Champaca Absolute
Tom Ford (2009)

Supposedly there is a lot going on with this fragrance. Top notes of cognac, Dyer’s greenweed - whatever that is - and bergamot. The bergamot definitely shows in the sparkling, citrusy, and effervescent opening, but the other two are negligible if not completely transparent. Heart notes of champaca, orchid - what orchid? There are thousands, some smell and some don't, and the ones that do very often smell differently from each other - jasmine, and violet. While the bergamot top shimmers away, the champaca and most especially the jasmine are the stars. They hit you like a wall of flowers. The other accords are, again, negligible if not completely transparent. Base notes of Marron glace - as if most of us are supposed to know what that smells like - vanilla, sandalwood, and amber. No. Caramelized sugar syrup. Nothing else. So needless to say, this fragrance either missed the mark on execution or vision, or both. As a floral champaca it is nice, but it says very little and will leave even less to your memory.

As a man, I confidently embrace and wear this floral fragrance, which is a rare choice for me. Without a doubt, this ranks as my all-time favorite Tom Ford fragrance. It's akin to capturing the essence of seduction in a bottle, radiating a sweet, vibrant, floral, and utterly irresistible charm that endures for well over 12 hours. Consistently, whenever I apply it, women are quick to shower me with compliments and openly express their admiration. It's genuinely disheartening to learn that it has been discontinued. I earnestly implore Tom Ford to consider reintroducing this exceptional fragrance to the market.

An original floral that's both clean (white, soapy musk) and dirty (animalistic musk). It's got a bit of powder and projection is just right.

Very radical, different fragrance from Tom Ford.

Champaca Absolute focuses its attention on the champak evergreen tree. Champaca blossoms have been used to make "attars" (holy fragrances), and it has a characteristically peachy-sweet-hay-musky-tea quality enjoyed by many especially in south Asia.

Tom Ford's take on Champaca is quite daring, utilizing several unusual elements to create quite a sensual Oriental Floral experience: A boozy start, using wine and cognac, along with Spanish / Weaver's broom shrub (Spartium juncium) with its honey-vanilla touch, as well as commonly used bergamot; an impressive array of florals that blend so seamlessly with the other notes, putting many accents in such a thoughtful, expert manner; base is full of warm, sweet creamy notes of vanilla, amber, sandalwood, and that really nice candied chestnut ("marron glacé").

This one projects really nicely, lasts surprisingly well, and inspires feelings of joy and calm. A fragrance that I keep sniffing over and over, one that is quite a departure from typical scents, unisex or not!

I think this is one that can give very different impressions based on proximity and climate. In Los Angeles I experienced it as very apricot/mango fruity and soft, in my mind a friendly pale orange scent. And back in the desert, it is a crazy dark purple fruit chypre that's all sweet, juicy violets and boozy plum wine, all the time. It's rather forbidding, though not quite off-putting. Once in a while I can smell it from a distance on myself and see how I got the soft, sweet fruity impression in a gentler climate.

But it does have fangs as a desert creature.

Some have commented that they get rose. It may be the same perfume-y retro chypre note I'm reading as plum wine as roses can go fruity.

Really reminds me of something I had a treasured sample of in the late 70s/early 80s, and it may be the violet/winey rose heart of Mary McFadden. In the early days of Ebay I tracked down a bottle of the McFadden to smell it again and was surprised that violets weren't given as a note because ionones totally shaped the character of the wine-y rose heart.

I suspect if you gave Champaca Absolute a big dose of powder and a few tweaks you could get a gargantuan and awesome postmodern Loulou.

This is glorious....period. This is a soft, sweet, powdery woody floral that offers a moderate sillage (about 3 to 5 feet) and has pretty decent longevity (5-6 hours medium sillage, 7-10 hours minimal sillage on dry skin in a warm, somewhat dry climate). It's instant femininity and comfort. It's gorgeous, pure and simple. Every once in a great while, I will get the slightest hint of bubblegum. However, it doesn't happen often and it's not enough to diminish the enjoyment I receive otherwise.

I love this so much I am debating buying the $520 bottle (mostly because it's an incredible price considering how much you get). This may be my most favorite fragrance of all time.