To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Sailiateway – :
Most scents to me evoke an image of a something, or a situation, maybe even a memory. Not Bois de Paradise. This does something else with my perception. More than any other perfume I have smelled, Bois de Paradise make me feel like a certain kind of person. A free-spirited young woman, living close to – and completely in sync with – nature. In a simple white flowy dress she flutters through the meadow of a paradisiacal forest. Not through the forest itself, as BdP is not the smell of just the ‘bois’; it has a much more ‘open’ feeling than a forest.
BdP is woody, and I do get the blackberries, rose and fig, but I don’t smell the notes as themselves. This is blended so beautifully that I see the legacy of the different notes, but none of them on their own. The wonderful effect of it is, that this is the only rose that has ever really worked for me. A little extra for me: my old bottle is somewhat leaky, and I don’t mind at all, because there is always a bit of oily residue sticking to the nozzle, which is magical when applied on it’s own. Not listed anywhere, but to me the oily bit smells like tuberose.
This is not a perfume that wowed me per se, it didn’t sweep me off my feet and spectacular is also not the right word. But more than anything I own, this has gotten under my skin with it’s natural and honest beauty.
One more thing, I understand how some might find this heavy, but for an oriental lover like myself, this is actually something that I’d wear when looking for something lighter than my regular orientals. Also, I feel like I have to mention Sebastiane’s Black Magic somewhere, as that felt like an intens version of BdP, although it’s note pyramid is quite different. And BdP is definitely just … more beautiful <3
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx – :
A scent as beautiful as this one that makes me ponder questions like, “Do trees have souls?”
This fragrance is very very woodsy on me, which I love, but also equal parts sweet berries and warm fig. It smells very fresh and alive; like a tree with a soul.
Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment (bodhi) while meditating underneath a Ficus religiosa. This tree also known as peepal tree, the sacred fig, an Aswattha tree. Perhaps that is what the perfumer was pondering when creating this fragrance? Perhaps it was the Garden of Eden? Whatever the inspiration was, this fragrance has lives up to it’s name.
удусекф – :
Grown up fruity floral. I have to say, I was kind of disappointed as I do like the other fragrances I’ve tried from this house. And it’s not just because it’s a fruity floral, a genre I generally dislike. It starts off pretty harsh in the opening and quickly dries down to a nice but fairly pedestrian fruity rose. Well done for the genre – certainly it’s more suitable for adult humans than most of the stuff out there – but nothing special. Safely sweet.
kroha71 – :
تخيل دخولك لمحل عطار بالحنا بالعود بالبخور بماء الورد والزهر والتوابل وخلطات المفارش المتنوعه
merkii – :
This scent is a masterpiece.
Juicy fig and berries blended with rose and spices, it smells rich and purple. I smell a lot of dry wood behind that and a faint smell of incense.
This stuff is strong! One spray is enough and its long lasting too.
If you enjoy woody-orientals you must try this.
Its like drinking red wine by the fire place in your log cabin.
carpinteyroldr – :
This is one of the best perfumes I’ve ever had the good luck of smelling and owning. The blackberry and spice-tinged woods are the prominent notes to me, and they are expertly blended together where the sweetness of the blackberry and the dryness of the woods manage to keep each other in check — so the scent is neither too sweet nor too dry. The high quality ingredients and the skill in blending this complex scent is so evident. But what I love most about Bois de Paradis is the feeling it invokes — sitting inside in a warm house on a crisp autumn afternoon, gazing out at the leaves turning color on the trees.
bloodmani1 – :
Oh my goodness! This is an incredibly gorgeous, unique, powerful, amazing, interesting, mysterious, delicious, treasure-hunt, Aladdin’s Cave, surprise package, awesome perfume!!! Sweet, resiny, jammy, rosy, fruity, incensey, WOODSY, piney, fresh and deep, spicy fig!!! The woods are so rich and fulfilling. It’s glorious. I adore it with all my heart, I do I do I do!!!
