White Patchouli, The Softer Side Of Tom Ford

Is Tom Ford mellowing out? The last few years have seen Ford takes his heavily sexed-up style into a line of dramatic fragrances advertised with semi-nude photos and the promise of easy seduction. But perhaps Ford is calming down (indeed, a recent Sunday Times profile reveals an almost avuncular side of the famous egoist). His website, which used to launch with a rapid fire barrage of sexualized imagery, now has a restrained display of his menswear line.

And then there's his latest fragrance, White Patchouli. The name doesn't exactly inspire confidence (when you get right down to it Black Orchid sounds a lot more intriguing than White Patchouli which brings to mind batik prints and sticky bottles of essential oils). But the scent is really intriguing. A soft woodsy floral that balances the patchouli against white flowers, rose absolute and ambrette seed, it manages to gives the exotic intrigue of patchouli without the musty heaviness that has given it such a bad name. The most surprising thing of all is its subtlety. Unlike some of Ford other scents a woman doesn't feel like she needs to put on stilettos and a push-up bra. Restraint from Tom Ford? What is this world coming to? The 1.7 ounce Eau de Parfum sells for $92.