Purple Patchouli

Tom Ford Purple Patchouli A vivid, indeed ultra-violet, jammy-plummy, leathery and incensed homage to two vintage fragrance families: purple 80s monsters like Poison (minus its tuberose/orange blossom accord but retaining its spicy jasmine sambac), and amplified-violet leathers a la Jolie Madame. The opening is a spiced fruity plum, with an incense accord straight from Poison's intoxicating drydown; and then a tastefully sweet Parma violet introduces a leather accord, As these elements merge, they coalesce into a unified powerhouse iris perfume, limned with a dark wine-y rose that leads to the perfume’s titular patchouli, which is clean, sweet, and fractionated, without anything dank or hippie about it. I get hints of heliotrope, but no powder. The sweet-tea scent of peru balsam doesn't overwhelm, unless you overspray. Plums, violets, irises, even the deep dark roses—this really sings in the key of purple all the way through. Every shade, from pastel to maroon to royal to the blackish shades suggested by the incense. Tough and sweet at the same time. Some people might not be impressed, but I don't think they've spent much time actually wearing this amethyst jewel. I wish TF would bring back this discontinued beauty. The best of the perfumes from this house resurrect classics from Tom Ford’s youth and early adulthood, especially those ruined by reformulation/regulations or lost to discontinuation altogether. These very modern smelling perfumes are usually classical scents in disguise, with updates in style or ingredients so they appeal to contemporary tastes and fit into 21st century smell-scapes. Purple Patchouli smells like the best of several ages—including our own—and my bottle is one of the jewels in my collection. (Note to the creative team at TF perfumes: why not do a Patchouli for every color of the rainbow, plus the (extant) White and Black, and Silver and Gold, too? I would love a green patchouli along the lines of the marvelous green perfumes the house launched a few years back. I don’t know what yellow or orange patchouli might smell like, but I imagine luxurious fruitchoulis. And I want to see the bottle for Pink Patchouli—I can just imagine how well it would sell, in the same ribbed bottles as White Patch and Black Orchid: people would buy it just for the gorgeous packaging, but of course, the perfume would be great. (I understand some people *hate* pink perfume packaging, but I’m not one of them—sometimes only pink will do, especially matte pink, because it can be so elegant. Wouldn’t these be fun?)

Some people have asked me to do a review on this, since I mentioned it in my Patchouli Absolute review. They suggested that since I brought it up by comparison that it was a disservice not to explain why I think it's so much better. Ok, point taken! The reviews here are so good and in depth, I wouldn't really know what to add, plus this fragrance is extremely hard to find, but I'll tell you why I think its so great. Those of us who like patchouli find it relativley easy to like a scent that is strong with is ingredient. But there are some who, for some reason have very negative association with it. Why, I don't know...maybe someone unshowered, smelly and sweaty decided to rub themselves in patchouli oil and that combo resulted in the most revolting scent and almost made you vomit. I've smelled that tye of thing before, at yoga classes and the around the so called, "dirty hippe" crowd. So I understand that negative experience. Which brings me to Purple Patchouli. If you are one of those people who are anti-patchouli, then let me tell you what your missing, using this fragrance. If there were ever a scent that will/could change that association, this is the one! Unlike many patchouli fragrances, that are earthy smelling, this one is sweet and almost velvety by comparison. Not sweet like candy or chocolate, but more vanilla-ish or like almond and honey, yet it's not foodlike. It's....well sweet, seductive and sensual really. If you can imagine a bed, covered in silky black sheets, blanketed with exotic purple orchids, intoxicating nightblooming jasmine, amber nuggets and some type of honey dust sprinkled on top. Then you find yourself are rolling around in it...imagine that scent, how intoxicating and almost spa like that would be, and then anticipation of someone special about to join you.... It's all very alluring and sensual, the complete opposit of any negative association you may have. The closest thing Tom Ford makes that is in the same category, sensual, mysterious and alluring is "Noir de Noir," and if you've smelled that and like it, then you will like this as well. Purple Patchouli is a unique interpretaion of patchouli and it is like I said before....heavenly! If you can find some, you will be very lucky indeed. And if you have had negative experiences with patchouli, get yourself a sample of this and experience it, you'll see how beautiful a patchouli fragrance can be and it will surely change your mind.

