Just Not That Into You: Tom Ford Noir

I have a lot respect for Tom Ford, an healthy dose of it grudging. It was brilliant that he basically saved Gucci’s bacon and his one line of stuff is very good. Some of his “shocking” advertising seems to be on a 14-year old’s level of taste, but I suppose that’s the point- you’re looking at it, talking about it, perhaps even railing against it. But you’re paying attention.

There are several of his scents I have liked, some of which had been discontinued. A friend of mine was in Neiman Marcus the other day and scored a sample of Tom For Noir, and thought it was a little more masculine and that perhaps I’d like it.

I do and I don’t.

I do in that Ford has brought a little drama and some, well, chewiness is the word that comes to mind to a department store price point.

From the blurb: An oriental, sensual fragrance that captures the twin facets of the Tom Ford man; the refined, urbane sophisticate who the world gets to see and the intriguingly sensuous, private man they don’t.

Yeah, whatever.

Notes (from the indispensable Basenotes)

• Top Notes
• Bergamot, Verbena, Caraway, Pink pepper, Violet
• Middle Notes
• Black pepper, Nutmeg, Tuscan iris, Geranium, Bulgarian rose, Clary sage
• Base Notes
• Opoponax, Amber, Indonesian patchouli leaf, Vetiver, Civet, Vanilla

And you get all of that- this isn’t some wispy eau de nil thing. So why am I not liking it? I think it’s the fault of the price point. You get the feeling that this was designed to use up lower quality ingredients. It’s better than 90% of what’s in the department stores, but for around $40 more you’re in Lutens territory. Since quite a few Lutens cover this shift and should be applied with a toothpick, I know where my hard earned Holiday cash would be spent.

Sorry Tom.

$90 for 1.7oz and $140 for 3.4

This one is available all over the place, including Nordstroms, from whom I stole the image