A rose is rose -- yes, but that rose invokes so many emotions to fragrances wearers all over because of the tumultuous relations we all have with it.
Though I've never touched a Tom Ford fragrance, primarily due to cost, I have heard amazing things. When a sample of the latest,
Violet Blonde, landed on my desk I didn't know what to do. There was a mix of emotions - excitement (
OH GOD IT'S TOM FORD!), to fear (
WHAT IF I HATE IT!), to hurry up and sniff it already. After a mental breakdown of somewhat epic proportions (and calling it Violent Blonde a million times), I popped the lid and went to dabbing.
Mistake number one- never overdose on a fragrance in a tight cubicle when you're seated next to those who do not have the same taste as you.
Mistake number two - never overdose on a fragrance in general because you become that girl.
“Violet Blonde has the spirit of a classical, European fragrance. It is formal, polished, and yet draws you in closer and closer, like a beautifully dressed woman whose refined presence charms, then fascinates, and ultimately seduces you.” -- Tom Ford
The first thing I immediately notice about Violet Blonde is its richness. The notes waft through the air and land ever so softly on the skin. It's a floral - not green - but creamy. There are definitely warmer notes that carry the fragrance and balances its floralness so that the wearer may not even realize it. The rose note hits you almost instantly and there was an instant fear that this would turn into one of those "grandma scents" often associated with note. Since I love all things vetiver I get a hint of it almost from the beginning (but is featured more prominently in the drydown).
While the opening note is Violet Leaf (an ingredient that is said to be connected with the land and history of Southern France and Northern Italy), I find that the rose takes over the scent completely in the beginning. It's not the bright, pop-y floral your kid sister would wear. It's definitely more feminine and mature.
As the scent journey continues, there are notes of Tuscan Orris and Jasmin Sambac, which I'm not familiar with at all. As with every fragrance I've ever owned that contained some form of orris, it turns a bit powdery and warm on the skin. Again, I was afraid this would be a bit too mature for me, but orris has been good to me in the past. It gives a scent character to some degree.
As the scent dries and settles, it becomes a medley of creamy woods, including my initial hunch of vetiver (Haitian Vetiver Absolute to be precise), which wraps up the fragrance into a soft scent.
Overall, it doesn't turn grandma-like on me, though I've had several coworkers comment when they sniff right out of the bottle. When it comes to roses, it truly depends on the wearer. While this is true of all scents, there are certain notes that definitely do not carry the same on different people (tuberose, rose, violets and some vetiver). You either feel really passionately for or against them.
This isn't a scent I could wear everyday, simply because of the rose, but I would wear when cold so I catch its whiffs as I bury my head a bit deeper in my scarf and coat for an extra bit of warmth.
Violet Blonde retails for $100/1.7 oz. and $145/3.4 oz. and is available at www.saks.com.
Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.