SMEL. EDP

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Black Orchid

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SMEL. Black Orchid is an Eau de Parfum. Black Orchid opens with Truffle and Ylang-Ylang, settles into a heart of Spicy Notes and Orchid, and dries down to a base of Vetiver, Patchouli, and Incense. SMEL.'s Black Orchid carries a Statement verdict, a woody-led wear.

Black Orchid takes on Tom Ford's dark, opulent original with a truffle-orchid-patchouli structure that reads correctly on paper - but the real Black Orchid has an unusually dense, syrupy richness and ten-hour-plus staying power that this dupe simply cannot replicate at its price point.
What our verdicts mean →
  • Seductive
  • Mysterious
  • Opulent
  • Bold
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Black Orchid Eau de Parfum bottle
Inspired by
Black Orchid by Tom Ford
64%
Compare these two →

Our estimate of scent similarity, calculated from published notes. How we score it

See how they compare
Black Orchid the original Black Orchid inspired by

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend
Topas listed
Truffle58%
Ylang-Ylang42%
Heartas listed
Orchid61%
Spicy Notes39%
Baseas listed
Patchouli42%
Incense31%
Vetiver27%

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

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Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Short (2-4h)
Projection
Moderate
Intensity
Moderate

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Fall Winter

The dark, spicy floral base is unmistakably cold-weather, feeling far too heavy and cloying under summer heat.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal

Seductive and dramatic enough for a date or formal evening; too dense and attention-grabbing for an office or casual daytime setting.

Ingredients and allergens

We don't have this fragrance's ingredient list yet.

Ethics and formulation

We report other people's certifications, never our own. Every claim links to its source.

  • Cruelty-free Brand-declared SMEL. says so · no third-party certification found · Read the claim
  • Vegan Brand-declared SMEL. says so · no third-party certification found · Read the claim

Certification covers a brand's whole range. Part-range claims show on the brand page.

About

Tom Ford's Black Orchid remains one of the most distinctive dark florals ever released, built on an unlikely pairing of black truffle and spice with a lush orchid heart and a patchouli-incense-vetiver base that projects heavily and lingers on skin and clothing for well over ten hours. Copycat's Black Orchid takes a reasonable run at the concept - the black truffle-ylang-ylang opening has genuine dark, earthy character rather than defaulting to a straightforward floral, and the patchouli-incense base keeps the composition appropriately smoky and mysterious. The orchid-spice heart is present too, giving a fair impression of the original's opulent, slightly gothic personality. The shortfall is intensity and depth: real Black Orchid has a near-syrupy density that makes it feel expensive and unmistakable from across a room, while this dupe is noticeably lighter and more transparent, with the dark floral character softening into an ordinary woody-spicy scent within a few hours rather than the original's long, brooding drydown. It's a solid, affordable way to experience the dark floral genre Black Orchid helped define, without matching the sheer weight and longevity that makes the original so recognisable.

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Where to buy

Prices for the United States ·

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Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.