And I just love the beautiful, moving review by evesoho – brought a tear or two!! Lovely. So many beautiful reviews here. They all tell of the amazing depths of this fabulous gem. Everything about it is sensational. It’s wonderful. It’s thrilling. I’m soooo glad I’ve found it, and I never want to let it go!!!
stavrbest – :
The first time I smelled this, I cringed and turned away. I was unprepared and was recovering from a cold. It was too much like my father’s worst cologne in childhood.
I put it aside and didn’t even think of it. The second time was blind a month later. I blindly reached in my sample box and picked one. When I sprayed it was a bit strong, but when the initial tart fineness and wood calmed down I got the other notes. They evolved on my skin in to a lovely, sophisticated complexity that feels like a cozy sweater on my skin. I go about my day and every once in a while I catch a whiff of the citrus, then a hint of rose and amber. Even in the heat of a 95 degree day this has become something wonderful on me. I will need to try another sample in the colder months and then probably a full bottle. I love it that much!
tathi07 – :
Bois De Paradise
What a lovely surprise, it is a distinctive, beautiful fragrance. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did!
The opening is a tart and sweet berry scent. I get something fresh but I don’t think it is citrus as the fruit notes intensifies on my skin, I like to think of purple juniper berries, bitter, slightly pinelike. The fruit note is sweet, rich, gorgeous like a basket full of forest fruits, blackberries, blueberries/bilberries with the tangy parts of the branches. As the fragrance develops, I get soft rose, incense, spices, the fruit is bold, still persists on my skin as woods makes its entrance. The fruit then subdues for the woods notes. Depth and warmth is provided by wood notes.
Additional warmth is provided by the resinous amber, so soothing, it is not so heavy but helps to balance the woods and fruity notes.
Bois de Paradise lasted on my skin all day and sillage is soft.
alex-krash – :
I would love to experience the magic everyone else has expressed. Smells like egg on my skin. People mention cypress and evergreens although they are not in the notes. I am beginning to think they are horrible on me, sometimes smelling even like fish.
But wait lurking under the egg is a hint of rose. Once the majority of egg burns off I am left with nothing but the lightest trace of wood and then the egg re-emerges. Hmm, not for me.
Asgrim – :
Spiced fruits, bordering on jammy with some woods adding some depth. Nice but can’t decide if I love it.
excimer.09 – :
This may be controversial…
This fragrance opened up with a lovely citrusy, woodsy scent and I thought, “Oh, I am going to love this!” But shortly afterward, a slight shellac-type note appeared and ruined everything. I waited to see if the shellac would fade, but it didn’t.
I wondered if it was just my nose, but my DH vetoed this perfume as well. *sigh*
tyshkan – :
I love this fragrance so much, but it’s one I have to be in the mood for! I plan to wear it, I don’t just throw it on whenever.
The opening of Bois de Paradis is a spicy berry & rose, there’s a hint of incense in the composition, but it never takes center stage. This phase of the fragrance is my favorite! It’s so luxurious and unique, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever experienced a fragrance with the same feel to it.
Once the drydown begins, hang onto your hat, because it’s allllllll woods, alllllll the time, until the fragrance fades away. The spices, resins, and rose are still there – just faintly. Really, this is one to wear when you’re in the mood for WOODS!
Delightful, woody, and exotic.
tomcat129 – :
A lovely light resin with all other notes blended so perfectly they aren’t discernable on my skin. In larger concentration, the resin has a faint background of spiced fruit and delicate florals. This one is lovely no matter how you wear it.
and415156 – :
Sweet, resinous woody. Feels like I should be wearing a luxurious fur, complete with beads and a long cigarette with holder….yes, I am thinking the Flapper era. Very elegant and alluring scent, worn by someone who has a playful side when no one’s looking. I guess this could also be unisex as this scent doesn’t lean to much on the floral side. Resinous, woody dry down. Perfect for cool or not too hot weather. Can project if sprayed liberally, otherwise drydown stays within your personal space.
fgo285speagoessenda – :
I think a joke is being played on me. Is this a perfume or room spray or meant for men?
Different for sure but on a woman…what?
It smells like a pine forest with bitter medicine or strong mens cologne mixed in, it is not an appealing scent for me. No femininity whatsoever!!
