Neroli Portofino Forte, from Tom Ford was released in 2016. The perfumer behind this creation is unknown. The notes are Basil, Bergamot, Blood Orange, Galbanum, Lavender, Leather, Musk, Neroli, Orange Blossom, Woody Notes.
After being told I 'Had' to try this by a friend of mine who is a SA for Thierry Mugler who's boyfriend is a big fragrance fan and was going crazy about how good this one was. Anyway, she marched me over to the TF counter proclaiming how much I would love the addition of leather base notes to the Neroli portofino formula, something which I was open to of course. I have to say although my nose couldn't detect the leather in the opening it is somewhat different to NP. Forte has a very nice and long lasting, high quality citrus opening then a more subdued and less overtly floral neroli. Make no mistake though neroli is well and truly at the heart of this fragrance and coupled with bergamot, I can't think of a much more of a glorious, clean, sunmmmery combination. So I waited and waited and waited for the leather to appear, this just speaks to how good the quality is as it lasts well. Sure enough after several hours a very buttery, woody, leather smell was very close to my skin. I had feared that it might be another cuir canage (something I'm not a fan of) but the neroli has all but died away by then and the 'leather' is very much it's own entity. I think if you're expecting a truly pungent or sweet leather then you'll be disappointed. However if you want a tweaked (for the better) formula of fresh Neroli portofino and something a little warmer then this is decent. I don't know how much it is? Tom Ford price structure confuses me slightly but I think this one is more than NP? (I might be wrong) I actually really enjoyed wearing it, more than the original so I can't call it really...I won't be buying but it's worth checking out for sure.
After being told I 'Had' to try this by a friend of mine who is a SA for Thierry Mugler who's boyfriend is a big fragrance fan and was going crazy about how good this one was. Anyway, she marched me over to the TF counter proclaiming how much I would love the addition of leather base notes to the Neroli portofino formula, something which I was open to of course. I have to say although my nose couldn't detect the leather in the opening it is somewhat different to NP. Forte has a very nice and long lasting, high quality citrus opening then a more subdued and less overtly floral neroli. Make no mistake though neroli is well and truly at the heart of this fragrance and coupled with bergamot, I can't think of a much more of a glorious, clean, sunmmmery combination. So I waited and waited and waited for the leather to appear, this just speaks to how good the quality is as it lasts well. Sure enough after several hours a very buttery, woody, leather smell was very close to my skin. I had feared that it might be another cuir canage (something I'm not a fan of) but the neroli has all but died away by then and the 'leather' is very much it's own entity. I think if you're expecting a truly pungent or sweet leather then you'll be disappointed. However if you want a tweaked (for the better) formula of fresh Neroli portofino and something a little warmer then this is decent. I don't know how much it is? Tom Ford price structure confuses me slightly but I think this one is more than NP? (I might be wrong) I actually really enjoyed wearing it, more than the original so I can't call it really...I won't be buying but it's worth checking out for sure.