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Black Lacquer 2024

7.7 / 10 289 Ratings
A new perfume by Tom Ford for women and men, released in 2024. The scent is smoky-woody. It is being marketed by Estēe Lauder Companies.
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Main accords

Smoky
Woody
Spicy
Resinous
Synthetic

Fragrance Notes

Wood lacquerWood lacquer Elemi resinElemi resin FrankincenseFrankincense Macassar woodMacassar wood VinylVinyl Fir needleFir needle StyraxStyrax Black peonyBlack peony CedarwoodCedarwood RumRum ApricotApricot Black pepperBlack pepper VetiverVetiver

Perfumers

Ratings
Scent
7.7289 Ratings
Longevity
7.8249 Ratings
Sillage
7.3252 Ratings
Bottle
8.3247 Ratings
Value for money
5.2210 Ratings
Submitted by Spl3xx, last update on 11/18/2025.
Interesting Facts
The perfume was the winner of the "Fragrance of the Year: Ultra Luxury" category at The Fragrance Foundation Awards 2025.
The fragrance is part of the Private Blend collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Kohl / كحل by Fragrance World
Kohl
Black Comme des Garçons by Comme des Garçons
Black Comme des Garçons
Opus XIV - Royal Tobacco by Amouage
Opus XIV - Royal Tobacco
Myrrhe Mystère by Tom Ford
Myrrhe Mystère
Chapter 5 by Ajmal
Chapter 5
Neuwagen by Christian Kölbl
Neuwagen

Reviews

17 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Landshark321

747 Reviews
Landshark321
Landshark321
Helpful Review 7  
Multifaceted smoky resin-centered gem, classy and dense, one of the house's best releases in years
Sampling the latest / upcoming release from the Tom Ford Private Blend collection, Black Lacquer, via a sample from Neiman Marcus, in advance of its release in the US, and it seems true to its name, a sort of dark varnish, a bit resinous, smoky, leathery, spicy, woody blend. It delivers on the name while not simply being limited to the smell of lacquer itself, a fun play on the name that is nonetheless sophisticated and high-performing. The main resins involved are olibanum and elemi, fostering a great deal of smokiness that is fortunately not overwhelming, with vetiver, black pepper, and black rum, so there are hints of spiciness and booze, also, in harmony with the smoky varnish. It comes together quite nicely, a robust, classy ensemble that seems primed for cold weather wearing, but if applied lightly, can be quite striking on a summer night just the same.

Comparison-wise, it reminds me a bit of Oud Wood Intense, albeit without much of the raw animalic power of the castoreum in OWI, so Black Lacquer is a bit smoother, a bit more restrained, less risky, less daring.

Currently, Black Lacquer only appears to be available on the house’s UK site, in its standard EDP concentration, at 290 GBP for 50ml, seemingly roughly in line with brand’s current pricing on the higher side (the lower-side pricing is 222 GBP), so presumably it’ll be priced at $405 when released in the US market later this year.

The fragrance seems to performing outstanding, with superb density and projection, not dying down much after several hours of wearing, and I expect it to last quite a while, something I’ll revise here if needed.

This is probably the first new release from Tom Ford in a number years that I’m inclined to buy, the most exciting to me, personally, since Beau de Jour in 2019.

9 out of 10
0 Comments
Maginilater

1 Review
Maginilater
Maginilater
Helpful Review 4  
Understated Elegance
I tested this, fortunately, at a department store in Melbourne CBD that has Black Lacquer 30ml, 50ml and 150ml available earlier than the wider Australian release (apparently, or maybe that’s what the sales rep sold me, haha).

I’ll be honest, the opening quickly reminded me of a tamer, more rounded version of Comme de Garçons Black. But as the CDG dries down and becomes sweeter, almost a slight caramel to my nose, this is the representation I felt in the opening of Black Lacquer. Albeit it beautiful, it was familiar. The vinyl note is present, blended well and not at all screechy in the first 15 minutes of spraying.

Then after 15-30 minutes I could barely get more beyond some muted smoke, cool woods and slightly resinous sweetness. Almost a skin scent. But that’s when things shifted slightly… after 60-90 minutes the whole scent shifted and moved into a beautifully resinous and elegantly blended experience. Sure, it still wasn’t strong but it was intensely beautiful to and still stronger, deeper, more resonant than the 15-30 minutes after spraying (odd, I know, but my experience).

One of the stunning additions in this fragrance to me is the apricot. Once the fragrance really dried down this note permeates with stone fruit sweetness, alongside the peony and elemi surrounding the olibanum and ebony wood. This dry down surrounded me for hours and hours, presenting itself with its grounding, rich and comforting scent for the rest of the day.