I’ve tried to let it grow on me but I feel like I’m gonna sprout pine cones! Sort of nauseating really.
I think only a man could pull this off. I’m not sure how some of the lady reviewers here are – to each her own though. If you like manly scents this could be for you.
I live in the mountains and love the woody smell, but this is not quite it (not that its meant to be, just sayin’). I smell no rose or sweetness which I thought I would, and where’s the fruit? This is not one I’d put in the “perfume” category.
It’s almost like a musky, burning, wood smell or a musty old cabin. I suspect that’s the balsamic aspect taking over and it’s not one of my favorite smells to begin with, so for now it is my bathroom spray to cover “odors” if you know what I mean.
Darn I really wanted to like this one, however I think all fragrances are worth a try so be safe and get a sample first. ;}
лёня 16 – :
You know, I have always liked to wear scents that aren’t always mainstream. A little edgy, a little off – causing perhaps a double take. I like florals but I also like to experiment with other scents. I feel that way about Parfums Delrae. They are true creations that change throughout the day. Its so much fun to wear such perfumes. They’re anything but boring. Bois de Pardis is so exotic and heady. It tells a story and I enjoy every bit of the telling.
moro-35-rus – :
The compelling, awkward result of this equation: -(Fille en Aiguilles + Nuit Etoilee EdP)x0.1(Bois d’Ombrie). BdP has Fille’s tart honey, woodsiness, a clear coniferous element, and unsweetened Lutensian fruit compote (more so than jam, imo). And BdP has Nuit’s clever use of herbal mint over a lusher composition, something that shouldn’t mesh well but is blended perfectly in Nuit, and interestingly in BdP. There is a hint of dustiness, plus an alliance with another “Bois de” fragrance, in this equation the Bois d’Ombrie. The minus sign indicates that BdP’s play runs, intriguingly, in reverse. I smell the Nuit-y topmost mint most clearly in BdP after a shower! BdP opens rounded, a competently woven fabric, and narrows into a rather sloppy braid that is well worth a sniff, certainly for any fan of any of the fragrances named. It’s a bit odd, and that might be the reason you’ll love it.
Missing_Link – :
Berrylicious, woody, ambery goodness with a playful touch of spice- YUM. Just received this in a swap and I am adoring this jammy goodness. I tried this out last night as I was watching Christmas movies… It’s a perfect, cozy scent for the wintertime 🙂
vit499 – :
Merciful Jesus! Michel Roudnitska might just be a piece of the shadow of paradise to create this exceptionality. Still had not stopped to try and re-experience this glorious portion of tenderness and be permeated by its charms serene measured in figs and other ingredients more. It is a perfume with no date set, but it is believed that he was cast in 2002, the same year that came to the market with an intriguing YSL M7, the libidinous Dior Addict Dior and Chanel Chance mavioso, and in this same context the PT assumes the presidency in Brazil promising worlds and backgrounds, the grade of R $ 20.00 also debuts and Timor-Leste reaches its long awaited independence. Are milestones and compromising with the reality of its creators as the proposal elaborated by Michel Roudnitska intrinsic to his work called Bois de Paradis. Its output are oranges or lemon syrup by aquebrantadas Blackberries hyper focused and crumb Figo cast, making it a mystery to be covered and not fully understood. Soon he has his heart heavy with Figo at its sublime, fresh, fleshy and sweetened, coupled with fine spices lightly amornadas sun. Finally, its base are heated Noble wood density syrup Currants along with some amber and resin which makes it super dense, full-bodied, born of a distinct sweetness paradise. In fact, it is not a perfume for nothing, is to use and become happy, is to feel it and appreciate the beauty of a paradise without even ever having gone before him, is to face life as it is and live the nostalgia of his proposal to his exceptional order. If he was all that I feel and describe and have not fixing and projecting absurd, in my view would be a lamentation available, however Bois de Paradis was created to give a message and does so.
I dedicate this review to unpolluted Cassia Dharman-Oxinto!
sad_angel.190RUS – :
first I would like to make it clear that it was not love at first spritz, but calmly analyzing able to understand the beauty of this perfume.
