This article is part of our series?Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
Vanilla fragrances have been popular this year across perfumes and colognes. Two top choices for men are from Tom Ford and Axe, each with its own spin on the gourmand scent.
Tom Ford has an expensive taste when it comes to luxury. Its Tobacco Vanille is $75 for the travel spray alone and $195 for a small bottle, a price most of us who want to feel and smell like luxury cannot afford. Then, there’s Black Vanilla Body Spray from Axe, the brand which every guy in high school used in the locker room to overpower their sweat from gym class. A part of the Fine Fragrance Collection, the Black Vanilla spray launched with Axe sharing that 74% of 220 men preferred its body spray over Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille in a blind scent test.
To find out if the deodorant brand truly trumped the luxury player, I tested both side-by-side.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille vs. Axe Black Vanilla Body Spray at a glance
The Black Vanilla body spray has notes of orange, sandalwood and vanilla, of course. Made to neutralize body odor and leave you smelling great, this aluminum-free deodorant lasts up to 72 hours.?
This rich fragrance features notes of tonka bean, vanilla, cocoa and woody sap that gives a sweet and spicy scent.?
Quick comparison
| Size(s) | 4 ounces |
0.3 ounces, 1 ounce, 1.7 ounces and 3.4 ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrance type | Body spray |
Eau de parfum |
| Key notes | Vanilla, orange, sandalwood |
Tobacco leaf, vanilla, ginger |
| Wear time | Days |
Hours |
| Sillage (scent trail) | Moderate |
Moderate |
| Price | $8 | From $75 |
Axe’s body spray was more popular in my own blind scent test
I experimented by spraying Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille on my left arm and Axe’s Black Vanilla body spray on my right arm and asked people in my apartment building for their first impressions. Most residents praised Axe’s rich and sophisticated scent, while only a few liked Tom Ford, even though many people I asked indicated that they have expensive taste.
Both are true to their key fragrance notes, with a hint of vanilla
Tobacco Vanille has a masculine aroma and comprises notes of tobacco, vanilla, creamy tonka bean, cocoa, dry fruit accords and sweet wood sap. Once I sprayed it on my wrist, it was clear it had more of a tobacco smell. I waited to see if it still smelled like tobacco, and it slowly started to smell a little bit of vanilla as the cologne dried down on my skin, making it warm and cozy. There were moments when, while wearing this on my commute to the city, I had men compliment and ask me what fragrance I was wearing.
As time went on, though, the tobacco overpowered most of the notes. By the end of the day, it left a tobacco and ginger scent on my body.
When I apply the Axe Black Vanilla body spray on my clothes, it lingers in the room. Black Vanilla gives a hit of orange essential oils with a dash of vanilla, but balances for a perfect combination. The scent was long-lasting but not overpowering enough to close my eyes, which can happen with fragrance sensitivity.
Tom Ford’s fragrance lasts all day — but Axe’s lasts even longer
I tried out the two scents while attending events in New York City. I wore Tobacco Vanille on a day that ended with a special dinner with celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. While I was sitting down and chatting with another attendee, I could smell the fragrance on me.
On the second day of running around for back-to-back events, I sprayed the body spray (which I also put in my bag to travel with) all over my body. Since it’s summer, the body spray features zinc zap technology that fights off body odor and keeps my body smelling fresh all day. Even after a few days, the scent was still on my clothes.
Bottom line
While the price range varies between the two, vanilla slowly creeps in as the fragrances dry. The vanilla notes make them sophisticated and classy with a cozy vibe. If you’re looking for a luxury experience for a special occasion, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille adds warm and spicy notes that’ll make you feel expensive. The tobacco adds a sophistication that you don’t get from Axe’s Black Vanilla, but the smoky scent isn’t for everyone. Axe’s Black Vanilla is a superior budget-friendly pick that’ll keep you smelling great through summer days.
