Platinum Fern

Platinum Fern opens on a green, almost metallic herbal accord - bergamot brightens an aromatic tangle of clary sage and basil that nods clearly at Tom Ford's Fougere Platine. The herbal bitterness eases over the first hour into a heart of artemisia, soft olibanum and a thread of honey that gives the fougere its characteristic glistening sheen. The drydown settles on cedar, dry tobacco and ambient woody notes, warm but restrained. Against the original this dupe reads more two-dimensional: the shimmering metallic quality the Tom Ford is known for is muted, the honey turns a touch sweeter and the whole thing sits closer to the skin. Longevity is moderate rather than the marathon the original boasts, and projection stays polite after the first couple of hours. Still, for an everyday aromatic fougere it captures the recognisable shape - confident, clean-shaven and grounded - at a fraction of the price.