left the parts that I like/love. A dry amber/tobacco/oud fragrance that makes me pretty damn happy.  Temptalia noted that there is a difference in smell depending on how heavy you apply.  I found that accurate, even though I can’t imagine why it is true – it just is  With a couple of short sprays, it’s dry, very tobacco-like. When I sprayed liberally, it veered more toward By Kilian Pure Oud, which surprised and delighted me since that’s my comfort oud fragrance.  Notes are agarwood (oud), tobacco, sandalwood, patchouli, spicy notes and whiskey.  

Do I like Tobacco Oud? Yeah, it’s a Tom Ford for me to love, which brings the grand total this year to two.  Tom Ford Shanghai Lily is the other I fell in love with this year.  That’s about two more than I’ve had in the previous five years.  If you liked the idea of Tobacco Vanille or Amber Absolute, but thought it was like getting punched in the nose with an amber-vanilla beehive, you might give Tobacco Oud a try. It’s not heavy on the oud, lacks a lot of that medicinal quality, but there’s enough in there that you won’t have to roll your eyes at the use of Oud in the name of the fragrance.  The amber is not heavy, it’s dry and veers more towards the lovely amber in Parfum d’Empire Ambre Russe (less the marauding Russians drunk on vodka).

Tom Ford Tobacco Oud and Oud Fleur

 

Tom Ford Oud Fleur starts out as a more traditional Arabic fragrance, heavy on the rose/oud open.  Wait for the surprise as it develops.  The oud/rose open does a drop-off – thankfully – and then there’s a shittonne of spices that make this a lot more interesting than you think it was going to be.  Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, geranium, rolling around with Styrax, Cistus, Leather, Ambergris, Castoreum and a dollop of the completely unpredictable davana.  Little bit dirty. It’s like a Serge Lutens Rose de Nuit and Tom Ford Cafe Rose found themselves bored and seated by each other on bar stools at the end of a long, drunken night.  It is, well, unexpected.  That’s about the highest praise I give to a perfume.  It’s not what I thought it would be, it’s better.  The rose is there, but there’s so much other, more interesting things going on, it does a background fade and you get cute osmanthus cuts instead of rose overload.  

Surprising and charming.  

Okay, so now I’m up to three Tom Ford fragrances I really like this year.  Well, pretty much three in total from the Private Blend line.  So yea!  Let’s do a giveaway!  Three sets of 2 mls sprays are the commenter prize this week.   Just tell me stories in comments to be entered.  Thanksgiving plans for the Thanksgiving-celebrating New Worlders? Mine is sit tight and go nowhere because in retail that’s what you do from Thanksgiving until after New Year.  Old Worlders, has winter started, have you switched up perfumes yet?  And how do I get my hands on that damn Tom Ford London thing along with the Kilian Apple Brandy? Anyone know?

BTW, it is so hard for me to respond to comments because of time – I absolutely read them! – and I have to note a couple of things about the color shawl. That color pattern is way, way easy to do.  Once I got the pattern down, I think I can do it in my sleep.  Now that I’m nearing the end of the second one, I think I am doing it in my sleep!  Once you set the color changes in the first run-through, it’s like an easy pattern to just follow along with for the next seven.  So if anyone knits and might be scared to try it, don’t be!  Easy-peezy, it’s Rowan yarn, you can design your own color changes if you want, and it’s in their last big Rowan magazine.  I’m worried about my addiction to those cowls, though. I’ve made three now, plus one scarf with the same pattern, and I’m starting on the fourth.  What is wrong with me?  The yarn is so lovely, the pattern so relaxing, it just makes me happy to knit it when I need mindless knitting.

From last week, we were giving away three 2 ml sprays of the Tobacco Oud, but the winners can opt for the Oud Fleur if they prefer it.  Those winners are – trickyholly, Elena and Insense. Just clickety-click on the Drop Us a Note at the top of the page, remind me what you’ve won and include your address, and I’ll confirm I got your e-mail and get it sent out.  

