Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino is known as an incredibly nice summer fragrance, perfect for both men and women. However, it is rather expensive, making it less accessible to the general public. Luckily, there are clones of this fragrance that mimic the scent, but what are the best Tom Ford Neroli Portofino clones?
The Scent Of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino first hit the markets in 2007 as part of the exclusive Tom Ford Private Blend Collection. The Tom Ford Private Blend Collection is where Tom Ford can let his creativity flow. In his words:
“Private Blend is my own scent laboratory; it’s where i have the ability to create very special, original fragrances that are unconstrained by the conventions of mainstream scent-making. Private Blend is designed with the true fragrance connoisseur in mind.” —Tom Ford
In order to best understand the scent of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, I’ll first share the notes. The top notes are lavender, myrtle, bitter orange, lemon, rosemary, mandarin, and bergamot. The middle notes are neroli, pittosporum, jasmine, and African orange flower. The base notes are angelica, ambrette, and amber.
When you first spray this fragrance, you’re immediately greeted by a fresh scent of citruses, supported by a few subtle herbal notes. This creates an incredibly nice scent that will continue on for a while. After the opening, a nice dose of white floral notes starts to appear, giving the fragrance a fresh and almost soapy feel. Along the white florals is the note of neroli, giving off that soapy, fresh, and citrusy scent. When this fragrance starts to dry down, it becomes a little warmer due to the addition of the note of amber.
A fresh and vibrant scent like this is perfect for the warmer months. This fragrance will never be out of place during the spring or summer, as it can be worn both casually and formally. The fresh and clean scent makes it great for the office and the sparkling, vibrant effect that it has makes it great for a casual setting. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
What Are Fragrance Clones
Popular and great-smelling fragrances like Tom Ford Neroli Portofino are in high demand. Many people want to own them, but there is one thing holding them back. These popular niche fragrances are quite expensive, often to the point that you can no longer justify the purchase.
This is where fragrance clones come in. Most of the popular fragrances have been ‘cloned’. This means that there are other fragrances that smell very similar to them, often for a much more affordable price. This lower price makes the fragrance much more obtainable and even serves you with a similar or almost exactly the same scent.
Purchasing a fragrance clone is a great way to try out a certain scent. Most clones will give you a general feel of what the original would smell like, but it should be noted that it will never be the exact same. There will always be a difference. A clone is actually more of an alternative than an actual replacement. Below are some of the best clones for Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, in no particular order!
1. Maurer & Wirtz 4711 Original Eau De Cologne
Scent: Maurer & Wirtz 4711 Orginal Eau De Cologne is a great fragrance with a fresh and clean scent. This fragrance opens with a fresh scent of citruses, supported by some floral and herbal notes. This creates a similar soapiness to that of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. From here on, a soft hint of woods can be detected, however, the fragrance doesn’t really change too much anymore. Overall, you get a great fragrance with an incredibly fresh scent.
Notes: The top notes of Maurer & Wirtz 4711 Orginal Eau De Cologne are lemon, bergamot, basil, peach, and orange oil. The middle notes are Bulgarian rose, jasmine, melon, lily, and cyclamen. The base notes are oakmoss, sandalwood, musk, cedar, vetiver, and patchouli.
Similarities: Maurer & Wirtz 4711 Orginal Eau De Cologne is very similar to Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, especially in the opening. The opening of both fragrances consists of citruses and florals, however, where Tom Ford Neroli Portofino takes a warmer turn, this fragrance stays relatively linear throughout. Besides the warmer dry down missing, this fragrance is also pretty weak with poor performance. Luckily, the price of this fragrance makes up for that, as you can reapply multiple times throughout the day and it would still cost you less than a few sprays of the original Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
2. Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia
Scent: Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia is a fantastic fragrance with a fresh and aromatic scent. This fragrance opens with a bright scent of citruses, supported by an aquatic undertone. A little while after the opening, some floral notes make themselves known, one of them being lavender. The lavender is responsible for the aromatic scent, giving the fragrance a clean vibe. In the dry down, a nice hint of ambroxan is added, leaving you with a slightly warmer, cleaner version of the fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia are bergamot and watery notes. The middle notes are orange blossom, lavender, and clary sage. The base notes are vetiver, tonka bean, and ambroxan.
Similarities: Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia is a fantastic fragrance that has a very similar vibe to Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. This fragrance has a similar fresh opening but slightly changes afterward. Where Tom Ford Neroli Portofino has a fresh hint of herbal notes present, this fragrance has an aromatic touch of lavender. The dry down is also a bit different, as the note of ambroxan gives off a slightly different scent than that of amber. Still, though, the two are very similar and most certainly have the same uses, only this one is a lot cheaper. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
3. Ferrari Bright Neroli
Scent: Ferrari Bright Neroli is a fantastic fragrance with a fresh scent of citruses and white florals. This fragrance opens with a bright scent of citruses, supported by a few spices. This gives off a clean and shower gel-like scent that’s very similar to that of Neroli Portofino. Quickly after the opening, a fresh scent of neroli and other white florals starts to appear, adding to the freshness and cleanness. In the base, this fragrance becomes a bit warmer and there’s even a subtle earthy undertone present.
Notes: The top notes of Ferrari Bright Neroli are bitter orange, lemon, and citron. The middle notes are rosemary, Sichuan pepper, neroli, and orange blossom. The base notes are amber, patchouli, and vetiver.
Similarities: Ferrari Bright Neroli is a fantastic representation of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. The opening of the two is very similar, however, Ferrari Bright Neroli has more of a lemon/orange focus. This evens out after a while, though, leaving you with a very similar scent to that of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. This, in turn, makes it work great in the exact same situations that Tom Ford Neroli Portofino would work great in, only for a much cheaper price. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
A Way To Get The Actual Tom Ford Neroli Portofino For A Little Cheaper
Fragrance clones are a great way to try out a certain type of scent. However, they will never be the same as the original. A clone also won’t really provide you with that prestigious feeling that you would get with such a luxury purchase.
Luckily, there is a way to get your hands on the original fragrance for a little cheaper. The way to do this is to purchase a fragrance decant. A decant is basically a smaller bottle, usually 5ml or 10ml, but can be much larger, filled up with the original fragrance. This way, you purchase a smaller amount, so you pay less, but you still get the actual fragrance itself.
This allows you to get your hands on the actual Tom Ford Neroli Portofino without having to buy a full bottle. If you’d like to learn more about fragrance decants, where to purchase them, and how they’ll save you money, you can read this article I wrote over here!
Overall, Tom Ford Neroli Portofino is a fantastic fragrance. In my opinion, owning the real deal is definitely worth it, but that might be different for you. If that is the case, there are many great options out there for you to still experience the scent!