Velvet Orchid

I absolutely love the honey and rum sweetness. It's rich and indulgent without feeling heavy. That said, it can become quite overwhelming in enclosed spaces if over-applied, so a light hand is key. The dry-down, however, is beautifully sophisticated. My only disappointment is the longevity; it's moderate at best, and I had hoped for more staying power. But I would still continue to have this as my go-to winter perfume.

Sprayed it at the store - 2 sprays on my wrist and I thought I would suffocate in the car on my drive home. It’s not even that sweet yet it felt suffocating to me. I can clearly smell honey and pointedness. Tried to scrub it off at home - not much luck… so at least you know the longevity is good… not for me

This one shares a lot similarities with other milky sweet floral vanilla fragrances like Flowerbomb, La Vie est Belle, etc. There's a truffle like smell that adds a little weirdness/uniqueness in the top & middle notes. But the difference is not big enough to justify a purchase if you've already owned the other fragrances.

Flatter and screechier than I expected. The powderiness blocks the syrupyness I expected from the floral overtones and the oudh base. I would wear it but I wouldn't buy it.

One of the most harmonious and intoxicating blend of notes in the entire Tom Ford line. Such a high quality fragrance.

For those who find Black Orchid "too much", this is a less aggressive, brighter, beautiful alternative - especially if you enjoy orchid notes. I love the boozy note with the dynamic blend of florals that make this elegant, statement perfume. It is not as polarizing as Black Orchid, can be more versatile to wear through different seasons and time-of-day, and I feel like it is an easier one to win people over with compared to Black Orchid (however I do like Black Orchid too). Strong sillage and longevity make it totally worth the purchase. This is one of my signature scents.

This is softer and more chill than Black Orchid and somehow that doesn't make it better than Black Orchid.

Mature and sophisticated perfume. Suitable for evening events.

It’s almost too much perfume. Something made me rummage in my Tom Fords. ( I won’t digress into my opinion that he’s a towering artist.) It’s maybe too melange-y, soupy, yet narcotically perfumey and uninhibited. There are no notes in it. I adore this, but there is something about it that makes me only want to spray it at 1 am when I get home, drunk and my ears ringing. It’s dangerous. I would like to do a review of the original BO, but my daughter stole it years ago. We were at at small town pub and someone went delirious at her wearing BO. It imprinted on her. Back to this version, it must be sweeter, more heliotrope-y, softer than the original (going off memory re the more beastly patchouli). I wear nearly everything to the produce store in broad daylight, but no no no not this slinky creature of the darkest night. It’s an alter ego that is only the id of sex. It would make me feel bashful and guilty, wearing all that on my sleeve. I’m an innocent old lady and free of all that now!

Im not sure how this has a higher rating than Black Orchid and White Patchouli, but both of those are better fragrances.

Velvet Orchid is a lovely floral fragrance, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a blind buy. It has a certain sharpness that I find a bit jarring — a nuance I’ve also noticed in Black Orchid from the same brand. While the composition is beautiful, it doesn’t sit completely smoothly on my skin.

I’m sorry but ew. I can’t. Too peppery and harsh. Pencil shavings mixed with a musty public bathroom smell. It reminds me of Soir de Lune by Sisley I can see how this labeled as an elegant fragrance, but for me it’s just trying too hard to be sophisticated. Too many notes going on. Less is more!

This smelled like baby wipes

As a man I think this is my favorite women's fragrance. It's so complex I'm not even gonna try to unpack any notes, so here's vibes: elegant, sophisticated, confident, sexy, mature, refined, composed, sultry. I'd say perfect for dressing up for date night. The reviewer who said it was her "'I know I'm perfect' scent" was right on the nose. I would just recommend every woman buy this so I can smell it more often thank you :-)

Tom Ford's Velvet Orchid is much more than a simple "companion" to the legendary Black Orchid; it is a softer, brighter and decidedly more unscrupulous evolution of her feminine charm. If Black Orchid is the dark and almost gothic mystery, Velvet Orchid is the purple silk that caresses the skin. The structure of Velvet Orchid is complex, orchestrated by a "dream team" of noses (Vasnier, Becker and the Maisondieu couple). The result is a dense and layered harmony. The mix of Rum and Honey is immediate. It's not a cloying sweetness, but a warm, liqueur-like sensation that's refreshed just enough by the mandarin and bergamot. Here the fragrance explodes. The Black Orchid (TF's signature) is surrounded by an immense bouquet. The hyacinth and narcissus add an almost "earthy" and green facet, while the heliotrope gives that powdery and almond touch that makes the perfume hypnotic. The closing is masterful. Suede and Myrrh give a velvety texture, while Peru Balsam and vanilla ensure infinite persistence on the skin. It is an extremely luxurious fragrance. Wearing Velvet Orchid gives the feeling of wearing a high fashion dress; it's sophisticated, mature and incredibly sexy in a refined way. Less polarizing than Black Orchid (no strong "earthy/fungal" notes), sweeter and creamier. If you don't like dense, rich and very floral perfumes, it could be excessive. It's not an "office" or "gym" scent. Tom Ford's Velvet Orchid is much more than a simple "companion" to the legendary Black Orchid; it is a softer, brighter and decidedly more unscrupulous evolution of her feminine charm. If Black Orchid is the dark and almost gothic mystery, Velvet Orchid is the purple silk that caresses the skin. Orchid is the embodiment of Tom Ford's ultra-glamorous femininity. It is a perfume that does not apologize, dedicated to those who want to leave an indelible memory. Compared to the darkness of Black Orchid, here we find an amber light that makes it more wearable, but no less magnetic.

