| Lifestyle | Wine and Dine with Tom Ford...

On Thursday, March 31st I was able to participate in an incredible event hosted by my local Neiman Marcus Tom Ford team and Baja Wine and Food. These Tom Ford beauty events are often quite rare so if your local counter ever host one, you MUST take advantage of it. To participate in this event you must pay $50.00 USD, which is redeemable in product. Let me tell you, this event was worth more than $50.00!


This event was a one-of-a-kind experience, that combined a fine dining experience with and educational lesson on the most luxurious fragrances in the world. The event was hosted in a small intimate space that felt luxurious and exclusive.

Upon entering the event, I was handed a glass of champagne, which set the tone for my luxurious night. The long tables were elegantly set with six wine glasses for each setting and six large fragrance decanters spread across the long tables. Each seat had a little gift bag full of fragrance samples.

Baja Wine and Food is a winery located in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. They are a producer of a large variety of wines but also, have their own chefs on location which create food pairing for their wine! Baja Wine not only brought in their wine specialist but also one of their chefs to create delicious bites to pair with the wine. This wine and tasting pairing alone was worth the experience. It was only made even better by incorporating the luxurious fragrances of Tom Ford.

With each fragrance, a tasting of wine is poured and a fragrance slip is given to each person. The fragrance specialist describes the fragrance and educates the audience on the creation of the fragrance. Then the wine specialist describes the wine he chose to pair with the fragrance and the reason why they are paired together.

The first pairing was for Neroli Portofino, one of the most popular fragrances from the Tom Ford Private Blend line, This fragrance is inspired by one of  Mr. Ford's favorite places to visit, Portofino, Italy, This scent is intended to be a transportive fragrance, a very fresh and clean scent with a strong citrus notes. Best described by the Neiman Marcus website:

This modern intercontinental version of an iconic fragrance theme perfectly captures the cool breezes, sparkling clear water and lush foliage of the Italian Riviera. Crisp citrus oils and surprising floral notes, balanced with amber undertones, awaken the senses and leave a splashy, yet substantive impression.

With each fragrance, a tasting of wine is poured and a fragrance slip is given to each person.
wine, a 2014 Monte Xanic Chenin Colombard, was poured into glasses. The wine as a fresh and clean summery floral wine, with just a hint of sweetness, which pairs perfectly with the clean citrus notes of the fragrance. The little bite paired with the wine was a fresh raw oyster with Baja uni and a citrus meringue. The combination of the food, wine, and fragrance truly transported me to the shores of Portofino.


The second pairing was for Venetian Bergamot, the fragrance inspired by the ornate and opulent environment in Venice. Best described by the Nieman Marcus website:

Private Blend Venetian Bergamot is Tom Ford's singular interpretation of the ingredient known as the "Prince of Citrus." With Venetian Bergamot, the sun-drenched citrus from Italy's south is transported to the northern city of Grand Palazzos, remarkable canals and the famous confluence of trade in rich florals, precious woods and warm spices. Bergamot's fresh elegance is underscored and intermingled with the intriguing sensuality of Venice. 

This fragrance was paired with a bright and refreshing 2014 Sauvignion Blanc with floral and citrus notes. The subtle citrus notes paired beautifully with the strong and spicy citrus of the Venetian Bergamot. The tasty bite included with this pairing was a fresh raw yellowtail with a light citrus soy sauce and a little mango puff dessert. This slightly sweet and fresh bite contrasted with the heavy notes of the fragrance yet brought out the fresh citrus notes of the fragrance.


The third pairing was for my personal favorite fragrance, Soleil Blanc, inspired by remote private islands and eternal summer vacation escapes. The coco de mer, a very rare coconut, only found on a remote island is harvested and used in this fragrance. Soleil Blanc also contains notes from cardamon and pistachio. Best described by the Neiman Marcus website:

Remote private islands where summer lasts all year and one day seamlessly blends into the next inspire Soleil Blanc, an addictive solar floral amber alive with seductive refinement and refreshing decadence. TOM FORD's latest private blend creation unapologetically exudes the endless pursuit of sun and luxury that defines TOM FORD Soleil.

This tropical fragrance was paired with a 2013 Torres Alegre la Llave Bianca, aged for 12 months in a French oak barrel, was the best wine and fragrance pairing of the night! The complex and subtly sweet orange citrus wine had some very nutty notes that paired perfectly with the Soleil Blanc. This wine pairing was by far the best and I adored the complexity of wine! The bite paired with this combination was a corn empanada filled with cheese and mushrooms (a corn fungus) topped with a fresh and spicy salsa. For the little dessert bite, a  soft and sweet gluten-free fruit tart. The tasty treat paired so well with the wine and fragrance, I thought I was on the most luxurious island vacation!