Oh, I heard y’all ,and sandalwood and tobacco will be the next two up, once I get them assembled!

  • Elsa says:

    Would love to try Tom Ford Oud. We have a few jaunts planned in Texas. Two days with my family then one and a half with my father in law then one overnight with brother in law at lake house. Then back home… Lots of miles and cozy car family time. We do this every year so we settle in to the traveling mode rather quickly. Looking forward to family visiting.

  • Elena says:

    Heading to the Dominican Republic for Thanksgiving with my parents, brother and SIL and niece, and aunt and uncle. It’s a big deal for all of us! I can’t wait, as I have a 4 year old and a 6 month old, and with all those relatives to play with the babes, I’m imagining I might just find myself with enough time to read a book (just put Beautiful Ruins on the Kindle). Or at least a magazine!

  • Nemo says:

    I must say, Oud Fleur sounds absolutely amazing! It is funny because I am so behind the times on perfumes, I have barely smelled any Oud perfumes. We don’t have any plans for Thanksgiving. Actually, since I am holed up on the couch sick right now, doing nothing sounds absolutely amazing. Maybe a movie or two? Any suggestions are always welcome 🙂

  • Beth says:

    I’m going out of my mind getting ready for a January 1 system conversion here, so I have been peeking in and rushing off. But this one has me intrigued and I had to comment! I’ll be making a 26lb turkey, and then rushing off to work on Friday. We’re in retail so we’re open, but we refuse to be open Thanksgiving Day. I’ll also be working Saturday & Sunday to make up for my one day off … *sigh*.

  • katrin says:

    The weather is slowly getting colder here… Would love to try some of these TF’s ouds. Haven’t yet thought of winter scents.

  • cynthia3403 says:

    The Oud Fleur sounds interesting. I’m the Thanksgiving cook for my three recent college graduate kids various friends who have no place to go (due to distance) for Thanksgiving. It should be fun.

  • Insensé says:

    Well, a courageous oud wearer here! Give me more, give me more!
    This Oud Fleur sound intriguing, in fact.
    Here in Portugal, the autumn is beautiful, today we are having a sunny day and I am slightly shifting from summer perfumes to winter ones. I notice the classics I wore this week seem to win a new soul these days (Pour un Homme, Heritage, PdN New York, Equipage).
    Next week I’ll rotate some Amouage samples!

  • Lynne Marie says:

    Oh dear heaven, I also want that By Kilian apple brandy thing, if anyone finds a source, please please tell all of us! Surprisingly I find myself more curious about the Oud Fleur than the Tobacco Oud – I usually run screaming from anything with fleur in the title but I guess my tastes are changing! Thanksgiving is just me, my daughter and my son – my husband works law enforcement and so works every holiday. My sweet son is in a temporary care center, waiting for a permanent place where his special needs can be dealt with (he’s 31 and doesn’t want to live with Mom and I can’t blame him – I wouldn’t wanted to have lived with my mom when I was in my thirties 🙂 ) so my daughter and I are springing him for the day – we’ll eat way too much, watch old movies and laugh our heads off – the perfect Thanksgiving.

  • xtopher says:

    I am afraid of oud. I am an oud coward. I bought a sample of Montale White Oud which was supposed to be, well, white, and I just cannot stand so I cannot even imagine what a real oud bomb will do to me. The only one I love and which to me smells like a purring cat is Amber Oud (by Kilian). This smells like a soft caress without the harsh medicinal, band aid, gasoline smell. I am curious about TF’s Ouds. He always manages to surprise me, in one way or another. I love Amber Absolute!

  • Sapphire says:

    Thanks for holding the drawing. We will be going to my sister’s house in tiny Chappell Hill, TX. She lives on 22 acres and does the Martha Stewart thing, complete with garden, chickens, sewing and canning. My parents and brother’s family will be there, too, so my boys will get to play with their cousins and we will all get stuffed on smoked turkey and pork loin.

