Archived Post

Tom Ford Black Orchid & Velvet Orchid Lip Colors Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color ($60.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium-dark red-burgundy with subtle, cool undertones and fine ruby red pearl. It had semi-opaque coverage that went on fairly evenly, but the darker color pulled into lip lines and looked almost blackened in the lines as a result. The consistency had more slip than most of Tom Ford’s lip colors, which gave it a soft sheen, but it also made it move around more, so it might be more prone to feathering for some (it didn’t for me, but that’s not something that happens to me often!). The color lasted for five hours and left a slight stain behind, while the formula was very lightly moisturizing. MAC Media (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, less glossy (95% similar). MAC Power Driven (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). Urban Decay Shame (DC, $18.00) is darker (95% similar). Maybelline Midnight Merlot (DC, $7.49) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Black Dahlia (DC, $18.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Inigo (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Supreme Ruler (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Liev (LE, $36.00) is glossier (90% similar). Revlon Black Cherry (P, $8.49) is lighter (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Mahogany (601) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Liquorice (DC, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). NARS Ingrid (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Brazen (P, $32.00) is cooler (90% similar). MAC Jasper (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Lingering Kiss (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Runner (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Maybelline Smoking Red (DC, $7.49) is less shimmery, warmer, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Heroine Red (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Becca Merlot (DC, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Prim (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color ($60.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium, muted rosy plum with warm undertones and iridescent shimmer–a mix of teal, pink, and violet. It had good pigmentation, though not fully opaque, that applied easily with a lightly creamy consistency. The color wore well for five hours on me and was hydrating while worn. Tom Ford Beauty Elliot (P, $36.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Rebel (LE, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). Bite Beauty Mauve Marzipan (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Pat McGrath Flesh 7 (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Seadragon (06) (LE, $53.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Heavy Petting (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Send Nudes (300) (P, $26.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar). Dior Daisy Plum (976) (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Revlon Plum Baby (P, $8.49) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). NARS Combat (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Ciate Apollo (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Fenty Beauty Sci Fly (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, glossier (85% similar). Lancome Exotic Orchid (391) (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Maybelline Copper Rose (P, $7.49) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Revlon Plumalicious (P, $8.49) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). KVD Beauty Mercy (P, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). Chanel Dark Blossom (77) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Otranto (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). MAC Sweet Succulence (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Daniel (DC, $36.00) is warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Both shades are limited edition as far as I can tell (the press release refers to everything in the Orchid collection as limited), but they should be available at all retailers sooner rather than later. Black Orchid was released previously but was discontinued (I don’t think I have it from the initial launch to compare).

P.S. — As mine are press samples, they didn’t have retail boxes and, unfortunately, while traveling 3,000 miles, the caps came off, so the lipsticks were dinged up a bit! (That is not how Tom Ford ships when a customer orders!)

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Black Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lip Color

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
  • NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
  • NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
  • NARS Kaliste Velvet Liner
  • NARS Darklight Velvet Liner

68 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Katherine T. Avatar

Of course, I’m always drooling over colors like Black Orchid, but for $ 60, it needs to be perfect, but good thing there are dupes. But Velvet Orchid…I need more rosy plums and this is a hard color to dupe, so I’m thinking about getting it, but price is ouchie….Does it have any perfume scent?

Christine Avatar

Velvet Orchid’s iridescence made it hard to dupe, I think. So, I believe it’s vanilla-scented, but both of my lipsticks were uncapped and were in transit for about a week with the solid perfumes, which are very, very, very strong, so I get a little bit of a commingled version of Black and Velvet Orchid paired with strong vanilla with mine.

Agona Avatar

Maybe the price went up? I’d been eyeing TF eyeshadow quads in Nude Dip and Honeymoon for awhile and finally bit the bullet during Saks’ 10% sale to find the price increased from $80 to $82. -_-

Nancy T Avatar

These are both absolutely stunning on you! And your eye look is phenomenal, especially paired with Velvet Orchid!

But…at $60 a pop, I’ll be content with using my MAC Media up, as well as snagging UD Shame in the Vice formula for Black Orchid, and also getting MAC VG VI for Velvet Orchid. Both dupes were already on my wishlist anyway! ?

Eileen Avatar

I’ve seen a few other reviews of these. You’re paying for special packaging to go with the LE colors in the fall orchid collection.

Alice Avatar

I was hoping they would have reformulated Black Orchid, it’s such a pretty shade! I had it when it was part of the permanent range, and found the consistency unwearable, ended up returning it. I love Velvet Orchid, have been waiting to see swatches before ordering it. Thank you!

Diana Avatar

I really like Velvet Orchid, but I already have NYX Power…I think I will save $54 and stick with Power. Thanks for the swatches!

Any idea how OCC’s Strange and Unusual might compare? I’d think it would be more pink and cool-toned…

Pami Avatar

I have NYX Power too, it does have a similar vibe when you see the comparison swatches.
When I looked at Christine’s side by side of Velvet Orchid with OCC Strange & Unusual – which was already on my wish list, it made me want it even more! If I had unlimited spending power I’d get them both. What to do, what to do.

