Our take
What does Velvet Orchid smell like?
Eight years after Black Orchid, Tom Ford released Velvet Orchid in 2014 as a softer and more floral take on it for the Signature line. No perfumer is named in the sources we checked. The opening is the best part. Thick honey and a splash of rum blend together, lifted by mandarin and bergamot. The heart is a dense bouquet. Orchid dominates. Jasmine and rose surround it, along with magnolia and orange blossom. It stays creamy rather than heady. The base shifts register. Suede gives the feel of a glove, myrrh and labdanum add resinous depth, and Peru balsam with vanilla sweetens it all. Sandalwood smooths the finish. It is less dark and less earthy than Black Orchid. What Velvet Orchid gains in ease, it loses in personality. It remains an evening scent that needs a light hand, especially indoors.
When to wear it
Keep it for autumn and winter evenings. One spray on the neck, since the honey turns cloying fast if you overdo it.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Velvet Orchid is one of 33 creations by Tom Ford in our encyclopedia.
