10 Best Tom Ford Colognes for Men
Updated January 2021
How We Found the Best Tom Ford Colognes
5 Experts Interviewed
17 Fragrances Tested
Top 10 Picks
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Liam Carson
Tom Ford is one of America’s most famous names when it comes to couture fashion and fragrance. Having studied in Europe for many years, Ford accepted a job at Gucci where he quickly made a name for himself, fronting many of the provocative marketing campaigns at the time. In 2005, Ford returned to the US to start his own brand, and the Tom Ford brand we know and love today was born.
Ford released his first fragrance in 2006, Black Orchid, which became a massive hit amongst the fragrance community. Despite it being targeted at a female audience, it found favor amongst many men. Today, Ford now has almost 100 fragrances in the collection and is many fragrance fans’ go-to’ when it comes to picking a new cologne for their collection.
In this article, we’ve rigorously tested and ranked the entire Tom Ford portfolio of fragrances to answer the question: which Tom Ford cologne is the best?
Summary List
Tom Ford Fragrances Ranked by Cologne Critic
Why we chose it
Tobacco Vanille is from Ford’s Private Blend Collection, probably taking the crown for the most popular. In terms of scent, the name is a huge clue, focusing heavily on tobacco and vanilla aromas.
Some fragrance fans complain about the scent after the initial spray, which can be a little overwhelming (especially if you have a sensitive nose), but give it time to develop! It quickly blossoms into a deep and sensual fragrance.
We find this scent addictive, one spray, and we keep having to go back for more.
Unlike many vanilla based colognes, Tobacco Vanille smells very natural and not synthetic, owed to the quality of ingredients used in Tom Ford’s fragrance line. This is our top pick when it comes to the longest-lasting Tom Ford fragrance.
We would shy away from using this at casual events, and probably best suited to the late 20’s gentleman attending a formal gala or ball event. Best worn during fall and winter.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Tobacco
- Vanilla
Our Take
Noir De Noir smells like pure luxury. A fragrance from the Private Blend collection, this aroma is another of Tom Ford’s best sellers.
Noir De Noir presents a dark, red rose aroma thick with musky elements. Now rose in this scent is featured heavily, so if florals are not your thing, you may want to give this a miss. The presence of the rose may also put some guys off, especially if they are fans of typically macho scents.
Past the rose, the fragrance settles down into a chocolatey vanilla vibe which is sultry and sexy.
Because this fragrance exudes opulence, it’s most definitely not an everyday cologne. Save this for your best occasions, reserved for the most important of evenings.
Main Accords
- Earthy
- Rose
- Patchouli
Our Take
Another top Tom Ford men’s fragrance in our list is Noir Extreme. This fragrance is from Ford’s signature collection, so a little easier on the wallet than something from Ford’s Private Blend collection.
Ford originally released Nor Eau de Parfum back in 2012, introducing Noir Extreme off the back of its success in 2015. Ford himself fronted the marketing campaign for Noir Extreme.
The fragrance itself is incredibly warm and spicy with citrus notes. Top notes of mandarin, neroli, patchouli and nutmeg give a fresh and zesty opening. Middle notes feature beautiful florals including jasmine, rose and orange blossom. In the base, we have the warmth of amber, cinnamon and vanilla, blended with woody notes.
Noir Extreme, as the name suggests, is incredibly long-lasting, with moderate sillage (up to about an arm’s length). Despite this, it is relatively subtle, so you don’t need to worry about sensitive noses when wearing this scent.
Noir Extreme is suited to formal occasions, think a high-end dinner looking over the bright lights of New York City. Mature and classy, this is guaranteed to attract compliments.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Balsamic
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
First things first, Tobacco Oud can be a polarizing scent.
It’s extremely powerful so, if you are just dipping your toe in the world of fragrances, another one on this list may suit you better.
This is a unisex fragrance, classified as a woody, spicy scent, but we think it tends to lean towards the more masculine side of the spectrum.
The top note of whiskey gives it a boozy, sultry angle, followed by the spicy, herby concoction in the mid of cinnamon and coriander. Base notes include tobacco and oud (obviously), blended with sandalwood, incense and vanilla.
The smokiness of this fragrance makes it perfect for fall or winter, but best avoided during the high heat of summer due to its potency.
As with many of the scents in Ford’s collection, we would pair this with a sleek black-tie scenario but used sparingly, it could also be appropriate for smart-casual situations.
Main Accords
- Whisky
- Tobacco
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
Our Tom Ford men’s fragrance list would not be complete without featuring Tuscan Leather.
Tuscan Leather was one of the first scents to feature in Tom Ford’s Private Blend Collection. The fact that it is still there should give you the ultimate confidence in the formulation and attractiveness of this scent. By our standards, this is one of the best quality colognes on the market.
When you apply just one or two sprays of Tuscan Leather, you will turn heads, make no mistake. This scent guarantees attention, keep that in mind if you are trying to keep a low profile. Office use is probably best avoided.
The smoky and lustrous leather aroma exudes class and quality and is definitely a smell worthy of its price tag.