I received a decant of this by pure happenstance, and I keep... coming back to it. It's this rich almost skanky sweet patchouli and balsamic. It's pure sex for me. I get that it has the same primary profile as like, those stronger balsam-leaning perfumes and soaps from the 90's (I'm looking at you White Rain Pine shampoo) but it wraps you in this sweet spiciness that lingers and develops. And you can feel that DNA that lead TF to his Black/Orchid/Noir/etc modern profiles. I'm really surprised folks think this is masculine. This screams sexy goth princess to me. The ebay prices for original are hilarious, so I'm going to pull the trigger on the Dua Intensified dupe and hope for the best. I have nothing else like this perfume in my collection but I can't stop smelling the clothes I spray it on- it's truly divine. Ambrosia of the goth gods I swear. Edit: Just received the DUA dupe Intensified- not the same. The onset has this heavy cedar and soap quality - none of the sweet tang of purple patchouli unfortunately. It's also very masculine. I'm also smelling maybe leather? Ah well. The drydown is very similar- just takes >15 min to get there. I'm going to try Passion by ET next and see what's what.

The patchouli opens very delightfully and delivers it's scent in a very peaceful way. The Peru balsam delivers itself very gently so it is a truly comforting medicinal scent. For a long time, it is very warm and a bit powdery so I can feel it is a unisex fragrance. I can imagine it is the kind of medicine Jesus would use to curse people who stood up after being paralysed, could see the world after being blind. The dry down is the same DNA as the other TF Private Blends with amber and jasmine. I can't get any of the sweetness but that is what the scent is, TF Purple Patchouli. Tom Ford, your work is amazing! A full 50ml bottle from 2008.

The patchouli note opens beautifully, exuding a peaceful scent. Peru balsam adds a comforting touch, creating a warm, slightly powdery fragrance. It's like a luxurious ancient remedy, reminiscent of something Jesus might have used. As it dries down, the scent retains its signature Tom Ford DNA, with hints of amber and jasmine. Despite the subtle sweetness, it's unmistakably TF Purple Patchouli. Revisiting this fragrance 5 years later today, its powerful yet gentle essence remains unchanged, evoking a sense of luxury living. Tom Ford's craftsmanship truly shines through. A timeless classic in a 50ml bottle from 2008.

If you love this fragrance you should check out Dua #intensified. It’s a 95% match in first application through dry down 8 hours later. So so good. This fragrance is sexy AF for guys and girls. I have no idea why TF would ever discontinue. At least we can get a near match at Dua.

One of the best offerings from Tom Ford in his private line. Sadly it went the way of all flesh after a short period of time. Will be missed with affection. BTW - It has almost aggressive longevity. This will survive thorough showers and the application of other perfumes.

I just found a 50ml of this wonderful scent on eBay with a batch number from 2007. It is amazing!! Lasts forever and a day. I am SO happy I was able to FINALLY find one of my unicorns!

Just dug this out along with my Black violet, they blend well together. Will be gutted when they both run out. Despite being years old have not gone off or lost the power.

Believe u me = a blessed fragrence connoisseur, this is my favorite anointing! Thank you sincerely Mr Ford & Of course Fragrantica God bless;)

As my all time signature fragrance💯 I have a 6.8 oz. Decanter for sale slightly used with original packaging 📦 The Holy Grail of EDP😉

Just a warning to people.... any batch codes listed as C68 or A52 or A73 are most likely FAKE. An easy way to spot a fake is to also look at the number 7 at the bottom of the bottle if it's 50ml... If it isnt a straight stem, it's fake. Most purple patchoulis coming from Sophia (Bulgaria) or Russia are FAKE. Any Tom Fords coming in white "demo" boxes are FAKE. There was one purple patchouli listed on eBay from a seller in Canada that was legit but I think it sold now. It's easy to replicate purple patchouli so buyer beware. I find a 4ml sample of this (from a legit seller) will last you forever and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I was lucky enough to find this a few years back and I have barely made it through my bottle because it's SO strong and POWERFUL. The scent is very 80s. Lush, dark and overwhelming. I'm thinking wolf of wall street chic- fast moving, rich, hedonistic and very kinky. LOTS of purple. What does that even mean? I don't know but every-time I wear this I can literally envision the colour purple and what feelings a purple scent should evoke. Violets, orchids, poisonous flowers...opium, smoky clubs filled with decadent dreamers, women wearing nothing but black fur and stockings, men in sharp suits with sleeked back hair and purple ties. It's crazy, earlier Tom Ford offerings were true to his intense persona. Very heavy and very much so like his marketing campaigns, laced with sensuality. There might be no purple flowers in this per say but that's all I can envision. The patchouli in this offering is very different from the dirty, raw patchouli I am accustomed to. It's a lady-like patchouli- feminine yet dominant. I'm pretty sure the jasmine has something to do with it. Oddly enough, the jasmine in this fragrance does NOT turn fecal on me which is a major accomplishment. The sillage will blow you away and into the next room. Longevity is there as well.