Opened my skin with a burst of spicy wood and ginger, but it lasted a matter of seconds. Then came fig and amber leaving it soft, soon after the resin (it evolves too ….. I found the output completely different from what it becomes in a few minutes) ….
Looking about this scent (asking for friends) seemed to have some fragrance in the world who fit the descriptions I’ve heard, but the first time I used it I came to head Un Jardin En Méditerranée … and the second even harder ….’s there …… I thought the same line Hermes but without the citrus …. this will all spices and wood: D
boiys – :
If I had to give away all my perfumes and keep only one I think it would be this. It’s warm sweet spicy fruity, I get no citrus I get blackberry , rose, spicy wood and gorgeous amber. It’s powerfull makes its presence felt and lasts for hours and hours, such a comfort I love it
Edit
Sadly this was one I had to give away, I became sensitive to something in it which caused skin allergy, such a pity .
artem77713 – :
Thank you so much to chickenpotpie for the decant 🙂 I am truly in awe of this fragrance. I get no citrus at all, but instead, at first spray I get a blast of powdery, spicy woods. The spices calm themselves down after a moment and the rose peeks out. Then the scent gets a little sweet and I can feel a honeyed, berry vibe going on against that woody backdrop. Somehow this scent manages to make the rose so beautiful. I am definitely very picky about rose and I often find it annoying and headache-inducing, however in this case it’s soft, sweet, and takes a backseat to those monstrous woody notes, so I really like it. Although this is quite woody, the scent is still soft and feminine. It’s slightly sweet but neither cloying nor gourmand. Sillage is quite nice, as I feel I am surrounded by a soft, fluffy, powdery cloud and I can feel it filling the room. After a few minutes the amber starts to really develop as the wood softens. The drydown is quite nice. It’s a powdery, woodsy amber with a hint of rose. I don’t really get the fig, and the berries came and went very quietly. Although I probably would not purchase an entire bottle (as it is a very strong scent), I am absolutely thrilled with my decant and I am happy to own just enough of this scent that I can get my fix 🙂
Fredor – :
Earlier this year, my fiancee was working late nights. During the week that he was coming home sometime around 3am, I was falling asleep alone. One night I went to bed around midnight and it felt cold. I turned the heat up, went back to bed. I still felt cold. I got up and changed into flannel pajamas. 15 minutes later still cold. I got an extra blanket. Then I just lay there, as slowly I began to realize that I was just a bit lonely, and not that sleepy. I decided to get out of bed yet again, put on some perfume, maybe write a review, and wait up for my guy. There was a sample of Bois de Paradis on my dresser that I hadn’t tried yet. I thought, “paradise? Let’s see if you can live up to your name.” Did it ever.
I stood at my dresser, sniffing my wrist with my eyes open wide and a smile on my face, then I reached forward, switched off the light, walked through the darkness toward the bed, and fell back. I just watched the darkness in Bois de Paradis. This is the kind of perfume that you can see in the dark. It wafts like subtle shadows, purple waves that flow across the umbery forest floor dotted with wet white bulbs waiting to burst. This is the scent of the satisfaction you feel when your imagination roams without limitation, wildly, like the way the woods grow…
I fell easily into restful sleep, rousing once to feel a cold body slip in beside me… “it’s warm,” I heard him whisper in relief.
Bois de Paradis is so close to perfect that you can sense its imperfection. Except that no one seems to be able to say exactly what that imperfection is. So, in that way, it’s wild. It’s just something that wouldn’t be tamed. I don’t expect it to be perfect, because neither is the imagination.
I now have a 5 ml decant, saving my pennies for the full bottle.
Натали1973 – :
I have loved this fragrance for a while, and I finally bought a full bottle. This scent, even in the opening, is rich and warm, a woody cypress-like note but with a honeyed sap element that makes it interesting and unique. There is a light burst of citrus, almost lost in the woods. On my skin, the honeyed cypress melds into a lightly sweet sandalwood-amber combination remain the stars of the composition. They are ever-present, while weaving in the lightly fruity note of blackberries, and the subtle dark rose elements. Long-lasting, 12 hours later my wrist still calls me with its warm woods. Lovely, lovely and timeless.
petrach – :
I somehow missed the citrus opening– may have flashed by me. What I got was a woodsy smokey opening that subsided in favor of plummy sweet prune-y ripe fruit accords which stayed for quite some time. Pleasant, darkly powerful. And then the rose heart was revealed. Not a rosy-rose, but a deeply honeyed rose. At that transition, I’ll be darned, but yes, mint peeked through. Very pleasant surprise!