Black Orchid was originally supposed to be a woman’s fragrance, but due to men buying it more than women, it was repositioned as a unisex fragrance, which is absolutely is. A follow up to Black Orchid was Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid, and there’s no question that this is a women’s fragrance, but at the same time, you could tell that it is a flanker of the legendary Black Orchid. In contrast to the sweeter, chocolaty, and earthy nature of Black Orchid, this fragrance is very smooth floral. It possesses a remarkable complexity, potentially rivaling that of Black Orchid, and continuously evolves over time. Initially, a subtle hint of rum is present, gradually giving way to a more pronounced floral bouquet. An underlying suede note contributes to the opulent composition, which aligns with “Velvet” In its name, and I must say, it is a very fitting name, indeed. I’m writing this review based on the experience from my mother’s bottle, which has the batch number AA3. The performance is quite good, as expected from a flanker of Black Orchid, and it lasts the entire day, with moderate projection but more than average silage. In my opinion, this fragrance is exclusively designed for women, and I can picture women who know what they’re doing, and are confident in themselves pulling this off perfectly. Age group wise, I’d say 25 and up. I think this is versatile enough to be pulled off in any occasion, formal or casual. As for seasons, I think it can be worn in any season barring summers.

Smells like a really nice hair oil, the same with Initio Psychedelic Love. Honeyed florals and soft, powdery suede. The florals are extremely heady at first for me (I am not into floral heavy scents at all) which was borderline nauseating but calmed down fairly quickly and began to synchronize with the honey and suede. Psychedelic Love was not heavy in this way and had that serious ylang ylang note from what I remember. All the same, it’s giving luxurious hair oil. Pretty, but not enough to spend the $$$ on a full bottle.

Does anyone else find that this lasts much longer on clothes than it does on your skin? On dry down it lasts maybe an hour or so on my skin but absolutely has no silage. If I spray it on my clothes and not just pulse points, it lasts WAY longer and the silage is moderate for 4+ hours. For me it’s a cold weather evening type of perfume. The warmth of the rum and honey on the opening is divine. To my nose, at the heart, I don’t get orchid per se, I get the hyacinth/tuberose absolute sweet smell. Pair that with the vanilla sandalwood dry down and it’s just makes you feel cozy. Almost like you’re in front of a warm crackling fireplace sitting on a fur skin rug while it snows outside. No single scent overpowers the other, which imo is the hallmark of a well crafted perfume.

my love my one and only i always come back to this i love it so much its boozy but floral so it keeps things balanced its gen amazing

Such a unique and pretty scent! I was looking for a long lasting perfume, and the lady at Sephora recommended this one for me. I fell in love instantly! It’s sweet and floral without being cloying or juvenile thanks to the deeper, darker notes. Perfect for special occasions when I want to feel sexy!

I find this to be so much more wearable than black orchid . Initially, I get a very unisex vibe from it but as it dries down, the feminine leaning notes come out a bit more. It’s the hyacinth and myrrh that really stand out to my nose. I can detect a bit of rose. Otherwise, it’s pretty well blended and hard for me to detect individual notes. It gives a bit of mystery. It is definitely a sexy date night fragrance for the cooler months. It’s very unique and modern. I am not a fan of the price point but it does last a very long time and has great sillage. You don’t need much so in some ways, it may be worth it.

generally i cannot do a heavy floral. it's just not my thing. i absolutely LOVE this fragrance. it's not overpowering. the rum notes make it sultry and sexy and beautiful. super elegant. definitely a special occasion fragrance for me. very feminine. femme fatale energy. makes me feel like someone's rich widow auntie who married into wealth.

Finally finished this after years. It is a heady floral, but pretty nice. Elegant, yet nice enough for every day wear. Really long longevity and sillage is crazy!

