Perfume Alternatives to Tom Ford Oud Wood

‘All the soarings of my mind begin in my blood’

Rainer Maria Rilke

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A perfumed celebration of saints and superstitions, centred around a fierce fenugreek absolute note lavished with singed pyrazines, sacrificial myrrh and mournful molten honey poured over everything like amber rain.  Meadow blooms, sticky dark resins, pungent balms and ashen clouds of iris swirl like dramatic weather.

Ormonde Man, a most sophisticated fragrance, despite its unconventional ingredients. Complex and full of character, sultry and mystical, the fragrance exudes soft woody notes, but it is the infusion of Oudh oil, the world’s most prized essence since time immemorial, that sets it apart, elevating the scent to one of true distinction.

Cardamom, patchouli, cinnamon, cloves, Mexican chocolate, incense and musk. SweDoft uses the richest and finest ingredients to get the perfect blend. The juice also contains one of the best varieties of natural Indian oud.

Even with this unique collection of ingredients, SweDoft were still not satisfied with the results of traditional blending.

So they decided to do something unusual, while referencing the final part of Rasputin's story. They dropped the container with the perfume juice to the bottom of the Oresund Strait.

After 90 days, the water pressure in the dark, glacial sea produced unique results. The ingredients had flawlessly combined to fuse the formula.

Perfumer: Luca Maffei

Vanhera: a dark Vanilla, an unexpected fragrance that recalls intriguing and unclear sensations. A journey around one of the most iconic perfumery’s notes. A Vanilla perfume, not the usual Vanilla fragrance where just sweet notes are emphasized. A battle, a conflict among ingredients.

In Vanhera, a Madagascar Vanilla absolute tries to find a place in a universe of ingredients that want to suppress it. Vanhera is surrounded, almost besieged, by spicy notes of pepper, cardamom, cinnamon; it is embraced by warm notes of sandalwood and cashmeran and it is stained by karmawood, timbersilk and ambery notes. Nevertheless, the Vanilla absolute arises and makes its presence felt, conquering heart and soul of whoever smells it.

Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.

A perfume with an indulgently playful heart, constructed around a rare powdery Tuscan Orris Root, with a flirtatious wink of velvety chocolate Cacao Bean. Seductive Moroccan Neroli and sensual Brazilian Bois de Rose is mated with a fiery Sichuan Peppercorn and earthy French Oakmoss. A mischievous and enigmatic perfume full of spirited beauty.

Ahhh cedar. Old school floors, air freshener in the downstairs loo with a top note of disinfectant. Yeah right.

This delicious fragrance encapsulates the living heart of the forest with lingering and enigmatic essence of the Great Bear Rainforest®.

With sustainably sourced ingredients from within its bosom that help maintain this breathtaking but threatened environment, its wonderful wildlife and its ancient peoples.

Does it pack a punch? Do bears...?

Wanna smell like an old Stradivarius or a posh French table? Didn’t think so.

Rosewood is the known go to for fine furniture and violin makers for centuries. But it has a sexy secret side: its amazing aroma. By distilling its oil we get a sweet, delicate woody scent. Lovingly mix that with the light greens of mango and neroli and, following feedback from our wonderful ådventurer members the amazing addition of dear old mary jane (that’s marijuana to you – ask yer dad). It now takes on a whole new degree of intoxicating ethereal sophistication.

Just like a beautifully played Ravel violin concerto. Well kinda.

According to ancient religious scriptures, Mary mother of Jesus was informed of her destiny by the Archangel Gabriel when she was about 13 years old. Artists over the centuries have been captivated by the idea of this scene, a startled schoolgirl recoiling in shock from the supernatural being. The lily, symbolizing purity and innocence, is not only a common element of these artworks, but is also the inspiration for this extrait. In principio, Latin for “in the beginning”, is a meditation on the creamy radiance of lily, supported by the down-low sensuality of ylang ylang. Mace, sweeter than nutmeg and softer than incense, lends clarity, while sweet/tart kumquat sharpens the focus.

Limited to 58 bottles, 48% extrait.

Blended with:

White lily absolute, 
Kumquat essential oil, 
Mace absolute, 
Nutmeg tincture, 
Bitter orange essential oil , 
Ylang Ylang essential oil, 
Elemi essential oil, 
Tuscan cypress essential oil, 
Pompia essential oil, 
Turkish rose absolute, 
Rosewood essential oil, 
Frankincense rivae, 
Juhi jasmine absolute, 
Cistus tincture, 
Ambergris.

Important notice:

Zanini blends are living botanical compositions, crafted entirely from natural materials and free from synthetic fixatives or stabilizers. As with all things living, subtle variations are part of their nature: over time, you may notice a gentle evolution in colour, texture, or the appearance of natural sediment. These are not imperfections, but part of the character of the raw materials themselves.

These blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes) and sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).

Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in Zanini’s 100% natural blends may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Zanini’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). 

Zanini advise that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.

Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Zanini’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.

A bait-and-switch perfume that starts sharp and clean with juniper and crisp, metallic violet leaves. Then comes the gentle abyss: a faded haze of tobacco, patchouli and leather swirled with white tea and musk. The message might be lost in translation, but all meaning will be found in the fragrance.