So the honey rose phase continued and I thought it was going to get a bit boring until an absolutely retro woodsy incense phase appeared along with the amber. Interesting. And then tobacco– like rich, damp pipe tobacco.
The scent then had a powdery interlude, and again, I was getting disappointed that powdery would be where it stayed. But no, the rose-mint transition reappeared, and I swear the scent phases started over; however, the ripe fruit phase was somewhat subdued, and did, after time, vanish. Powdery interludes do come and go; and the dry-down is powdery with a hint of lingering woodsy smoke, sweet tobacco, slight musk.
Overall, the heart of this fragrance, to me, is a deep, subtle, abiding soft honeyed rose. The fragrance has no sharp edges. It simmers.
yoj111 – :
Apparently this perfume was created to remind DelRae of the woods in San Francisco. As a native San Franciscan, I am so happy to have found a perfume that truly captures the natural beauty of my home town. Tourists always tell me that they have these ideas that California is all sunshine, and it’s not accurate at all. Bois de Paradise reminds me of walking in Golden Gate Park or the Presidio (which I hear was the inspiration for this creation) on a gray, misty day, with the scent of cypress trees suspended in the fog. I love how the perfume is enhanced with berries and honey. The sweetness reminds me of getting back to my car and discovering the sticky, amber-colored sap on my windshield that has fallen from the trees. This perfume is woody, warm, cozy, balmy, a bit sweet and a bit spicy, with a touch of smoke that has wafted over from the last beach bonfire. They really did a wonderful job with this! San Francisco represents so many different things to so many different people, and it’s easy to get lost in the melting pot. People are always coming and going. But with Bois de Paradise, the natives are reminded of their home.
anceladus – :
At first spray I get something that smells a bit like honey mead. If you’ve ever had mead, you’ll get my meaning. But the development, wow, its something else!
First I get the fig and berry jamfest going, then the rose and incense kicks in and its a smokey rose jam with yummy spices throughout. and I swear I smell honey in there. Its got to be in there!! I also smell vanilla. Its unmistakable on me.
Like many others I smelled something that could have been evergreen like mixed with orange rinds far in the background. Personally I like it.
There really is a lot of things going on, and it paints a big and very vivid picture throughout all of its development.
At the end of dry down I get the most amazing woods and rose, which stays like that from until its nothing more than a whisper on my skin.
If ever there was a perfume that reminded me of the winter holiday season, this would be it.
Yes it can be sweet for those who aren’t into it the fig and berries will do that, and for me it was right on the edge of being too sweet when the rose kicked in and saved me from the jamfest. Even with that, I still enjoyed the overall composition enough to wear it 2 days in a row.
This is a very big scent on me, and 2 spritzes is all I need. Sillage is just right. A bit big just after spraying but, calms to something everyone can like.
The perfume however, has some staying power, about 7 hours on me. Being its been coolish the last few days, its been a joy to wear. I can see wearing this during the dank and cold days of winter for sure.
Special thanks to OlfractalInfemme for sending me a sample of this. Girl you got me hooked, my bottle is already on its way!
kuznetrus – :
What a gorgeous scent!
First, an amazing outburst of berries, and I don’t mean timid stunted store-bought little things … I mean big summer-sweet, sun-kissed blackberries and blueberries, steeped in spiced wine. Amber almost immediately makes an appearance; it’s not sharp, not intrusive … in keeping with the nature of the fragrance the amber is warm, cozy, luxurious, and so oppulent.
And as the berries start to fade (slowly, slowly, such nice longevity in this scent!) the rose, glorious rose, slips in to visit during the warm, slighty woodsy, still decidedly spicy dry down. So very very well done — this is an absolute keeper!
