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Entenuevokted – :
Bubbles 1964, your story is so similar to my own in relation to loss and grief within the fragrance industry. I hear you, girl!
Zagadum – :
نكمل في هذه المجموعة البهارية الجميلة
بعد الحديث عن عطر ديور دولتشي فيتا
..
عطر شيسيدو فامنت دو بوا
الوحي الاول لهذه الرائحة
..
لن نطيل الوصف
عطر شرقي بهاري خشبي حليبي نوعاً ما
رائع للغاية .. العطر مقطوع و مرتفع الثمن
..
هل من بديل ؟! نعم لنتحث في العطر الآخر
vova888 – :
This is the perfume that I wore as a young woman in my 20s, and the one that I fell in love with, long before I heard of Serge Lutens or before I understood the term “niche perfume”. I remember lots of compliments. And compared to typical department store perfumes, it was unique on me: spicy woods, lush fruits and delicate florals.
More spicy than sweet, I wore this through 3 seasons – Fall, Winter and Spring. I had just come back from a trip to India and Asia when I found this exotic perfume, and it has always reminded me of those faraway places.
FdB had became my signature scent. Then sadly a few years later, when I went to buy my 5th or 12th bottle, I found out Shiseido discontinued it. I begged the sales person to search other stores for any stray bottles, but alas it had disappeared. I really felt a sense of loss and I shed a few tears. This was long before the world wide web and I knew my days with the most delicious smell in the world were numbered.
About 10 years ago, I found the original composition and bought it from an international retailer. My taste after the discovery of new perfumes has changed, so I only wear it when I want to go back to a specific time in my life. I still adore it though I rarely reach for it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it in my collection.
I think I paid around $60 for 50ml. I wish I had picked up a couple more at this price because I looked this week and was shocked at the prices being asked on eBay. When this bottle is gone, I will be getting the Lutens.
maxxbay – :
I had the good luck to interview Uncle Serge a few years ago and I asked him about the controversy about the Shiseido FdB versus the Serge Lutens FdeB. “It’s exactly the bl–dy same!” he said, exasperated. “Well, you know, everything has to be reformulated from time to time, but basically, it’s 99.99999 per cent the same…” Well, I think he’s right. I’ve worn the ‘new’ FdeB for years but recently scored a mini of the Shiseido original on Ebay, and although the top notes on the original are much more interesting and heavy on the cedar, after half an hour I couldn’t tell the difference. I wore one on each wrist and they matched right through to the drydown. As with most of the handful of the Bois fragrances, if you’ve got one, you don’t need the other. Of the lot, I like Bois de Violette the best – I gave the FdeB to my husband.
nuloha – :
I received my vintage splash bean bottle today. Take heart, the Serge Lutens version is really almost as good as this. I actually think the vintage original is closer to SL Bois et Fruit. Don’t break the bank for a vintage bottle when either SL version will do. Unless you can find the vintage for the same as the SL rectangle bottle, then go for it. I love them all!
Armo1112 – :
I love this version. So soft – gentle – mysterius. I tried the new formation. More dry and not so sweet. Then I tried Christian Dior Dolce Vita. It is so near the original version .Try it if you miss this.
Megqs633Diobtetty – :
I don’t have α good nose. I love, like or dislike fragrances as an amateur, so my reviews are simple and uncomplicated, although perfumes are complex creations.Feminite is quite masculin but sweet and worm at the same time.
pavelurinyov – :
This is so beautiful. It is fruity, deep, woody, floral and spicy and I love it so much. It has a wonderful radiance and it is perfect all year. I enjoyed a bottle of this Shiseido version recently. It is rich, shadowy and radiant but it smells like those scents in the 1990s, that is to say, not like the ones we have these days. Until recently, the Lutens was a good substitute – not any more, sadly.
mhb1980 – :
Féminité du Bois means “Femininity of wood” and its fragrance was conceived by Serge Lutens having the Cedar as central theme, in which the ingredient was responsible for about 60% of the composition, according to the official website of the brand. In his words: “expresses the masculine side of femininity and vice-versa”.
This review is for the current version, released in 2009. However, this perfume was launched in 1992, for women, when Serge still was the Creative Director of Shiseido. Some say that, at the time, Serge dragged the team involved to Marrakech, in order to show its real intent, which was to convey the essence of Atlas Cedar (the city of Marrakech is situated near the mountains of the High Atlas).