  • helical gnome says:

    I will spend Thanksgiving with my wife and family at my mom’s place with my huge family so although I am submerged in work, I am counting on that day to respire. I really like tobacco notes yet rose is something I can hardly tolerate so I am intrigued with your description of oud fleur as not being a heavy rose. I may be the only person who doesnt like Lyric woman. Thanks!

  • FearsMice says:

    Earlier today I spilled an entire sample vial of Frederic Malle’s French Lover–which I liked, dang it!–on the floor. I’m still annoyed with myself, but the floor has certainly never smelled better. I like Tobacco Vanille, and would have loved to smell Amber Absolute (beehive or not!), but these new ouds sound interesting, too. Thanks for the draw.

  • imapirate007 says:

    After having worked in retail for over 10 years (at a record store no less!) I feel your pain. That just about killed any desire I have to set foot in a store other than an unpretentious mom & pop store, or bookstore. Most of my shopping is done online. And as for most people dropping their T-day cooking like Spiker and heading for the beach, I applaud you! I’m sure if the pilgrims had know about the beaches of Florida, they too, would have headed south. So on to Tom Ford. I totally get Tobacco Vanille. It really is a unique scent, and judging by all the talk on perfume blogs, the guys seem to love it more than the ladies do. Thanks for the draw.

  • tammy says:

    I liked TV, but I’m guessing I’d like TO even more ( You had me with the comparison to Pure Oud, which is a huge comfort scent for me, as well) Thanks for a chance to win!

    We are doing the family Thanksgiving on the Saturday after, since so many people have other places to go. It’s always a huge crowd, with all the fun and craziness that comes with any large gathering of Southerners.

    Past events have included two of my uncles shooting at each other when they discovered the other was sleeping with his wife (I hope that was clear), my Great Aunt Eulalah breaking her hip after tripping over my Aunt Lauralene’s chihuahua (and consequently bloodying the paramedic’s nose because she thought he was “getting fresh” with her when he was merely trying to ascertain the extent of her injury) and several of my cousins gallantly performing CPR on my Aunt Belle for almost an hour while waiting for the paramedics to arrive, only to be told she had been dead for hours and was only still warm because the electric blanket was on. The last few have been relatively staid affairs, though still quite enjoyable. (And loud)

    My husband will have the Friday after off for the first time in 20 years, so I’m looking forward to that as much as anything else!

  • solanace says:

    Today we had a crazy rain and I wore Shalimar Ode à la Vanille. So perfect.
    Thank’s for the draw, Patty!

  • DaveStPaul says:

    We’re going over the river — but not through any woods! — to my brother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving. We’re very luck to have a happy, close family. (They also are able to leave you alone sometimes, which is also an important trait.)

    From 2007 to 2010 we lived in Asia, and got to experience Thanksgiving being merely Thursday. It was a little weird, I have to admit! Our kids’ school asked me to come in and talk a little bit about this North American holiday, which was fun. It turns out the concept of pumpkin pie — sweetening pumpkin squashes and baking them for dessert — is a weird concept to many people. Who knew!

    Thanks for the draw, btw. =:o)

  • Libberation says:

    Looking forward to seeing friends and family in for thanksgiving/Hanukkah. I got my BFF started on a perfume obsession a few months back so we are planning a sniffa while she’s in from out of town! Apart from that it’s time to knuckle down and try to survive at work (I’m a goldsmith) and hit the internets for Christmas shopping. Thanks for the draw!

  • lorraine says:

    I’m trying to be a good girl this year and have started my Christmas shopping early (this is early for me, I know there are some that start in September). Buying perfume for myself once I’ve started buying for others seems wrong so I’m struggling and having little fights with myself. I feel very grateful for my first world problems. Thanks for the draw!

