The name of a carefully crafted fragrance should encompass the essence of what scents are in the bottle. Neroli Portofino from Tom Ford is inviting you to treat yourself to reinvention in the romantic neroli blossoms of the exclusive seaside village of Portofino, Italy, a landscape whose fragrances once captivated French Royalty.
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Who Makes It?
Any Tom Ford Neroli Portofino review should discuss the namesake of the brand. A quick look into Tom Ford finds that he is a US-born fashion and scent designer who, starting early in the 90s, designed for the infamous Gucci brand out of Milan.
Ford would later become the Creative Director at Gucci, only to move to the Yves Saint Laurent Line once Gucci acquired it.
After years in the industry, Tom Ford launched his brand as a joint venture with Gucci and celebrated by opening its flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York in 2007. There are 98 Tom Ford Brand Stores in high-fashion shopping meccas like Milan, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Dubai, Zurich, New Delhi, Shanghai, and Russia.
Ford was nominated for numerous awards in design and fashion, honored by the GLAAD association, celebrated as an international man of the year, and has accepted a lifetime achievement award from the CFDA.
Scent Notes
The primary or top notes for Tom Ford Neroli Portofino are Italian Bergamot, Winter Yellow Mandarin, and Sicilian Lemon that, after around 15 minutes, give way to a parade of citrus.
The heart notes make up the primary qualities in a perfume, and here we see Tunisian Neroli, Orange Flower, and Lavender. The base notes present amber and rosemary as a familiar and pleasant linger in the air as the day goes on.
What does Tom Ford Neroli Portofino smell like?
Tom Ford designed Neroli Portofino to express a crisp, effervescent quality and as a “reinvention of a classic eau de cologne.” Ingredients feature Tunisian neroli, Italian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, winter yellow mandarin, lavender, orange flower, rosemary, and amber to create a sparkling and uplifting citrus aromatic scent perfect for women or men.
The word “Neroli” teases to a heavenly citrus blossom scent whispered with honey and orange, as neroli is the name of a beautifully bitter orange tree found in many regions.
Portofino is an exclusive Italian town near Rome known for its fragrant orange trees, which have become famous as an ingredient in perfumes. The white blossoms used to fill the city with airy scents of citrus and light notes of honey and orange, which can smell irresistible.
Who Would Like It?
Citrus fans and people who like clean, fresh scents would enjoy this on their bodies or from the scent of someone nearby.
Delicately applied, it can spice up the presentation and leave a good impression on others. If you enjoy pleasing others and putting them in a mood to remember you, you may enjoy wearing this scent.
Where Should You Wear It?
Neroli has a history of being used as an aphrodisiac since Princess Anne Marie Orsini first distilled it, and citrus has been proven to intensify and increase memory recall. This seems to want to be worn for moments you’d like to remember or to be remembered by someone special.
Lightly worn, it would leave a pleasant and professional impression in a work setting and invite a more playful tone with the layers leading to a warm amber finish without leaving you too musky. This scent would be a hit for any occasion, especially if you’d like to remind everyone of citrus in the spring as you go by.
Packaging and Presentation
Ford designed the translucent turquoise glass bottle as an homage to the Mediterranean sea.
The opaque azure tone tries to transport you to the beauty of its namesake, Portofino, while the gold accents delicately adorn the bottle. It is a polished look for anyone and would steal the show against any glassware on the chicest of shelves.
Personal Impressions
Enjoying the scent of citrus is required to find this smell pleasant, but what lingers the longest is warm and inviting, with a little bit of spice. The smell is undoubtedly fresh and balanced for a chance to enjoy the tones instead of being assaulted by them.
As with most perfumes, a liberal application would make it unpleasant, but this does maintain a fresh smell in the long run. The scent also seems to fit the visual of Tom Ford on vacation in a villa in Italy, casually enjoying the sea.
Performance
The scent longevity is moderate, so it is recommended to apply in a delicate manner until you discover the right amount that reacts pleasantly with your unique body chemistry.
Where can you buy it?
The beauty of the Tom Ford brand is that scents like Tom Ford Neroli Portofino can be purchased in different forms.
The Tom Ford Neroli Portofino candle is a relaxing way to enjoy this scent without it becoming overwhelming since the smell is regulated over time through the burning of the wick.
Stores that carry the Tom Ford brand will typically carry this long-running scent, and it has been commonly found in Sephora, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and of course, in the Tom Ford Brand Stores. It is also available for purchase from other fine retailers online.
Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.