TF Tobacco Vanille counterfeits?

MrZareba

Hello Lads,

Recently I was trying to figure out where I could get a bottle of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille in Poland. Turns out there is a Douglas shop in Krakow that has those in store (apparently one of only 3 Douglas stores in the country that are selling the Private Blend line). Anyway - out of curiosity I checked out if I can find anything interesting on allegro.pl, maybe for a little bit lower price. And well - not only there were a lot of biddings, but the prices were well bellow my expectations. For instance, this gentlemen is selling a 100ml Tobacco Vanille bottle for less than 100$, claiming he bought it in a tax free zone on London Luton airport: http://allegro.pl/tom-ford-tobacco-vanille-100ml-edp-i5003001394.html According to the info I found there is no chance to get a bottle of any Private Blend for this price.

So it made me concerned - is it possible that there are some Private Blend counterfeits on the market, knowing that it's not a very popular perfume line? The interest level would be simply too low in order to get a satisfying amount of knock off sales in my opinion - but who knows. I wrote to Tom Ford in order to hear their opinion about this issue but unfortunately they have not answered my email.

So gents, what do you think? Certainly I don't want to end up with a rip off in my hand, but if there's a chance these bottles are genuine it's hell of a deal. Some other bidders are seling Tobacco Vanille testers - I never new that TF made testers in a special box, so that's another thing.

Absolutely_Cart

I'm a cologne aficionado. I've sampled like 500 of them, so I was shocked to see a Tobacco Vanille on a James Bond forum. I was like, wait a second, this is not a fragrance forum. Lol. I used to buy like several fragrances a month, but I haven't paid attention to them at all in like a year. But now you got me back into fragrance mode.

I'd be VERY skeptical of a Tom Ford Private Blend fragrance available for $100. It retails for $300, and Tom Ford has a strict grip on it. I know lots of fragrance houses sell to different countries at different prices, allowing for a grey market. That's why, even though Creed's Green Irish Tweed retails for $330, you'll see it online for $140. Tom Ford does not do this, so I don't know where anyone could get it less for $100. Let's say even if someone stole a case of them, they'd have no reason to sell it so cheap because there's no competition in the business of grey-marketing Tom Ford. If you end up buying it anyway, just know it's a super strong fragrance. If it doesn't last at least 10 hours on your skin, it's most likely fake too.

I'll tell you what Tom Ford would write, if they were to reply to you. Something like "Anything not sold by an authorized retail is liable to be fake". And I'd agree with that. I can't say that Tom Ford Private Blend is as popular as something like Versace or Chanel, but there's still a huge profit margin on making a fake Tom Ford fragrance and selling it.

TLDR: It's most likely a fake. Even if it's a tester.

MrZareba

Thank you for a comprehensive reply! -{ That's what I thought... Well, I guess I'd better save some money and get the real deal in Douglas. I'm not very much convinced if it's a good idea however - I tried it once a while ago and there isn't anything quite like it, I'm naturally not a cologne aficionado but I can tell you that I like things like Davidoff's Cool Water and Silver Shadow Private, Lacoste Essential, Emporio Armani for Him - they're different from each other but Tobacco Vanille is different in a completely different direction. I'm just not entirely sure if the ladies will like it, I'm 24 years old - so I don't want these young attractive Polish girls to look at me with a weird face if you know what I mean! )

Absolutely_Cart

On the plus side, you might spend a lot of money on Tobacco Vanille, but it's strong. You only need 1 light spray for the whole day, so you're getting a value out of it.

As for the ladies factor, it smells like a premium cigar. That's more of a masculine thing. I don't think TV will get you as much compliments as Le Male or Aqua Di Gio, but TV, in my eyes, is an amazing fragrance. In the top 10 or 20 fragrances I've ever tried. Who knows though, everyone is different.

cheld

There's a guy on StyleForum who does 50ml decants of Tom Ford including TV. He ships worldwide and is very highly rated. $140 for 50ml shipped internationally.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/412037/crazy-sale-tom-ford-50ml-decants-130-tobacco-vanille-tuscan-leather-plum-japonais-oud-wood-noir-de-noir-costa-azzura-etc

Absolutely_Cart

cheld wrote:

There's a guy on StyleForum who does 50ml decants of Tom Ford including TV. He ships worldwide and is very highly rated. $140 for 50ml shipped internationally.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/412037/crazy-sale-tom-ford-50ml-decants-130-tobacco-vanille-tuscan-leather-plum-japonais-oud-wood-noir-de-noir-costa-azzura-etc

That's a good deal. On the downside, you don't get the bottle. On the upside, since it's a strong fragrance, it's like getting 100ml of your average fragrance.

The Bond Experience

I have been wearing TV for years, and I always get compliments from female co-workers and clients on the scent...have not been able to switch to anything else, even when I have experimented with other scents...for me its become a bit of a signature.