Definitely a close scent, there’s no getting around that. If you want this to be loud, you’re going to be disappointed. But… it’s really quite stunning and undoubtedly has that Tom Ford DNA in spades. Could be the eldest brother of "Ébène Fumé | Tom Ford" and Myrrhe Mystère

I ended up splurging on a 50ml bottle today, I just couldn’t stop myself. That dry down was just so incredibly delicious that although I’d love for others to smell the beauty surrounding me, and if it was an intimate occasion then that would definitely be the case, I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Happy to have bought it, can’t imagine many beyond fragrance enthusiasts will really cling to this tbh.

Looking forward to trying this out over time. Will be interesting to see if maceration plays a role with projection after some time, although this honestly doesn’t matter too much to me.

Yes, it’s overpriced for what it is, but the presentation (swoon) and elegance within the blending made it a worthwhile purchase in my book… and I’ll keep telling myself that whilst I cook rice with soy sauce for the rest of the week.
0 Comments
Stubaloo36

11 Reviews
Stubaloo36
Stubaloo36
Helpful Review 3  
A journey.....
When you first spray it on, it almost fizzes on the skin with a strong incense scent. Give it a few minutes and the smouldering, intense burning wood and ash come to the fore. This starts to mellow within an hour or two and you are left with an established firey, smoky, boozy, peppery, burnt vinyl(!) and hot wood varnish smell. This lasts for up to 24 hours on the skin! A completely unique fragrance in the way that it evolves. I own and love Ebene Fume, which I always thought was a statement maker, this is even more of one. It makes EF seem positively ordinary in comparison. When the discounts start on this, I will be buying it, I won't be paying just shy of £300 for 50ml. It's a wonder of Tom Ford perfumery again, but not at that price. Excellent.
2 Comments
DRKSHDW

127 Reviews
DRKSHDW
DRKSHDW
3  
WHEN PERFUME GOES TOO FAR: FROM SMOKED HAM TO ASH
Black Lacquer opens with an intolerable blast of pure smoked ham — like rubbing a piece of it on my skin. Not in a good way.

An hour in, things get interesting. Dark woods emerge, like burning palo santo and ebony impression, with a ghost of apricot in the background, some spice, and resins. Unfortunately, the drydown disappoints — ashy with a hint of rubber tires. It performs decently for about two hours before sitting close to the skin.

It reminds me of scents like Mississippi Medicine by D.S. & Durga and BVLGARI Black, but less vanillic. If you want something in this style, I highly recommend Gucci Midnight Stroll — it’s the better version...

Black Lacquer is a no-go for me. I don’t want to smell like a barbecue pit. The opening was downright scary. That said, I appreciate an attempt at "artistry" — hence the 6.5 rating. Unwearable art.

If you LOVE Mississippi Medicine Eau de Parfum , Bvlgari Black , A Midnight Stroll, etc. you will probably like Black Lacquer.
0 Comments
Omnipotato

400 Reviews
Omnipotato
Omnipotato
Helpful Review 3  
Smoky black beast
Black Lacquer follows in the footsteps of Bois Marocain and "Ébène Fumé | Tom Ford" as the latest smoky woody creation from Tom Ford. While they share significant DNA, enough that they could be flankers, they are not redundant. Bois Marocain focuses more on the aromatic and spicy side, Ébène Fumé is the woody/resinous one, and it seems that Black Lacquer is intensely smoky and incense-y.

It opens with a plasticky varnish accord that doesn't last too long, then transforms into the smoky beast that dominates the rest of the lifetime of the fragrance. Peppery notes provide sparkle and effervescence, while the incense grows into the main body of the scent. Its dry down, at least 8 hours in, is a familiar leathery suede accord that is also found in Ébène Fumé.

All in all, a very solid release from Tom Ford at a time when many were ready to give up on this house.
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Statements

84 short views on the fragrance
4
First impressions from tester strip: dark, woody, smoky, slightly fruity incense. Opens with a note that actually smells like varnish.
0 Comments
3
Harsh opening — pure smoked ham on skin. After an hour, fresh wood sap, antique furniture, faint fruit, and more smoke. Ashy tires drydown.
0 Comments
2
I used to play viola and smelling this reminds me of the rosin for the bow
0 Comments
2
Black Lacquer opens with a laquered, smoky vinyl note, polarizing hints of burnt plastic, that mellows into dark incense, woods and pepper.
0 Comments
2
I don’t get the hype
All I get is unpleasant smoke that sometimes feels like burnt plastic and sometimes like BBQ
0 Comments
6 months ago
2
Black by CDG lacks depth and narrative.
By contrast, Black Lacquer is romantic, mysterious and perfects the unfinished work of the former. 9/10
0 Comments
9 months ago
1
This is just Comme des Garcons Black, not quite as polished and 5 times more expensive!
0 Comments
1
Just a mashup of Myrrhe Mystere and Ebene Fume with a plastic-like note thrown in. The opening is the best part - laquery!
0 Comments
1
Very original release by Tom Ford. Deep, dark smoky woods. Open fire in a forest. Really love this one.
0 Comments
1
Hazy bonfire, mellow resins, wood lacquer. Leather and faint fruitiness beneath. Domesticated smoke. Too perfect and polished for my taste.
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