Almost every designer collector has his favorite Tom Ford, and Oud Minerale is mine. OM is unlike any of the other hundreds of marine fragrances. It does not smell like a hot summer beach. It does not smell like a crisp ocean wind. It does not smell like neroli-drenched sunscreen. It does not smell like a mid-July yacht party off the Amalfi coast. Rather, it smells like a humid salty seaweedy oudy bog on an empty rain-drenched and fog-enveloped Maine ocean shore. I live in the arid high desert, so this humid, watery fragrance is particularly invigorating in the scorching summer. This is Tom Ford at its creative, daring, non-crowdpleasing finest.

Ok if any fragrance deserves a full group discussion its definitely Sauvage. It is a beloved fragrance to so many of us. It has started many of our journeys. On the flip side there are some strong feelings against it. I have checked the search bar and this has come up a lot but I think we should discuss it as a whole. I want to hear what every one thinks about it. If you haven’t tried it, let me know if you are excited for it or don’t care. Unfortunately you are about to get my opinion on it. Let me start by saying I have liked and loved all versions up to this point including the al forte version. This one, is a hard no for me. It starts with a typical sauvage opening which had me excited, but that lasts maybe two minutes then switches to an oud scent only. Which to me is dirty, slightly fecal and very boring. The first time I had it on skin, I lasted an hour before I washed it off, well tried anyway, it’s STRONG. I like oud, but I want some character, this comes at you like a thug and beats you across the head and shoulders with its blandness. I have tested this multiple times and accidentally left a tester strip in my car. That was a mistake. I think I have tested it 3 times now and am sure I will keep trying to smell it but its not worth the 200 bucks for me. With that being said I applaud a designer house getting crazy and trying to come across more niche-like. I definitely want to see more of that. Let me hear your guys’ opinions. I see a lot of positive reviews from the influencers, but I would rather hear what you say.