TOM FORD TUSCAN LEATHER V OMBRE LEATHER

As I was nostalgically cleaning up my blog I stumbled upon an old article of my Top 5 Tom Ford Fragrances. I had placed the Tuscan Leather at number 2 and the Ombre Leather at number one. However, looking back I have to question whether I was just getting windswept in the craze of the new release.

The Ombre Leather certainly became the flavour of the month and I was felt my relationship with Tuscan Leather was becoming quite mechanical. A bit mundane. Routinely it would be my go-to fragrance for all formal occasions. Certainly with dates. 

Then I made the switch to Ombre Leather probably because of the cheaper price point if I’m honest (£85 vs £175 per 50ml) and poor old Tuscan fell out of favour. A bit like Woody in Toy Story when his boy-owner grew up and shelved him next to Wheezy the Penguin. But just like Wheezy did, Tuscan has now found his mojo again and is now neck and neck with Ombre on my bathroom shelf. Which begs the question, which is the better fragrance? 

I'm going to tell you now that you should think of these fragrances like the coming together of McQueen and Newman in The Towering Inferno. They both get top billing. In fact on the poster for The Towering Inferno, Newman appears first but lower than McQueen. That was the compromise. They also get the same amount of dialogue. Exactly the same! So that's how I want you to imagine the coming together of Tuscan and Ombre, two monoliths. Two legends. But it's not up to me to tell you which one is better, but I can break it down into different categories and tell you which one exceeds. 

VALUE

Without doubt the Ombre is better value as it's nearly half the price. It has a more accessible price point and even if money wasn't an option, I know many people would still opt for the Ombre. 

WHAT THE WOMEN SAY

Remember that leather is not for everyone. Sure, men love to stick their noodles through the window of an Aston Martin DB5 and get that immediate injection of masculine leather, diesel and Bollinger. But women don't often buy into that caveman quality. 

The Tuscan is spicier on the dry down. Although both fragrances have spicy qualities. Only the Ombre rests at a sweeter place than the Tuscan. In my experience, the Ombre is more favourable for the ladies. 

PROJECTION & SILLAGE 

Both have terrific projection and perform terrific. I have found that the Tuscan Leather is still around after a night out and an Uber home. (Though that was a while ago now). It has the durability to go as long as you do, whereas the Ombre is in its slippers and gown by last orders. 

OVERALL SMELL 

This is where I come down on the side of Tuscan. Initially when I was in my Ombre infatuation phase I would have said the Tuscan was intense for most occasions. To use my film analogy, the Tuscan is Tenet and the Ombre is Back to the Future. Both are riffing on the same genre, only one is popcorn fodder, the other feels like you need to apply the grey matter. Tuscan is a more mature, intelligent scent. Ombre is nostalgic, and arguably more fun. But with fun you have whimsy. 

FOR BUSINESS

Then it's the Ombre. The Ombre is more for nine to five, because it's less impactful and has a sweeter dry down. That said, if you're looking to incept the circles above you in your work space, then the Tuscan will get you noticed. It has more luxury, more complexity, more adventure. So if you're looking for promotion then its Tuscan, if you're looking to score with the cute intern, it's Ombre. 

CONCLUSION 

If Tuscan Leather was a woman, then it's the kind you'd marry. It's the one you'd introduce your mother to. And your mother loves her. Your mother immediately tells you to stop playing around with and commit. Your mates all envy you, and some even drunkenly admit to rubbing one out to her, because she's that ridiculously good looking. 

You'd happily live out the rest of your days with Tuscan, not even looking at other ladies. 

Then one day Ombre walks in to your life. Ombre is the little miss home-wrecker. The ultimate temptress. She is Scarlett Johansson at 21, irresistible. Coquettish. And you fantasise ... anyway you get the analogy. I'll tell you what it's like. It's like, how George Harrison never got the recognition he deserved as a song writer, because he was in a band with two of the best songwriters in the world. If Tuscan Leather wasn't around, Ombre Leather would be the king of leather fragrances. It just so happens to be in the same ecosphere. But quietly at night, while I turn off the bathroom light, I know Tuscan tells Ombre 'you're good kid, real good. But as long as I'm around you'll always be second best see.' 

TRY BOTH FRAGRANCES TODAY