Our recommendation from Tuscan Leather is that it is worn in the colder months, as the scent can be quite ‘thick’ if not sprayed sparingly. Projection and longevity are both exceptional, so if the return on investment is your primary concern, this is definitely a good buy.
Main Accords
- Leather
- Fruity
- Smoky
Our Take
Next up in the Private Blend collection is Oud Wood. Oud is produced from the resin of the agarwood tree. Oud is an incredibly rare and expensive ingredient which makes it the perfect addition to the more exclusive arm of the Tom Ford fragrance family.
The Private Collection focuses on a single note (read more below). As the name suggests, Oud is at the forefront of this fragrance.
Many people shy away from fragrances featuring oud as they can often be confronting and overpowering. Still, Oud Wood is definitely not in that category. This scent is spicy, woody and sweet, all in one.
Performance for some can be a little disappointing. At the same time, projection settles down after a few hours of application to sit a bit closer to the skin.
Many fans label this as the best oud wood fragrance on the market, and we absolutely agree! The only complaint is that because we love it so much, we go through bottles too quickly.
This is perfect for date nights or special occasions with a loved one, best used in the cooler months.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Balsamic
- Aromatic
Our Take
Without doubt our top pick for summer, Tom Ford Mandarino Di Amalfi is an incredibly citrusy fragrance and a worthy addition to our list.
The opening on this is the equivalent of a bursting grapefruit and orange, combined with summery florals with a tiny hint of herbals.
Mandarino Di Amalfi is wonderfully versatile for all seasons, and any time of the day, this is definitely guaranteed to draw compliments.
The only downside is due to the citrusy, fresh scents, performance for some is sub-standard. During our tests, we only managed to achieve 5 hours of longevity after the first spray.
Given the price, some may be reluctant to invest in a cologne where performance may cause disappointment, but we think it is still well worth the cost.
A delightful summer cologne for fun in the sun.
Main Accords
- Aromatic
- White Floral
- Citrus
Our Take
In case you didn’t know, the ingredient vetiver is derived from an Indian grass, which has an earthy and organic aroma.
This scent is fresh and citrusy, targeted at the dapper gentleman. Underlying the initial opening of grapefruit is the vetiver, followed by very subtle spicy and woody notes. Tom Ford Grey Vetiver oozes maturity and class, providing a well rounded clean, ‘just out of the shower’ scent.
Longevity is a reliable 6-8 hours, and projection is considered moderate.
We love this fragrance for office wear as it is exceptionally safe and a real crowd-pleaser. We think it’s appropriate to wear in all seasons, perhaps more towards the warmer months of spring and summer due to its earthly freshness.
Because of its versatility, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver is our top pick for the best Tom Ford fragrance for men.
Main Accords
- Earthy
- Aromatic
- Woody
Our Take
A woody floral, Tom Ford for Men features top notes of ginger, mandarin orange, lemon, basil and bergamot, making for a punchy refreshing effervescence. As it moves to the mid, we see pepper and tobacco, with a base of amber, cedar, vetiver and leather.
This can definitely be considered a classic, far more linear and straightforward than some of the recent additions to Tom Ford’s fragrance line.
Sexy, fresh and versatile, Tom Ford for Men is a fantastic entry point into Tom Ford colognes for the new fragrance fan. If you’re looking for a profoundly masculine scent, this is it!
We love this choice as a gift for that special man in your life.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Citrus
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
For something a little different, Rive d’Ambre in an oriental unisex fragrance.
The inclusion of citrus (bergamot, lemon and bitter orange), amber and herbal aromas (mint, tarragon and cardamom) make for a rather sophisticated fragrance, a little different to the other colognes in the Private Blend collection.
For us, the performance on Rive d’Ambre was not as good as we had hoped, only lasting for around 4 hours on the skin. Still, with such a pleasant scent, it’s quite easy to look past that.
Given the citrus notes, Rive d’Ambre is suited towards the warmer months but actually can be worn all year round. It makes for an inoffensive safe office scent, given the refreshing, feel-good vibe.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Aromatic
- Amber
Other Colognes We Considered
Expert Tips
Tom Ford is a truly international brand, and where it is made depends on the type of cologne you own.
Tom Ford has produced its fragrances in two central locations, Switzerland and the USA. There doesn’t appear to be any clear separation when it comes to which country produces which scent. The two sites are likely in place to support their global presence.
No matter where your fragrance is produced, you are guaranteed to get the same exceptional quality fragrance, synonymous with the Tom Ford brand.
To put it simply, The Private Blend Collection is Tom Ford’s very own “scent laboratory”. In this collection, Ford takes a riskier approach to scent formulation, “unconstrained by the conventions of mainstream scent-making.”
By nature, The Private Blend Collection is a little more experimental than Ford’s mainstream offerings, with each fragrance focusing on a single note, including tobacco, leather and amber.
Designed with the fragrance connoisseur in mind, the Private Collection gives the user a glimpse into the fantastic mind of Ford.
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Researched by a team of fragrance experts.