Tom Ford

Tom Ford built his reputation in fashion before scent, trained first as an architect and then rising through Gucci, where he was named Creative Director in 1992 and helped turn a near-bankrupt house around. During that era he created the provocative campaigns for YSL fragrances Opium and M7 that hinted at where he was headed. He launched his own brand in 2005 and partnered with Estee Lauder for fragrance and cosmetics, with Black Orchid arriving in 2006 as an immediate hit. The Private Blend line followed, opening with Purple Patchouli in 2007, and the house has stayed known for sensual, confident composition ever since.

The signature is plush and sophisticated, with amber and woods at its core lifted by citrus and white florals. Bergamot brightens the opening, cardamom and pink pepper add spice, and a touch of caraway gives the style its distinctive edge. Start with Ombre Leather or Tuscan Leather for the house at its richest, or reach for Eau de Soleil Blanc and Soleil Neige for its warmer, sunlit side. Tom Ford makes fragrance the way he makes everything, polished and unmistakably his own.