Higgins

buying fragrances over the internet always bears a HIGH risk of getting taken by a counterfeit.
Fake fragrances is an entire industry and their main distribution channels are the internet and local markets.

MrZareba

Thank you guys for your answers Well, I thought it just doesn't make sense - as far as I know there are no Persol counterfeits on the market (or at least there weren't for a long time, around 2006 for sure) for the same reason - people don't know the brand as good as Ray-Ban for instance, so there are better and more reliable ways to make money on counterfeits. Naturally I bet that Persol is pretty well known in the U.S. and U.K. by now but in Poland (and other west european countries probably) it's still a company that's very little known. That's why 80% of the young folks are wearing Wayfarer knock off's every summer. True story unfortunately.

David - but remember the age difference between you and me Sir - that's my concern! Ladies in the late 30-ties and 40-ties may appreciate the scent, I'm just not sure that the younger girls will... I will give it a shot anyway, I recall Nico (richmentoys) buying a bottle and saying it's worth every penny of it.

Thunderpussy

In a recent survey of women, the winner in the men's favourite cologne
Was, old Spice ! )

minigeff

Thunderpussy wrote:

In a recent survey of women, the winner in the men's favourite cologne
Was, old Spice ! )

I remember my dad used to use that stuff, personally I love a bit of Paul Smith splashed around my chops.

There is something massively nauseating about that statement.

MrZareba

Me myself I'm currently using the limited edition James Bond 007... I got it for christmas, so why not. It smells nice, the only problem is when people ask me what it is. It's kinda cheesy to respond "well it's Bond, James Bond you know". Especially that there is a brand called BOND on the polish market, selling aftershaves for around 2$. Ugh.

Jacob

I like the Tobacco Vanilla as well, but I think you're quite right when saying that it is perhaps more of a "senior" perfume (late thirties and up) - this is of course just my personal opinion. For the same reason I chose not to buy it since I figured my age (19) required a more fresh scent.

If you'd like the idea of TF perfumes, I can recommend you try the Tom Ford for Men (http://www.tomford.com/tom-ford-for-men/T03-TOMFORD-FORMEN.html?dwvar_T03-TOMFORD-FORMEN_color=OC#start=1) and/or the Tom Ford Noir (http://www.tomford.com/tom-ford-noir/T1-TOMFORD-NOIR.html?dwvar_T1-TOMFORD-NOIR_color=OC#start=2). I personally like these a lot and they are not as crazily expensive as the Private Blends.

-{

MrZareba

Jacob Mortensen wrote:

I like the Tobacco Vanilla as well, but I think you're quite right when saying that it is perhaps more of a "senior" perfume (late thirties and up) - this is of course just my personal opinion. For the same reason I chose not to buy it since I figured my age (19) required a more fresh scent.

If you'd like the idea of TF perfumes, I can recommend you try the Tom Ford for Men (http://www.tomford.com/tom-ford-for-men/T03-TOMFORD-FORMEN.html?dwvar_T03-TOMFORD-FORMEN_color=OC#start=1) and/or the Tom Ford Noir (http://www.tomford.com/tom-ford-noir/T1-TOMFORD-NOIR.html?dwvar_T1-TOMFORD-NOIR_color=OC#start=2). I personally like these a lot and they are not as crazily expensive as the Private Blends.

-{

I know, I tried them on because they're pretty much available in every Douglas shop. Good, strong - however I want something that nobody else will be wearing, that's my point

Flighty

The Mantis wrote:

I have been wearing TV for years, and I always get compliments from female co-workers and clients on the scent...have not been able to switch to anything else, even when I have experimented with other scents...for me its become a bit of a signature.

Likewise I love TV but I dare you to try CREED Aventus is by far the best Eau de Parfum I have ever bought! And one I'm sure James Bond or Daniel Craig would be sure to wear!! Don't be fooled by the top notes as it mellows right down and is very long lasting!!

The Bond Experience

LOL.....most of my agency is made up of women in their 20s....its an advertising agency after all...

cheld

Flighty wrote:

The Mantis wrote:

I have been wearing TV for years, and I always get compliments from female co-workers and clients on the scent...have not been able to switch to anything else, even when I have experimented with other scents...for me its become a bit of a signature.

Likewise I love TV but I dare you to try CREED Aventus is by far the best Eau de Parfum I have ever bought! And one I'm sure James Bond or Daniel Craig would be sure to wear!! Don't be fooled by the top notes as it mellows right down and is very long lasting!!

+1 on Aventus. I'm not an expert fragrance guy and I'm very sensitive (headaches) to many scents. Aventus is a winner.

MrZareba

The Mantis wrote:

LOL.....most of my agency is made up of women in their 20s....its an advertising agency after all...

Oh, my bad! The Aventus is definitely in the Private Blend price range. I found today one guy selling samples of the Private Blend line, according to the price they should be original (7$ for 1ml). So I might ask him for this one also, will get both and wear them to my University day after day. Then I will decide, I will be probably buying it in march anyway because currently it makes no sense to waste such a perfume under the scarf for most of the day.