Who had access to the vintage version, states that was much stronger in the woody nuance, besides the fact that the fragrance grew in projection as evolved, while the current stays close to the skin and doesn’t scare anymore when applied.
The company has also admitted that the composition has undergone changes to adapt to standards set by the industry. The original version featured notes of cedarwood, orange blossom, Plum, rose, violet, honey, beeswax, clove, cardamom, vanilla and cinnamon. In the current version, the composition brings Moroccan Orange, Turkish rose, Atlas cedar, violets, beeswax, honey, peach, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, sandalwood and musk.
Still, even with the changes, Féminité du Bois is a beautiful perfume. However, it’s not feminine, if it ever really was. When it reaches the skin is woody and dense. Its first evolutionary stage is male and intense. Carries the aroma of good niche perfumes created with high-quality raw materials. After about 30 minutes, approximately, begins to evolve into a more floral body, in which the strong aroma of wood and spices gives way to a fragrance of wood and violets. Breathing on the spot applied, you can feel a touch of orange, a soft presence of the rose and a subtle sweetness. At this stage, the fragrance turns into a more unisex scent and stop exhaling. After about 2 hours, arises a spicy and almost salty nuance, which I believe came from the cinnamon.
In my opinion, it is not a feminine scent that can be shared. It is a unisex scent, which has excellent fragrance, but bad projection with moderate duration. For men, perhaps disappoint. For women who like strong and masculine fragrances, but do not give up of the tenderness, is a great option.
Tuhguddyget – :
LeslieKatherine you can try Jungle Kenzo, it has cinnamon, cloves and vanilla!
golp – :
I SOO WANT AN awersome fragrance that has CLOVES in it, very similar to this. When ever I see one on here and it looks good or “Amazing” have you, Of course, it’s been discontinued, it so agravating? Please if anyone has knowledge of a sweet and spicy clove scented fragrance, please let me know? I love the smell of cloves, To me it would give of a sweet, mysterious, unique yet comforting smell, which basically sums up my personality. 😉
kaznatchej – :
It opens with Cedar. There is a hint of spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger) behind it, but cedar dominates fully. It’s a fresh, dry cedar. After it warms up a bit a sweet musk with some added sweetness of plum and honey peek out. This is really a lovely transformation. The plum and cedar pair so nicely. It’s an interesting pairing, preventing the scent from getting boring. There is also that spice mix peeking out, but it’s very understated.
After a couple of hours I mostly get benzoin, plum and honey in front of the cedar with a hint of spices.
The dry down is all sandalwood, benzoin and a nice ginger zing. There is also a nice clean musk in there and a faint memory of the cedar, spices, and honey.
Overall a lovely scent with a nice progression. The sillage is personal, but more than a skin scent and the longevity was about 8 hours or so.
marina_299 – :
hello everyone
I have a question: do any of you know when this perfume was discontinued?
I found someone who wants to sell the eau timide but was wondering how old this would be and if the smell would still be as the original.
any inout you may have would be helpful thanks
perforator – :
I never owned it but I KNOW I LOVE IT. They told me its not produced anymore, = it doesnt exist anymore?!?!?! As I can see it is very appreciated so why not produce and sell anymore?? I cant wait to have it, the biggest bottle possible, for day and night use!!! BIG LOVE.
dimmed – :
to Born for Shalimar, Eau Timide smells very similar in the begining and well to simplify this. I would say that its smells nearly identical at first even the pepper is super strong in eau timide just as in the original. And for a moment youll think you lucked out by getting the timide but youll soon see the difference while the original lasts all day, the timide seems to be gone in an hour. Now to be fair it may just be that I can not smell on myself…bcuz I have had others comment on timide several hours later. So im thinkinking its very close as far as the smell, its the stregnth that fell victim to cost cuts during eau timide’s conception. Still very beautiful, and may be perfect for those that find the original to be to potent or loud/ Actally, I think eau timide is much closer to the lutens brand…..just add a bit more florals to eau timide…and u have todays lutens version!