It's just okay. Honestly, nothing that extraordinary to me, and certainly not worth the asking price.(seeing as the asking price is over $200+ for a 25ml bottle on ebay). I asked my bf what he thought it smelled like and he said "a bouquet of sour fruit?" which is funny to me. All I get is a light jasmine and a little patchouli. It's not BAD, it's certainly wearable and nice enough, but it's not special. Maybe it'd be better if I sprayed it on instead of dabbing?

A gothic jasmine patchouli, accompanied with amber. I would die for a bottle of this, it's so gorgeous. This is something special for the nighttime. It radiates this purple/violet aura. Truly special! I can see this being the night-out scent of a hot ,charming mysterious dark haired girl

It smell like a perfect blend between sweet frangipani, camphor and eucalyptus: a nightmare, a scourge for moths & woodworms. Also notes of wax for shoes. so Leather and beeswax. Ok: after half an hour become less balsamic and more wearable but only if you like to feel like prisoner of the wardrobe that leads to Narnia. Smell of flowery wax for furnitures, in fact remember me a bit of Mystere by Rochas for the same reason. Eventually this is not a bad smell. But is a sort of curious nice smell of honey and varnish. But not a perfume.

I went way out of my way to buy a decant of this. Some time in late 2014 I PM'd a few folks that had it. Luckily one guy in my city had it and decanted this and Japon Noir right in font of me! What an expierence! I am just now sampling it and I am not that enthused about it. Sure the patch is there but the peru balsam overwhelms it. I have never smelled this note so this has to be it. It is an earthy note I am assuming blended with the patch but this is not to my liking. I still have about 5 ml's left.

Smells like someone chugged a bottle of patchouli and regurgitated it back into the bottle.

Now this is the kind of patchouli I like. Love the sparkling and fizzy opening, leading to the rich balsam and amber as the patch continues to unfold. Exotic and complex. Purple - as in the colour really suits the smell. Not skanky dirty patchouli but spicy. The woods come out right at the end. Almost dusty but not quite. My father is a carpenter (among many things) and as a kid I grew up with the smells of timber in all its forms - freshly cut, dried, lacquered, as sawdust, charred. There is something of the wood workshop in this, and by that I mean specifically what timber you would find in Western Australia - think karri and jarrah trees. This is very good. Would be worth a full bottle or decent sized decant if it was available. I imagine its even better when sprayed (not dabbed) (this is part of a massive pile of samples I was given and am working my way through)

Fragrance -Purple Patchouli Tom Ford Bottle from - 2014 Purple Patchouli reminds me of a magical exotic New Year's Eve in the Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.It is a stunning and celestial interpretation of patchouli with a beautiful touch of amber,balsam and romantic jasmine and a wisper of exotic dream.I love this fragrance. Longevity - 10/10(12+ hours) Silage/Projection - 10/10(several feet away for the first 4-5 hours) Weather - best in early spring,autumn and winter Age - 25+ Compliments - 9/10 Scent - 10/10 Main notes according to me -patchouli,balsams,amber,jasmine. The drydown is nice and i get some - woodiness,sweetness,amber and vetiver. Emotions - wild party,exotic dream,sexy,enigmatic,seductive. Occasion - best for wild party,nights out,date and New Year's Eve. Could be a nice signature scent.You'll get compliments and Love with this one.

Another much sought after Tom Ford original Private Blend release, that sells for 600+USD on the secondary market. Just like Japon Noir, incredibly bland and with strong vintage vibes. When I say vintage, I don't hint to some really amazing vintage perfumes, but rather the shitty ones that no one cares about, and sell for 10 USD a bottle nowadays. That's what this one smells like. I get an old fashioned Jasmine accord, a suede leather, and a very scratchy, high pitched patchouli. Nothing interesting, new, or different. Bland vintage floral-leather with patchouli. I'm quite surprised that shit like this and Japon Noir came out at the same time as Tobacco Vanille, Noir de Noir, Amber Absolute. I guess that's why those stayed for longer, and the other two got chopped early on. Good riddance, if you ask me.