Absolutely_Cart

Creed Aventus is one of my all time favorites. It took me some time to get used to but its definitely Daniel Craig.

Btw, when it comes to buying online Beauty Encounter and Fragrancenet are your best bet for authentic fragrances at discoubt prices.

Sir Miles

minigeff wrote:

personally I love a bit of Paul Smith splashed around my chops.

I thought we'd decided to keep that quiet ? ;% )

minigeff

Sir Miles wrote:

minigeff wrote:

personally I love a bit of Paul Smith splashed around my chops.

I thought we'd decided to keep that quiet ? ;% )

Chortle chortle.

MrZareba

I just came back from the Douglas store with Tobacco Vanille on my wrist and I have kind of mixed feelings. It's 30 minutes after I tried it on and currently it smells like an oriental spice of some kind, chai coffee comes to my mind. I let it my female flatmale to smell and she said it's pretty good and interesting but she did not drop her clothes instantly, which is kind of dissapointing ) Anyway - I also tried on the Tuscan Leather and I think it's much more masculine in comparison to Tobacco Vanille - however after some time it pretty much smelt like my pair of Dents ) So I don't know. I forgot to ask them about the CREED one but spending around 250$ for a perfume bottle in the situation where I'm not 100% convinced would be ill advised I guess.

Also: they told me in store that Tom Ford makes testers and all the Private Bottles on display were testers (they have a sticker on the front, I'm not sure whether the real deal has a sticker or a metal plate like Tom Ford for Men for instance). The best thing to do will be probably to get the 1ml bottle and live with it for a few days.

The Domino Effect

I have three colognes that I use regularly depending on the circumstances, and TV is the one I use during nice evenings out with my wife and like Mantis, I get tons of compliments on it - and from women of all ages, too! It is a mature scent, but that doesn't mean you have to be old to wear it. I've had women describe it as sophisticated, refined and "pure sex" (my personal favourite!). I get complimented on my other colognes too, by this is way in the lead in that field. Incidentally, The price at Heathrow a couple of years ago was about $125...substantially lower than I had ever seen in any shop in the US or Canada.

MrZareba

For a 50ml that's still a bargain basing on the current prices... Well, I'm not as wealthy as many of you so that's why I'm so concerned - 300$ is still a lot of money for me so it would be a pity to waste it on something I will not use.

The Red Kind

For what it's worth, I wear Chanel Platinum Egoiste. A little old fashioned but has a certain class (IMHO). Receives a fair share of comments. And more.. Also half the price of Creed Aventus which, by the way, is a very nice fragrance.

Flighty

The Red Kind wrote:

For what it's worth, I wear Chanel Platinum Egoiste. A little old fashioned but has a certain class (IMHO). Receives a fair share of comments. And more.. Also half the price of Creed Aventus which, by the way, is a very nice fragrance.

Sounds good I'll check it out!

hot crossed bond

L'HOMME by Y.S.L ...goes over very well! though I prefer most shave balms to eau de toilette

Absolutely_Cart

I like Platinum Egoiste. It's a good mix of soap, wood and spice, but all high quality ingredients.

I'll post a list of my top favorite fragrances overall (not an exhaustive list):
Gucci Pour Homme II
Aventus
Green Irish Tweed
Silver Mountain Water
Millesime Imperial
Erolfa
Virgin Island Water
Jardin D'Amalfi
Bleu de Chanel
Platinum Egoiste
Wall Street
Bleecker Street
Neroli Portofino
Tobacco Vanille
YSL L'Homme
YSL La Nuit
1 Million
Le Male
M7 (vintage)
Pure Malt
Spicebomb
Armani Code
CK One
Acqua Di Gio
Desert Marocain
Reflection Man
Dior Homme (vintage)
Fahrenheit (vintage)

Thunderpussy

Splash on a bit of the great smell of lynx !

Flighty

Absolutely_Cart wrote:

I like Platinum Egoiste. It's a good mix of soap, wood and spice, but all high quality ingredients.

I'll post a list of my top favorite fragrances overall (not an exhaustive list):
Gucci Pour Homme II
Aventus
Green Irish Tweed
Silver Mountain Water
Millesime Imperial
Erolfa
Virgin Island Water
Jardin D'Amalfi
Bleu de Chanel
Platinum Egoiste
Wall Street
Bleecker Street
Neroli Portofino
Tobacco Vanille
YSL L'Homme
YSL La Nuit
1 Million
Le Male
M7 (vintage)
Pure Malt
Spicebomb
Armani Code
CK One
Acqua Di Gio
Desert Marocain
Reflection Man
Dior Homme (vintage)
Fahrenheit (vintage)

Great list! I'm surprised I didn't see Floris up higher or Acqua di Parma Colonia!
Fahrenheit vintage!! Good shout, one of my favourite fragrances growing up.

Matt S

My girlfriend really likes my Tom Ford Noir, and that one is affordable!