Tom Ford Black Lacquer EDP

Description

Black Lacquer smells the way a gloss-black surface looks: ink, vinyl and dark woods under a thin veil of incense. Composed by Guillaume Flavigny and launched in 2024, it won Fragrance of the Year in the Ultra Luxury category at The Fragrance Foundation Awards 2025. The opening is the unusual part: ink and vinyl with black pepper and a splash of rum. Within the first half hour it turns to ebony wood and resinous elemi, softened by apricot and peony, and dries down on olibanum. Reviewers describe the later stages as muted smoke, cool woods and a quiet, resinous sweetness.

Scent Character

Translation: a woody core with a sweet, resinous glaze. The pepper, the olibanum smoke, the cool opening and the peony each hold an equal minor share, which is why it feels smooth rather than heavy.

Fragrance Pyramid

• Top: Ink, Vinyl, Black Pepper, Rum
• Heart: Ebony Wood, Elemi, Apricot, Peony
• Base: Olibanum

Performance

Longevity: Around 4–6 hours for most wearers; some report longer.
Sillage: Soft to moderate.
Projection: Arm's length at first, then closer to the skin after the first hour or two.

An honest note: reviews on performance are split. Some find it dense and long-lasting, others say it becomes a skin scent fairly quickly. For the price of a bottle, it is worth testing first.

Best Occasions & Season

Best in Fall and Winter, for Evening wear and a Night Out. It is unisex and leans slightly masculine. Skip it for hot days, when the ink and smoke have less room to breathe.

Concentration & Provenance

Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Perfumer: Guillaume Flavigny
House: Tom Ford (Private Blend)
Launched: 2024, with no reformulation on record

Try Before You Commit

The ink-and-vinyl opening is the part people either love or don't, and it is best judged on your own skin. A hand-poured 1mL decant is $10.99, and a 5mL is $50.99 for a longer trial.

100% Authentic

Every Venba sample is decanted from a factory-sealed bottle, never diluted, never mixed. We have filled 200,000+ orders and hold a 4.9★ Trustpilot rating. Free U.S. shipping on orders $100+, with hassle-free returns.

FAQ

Does Black Lacquer contain oud?
No. There is no agarwood in it. The smoky, dark side comes from olibanum, elemi and ebony wood, with a touch of rum.

What do ink and vinyl smell like?
Slightly inky, mineral and synthetic in a deliberate way, like a new record sleeve or fresh lacquer. The effect is strongest in the first 15–30 minutes.

Is it men's or women's?
Unisex, leaning slightly masculine. The peony and apricot keep it from feeling severe.

How long does it last?
Usually around 4–6 hours, though reports vary with skin and the number of sprays.