Gerardz

I vowed to avoid any Tom Ford in their latest ridiculous price bracket. I did test it though and that instigated a hunt and I found a deal at about a little over half the list price. That fits the bill. It is a lot like Bois Marocain, which I like, but it is better, as if a dash of London is added and the volume set at 9. I really like the woodsy notes, they remind me of Port Orford ceder, a smell you might know if you make arrows. It has legs too, I get nice waffs from the collarbones up for about 7 hours and they make me smile. ‘Cause it is a good waff. Unfortunately it is a rather linear scent. After the top has passed (with that odd palo santo note, some incense and a prickly pepper) it is what it is and stays that way. I think at the list price, a scent should take you on a journey, and it does not do that. It does give you a very nice destination however, if you can find a deal for it.

So sad Tom Ford did not call this something like Cipresso di Ventimiglia or Angelica di Ligure to steer the Oud Wood lovers in a different direction. It’s not an Intensified version of that, it is something special. I sampled it, liked it a lot and managed to find a bottle in a dark corner of the Net. For years my only compliment received was for Off!, a Canadian bug repellent. And now this one. It is a statement, needs more than a T-shirt, and I bet some people think it is too loud. Maybe the opening yells a bit, but it loses that screechy voice quite quickly, settling down to a very nice smoky wooden leathery and enveloping scent. If you are able to, you really should try this one. Especially if you like to try something other than Tom Ford’s version of Carved Oud ;)

I really like Cédrat Boisé and was looking forward to the Intense variety. It is a great scent, but compared to the ‘old’ version it just falls short. Intense Cédrat Boisé is so much more subdued and modest compared to Cédrat Boisé. The previous version is way more poppy, vibrant and sparkly, and after about 3 to 4 hours of wearing, it arrives at where Intense Cédrat Boisé is at 5 minutes in. Maybe I just like its roughness, but I would pick the original over the intense version. Even if you don’t own either one. Which you should.