Tom Ford Neroli Portofino

So…the last time I posted about a Tom Ford perfume, I ended by thoughts by saying that I really enjoyed the perfume but probably wouldn’t have more than one in my collection, due to the price. Well…I went back on that pretty quickly. I was gifted this perfume for Christmas of last year by my parents. I first tried it during a trip to Sephora with my friend silenthilltwo, where I tried a ton of different Tom Ford fragrances and other perfumes. The Neroli Portofino really stood out amongst all those as something memorable that I really enjoyed. The description from the Tom Ford website is:

VIBRANT. SPARKLING. TRANSPORTIVE. TO TOM FORD, THIS SCENT PERFECTLY CAPTURES THE COOL BREEZES, SPARKLING CLEAR WATER AND LUSH FOLIAGE OF THE ITALIAN RIVERA. HIS REINVENTION OF A CLASSIC EAU DE COLOGNE FEATURES CRISP CITRUS OILS, SURPRISING FLORAL NOTES AND AMBER UNDERTONES TO LEAVE A SPLASHY YET SUBSTANTIVE IMPRESSION.

This fragrance really reminds me of another fragrance I own, the Acqua di Parma Colonia. I didn’t even realize they were so similar until I smelled the Neroli Portofino at home (not in the context of perfume shopping)…then I realized that I definitely have a “type” haha. They’re both very fresh, citrus-forward smells that I find enjoyable and that sort of blend-into-the-background after the top notes have dissipated (in a good way; they’re still there but not overwhelmingly). This is an eau de parfum, unlike the Colonia which is an eau de cologne, so unsurprisingly this is stronger and lasts much longer.

Comparing to my other Tom Ford perfume, the Tobacco Vanille, this is very similar in how strong they feel. This is difficult for me to describe, but both TFs have this fullness in body that the other perfumes I own/have tried do not. They feel layered and complex in a strong sense. I think I like the Tobacco Vanille more as a rule, but I think that is mainly just because I enjoy those warm smells more than I enjoy the sharp citrus ones (which is funny, because I own two citrus perfumes and only one warm/woody one).

I really like the Neroli Portofino. I am not sure whether I’ll replace this bottle once I’m done with it. I like the Colonia a bit more overall, and they fit the exact same category (similar scents, would wear in the same kind of weather or to the same sort of event, etc.). The Neroli Portofino definitely wins out in terms of strength and it smells more “expensive” (maybe a better word for this is “quality”?), but I prefer the actual scent of the Colonia.

The cost for a 100 ml bottle is $390 (pictured is a 30 ml bottle).