(A side note) thetes so much going on, so many balsamic nuances that I hardly notice the cumin ( which is one of the few spices I can sometimes have a problem with). That is to say if you like and are familar with cumin induced perfumes such ad obsession, rocha’s femme, or dune then I doubt you,ll find the amount of coumin in FDB hardly potent enough to be worth mentioning…..I definently pick up the girly spices like cinnamon much more which is a nice balance with the dominant and masculine cedar
Tarvus – :
I bought a sample of Shiseido FdB out of curiosity, not expecting to love it based on the notes listed here. However I was shocked by the fresh cedar when I put it on, and even more in awe as the fragrance developed into a fruity and warm spicy/woody plum/cinnamon/cumin cloud. How does it work?? The cumin is almost wrong or indecent, and so sexy it is manipulative. The cedar keeps it fresh, and the plum and several other notes I cannot identify somehow manages to keep it teetering on the edge of more conventional femininity, while some darker element with a similar effect to pheremone creeps in. Amazing fragrance, one of my favourites.
However, take care when buying a vintage bottle. While I have had much success with vintage frags before, the top and middle notes of this one went overwhelmingly powdery, though the sexy base was intact.
kaet777 – :
Feminite du bois anf eau timide.is there a difference between the two ,is thr timide a different fragrance.i am interested to know as there is no explanation and is the lutens really that uncomparable.many thanks
Дюс – :
Have a bottle of mancera roses vanille new if anyone’s for swoops.
geysin – :
A friend of mine gifted me this last night, saying that it smelled like walking into an ancient library (in a good way). I mostly smell cedar and cinnamon. It smells delightful, but in Florida in September it doesn’t feel suited to the temperature. I think this will be a lovely cool weather scent.
sachok-83 – :
Fortunately I own full bottles of this and the SL version. The original wears like a beautiful negligé. It’s refined, and accentuates a woman’s beauty by delicately draping itself over her own special essence. It becomes part of you. The SL version has a sharp edge to it that is better suited for a man. The cedar almost stings and curdles the fruit and ginger notes. Not once have I ever received a compliment or comment when wearing it. The original always brings attention from a close proximity. It causes the person to be drawn in, not inundated by a overly familiar scenario of a fragrance wearing a woman, but of a woman’s allure being sought out. If you plan to make the investment don’t waste it on the SL version as you will be doing yourself a great injustice.
DiptSeepOpExt – :
i wonder how nobody notice that its very similiar with Omania the brown bottle
its sweet spicy cool comfort relaxing with a hint of cola
Kaktuzpro – :
I have the eau timide version and it is quite breathtakingly beautiful, don’t get me wrong it’s not loud but it is somewhat what intense but calming at once. This I think may be more feminine than the original. The rose in this is remarkable, such a beuty. I am comparing this now with the newer version from lutens, and yet the lutens (while also gorgeous) is a bit flat in comparison. And I swear I pick up maybe a touch of amber? anyone else?
Nikolas77 – :
“Feminite du Bois” as a fairy tale is all about whispers of tender creatures live in a little dark gothic forest.
jmq822JeomiWogkig – :
What is to me Feminite du Bois The queen of an enchanted forest .Season Autumn – Winter
Location A State unknown somewhere in the center of Asia
Cinnamon , Cedar , Plum , Honey , Sandalwood Carnation Oil e few drops Rose Oil , Vanilla
And for the end Rainwater The Queen is ready to take a bath
Maybe the best bottle he designed of Serge Lutens Simple Valuable Different Rare
саша78 – :
An absolutely gorgeous, restrained oriental. This oriental says class like no other I have experienced. On my skin it opens with a gorgeous cedar note, plum, honey, just a hint of spice. The middle notes are unfolding with violet and a bit of peach. I get the tiniest hint of incense too, but I don’t it listed in the notes. I can’t imagine why this was ever discontinued, this is so stunningly beautiful! This is one I MUST have a full bottle of!
Many, many thanks to the lovely akats for the generous sample!
Pashke – :
Deep and mysterious and very oriental. I’m a sucker for fragrances like this one and it’s such a crying shame that it’s no longer available. It reminds me of a cedar chest with sweet spice and violets. I was lucky enough to acquire it through a great swap with Angelica 000 and it sure is a wrist sniffer. I’ll be keeping this discontinued masterpiece for very special occasions. Mm mmmm!!
paulaner – :
Hello! Do you think the miniaturas are original?I found some to by in a site and was wonder about…
Thank you!
Abraços
Raquel
Nicolay66 – :
Feminite du Bois is a very nice, malicious fragrance.
