Private Blend Arabian Wood Tom Ford for women and men

Per the websites of Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Bergdorf Goodman combined, Arabian Wood includes notes of bergamot, lavender, Bulgarian rose, freesia, orange blossom, galbanum, rose de mai, ylang ylang, jasmine, gardenia, honey, orris, patchouli, sandalwood, and tonka bean. I've also seen two perfume review websites list oakmoss, but who knows? Anyway, I get mostly rose, orris, patchouli, gardenia, and lavender. I do get a bit of the honey and freesia as well, but I wish that they weren't in there all (i.e., they're a bit too sweet for my liking). Nevertheless, this is ultimately a fine albeit fleeting and overpriced green chypre that is surprisingly much smoother, subtler, and more universally appealing than its name might suggest. It starts on the masculine side (i.e., green, herbal, and earthy) but quickly moves toward and ends on the feminine side (i.e., floral, musky, baby powder, makeup, and lotion). For me, the opening is superior to the closing. It's easily worth a sniff.

I'm in total agreement with "talnyc", this is very florally dominated fragrance and leans heavily to the feminine. The white florals, ylang ylang and lavender are much more prevalent on my skin. This is a lovely chypre, but with a name like Arabian Wood, I expected something very different. I also see why people are saying this is soapy as the florals give this a very sweet and soapy quality. Not what I wanted, and have much better true woody chypres in my collection. If I was a woman, I might consider this, but with so many gorgeous chypres out there, I'm not sure this justifies its price.

I'm sorry Tom, i really love your work but this one, well, it could've been better since it's 1. Too soapy, and 2. Too feminine.
:(

I just bought this fragrance and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!! It is my fall/winter scent. I am not sure why I did not buy it before, but it is never too late and I am so happy that I have it.

This fragrance is not just a wood note! It is not a man scent! When I had it on, a man came up to me and asked me what I had on as he was looking for something for his wife and thought that the fragrance smelled beautiful on me. When I told him the name of the scent, he could not believe it as it sounds like a masculine scent, but it is not. It is unisex, but in my opinion, it is more of a woman scent than a masculine one.

To quote from the Berdorf Goodman website:

This exotic experience opens with top notes of aromatic lavender with the bold floralcy of Bulgarian rose, freesia, orange blossom, and green galbanum, brightened with sparkling bergamot.

The heart pulses with the warmth and sensuality of lavish florals, including ylang ylang, rose absolute, jasmine, gardenia, and luscious honey and orris.

The base notes blend patchouli with cedarwood, oak moss, sandalwood, and honey, while tonka bean and radiant amber leave a distinct trail of opulence.
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I am not sure why fragnantica does not list all of the fragrance notes, which is odd and unfortunate, but it is not just an oud note. I noticed the Bulgarian rose/bergamot top notes. Of course, I would not love it if it did not have a patchouli note in there....

This is a scent you can wear all day and it is sexy/warm/makes one feel good when it is on. I wish there was a body cream/lotion available.

It is well worth the price.

Loved the rich woods vibe at first ... however ... the "lavender-that-refused-to-die" just spoilt it for me ultimately. :o(
Pity, as I had high hopes for it ! ... Oh well, there's already more than enough I want from the rest of the line as it is, to burn a hole in pocket. So I suppose I should be thankful.

Arabian Wood is, well, all about wood. It is quite different from Bois Marocain, which was a lot softer and feminine. Arabian Wood is the more masculine out of the two, and it is also a lot more linear. I think I was a bit disappointed at it- it definitely is rich and warm and of good quality, but compared to the other Private Blend scents, it is also not as spectacular as the other ones. I am a wood lover, but I also do prefer it in interesting combinations, and here the precious woods seem as if they were left all to themselves.

Well, I got it by chance. Thought that Tom Ford fragrance is "fashion" styled fragrance and nothing else.Tree words to explain what is A.W. are: 1. Quality 2.Rich 3.Amazing. It is really one of the best product on the market. For a cold day but prefer it for evening. Not for a date, just for me. It is creature,timeless...

IMO this is one of the best ouds in the market. I have no idea who stays behind Tom Ford fragrances but still they are masters. My best vacations were always in Arabic countries and my memory always going to these unusual very sophisticated places. The Arabian Wood is like deep memory of east, the Muslims and their fantastic culture. The fragrance is woody, deep and very resinous but the same time clean and what is amazing not overpowering. The main elements I'm able recognize is oud, tobacco and some sweet woods. All the time this is my favorite fragrance if I want to remember good time in my life.

Im finding this one difficult to get into...

This is a very soapy scent. Powdery and soapy, and very strong.

There is A LOT of very natural smelling lavender in it throughout the whole development. I do like it, but i find it slightly unsettling in a way thats hard to describe.

Im going to work at it though because its a very interesting perfume and deserves time spent with it.

After reading Chat L's description I am even in more awe of Tom Ford's exclusive line, because there is something in them that is so pure, so high quality and so 'something' that they wear differently on every single person. I disliked Arabian Wood so much I refused the sample (sorry Chat!) To me it was way too masculine, clangy and rough. Oud Wood, however, made me swoon, but when I smelled it on another woman I hated it. If you are inkling to try this line pull yourself up to the perfume counter, sniff thorugh all 16 bottles and insist on taking samples home of those you like, because whatever you buy will be unique to you.