Bakerscookie

Tom Ford Ombré Leather is a fragrance that I bought first and foremost because of the hype that goes with it. I don't have any previous experience with the 2016 "Private Blend" version and saw myself well positioned with Tuscan Leather - but then more and more reviews on YouTube came into my field of vision during the last weeks, and since I myself own a small channel and (to be completely transparent) was keen on the traffic, I ordered a bottle. Most of the reviews on YouTube didn't help me much, because it seems to be on a similar scale as Sauvage and you don't get to know much about the DNA itself. Similar to Tuscan Leather, but more portable and somehow "better". At least that's the info I could pull out.

The round bottle already looked pretty through the screen, a modern, young twist for the otherwise quite "sophisticated" or "old" looking Tom Ford flacons. Matt black, suitable for the New York hipster scene à la Oliver Gustav (best google), with an imitation leather plaque for the name. At Ombré Leather, the chic Private Blend cardboard was replaced with a thinner counterpart, which is also used in Tom Ford's non-perfume cosmetics. The cap sits firmly on the atomizer and grinds past it when taking off, there is no clicking cap. But in total one of the better flacons of TF and more premium than some Private Blend fragrances (if I disregard F'n Fabulous).

Let's get to the scent itself. I'm a big Tuscan Leather fan and caught myself comparing again and again during the test. Tuscan Leather for me is characterised by a "not quite ripe raspberry", which harmonises unmistakably well with the contained leather chord. The Dupes or "similar to TL smelling fragrances" I know, all of them Godolphin from Parfums de Marly with its pronounced citrus note, are basically too sweet for me. The lack of sweetness is what keeps me sniffing at Tuscan Leather and what makes this fragrance special. A polarizing scent, but cleverly made and exactly my taste.

Compared to this, I find the fragrance of Ombré Leather much sweeter and "juicier" than Tuscan Leather. Although I felt reminded of the wow moment of TL during the first spraying, because the leather chord initially hits the nose with comparable strength, but after half an hour at the latest it becomes too heavy, too sweet, too creamy for my nose. I believe that the leather/jasmine combination is responsible for this. The leather remains present in the projection until the end, but on my skin Ombré Leather becomes a sweet creamy candy. The green raspberry is missing and has been replaced by a penetrating floral jasmine chord that becomes very heavy as soon as the leather recedes into the background (after about half an hour). Therefore the fragrance is still balanced in the beginning, but after one hour I feel rather overwhelmed by it. I would have wished for a lot more leather and fewer flowers.

Durability and Sillage are in good midfield with OL. The scent doesn't invade other people's privacy, but it lasts all day. Also here less extreme than TL.

Altogether Ombré Leather is supposed to be a tamed alternative to Tuscan Leather for all those who have always wanted one. But for me it's a lukewarm variation of the eccentric superstar. So I guess he'll be leaving my collection pretty soon.