The Tom Ford Bible Told Me to Layer These Two Unexpected Perfumes—Now, I Can't Stop Spraying Them

Fun fact for the fragrance-obsessed (we welcome you with open arms!): Tom Ford has an IYKYK bible of exclusive scent combinations, one you can only access by speaking with a House fragrance expert (or scrolling through the depths of Reddit, but any chart you'll find will sadly be a bit dated). Called Private Blend Styling—because of course it deserves to be called something that chic—the menu takes the guesswork out of perfume layering by recommending exactly which bottles you need and how much juice to spray. (Yes, really; you'll be equipped with a specific number of spritzes for each fragrance.)

I recently visited Tom Ford Beauty's first standalone boutique in SoHo and, being the beauty journalist I am, fired off a laundry list of scent-styling questions as I sampled each glorious Private Blend potion. What are the ultimate crowd-pleaser combinations? What are the most underrated pairings? What should someone mix and match if their tastes lean gourmand, woody, floral, fruity, et al.? No stone was left unturned, and I walked away with more than a few recommendations—one of which I fully can't stop spraying.

If you have yet to experience the rich, seductive magic of Oud Voyager and Vanilla Sex, keep scrolling. I never would have thought to combine these two scents (thank you, Tom Ford fragrance bible!), but now I can't imagine one without the other.

About Oud Voyager

Tom Ford

Oud Voyager Eau de Parfum

Key notes: Geranium absolute, living red peony accord, floral oud tri-distillate, cypriol, oud, osmanthus

The latest addition to Tom Ford's Private Blend collection, Oud Voyager calls upon, of course, oud—an earthy, smoky, animalic note that has been treasured for centuries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It's an ancient ingredient associated with wealth and opulence (so much so that it's been dubbed "liquid gold"), but Dominique Ropion—master perfumer for the Tom Ford blend—wanted to elevate the oud even further by combining it with fresh, modern elements. "Oud is woody, but also very animalic, spicy, very deep, a little bit dark, so we had to find something that contrasts very strongly with that part of the ingredient," he says during a brand masterclass. "Floral notes are the best way to do this."

Namely, red peony, which Ropion describes as "a very rich flower—very complex, but not heavy" and geranium, which has an herbaceous—almost minty—freshness. "It has this rosiness, but at the same time there's something very saturated and juicy," Helen Murphy, Tom Ford VP of fragrance development, shares about the note. You'll also find a floral oud tri-distillate—an exclusive blend of all three aforementioned notes to amplify their impact—pink pepper, saffron, osmanthus, cypriol, patchouli, and musk. "The cypriol and patchouli magnify and accentuate the oud notes, which makes it even richer," notes Murphy. That osmanthus, on the other hand, adds a leathery tone with an addictive, nectar-like quality.

The result is an oud-forward fragrance that's certainly sensual but not quite as musky as other traditional oud blends. "Some ouds can be very, very animalic," Ropion says. "This one is woody, a touch animal , ambery… quite complex." Because of this specific type of oud—plus the floral facets—I'd say it's a great "starter oud" for those who may have shied away from oud fragrances in the past. It's deep and rich yet not overwhelmingly so, and when paired with Vanilla Sex (more in just a moment!), its seductive quality quadruples.

About Vanilla Sex

Tom Ford

Vanilla Sex Eau De Parfum

Key notes: Vanilla tincture India, vanilla absolute, sandalwood essence, jasmine absolute, orris accord, animalis accord

What is there to say about Vanilla Sex that hasn't already been said? If you're a fan of gourmand scents, chances are you already have the delectable blend in your rotation. Personally, it's one of the most complimented fragrances I own; recently, I sprayed it at my desk and was immediately bombarded with questions from my coworkers ("Oh my god, what perfume did you just use?").