White Suede

I wanted a suede fragrance to replace the discontinued Donna Karan signature scent in the swan bottle. I tested Tom Ford White Suede a few times at the mall and noticed how different it was from DK in notes and sillage, staying close to skin but lasting several hours. I fell in love with the impression it gave me of a sophisticated woman in red lipstick, drinking Manhattans at a bar, smoking cigarettes and extinguishing her lipstick-stained butts in an ashtray. I always wanted a bottle, but the price is too high for me. Fortunately, I just received a birthday gift certificate to an Arabian perfume house in metro Chicago called Yom & Layl. They custom blend perfumes and mix whatever you want onsite while you wait. The perfumes are 40% concentrated and prices range from $49 for 1 oz. to $85 USD for 3.3 oz. I tested their White Suede impression called Belle's Suede and found that the notes match the original. I brought my bottle home in a custom black box with a gold seal and matching bag. It seems to last longer on me than the original. Online reviews of this merchant note how perfumes like these with concentrated oils age like fine wine.

This is the bougiest iteration of a skin scent. This reminds me so much of my grandma, who was never without a Marlboro Gold in hand, and I mean this in the best way possible. Completely agree with comments below that mention white linen and clean sheets, one of my favourite memories of her is from a holiday we went on while I was still very young. We stayed in a beautiful white villa, and she wore all-white linen outfits with her gold jewellery for the entire trip. Whenever I smell White Suede, I picture a bougie older woman in her white matching set and a gold ring on every finger, a cigarette lit on her balcony over the pool. So so elegant, maybe too mature for me, but it's so cosy and familiar that I still love to wear it. Wearing this on the skin is an absolute must as this fragrance wants to melt into you!

This is another one of my didn't-like-at-first. Another proof that I shouldn't sell off the ones I don't like too quickly 'coz I might like or even love it at some point. Also, this is the only one I like from Tom Ford, so far! The suede threw me off at first but upon my second spray after 2 months, I've grown to appreciate the blend of suede, musk, powder and lilies. It's an understated clean white (as the name suggests) fragrance but one that can leave a nice impression on those who come close to and smell your scent bubble. Good for all seasons, day and night and, to me, unisex. Something like a powerful but down-to-earth politician or a philanthropic heiress would wear.

Sophisticated musk, woody, classy but clean leather. I bought this in 2011 or 2012, I was in my early twenties. It has become creamier over the years and I consider it my “big girl” musk. I love musks and fresh scents and this one is the most grown up that I own. For me it’s nice to wear to brunch, special occasions in the afternoons, casual dates. Some other musks I own are diptyque l’eau papier, parfum de marley valaya, phlur missing person, margiela bubble bath, maison louis marie no. 4 bois de balincourt..white suede is the most unique musk out of the bunch for me, no doubt because of the leather it gives it an animalistic quality.

Good-NESS this is beautiful! This was a blind buy for me. Based solely on the notes, I knew I would like it. And honestly, I love it. I get a powdery, white floral, soft, musky, tea opening that slowly dries down with a hint of woody, sweet suede. Not animalic at all, though. It also gives me a hint of Pond's Cold Cream. If you know, you know. The closest thing in my collection that this reminds me of Chanel les Exclusifs 1957, but this musk is sweeter, less aldehydic. But the base is very similar. No regrets! Other than I wish I had bought the big bottle!