CheewaySwelay – :
For me, this one comes within just a note or two of perfection. There is something brilliant and heavenly there, but just out of reach and held at bay by something herbal/medicinal and off-putting. I fully expected to fall in love based on the reviews, the notes and the price (and that classy bottle), but, because of the price, I am thankful that I can definitely live without this one. Though, I wouldn’t mind if my house smelled like this.
egoroviktor – :
This is a Diva to me. Spicy,creamy, dark rose. Lovely!
vovani408 – :
I married with u.
PrionoUnsunse – :
Oh my god. It is the week after Christmas. I am in the kitchen baking apple dumplings. I have rolled out the dough, sprinkled the sugar and cinnamon, and am laying fresh-cut green apple slices on the dough. This is the scent on my hands, this mix of warm doughy goodness, cinnamon, and sweet-tart green apples.
I do not catch the blueberries…but it’s probably the blueberry’s sweet tartness that my nose is interpreting as green apple. By the way it is currently the middle of summer here, but I do make apple dumplings for breakfast New Year’s Day, and my mom before me. 😉 Wow, I am transported by this perfume.
pepto66i – :
I can´t live without this lovely and perfect scent.
It has incredible determination and hard hours on the skin with a beautiful and surprising developments.
I feel hints of spices like a hot drink to winter something alcoholic too.
Absolutely a masterpiece for lovers of oriental aromas. Fantastic!
nikita1986 – :
The fragrance opens with a rich opulent fig, iris and lavender combination and then settles into a mysterious sweet powder on my skin. It reminds me of perfumes of the 1940s, glamorous, powdery, spicy, enchanting. This is an ideal perfume for the vintage lover, a woman on the more hipster side of the indie scene: intelligent, mysterious, reserved, well-traveled and capable of fascinating conversation. Perfect for a dressy evening or a flirty afternoon conversation at the used bookstore.
Excellent 5/5 silage and longevity. Such a uniquely lovely perfume, I am curious to try the rest of the line.
Gustualv – :
Starts out sweet and fruity, a little citrusy, a little bit like maple syrup, and definitely tobacco-like. After a half hour or so there is a slight spearmint note that I might not have noticed if I hadn’t seen it mentioned in other reviews, but that complements the other notes nicely. There is a floral aspect that reminds me a little of linden flowers. I didn’t get much in the way of woods, so I’m not sure what happened to the sandalwood.
Overall, it’s a lovely and original sweet but aromatic floral composition that I was able to enjoy for the better part of a day. It’s good to find another likeable perfume by a house that’s managed to come up with some real duds.
Reews – :
All cinnamon, sandalwood, vanilla, and amber…then, at the 5 minute mark- Surprise! A blast of spearmint. I actually had to doublecheck to see if I was wearing minty lip balm or had gotten some toothpaste on me. It actually made my skin tingle a bit where I had applied just the tiniest dab. After another 2 or 3 minutes the mint blends in with the spice accord, in a very pleasant and way. At 15 minutes the composition finally harmonizes and a vanilla-tonka-cinnamon persists.
This perfume is obviously made with top notch ingredients, especially in the fixatives (my achilles heel!) Hence, it is outrageously potent.
I could not detect blueberry in the least, maybe it is just a smidgen to brighten up the amber accord? As a matter of fact, I couldn’t find any fruit or flowers at all.
This is gourmand in the weirdest way ever. I give it a thumbs up for managing to combine some bizarre accords in an agreeable manner.
b.n. After reading the other reviews above, I see mine is an analogue of many others’….is this perfume merely simple enough that we all perceive it similarly? What else could account for the nearly identical perceptions of so many different wearers?
SerjGroza – :
Well, the opinions are all over the map as regards Parfums DelRae BOIS DE PARADIS, so let me just throw another outlier perception into the mix.
The opening of this composition actually smells like a campfire to me. No joke. Then, a couple of minutes later, the mysterious Dentyne note (from AMOUREUSE, BOUDOIR, and about four Bond no 9s which I’ve sniffed) emerges and grows stronger through the midstage until it finally dies down again, leaving behind a sort of confusing, somewhat oriental-woody drydown.
