Who'd have imagined that tobacco would work so well in perfumes? In the past 100 years we have seen a steady decline in the numbers of those who smoke, however in the early 1900's tobacco and tobacco products were the must-have accoutrements of the day! French perfumers Molinard created Habanita in 1925 to perfume rolled cigarettes with (it was only after the smell was adored by men and women alike, that it was eventually marketed as a perfume). Ever since, the bittersweet ambery odour that raw tobacco leaves create has been celebrated in perfumery the world over. In 2007, designer Tom Ford featured it front and center in his unisex Private Blend collection as the much-loved Tobacco Vanille.

Tobacco Vanille is a spiced oriental perfume which sits in both the masculine and feminine register. The union of these two major components (tobacco - being devoutly masculine - and vanilla - being resolutely feminine) was a worldwide hit! This perfume's flight consists of tobacco leaf and warm spices, and its nucleus, a cashmere soft mantle of tobacco flower, tonka bean, vanilla and cacao... these imbue a base of woods and dried fruits to make for a scent that is deliciously rich, warm, enveloping and comforting. Ford's genius ensured the composition did not get too saccharine, which added to its mass appeal.

Tobacco Vanille, now almost 10 years after it's launch, remains one of the top selling scents in Ford's collection. It is sophisticated, persistent and alluring. Whilst perhaps the most ideal fragrance for winter, Tobacco Vanille can be appreciated by all people at pretty much any time of the year.

A scent to cuddle up to.