Velvet Orchid

No lie, I tried this perfume because Gigi Hadid listed it as one of her favorite signature scents, and I understand why she would appreciate its incredible beauty, interest, and sensuality. Initially, the fragrance had a soft drink-like quality, sweet with a slightly effervescent character that wasn't cloying; I attribute this to the citrus, rum, and honey notes, which were balanced by the leather note to prevent it from becoming too sugary. As the scent evolved over 30-60 minutes, the fizzy sensation dissipated, revealing an intensely animalic leather-forward profile, which was my least favorite aspect due to its strong presence; however, after about an hour, the leather note receded, leaving behind a mysterious and smooth floral accord that seemed expertly blended, with each component working harmoniously together to create a sophisticated and addictive fragrance. This final stage persisted as the scent settled onto my skin. Overall, this perfume is a standout, and I'd wear it when I want to channel my inner femme fatale; it's perfect for an evening at a high-end establishment or special occasions where seduction is the goal, even the leather note adds to its allure - much like many Tom Ford fragrances, this one is masterfully blended, exuding luxury and opulence.

My initial impression of this perfume was overwhelmed by the intensity of the rum, which came across as medicinal to my senses. However, after about five minutes, the rum subsided and I was treated to honeyed florals that were both fresh and captivating, with a sexy allure. Unfortunately, just when I thought I had fallen for this fragrance, the leather and resinous notes kicked in, making it pungent in an unpleasant way, rendering it not a crowd-pleaser or a safe blind buy.

This fragrance exudes opulence and sophistication, reminiscent of refined elegance.

I purchased a small dabber sample due to my fascination with the rum and honey top notes, expecting the middle and base notes to deliver as well. However, I was taken aback by its overwhelmingly sweet and potent aroma, which lacked any discernible rum or honey presence. Instead, it had an overpowering floral quality that felt harsh on my senses. Unfortunately, this caused a headache, so I never gave it another try and ended up passing the sample along to a family member.

I fell head over heels for Black Orchid and began exploring the rest of the Orchid line. Almost blind-buying a bottle of this one seemed imminent, but I decided to sample first. I'm glad I did, as this scent is distinct from what I expected. It's lovely, yet I don't enjoy it as much as BO EDP or BO Parfum. Black Orchid has a certain spicy quality and earthy notes that lead to an intoxicating dry down. Velvet Orchid, on the other hand, opens with a sweet, rich floral concentrate reminiscent of vintage scents I've encountered. It swiftly softens and dries down to a gentle powdery floral on my skin, with the boozy note vanishing rapidly. In the drydown, I'm left with a lot of sweet flowery powder. As someone who adores florals and has many flower scents in my collection, I can't say this perfume is perfect for fans of any specific type of floral I recognize, as it's so expertly blended that nothing stands out to me. Ultimately, this scent is a soft, linear, light powdery floral on me – not loud, spicy, or unique like BO. It lacks the impressive silage and longevity I experience with other Orchid line fragrances. In terms of style and composition, it's more akin to some Jo Malone scents I've tried. I'd recommend sampling this first if you're expecting something similar to Black Orchid, as it doesn't share many similarities with the original. That being said, it's quite lovely – I just don't love it as much as BO.