If I had to name all of my favorite things in the world, perfume and Taylor Swift would most definitely top the list—so imagine my delight when Tay revealed what fragrance brand she was wearing this week at the 2024 VMAs. Want a hint? It wasn't Wonderstruck.
In a behind-the-scenes video from the awards ceremony posted by @swifferupdates, Taylor was mingling with some fellow guests when drag queen Xunami Muse seemed to compliment Taylor's perfume (isn't that the best feeling?) and ask her what scent she had on while pretending to spray herself.
Her response? According to eagle-eyed lip-reading fans, Taylor appeared to say, "Oh thank you, it's Tom Ford!" Okay, flex! Later, Xunami took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that Taylor did, in fact, tell her she was wearing Tom Ford—and added that she "smelled so good."
If you're not an unhinged Swiftie like me, you might be surprised to learn that she's a ~lover~ of this particular luxury fragrance brand. But because Taylor fans are low-key detectives, it totally checks out with a long-running theory that Tom Ford's Santal Blush is her *alleged* signature scent.
How on earth did we know that? Great question! A bottle of it was spotted in a background shot of Taylor's home during the singer's 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana—gotta love how Swifties notice literally everything! Rumor has it, she also allegedly told fans during her Reputation-era secret sessions (RIP) that it's one of her go-to perfumes.
So, what exactly does Santal Blush (and possibly Taylor Swift) smell like? As the name implies, it's a soft, sandalwood-forward fragrance accented by cinnamon, ylang-ylang, and musk. I've smelled this perfume on many a trip to the Nordstrom beauty counter, and I would describe it as woody and earthy with a little bit of spice—perfect for the fall and winter months.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves! We never confirmed that Taylor was only wearing one Tom Ford perfume, and I think she's the type to layer a few different scents together for a custom blend.
Another rumored Taylor-approved perfume is Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille (thanks, Swiftie TikTok!), and IMO, its rich, warm blend of vanilla and smokey tobacco would pair perfectly with Santal Blush's drier, aromatic notes. Not to mention, it's also our editors' fav Tom ford scent! Given her (again, alleged!) penchant for woody scents, I could also see Taylor being into Oud Wood or Myrrhe Mystere for her layering combo.
TS + TF might be a fragrance match made in heaven—but if you're not willing to drop nearly $200 to maybe smell just like Taylor, don't fret. I've also hunted down a few scents that will give you that Tom Ford Santal Blush vibe, minus the hefty price tag.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum
Le Monde Gourmand Santal Supreme Eau de Parfum
Tom Ford Oud Wood Eau de Parfum
Tom Ford Myrrhe Mystere Eau de Parfum
Nemat International Sandalwood Perfume Oil Roll-On
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she writes for publications like Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Country Living, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of professional experience covering a variety of lifestyle topics from home to fashion, with an advanced background in beauty and fragrance. When she’s not researching the most worthy Prime Day deals or hands-on testing all the latest perfume launches, Lauren is probably hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater.
You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
