Commodity Velvet+ | Fragrance Review

I'm going for a deepish dice on this 2021 release, Commodity Velvet+. It's bolder, its ballsier its more 'I'm gunna grab your ears and kiss you quick' than the original and the minus version of Velvet.

Bottle and packaging

The bottle comes vacuum packed in a black box with modest/nuanced branding. I do dig a brand that goes lower case, there's no need to shout TOM FORD!!! The bottle itself is black, like Loch Ness. It's an eerie black, which I won't go too far into as we are in danger of dipping into Spinal Tap territory. Instead lets look at the note breakdown.

Top notes are Rose Petals, Black Amber and Almond.

Middle note is Musk

Base notes are Patchouli, Labdanum and Amber.

First impressions 

I wanted to slide into this fragrance as if I was entering a hot tub full of warm baked beans wearing a diving suit. Sounds yuk? We all have our preferences. It did not disappoint on the smoothness scale. It has velvet in the title and this was a smooth entry. There was some rose to start. I was immediately seduced, and felt like pouring some Southern Comfort down my throat, putting on my silk pyjamas and calling my Aunt to wish her happy birthday as I knew it would probably be her last. 

There was some mystery that developed with the Black Amber, which is also a great name for a Senegalese stripper. Park that for now/ The almonds remind me of waiting in line at the National History Museum whilst the wafts of roasted nuts willowed in from the street vendors close by. 

The Dry Down 

It has a smokey quality, but less camp fire more house fire. There are some shades of Black Cashmere by Donna Karan and is not in the same postcode as TOM FORD Vanilla Tobacco, but maybe its a town that's twinned. It gets sexier as the day goes on, and packs a big throbbing punch a few hours in. It's a bit aggressive on the labdanum, the musk tries to dampen that down but I can't help thinking, 'why bother'. As my Granddaddy always told me, labdanum is going to do what labdanum is going to do.' He may have been drunk at the time. 

Where to wear? 

I got some great performance from Commodity Velvet+. It hung around for about 6-7 hours and I would want to wear this out to an event where I go black tie, knowing I'l be the only guy in black tie. 

If this scent was a.. 

If Commodity Velvet+ was a movie poster, it would be The Graduate. The leg foreshadowing all the devilish things you're about to get into trouble for. Dustin Hoffman by the way 30 years old, playing a graduate. 

Available at

Commodity Online, £120 for 100ml.