Was Tobacco Vanille ever reformulated?

[The_Cologneist]

Not necessarily reformulated, as much as diluted down?

I purchased from a splitter on Ebay with very respectable feedback. I did one spray to the hand when I got home today, and now, about 10 hours later, I do still smell it, but very faint. From my old decant, from a bottle from back in 2010, it seems like it lasted much longer. I could do one spray and still be strong at the 10 hour mark, even projecting some what, and then have it last up into the 20 hour mark.

So I'm wondering, was it diluted? Should I be weary of the seller and request a refund?

 

[Benz3ne]

Not necessarily reformulated, as much as diluted down?

Good distinction, for starters. I'm not sure but I know of someone who is actively seeking out older batches. He prefers them for whatever reason.

You might have better luck putting this thread in the 'perfume appraisals' section, along with some photos. There are some very knowledgeable people around the Tom Ford presentations, so I'm sure they'll help you! Sorry I couldn't offer more, I'm not a fan of the fragrance.

You might want to search out Mac Velvet Teddy, it's manufactured by the 'same people' from what I remember, and is very similar with an amped up honey note. Doesn't get a huge amount of air-time but I've heard nothing but good things from those who enjoy TV.

Edit: I would say 10 hours isn't poor performance by any stretch, even if it's faint towards the end.

 

[The_Cologneist]

Good distinction, for starters. I'm not sure but I know of someone who is actively seeking out older batches. He prefers them for whatever reason.

You might have better luck putting this thread in the 'perfume appraisals' section, along with some photos. There are some very knowledgeable people around the Tom Ford presentations, so I'm sure they'll help you! Sorry I couldn't offer more, I'm not a fan of the fragrance.

You might want to search out Mac Velvet Teddy, it's manufactured by the 'same people' from what I remember, and is very similar with an amped up honey note. Doesn't get a huge amount of air-time but I've heard nothing but good things from those who enjoy TV.

Edit: I would say 10 hours isn't poor performance by any stretch, even if it's faint towards the end.

Well since it was a split, the bottle is not a Tom Ford bottle, although the seller did a fantastic job with the bottle. So would people actually be able to tell the formulation just by the color?

I suppose I could message the seller and ask him for the batch code right?

 

[Benz3ne]

Well since it was a split, the bottle is not a Tom Ford bottle, although the seller did a fantastic job with the bottle. So would people actually be able to tell the formulation just by the color?

I suppose I could message the seller and ask him for the batch code right?

You could - I guess the general rule of thumb is to try and avoid buying eBay splits/decants unless they're actively promoted by people 'in the know'. That's not to say that yours is fake or doctored or anything of the sort, but it gives some reassurance when you're buying from someone more 'accountable', such as the great people who carry out splits on a daily basis here on Basenotes.

I'd say, if you're enjoying the fragrance, it might just be worth your money, 'watered down' or not?

 

[Sabianman1]

My retail bottle of TV from 2014 gives me about 8-10 hours and is faint by the end. I imagine it was impacted by the 2010 and 2013 IFRA regulations as it was originally launched in 2007. People claim beast mode on the original release but at least 2014 and later is not beast mode on me.

But as others have mentioned I’m fine with 8-10 hours performance out of a fragrance and consider that decent.

 

[Darjeeling]

What if I told you the performance was always overhyped?

Could it be due to a difference in the volume of juice coming out of the sprayer? When I had a tiny decant many years ago, it didn’t express much juice, so 2-3 sprays from that gave performance like you’re reporting now.

Not saying it hasn’t been weakened, as I seem to recall people saying it only had good performance now as opposed to biohazard performance that it used to have.

 

[Deleted member 13385235]

Definitely. TF didn't reformulate but straight up diluted the Private Blend scents at some point.

It was most noticeable with Tobacco Vanille and Noir de Noir from what I remember when testing back then but it was done across the board on all the range.

The original 2007 releases were absolutely insane in terms of performance, beyond even Mancera level, as two sprays would leave palpable sillage and the projection was enough to tell the folks living next door when you were off on a night on the town as it boomed through the walls. Huge chunky thick scents, in extremis.

The current stuff is much more wearable but you need to go heavier on the trigger though so good business model for Mr Fordolium. Opens up nice and large for a an hour or so then dials back to arms length for another 5 hours then close to the skin for the rest. Contrast to the OG which just hammered away at the same volume all day then into the night.

 

[hednic]

My retail bottle of TV from 2014 gives me about 8-10 hours and is faint by the end.

I'd say that's good performance.

 

[Sabianman1]

I'd say that's good performance.

Agreed, if I get 8+ out of any of my bottles I consider that good performance.