Diana Avatar

I have Power, and I just recently ordered Strange & Unusual…while I’d like Velvet Orchid, just kind of hard to justify the price when I can have the other two colors at a significantly cheaper price.

Lea Avatar

My Velvet Orchid and Black Bloom Nightbloom powder arrives today; still want the pink Nightbloom when that shows up at retailers.

Lea Avatar

So I got my delivery and Velvet Orchid is amazingly beautiful. I’m still unsure of how I feel about the gold powder, it needs a very light touch for me, but it does make an amazing inner corner highlight.

Lea Avatar

The powder is .28 oz. The small bronzer is .31, so that might help everyone. Apart from the casing being different, it’s also in a black (very snug) pouch. I tend to keep these, not sure why – but this one may change that if it doesn’t loosen.

The powder itself isn’t dry, but it’s not the same gel formula as Moodlight. It is very yellow in my opinion – a true gold. The shimmer is lovely; no glitter just even shimmer particles throughout. My hesitation is with the gold color itself; being very fair and cool, I tend to prefer more white/Pearl shimmers. I can pull off gold, I just don’t tend to favor it on me. I need to try this out more for sure.

Christine – do you want pictures? I’m happy to put some through later today.

Katherine T. Avatar

Lea, oooh, I’ve been eyeing the Tom Ford gold nightbloom powder. Is it very shimmery? Very yellow? I’ve only seen one swatch online, and it looked kind of dry and dull, not sure if it’s the lighting or if that’s really what it looks like, but very curious what your thoughts are.

Lea Avatar

Katherine

It’s is truly a beautiful powder and the payoff on color/shimmer is fantastic (see above reply to Christine). I think anyone who wants the super intense highlight will be immediately in love. If you try to be a little more subtle like me, then it’ll take some work to find the “right” light hand for you. If it fits in your budget and you like gold, then I’d say buy it. I plan on keeping mine, I just need to find out what works best and still try to get my hands on the pink version’

Katherine T. Avatar

Thanks for the info Lea! I hope you can find the pink one, it’s a pretty color. I love gold shimmer, so the gold one sounds very tempting. Sorry forgot to ask, but does it have fragrance? My face/cheeks can’t take any fragrance, and I can’t find an ingredients list anywhere. Thank you!

Nika99 Avatar

I really like Velvet Orchid but I knew when I saw it on their website it would swatch similar to Drake from Lips and Boys which I have.So I won’t be buying either of these I did buy the 2 beauty powders on preorder.$60.00 for a lipstick is kinda outrageous especially since it seems they increase their prices from one collection to the next in recent releases at least.

Bonnie Avatar

I took a chance and preordered Velvet Orchid, but it hasn’t arrived yet. I’m happy to see a positive review although for the price I wish it was an A+. Lol. The color looks very pretty. Love your eye look in those photos, Christine! Thank you for the review.

Jill Avatar

The Velvet Orchid is very pretty, but I am not sure I want to part with my money . I am underwhelmed by this small collection, and do not plan on indulging in it. I am not a fan of the 2 scents which inspire the collection.
BTW, I have ordered from the TF website several times and it is a bit of a pain because it is “sign for delivery” on even the smallest, least expensive of orders. Trying to intercept and have your order shipped directly to a Fed Ex office is a pain because it can be difficult to reach the TF service dept by phone OR email!!

Tatiana Avatar

I can easily live without Black Orchid but Velvet Orchid is calling out to me. The price is going to kill me though. $60 ouch!!

Veronica Avatar

I’m not a fan of frosts, but Velvet Orchid is incredibly beautiful. *sigh* I don’t think I’d wear it enough to justify the price tag, but it is pretty.

maria Avatar

I am not a fan of Black Orchid at all but I do like Velvet Orchid it is very pretty even though I usually don’t like shimmer in lipsticks. I love the vanilla scent.

M. Avatar

Oh! I’m glad you explained that they were a bit messed up from the shipping because they were press samples. To be honest, a big part of buying a luxury product for me is removing a perfect, gorgeous objet d’art from the box — I would be so disappointed if their retail products were damaged after purchasing.

Thanks for the reviews! I get so excited for Tom Ford reviews and swatches 🙂

As an owner of the Velvet Orchid fragrance, I totally pictured the color being super dark, cool-toned, and powdery matte! I actually love this mauve-y shade.

Trish Avatar

Velvet Orchid looks lovely on you Christine. I’m happy I chose to order it- the color is beautiful.
I always pre-order on TF website and I love how everything comes gift wrapped with gift tags and envelopes. I suppose for the price, it’s the least they can do.
I’m still annoyed they discontinued perfume samples…unless it had something to do with shipping restrictions. I moan & complain every time I order but they don’t hear me!
Those purple cases are so pretty though! Want more.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!