Our take
What does Café Rose smell like?
Tom Ford introduced Café Rose in 2012 as part of the Jardin Noir set within the Private Blend line. Antoine Lie composed it. The rose comes in strong, peppery and tinged with saffron, with a coppery edge that smells like warm leather. Coffee shows up in the heart, but this is no sweet espresso. It is the smell of freshly ground beans, bitter and slightly earthy, and it darkens the Turkish and Bulgarian roses. The pairing works because the coffee dries the flower out instead of softening it. The base slides toward incense and patchouli. Amber and sandalwood round off what could turn austere. On skin it keeps the scent of a faded rose in a smoky room for hours. This Private Blend version has been discontinued. A Café Rose relaunched in 2023 in the Signature line, again by Antoine Lie, now carries the name.
When to wear it
Autumn and winter, for evenings or a special night. Two sprays at most, as the saffron and incense rise quickly.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Café Rose is one of 35 creations by Tom Ford in our encyclopedia.