 

[The_Cologneist]

You could - I guess the general rule of thumb is to try and avoid buying eBay splits/decants unless they're actively promoted by people 'in the know'. That's not to say that yours is fake or doctored or anything of the sort, but it gives some reassurance when you're buying from someone more 'accountable', such as the great people who carry out splits on a daily basis here on Basenotes.

I'd say, if you're enjoying the fragrance, it might just be worth your money, 'watered down' or not?

I did initially inquire to the lowest prices US based splitter for Tobacco Vanille, and he said he was sold out. The next lowest price was already $50 more, so I just went to Ebay, and found someone with 100% feedback, after thousands of transactions. The problem with ebay feedback, is a lot of times the people leaving it know nothing about what's real and what's fake. As I have dealt with people with 100% feedback before who sell fakes, or tampered with stuff..

 

[The_Cologneist]

Thank you for all the feedback. So it looks to be on par with what's current. More diluted than it once was, probably, as it gained popularity. It's not so much that it lasts "only" 10 hours, 10 hours is awesome, no doubt. When you're talking about a fragrance that use to last twice as long, you've come to expect such. This has been on my wish list for years, and I never pulled the trigger, and when I finally did, it's not as special as it used to be. Guess next time, I won't wait as long to buy something, to avoid this type of situation. I was hoping that 50 ml of this would last me 10 years or more, but it looks like it'll be half that now.

I'm not complaining though, it's still great, it's just not what it was. Reformulations seem to be a popular occurrence on here. I used to think people were just being paranoid, or that their olfactory senses have become so accustomed to "x" fragrance that they experience olfactory fatigue.

I still haven't heard back from the seller on the batch code.

 

[Bigsly]

I have the earliest formulation, I believe. Then, a few years ago I bought another bottle at a major discount, but it seemed weaker and a little different, so I swapped that one off. I can use half a spray from my "vintage" bottle and it's good for the entire day.

 

[The_Cologneist]

I have the earliest formulation, I believe. Then, a few years ago I bought another bottle at a major discount, but it seemed weaker and a little different, so I swapped that one off. I can use half a spray from my "vintage" bottle and it's good for the entire day.

Ya, that's how I remember it too. It was more vanilla eccentric too, and now it's more tobacco heavy, and more spicy I think. I could do one spray and it would last literally 24 hours, and with this one, I'm gonna have to use at least 3 sprays, I'm guessing.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

Yes the concentration has been watered down considerably. If you are considering TV I recommend only getting earlier batches. The recent bottles from the last several years aren't worth purchasing.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

Definitely. TF didn't reformulate but straight up diluted the Private Blend scents at some point.

It was most noticeable with Tobacco Vanille and Noir de Noir from what I remember when testing back then but it was done across the board on all the range.

The original 2007 releases were absolutely insane in terms of performance, beyond even Mancera level, as two sprays would leave palpable sillage and the projection was enough to tell the folks living next door when you were off on a night on the town as it boomed through the walls. Huge chunky thick scents, in extremis.

The current stuff is much more wearable but you need to go heavier on the trigger though so good business model for Mr Fordolium. Opens up nice and large for a an hour or so then dials back to arms length for another 5 hours then close to the skin for the rest. Contrast to the OG which just hammered away at the same volume all day then into the night.

All of the remaining original releases from back in 2007 have suffered through dilution and/or reformulations. IMO the newer bottles of the original releases are pales shadows to the older bottles. I recommend only purchasing earlier bottles for any of the original lineup.

 

[sjg3839]

Seems as though they were all diluted a bit. Sampled a few these past few months, and you can definitely notice the difference.

 

[Deleted member 13385235]

All of the remaining original releases from back in 2007 have suffered through dilution and/or reformulations. IMO the newer bottles of the original releases are pales shadows to the older bottles. I recommend only purchasing earlier bottles for any of the original lineup.

As stated TV and NdN were the one that I noticed take the largest hit, especially the latter which felt pale and anemic in comparison to the full bodied density it used to have and that was a darn shame as it was easily my pick of the original line up.

Its like the story of the young exec who came to work at a firm that sold window cleaning solutions and said "If I can double your profits in a quarter will you make me a member of the board in exchange?" to which they replied "Yes" so he changed the label from "Apply sparingly" to "Apply liberally" and they all laughed as the money rolled in. Same thing here.

 

[kelvon]

I have not noticed a huge difference if any at all but then again I don't really remember what the bottle from 2007 smelled liked compared to my 2018 bottle, only because it I finished it I think in 2012 though it was 50ml at the time. I recently bought a 2018 100ml bottle from Macy's and to me it smells just as good and lasts at least 10+ hours, though towards the end it does become much closer to skin which is fine by me. I never use more then 2 sprays, so this 100 ml bottle will last me at least another several years since can only really use in the winter

 

[bpl12]

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