I find this perfume overall quite messy, but not in the very appealing way in which ingenious creations can stimulate amazement and joy. This seems more incoherent than exciting to me. Désolée.
sensor_s – :
I”m going to go in the opposite direction on this one: I give thumbs down to the opening, but thumbs up to the drydown.
This opens VERY gourmand on me, which I just can’t do. let me try and explain how this wears on me:
When I was in college, my room mate’s boyfriend came over one night with some friends and alcohol. I was sitting in the living room having a beer, and they were in the kitchen making something to eat. An orange glow lit up the wall. To my horror I saw that Mr. Idiot was making himself some pan fried everclear.
Burnt, stinky sugar from a dirty frying pan. That is how I wear gourmands. But moving on…
Bois dries out to a lovely, raspy woody scent (If you’ve tried Sublime Balkiss you’ll recognize the blueberry note). I need an hour and a half to sing this scent’s praise, so do give it that long before making up your mind. This starts as a stinker, but ends up as an exquisite, fragrant woody. This is the only Delrae scent that I could see myself buying, although I would still like the opening toned down a notch.
BAD150 – :
This does go minty on my skin in the opening but thankfully does not stay that way. Like others in this line the drydown is very warm with the addition of woodsy undertones- it’s not my favorite delrae by far but it is certainly pleasant.
ucenik – :
You are in a cedar forest, five minutes before the sun rises under a glowing amber, rose, and fig sky. Dry, dusty needles under your feet. Standing right up under a tree, just as you snap off a branch to release the scent slap of the green wood, you bite into a fresh orange peel.
I did not know that I needed to know what this smelled like, but now that I do, I would travel to the ends of the earth to smell it again.
In my top-five all-time favorite perfumes.
poluks – :
Bois de Paradis had been in my wishlist for a couple years, after a test snift at an expensive women’s boutique.
I purchased the Parfums Delrae sample set and received generous-sized samples of all the scents in the line. I do still like Bois de Paradis, but after testing the others, I was surprised to find it’s not really my favorite in the line. I think my perfume preferences have changed a bit in the last two years.
I would describe Bois de Paradis as a floral woody musk, with just a smidgen of gourmand. It has a bit of sweet fruitiness to it, thanks to blueberry and what I presume is lemon, though I don’t see that listed as a note. Bois starts out as a sugar-and-spice green aroma, and fades to a slightly sweet woody musk over time. About four hours in, it has that lovely vanilla/cake frosting aroma that I find in Boucheron’s Trouble and Rochas Absolu, though Bois is less sweet than those two.
It’s a pleasant fragrance, slightly sexy, with good sillage and good persistence. I appreciate the craftsmanship of this scent, even if it’s no longer quite my taste.
Юлхан – :
I was very disappointed in Bois de Paradise – so many people seem to love its rich spiced-fruit-and-woods, including the friend that kindly sent me a sample. I put it on my skin without checking to see what notes I should expect, and promply blew a brain gasket trying to figure out what I was smelling: “What IS that? mint? No, turpentine? Good grief, I have no idea… sniff again… mint! Yes, mint! No, it couldn’t be mint. Turpentine! That makes no sense. Could be some very weird citrus, I guess… sniff again… mint? turpentine? AAAAAUUGH!”
Well, ladies and gentlemen, the top notes on this thing are supposed to include, yes, citrus. It’s highly aromatic to start with, in a way that I found completely distracting and out of character with the rest of the fragrance, which is rich and plummy, with spice, woods, and a very sweet amber. The spice is not sharp and exhilarating like clove, but mellow and soft, and the fruit – not identifiable as blueberry to me – also mellow and soft. I get very little rose out of this, but the whole heart reminds me of the wild blueberry pancakes with cinnamon and maple syrup that my husband and I ate on our Maine (US) honeymoon. I found the woody notes to be generic woods – not specifically cedar or sandalwood, just “woody notes.” The amber was far too sweet, in my opinion, and contributed to the pancakes-with-syrup effect.
I love scents with a wood-and-amber focus, so I did try it four times to make sure it wasn’t one fluk