  • wefadetogray says:

    I have recently found myself adoring tobacco notes on perfume though I hate with my soul people who smoke near me. It all started with Nazgul, as you call it, in very moderate dabbing action. Then I tried tabac aurea and I just fell for the whole boozy smelly thing. I want to try these Tom Ford for sure. I am expecting my order of Tobacco Vanille but I fear it will be a sweet bomb :/ No exciting plans here for Thanksgiving. I am Latin American so I dont really celebrate Thanksgiving. I like to give thanks though and I use Thanksgiving as an opportunity 🙂

  • rosarita says:

    We are of the same mind about Tobacco Vanille, I hate the sweet parts, and I love the amber in Ambre Russe, so this is sounding good! Knee replacement surgery was last week so my foreseeable future is PT and watching stuff on Netflix. Friends are feeding us and it feels like Thanksgiving every day, I have so much that I’m grateful for. Thanks for the draw.

  • Janice says:

    I thought I was one of the only ones who really doesn’t like Tobacco Vanille, but since you seem to have the same take on it, I’m looking forward to trying Tobacco Oud now… a drier tobacco scent sounds great.

    Looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving without travel—plenty of family visits before and after, but this holiday is just ours!

  • Kathryn says:

    Lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, so I’m especially happy that my children and their partners will be here to celebrate with us. My son and daughter-in-law are expecting our first grandchild in the spring. Not long after that, my daughter is getting married to a truly wonderful young man. After a number of difficulties, it’s a really good time in all of our lives. Wishing all the blessings of the season to everyone.

  • StaceyW says:

    I am a big fan of TF Tobacco Vanille and Amber Absolute but am also eager to try the new Oud’s. Let us know if you find a way to try the new Kilian. I’m on the lookout for Benjoin by Le Labo. Darn those city exclusives! Thanks for the draw and Happy Thanksgiving :).

  • Janet In California says:

    We are going to my husband’s family for Thanksgiving. Time to talk about what to do about their mom, who really shouldn’t be living by herself any longer. 🙁

  • Mary K says:

    If I decide I’m up for it, I just might go shopping, as so many stores will be open on Thanksgiving day.

  • Jen says:

    Now that it’s really chilly here in the northeast, I have broken out my Opium, and have been spraying it daily. The warmth of it reminds me of the holidays!

  • Stacey says:

    I just tried Shanghai Lily for the first time last week and LOVED IT so I’m anxious to try the Oud Fleur. For Thanksgiving, my husband and I are flying to Denver to meet my niece and nephew who were born last Friday! I can’t believe I’m an aunt now (x2)! It will also be our first (of many) trips to Denver, so if anyone has any recommendations for restaurants, sights, etc., they would be much appreciated. I was thinking of checking out the Passport to Paris exhibit at the Art Museum (and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s related perfumes). Has anyone been?

  • susan says:

    I’m flying to North Carolina on Friday to visit family: over a week off work, chilling at the farm, can’t wait!! 🙂

  • My partner and I have been together almost ten years now and for the first time we’re doing no family or friend get-togethers for the holidays. Instead we’re taking our first ever, us only, no agenda, VACATION! We rented a beach house on the Oregon coast for 5 days. Our plan? Eat lots of shrimp, bacon and hollandaise, stare at the ocean from the hottub, eat more shrimp, watch netflix, more bacon, walk on the beach, more hollandaise, romp in the bed, hollandaise, stare at ocean, hottub, beach, bacon, bed… you get the picture! 😉 Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to be sniffing some TF goodness all the while? Thanks!

  • Erika says:

    Just staying home for Thanksgiving this year – no big plans. I can’t wait!

  • Connie says:

    Hi Patty! I plan to make my escape from college for some lovely and relaxing Thanksgiving family and friend time. I can’t wait. As soon as I get over the French test hurdle tomorrow, it will be as though the break has begun-though it really starts on Friday after classes.