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid is a flanker that significantly increases the white floral element, as compared to the original Black Orchid, and its other flankers. The note pyramid may call this florality the black orchid note, but that is only a fantasy accord for a polyfloral blend, heavy on ylang-ylang. When smelling Velvet Orchid in isolation the differences between it and Black Orchid is relatively subtle. It is only when the two are compared directly that Velvet Orchid's sweeter, softer scent becomes fully noticeable. Perfume wearers who seek a less edgy, safer bet, leaning more fully feminine, often choose Velvet Orchid. Fair enough, that's fine, ....but for those unafraid of modification (layering) and who might sometimes want more extremity and overall variety, consider getting the original Black Orchid (...or the Reserve) and then layering it with other floral fragrances of your own choosing.

Such a delicate yet mystically alluring scent. The mandarin orange and bergamot hit me like a freight train but it quickly mellows down into this silky, citrus-infused, honeyed-rum goodness. I don’t gravitate towards florals often but this is pure magic. The dry down is just as intoxicating, and I never considered myself a sandalwood/leather kinda girl until now. It’s been days and I just can’t put it down. I had my eyes set on Black Orchid initially as it read more like me but I’m so happy I took a chance on this. Something about it is so enchantingly haunting. I feel like a vampire after a fresh kill. My new signature I fear.

I wore this perfume every day from my freshman year to senior year of high school. It’s very nostalgic. The first impression is heavy on the white florals, but after all I get is pure honey and leather. I think it attracts bees to you.

Velvet Orchid may lean feminine at first glance, but from the opening to the very last trace on the skin, it is simply a beautiful fragrance. There’s a richness to it, a soft floral glow wrapped in something darker and more velvety, that makes it incredibly easy to wear even if you don’t typically gravitate toward “feminine” scents. I’ve always enjoyed perfumes that carry a floral touch with just a hint of femininity, the kind that feels intentional rather than sugary. Velvet Orchid fits that description perfectly. It has the same elegant softness I admire in YSL Jumpsuit: floral, smooth, and quietly sensual without ever turning syrupy or overly sweet. The floral bouquet in Velvet Orchid has depth, warmth and a sort of satin-like texture that makes it feel refined rather than girlish. On my skin, it becomes this warm, enveloping cloud that stays elegant and composed from start to finish. Nothing screeches, nothing turns sharp; it’s polished all the way through. Even though the perfume clearly leans toward a feminine profile, there’s enough structure and darkness underneath to make it completely wearable for anyone who appreciates expressive florals. A truly well-crafted scent that bridges softness and sophistication in a way few fragrances manage.

Floral, sweet, powdery, warm, woody, balsamic, boozy, warm spicy, rich, decadent, bold, dark, deep, feminine, mature, sophisticated, distinctive, unique On me this opens with sweet and decadent golden honey, boozy rum, citrusy and bright mandarin orange and bergamot, powdery orchid, lush jasmine, velvety rose oil, soft hyacinth, and a touch of citrusy sweet orange blossom and magnolia. As it begins drying down, the florals take center stage, but are enhanced by the honey. Once it’s dried down the honey and florals remain, but are smoothed out by the vanilla absolute and creamy sandalwood. There’s also the addition of the aromatic suede and Peru balsam with some warm spicy myrrh. This isn’t really my taste. I usually prefer more sweet vanilla/gourmands, or beachy/coconut scents. However, for example I do really love JPG Classique (OG lace corset bottle), which is another powdery vanilla and boozy rose scent. I find this one to be a bit harsh, especially before it dries down. It’s very intense, heavy, and has a lot going on. It seems so close to clashing at times, but once it’s dried down it gets nicer. If you do like heavy florals then it’s definitely worth trying. I do particularly enjoy the honeyed aspect of this. For reference, some of the florals that I really enjoy include JPG Classique, JPG La Belle Flower Edition, D&G The One, Guerlain Mon Guerlain, Flowerbomb, Flowerbomb Ruby Orchid, Flowerbomb Tiger Lily, Flowerbomb Extreme, La Vie Est Belle L’eau Intense, La Vie Est Belle Vanilla Nude, Coach Love (original 2012 version), Coach Legacy, Versace Crystal Noir, Dior Addict EDP, Gucci Guilty Intense, VS Bare Magnolia

I very much enjoy the sweet, boozy opening and the suede-y sandalwood dry down. I usually get along with all the florals listed in the mid. However, something about the combination of honey and florals in this is very off putting to me. I find it very dated. It’s reminiscent of Initio Addictive Vibration- if you like this, you’ll probably like that. I’ve worn this several times in different weather conditions but it’s just not for me.

once i finally got a chance to sample it, i realized i had been wearing the various clones imitations and daughters of this iconic scent the whole time . resinous, floral, kinda sweet . its approachable but not . i prefer this over BO as well, even though the drydown wears almost the same . this seems more wearable through the year, i feel like the “sweet” accord is ranked a bit too high as well . this is truly a three stage fragrance