The fourth paring was for Tobacco Vanille, a very classic Tom Ford fragrance, inspired by London's exclusive members-only men's lounges and their luxurious environment with men smoking cigars and sipping on cognac or brandy. This fragrance contains notes of tobacco leaf, Madagascar vanilla, dried fruit and a spicy floral. Although this sounds like a very masculine scent, all of Tom Ford's fragrances are unisex and they smell different on everyone. This scent is best described by the Nieman Marcus website:

A modern take on an old world men's club. A smooth oriental, Tobacco Vanille opens immediately with opulent essences of tobacco leaf and aromatic spice notes. The heart unfolds with creamy tonka bean, tobacco flower, vanilla and cocoa, and finishes with a dry fruit accord, enriched with sweet wood sap.

This fragrance was paired with a 2013 Adobe Guadalupe Miguel with notes of tobacco and vanilla from the barrel aging process. Also notes of toasted wood, fruits, and spices with a vanilla aftertaste. This wine was paired with a rabbit pate on a thin crisp and a olive goat cheese ball. The richness of the pate and the goat cheese pair well with the fruit and acidity of the wine. This tasting is so rich and luxurious it emulates the feeling you get when you smell the spicy Tobacco Vanille fragrance.


The fifth pairing was for Champaca Absolute, inspired by the silk trade route and the trading of rare and unusual goods. Champaca is a very rare and unusual flower that takes 1,000 blooms in order to create on bottle of Champaca Absolute! The fragrance is a very intense and complex and rich floral fragrance. Best described by Sephora's website:

The rare and expensive champaca blossom must be gathered by the thousands to produce a single bottle of fragrance. This floral oriental composition has a precious, white-flower heart given intriguing dimension through layers of tokajii wine, cognac, vanilla bean, amber, and sandalwood. 

This fragrance was paired with a 2012 Paoloni Nebbiolo, this wine varies in flavors and notes every year. This year, the full-bodied wine contains strong floral notes of violet and roses with a peppery bold flavor. The peppery floral wine compliments this rich floral fragrance and its warm notes of amber and vanilla. This pairing came with a corn cup with slow roasted pork and a black bean puree, The little dessert was a chocolate truffle rolled in vanilla and cocoa powder. The peppery flavors of the tasting dish paired so well with the wine and the fragrance. The sweet chocolate truffle mimicked the sweet and rich notes of the fragrance.


The final pairing was for Tom Ford's most intense fragrance, Oud Wood. This fragrance is inspired by Tom Ford's travels to the Middle East, where he went to a temple burning oud wood as an incense to reconnect the mind, body, and spirit. This very rare ingredient is the star of this earthy fragrance and is blended with many other intense ingredients, like rosewood and vetiver. This fragrance is best described by the Neiman Marcus website:

Rare. Exotic. Distinctive. One of the most rare, precious, and expensive ingredients in a perfumer's arsenal, oud wood is often burned in incense-filled temples. Exotic rosewood and cardamom give way to a smoky blend of rare oud wood, sandalwood, and vetiver. Tonka bean and amber add warmth and sensuality.

This fragrance was paired with a 2013 Finca la Carrodilla Shiraz, a wine created by a very  innovative and holistic method. This is a very bold and exotic and full-bodied wine, containing strong wood notes from its barrel aging. The woody notes of the wine mimic the strong wood notes of the fragrance. This pairing included a delicious lamb ceviche on a toasted plantain and a decadent gold leaf coated chocolate with a berry filling. The earthy flavors of the lamb ceviche complimented the earthy notes of the wine and fragrance. The decadent and luxurious gold coated chocolate was the perfect sweet finish to the evening.

Overall, I had an incredible experience at this Tom Ford Fragrance event! I was able taste some incredible wine and food and of course, the best part was learning about each of the exotic fragrances. After learning more about the rare ingredients that go into each fragrance, I now understand why the Tom Ford fragrances have such a high ticket price. They truly are the most luxurious fragrances on the market. I now have a long wish list of fragrances to add to my collection, if only I could have them all! If your local Tom Ford counter ever host an event, you MUST go! This event could have only been made better, if Tom Ford himself was there himself (Hey, a girl can dream...)!

Comment below and let me know about your favorite Tom Ford Fragrances or any one of your favorite fragrances! I'm always looking for a new fragrance to add to my collection.

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