  • Irina says:

    winter is not here, yet, more like an early autumn- my “heavy” wintery stuff waits for the temps to drop a little
    I hate, hate winter but I love so dearly my rich ambery winter perfumes, that I’m ready to put up with bad weather ( and this happens only in the last 3 years, since my fall through the rabbit hole)- it’s funny:gladly shivering

  • Portia says:

    DNEM Patty.
    Great draws though.
    When you feel like knitting a scarf for the Drag Down Under could I have a mixture of Acid Green, Dark Gray and Primrose Yellow please.
    Portia xx

  • Carol says:

    Tobacco Oud sounds really nice , so thank you I’d love to be included in the draw . I have been spinning alpaca into fine two ply yarn ( a neighbor gave me three garbage bags full of gorgeous fleece last year when we moved into our farm ) . I’m not a great knitter , being left handed I transpose everything . So I usually make up as I go along . Right now I’m finishing a striped scarf in popcorn stitch dark grey with off white . The yarn is soft fluffy weightless !! I’ve been spinning for 20 years and never had alpaca b4 .
    I will be cooking the turkey for my husband and my parents who have moved with us and have their own little place out back . They are both over 80 and very healthy . Hope you enjoy the holidays Patty !

  • Sherri says:

    Thanksgiving will be here at our house. All my kids will be here except my oldest who is going to Delaware with friends. This is the first year I won’t have all my kids together, but my daughter is bringing her boyfriend for at least part of the day, one of my daughter’s dear childhood friends from Dallas will be here, and my in-laws will be in from Dallas that evening or Friday morning.
    So it will be fun nonetheless! Today dh and I are going to practice the turkey on the grill’s rotisserie (don’t need any surprises with a dozen people waiting for dinner! 🙂 Thanks for the draw and hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving!!

  • Laurels says:

    Two years ago, my beloved mutt Sophie died the night before Thanksgiving. Last year, my grandmother, with whom I’d always been very close, fought death tooth and nail, but finally lost the war a few days before Thanksgiving. If I can make it to next Thursday without anyone in my house dying, I’ll be thankful. (Okay, that was depressing. They both had very long, mostly very good lives. But seriously, stay away from my house at Thanksgiving.)

  • Elia says:

    There’s no thanksgiving here, so no special plans.
    What I’m aiming to do is get things done!! Just catch up on doing little tasks that slipped away, then hopefully when Christmas swings around I’ll have more time and be more relaxed.

  • Spiker says:

    About a dozen years ago, my family chucked the idea of the classic cold thanksgiving in Ohio, complete with all the cooking and cursing over the bird and side dishes (potato peels took out the sink disposer two thanksgivings in a row) and decided to head to Florida for the holiday. Beach in the morning, then Dinner out, so no cooking or clean up. We’ve never looked back.

  • Jennifer Smith says:

    Please enter me in the draw! Thanks !
    My TG plans -I work in fashion retail so I’ll be working my hiney off and try to get credit sales up (unfortunately selling store card= hours scheduled) Mom will do most of the holiday cooking and my Grams and my brother will come over (and maybe bro’s GF and her 2 kids???)
    My family is semi-looking for a puppy/puppies to adopt soon lab or german shepard prefered .If we are successfull it will be extra fun and extra crazy over the holidays.

  • Jackie b says:

    We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving down here, but we are planning a cross-continent trip to visit family at Christmas…it’s been a while and my parents are getting frail. Anyone have any ideas for stress reducing fragrances???

  • Ann says:

    Hi, Patty! I am so with you on TF’s amber and the tobacco one especially — it was too sweet and something in it just made me feel kind of icky. Now you’ve got me a little interested in trying these ouds, but oud and I generally don’t get along too well. It and ambrox (ambroxan) have ganged up on me once too often and now either of them in a scent has me practically running skeered. Of course, as always, DNEM.

  • Audrey says:

    Going form San Diego, good weather, to Chicago, bad or iffy weather. It’s all about family and love.