Back in May I decided to subscribe to Scentbird after trying their service for free, and I’ve been getting my shipments every month since then. I had so much going on lately, that I completely forgot to tell you about my latest discoveries! I don’t know if you remember, but I was particularly excited about my June fragrance, because it was going to be Tom Ford’s much adored Black Orchid, which I’ve been dying to try.
As usual, I received a large glass vial of decanted perfume, with roughly 30 days worth of product inside. The vials come packaged in an outer rectangular box with Scentbird logo, and shipped in a bubble mailer envelope. I thought that the glass inside might eventually shatter during shipping, but so far there haven’t been any accidents.
HOW IT WORKS: For $14.95/month Scentbird subscribers receive a 30-day supply of 100% authentic luxury perfume picked from the pool of fragrances you might like based on your current favorites. You can also pick your own scents, and arrange the queue to your liking, ie get seasonal fragrances. To start your olfactory experience, fill out the survey and get a new vial delivered to you every month. Click here to check it out.
COUPON CODE: For a limited time only use code BIRD50 to get 50% discount on your first month. If the previous coupon doesn’t work, try GET25 or SCENTBIRD25 for 25% off your first month, or SWEET15 for 15% off.
A luxurious and sensual fragrance of rich, dark accords and an alluring potion of black orchids, and spice, Tom Ford’s Black Orchid is both modern and timeless. Bottled in fluted, black-glass, Black Orchid makes an unforgettable statement of iconic style and worldly glamour. – Tom Ford
- Top notes: jasmine, gardenia, ylang-ylang, bergamot, citrus, black currant, truffles
- Middle notes: black orchid, oriental spices, lotus flower, fruity accord
- Base notes: vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, insense, amber, balsam
I rarely appreciate rich and powerful fragrances, and prefer complex citrus-floral mixes instead, but Black Orchid won me over. It was deep and enveloping, but at the same time didn’t feel too heavy and overpowering, as it often happens with sultry orientals. The fragrance develops beautifully, and even someone not trained to appreciate the subtleties of different “phases” of perfume wear would be able to pick up those changes with ease.
On the initial spray Black Orchid smells like chai tea and peppermint bark, but about two hours in the fragrance fully develops into a mix of spices, florals, and fruits that will stay on the skin for the rest of the day with barely any fading. This EDP is one of the strongest in my collection, and I find myself never needing to reapply throughout the day, which is quite remarkable.
Since my experience with sultry chypre perfumes is limited I could only think of one potential “dupe” for Black Orchid – Zents “Fig”, which I adore, but don’t wear very often. While it has more fruity middle notes, I feel like they smell very similar, and both don’t have that migraine-inducing powdery redolence.
After finally trying Black Orchid I can see why it’s so popular: the notes are well-balanced, so the resulting scent has an almost universal appeal. There’s truly something for everyone in this bouquet, and I think it’s a nice starter scent for someone who wants to try wearing something more glamorous than their usual everyday vanilla or citrus, while still staying true to what they like.
WHERE TO BUY: $115 USD for 1.7oz. Available at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s.
Have you tried Black Orchid before? What fragrances do you like to wear in Fall? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post features products purchased by Glamorable and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