Feminite really, smells like Poison to me. It has that plummy incense, with sharp, sticky woods and a drop of honey. Feminite also has its original cedar-creamy quality, which gives it more depth and originality.
The middle is very sweet, with the plum mixing with flowers, and also has a very niche aphrodisiac amber quality. The incense develops a cumin-like quality, and gives a body and character to the fragrance.
The base is the remnants of a pile of incense-burnt ashes, plum, roses and a creamy, powdery vanilla-cedar accord. A very sensual fragrance that lasts an incredibly long time.
Thank you very much to Shiseido for making this beautiful fragrance.
P.S. – The Serge Lutens version of this fragrance is really not the same. To me, it lacks longevity along with sillage and intensity.
SillOppolvE – :
Aaahhhhh….its all been said before, and more eloquently than I could, Paolalou said it…masterpiece, my love since ’92 etc.. Heartbroken since discontinued
All I know regarding this is… If Catherine Earnshaw had a scent for her rendezvous with Heathcliffe…this was it!!! Dark, earthy, seductive, unlimited and unrestrained…that was her and that is this magical scent Maybe that’s why he didn’t open the window….he knew if he caught that scent he was lost forever (and he was!)
Highly recommended for hilltop walks through moors and intimate (even clandestine…) occasions
I now HAVE to try SL FdB to see if I can recapture the magic
Dychorpcody – :
Finally got a hold of some of this! And I’m relieved that it does smell very similar to my lovely Dolce Vita! I’m relieved because I was afraid I would fall in love with this and start selling off the furniture & the dogs to acquire bottles of it! I did spring for a big bottle of the Eau Timide, and I hope that it will suffice, scent wise.
But yes, the reviews that compare this to Dolce Vita are spot on to my nose. D.V. being a bit more ginger (spicier/pepperier) up top, and yes, “sunnier”… brighter… (though the dry down of D.V., while not as richly prominent as FdB in the opening & heart, does result in a skin scented balmy/sweet/powder that, actually, has greater longevity than FdB. So, I’m happy to stay w/ D.V. just on sheer cost comparison & longevity of wear). These are not identical twins, but boy they sure seem like they came from the same womb.
FdB has the feminine sensual sexual smell to it as well which I thought would be off putting, but I think if I was trying to ensnare a man, he’d be helpless around this stuff! VERY sexy! rarrr… Can’t believe they’d stop making something this wonderful… this is a beautiful elixir. The cedar makes it magical, to me. I love a good woodsy cedar and plum and this is just divine love in a bottle.
Sultry, balmy, plummy, mentholated at times, ginger as well (and reminds me of S.L. 5 O’Clock Ginger in surprising wafty moments)… shape-shifting, yet not, and I am now curious about the S.L. brand version of this.
All in all, I’m glad I was able to experience this. I have two .25ml tiny little adorable bottles that I will keep for a long time I think and just use the Eau Timide. Those tiny miniatures will put my grand-kids through college at this rate!
Even with my D.V. comparisons, I think I’ll jump on the bandwagon here: >>>Feminite du Bois Shiseido perfume is liquid vintage gold!<<<
(but thank GOD for Dior Dolce Vita… and yes, the NEW stuff!!!)
harlam171 – :
Feminité du Bois by Shiseido has been my love from the first sniff in 1992 and it was my signature until it was discontinued.
I was impressed by his description, which revealed the revolution in the world of fragrance, being the first to have the same note in the head, in the heart and in the base: a fantastic, fascinating and intoxicating absolute of Atlas cedar… Absolutely a masterpiece!!!
andrei115 – :
It ‘s a pitty that they don’t sell it anymore, this charming sweet warm sent
PAPAS-57 – :
Deep and truly oriental fragrance of dried fruits with spices!
Most of all I feel the plum, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, honey, beeswax and cedar notes in this fragrance. The plum note smells like a dried plum more. I would say that I feel much more the clove note and the cardamom note than the cinnamon note in this fragrance. The cedar woody note is also very noticeable. And also I feel the honey and beeswax notes warmth and sweetness.
It really has similarities with Dolce Vita by Dior. As I see, one of the noses behind these two fragrances is Pierre Bourdon. But as I see, Dolce Vita was created lately. As for me I feel the main difference in fruity and floral notes in these fragrances. Most of all the plum note in Feminite du Bois and the magnolia and apricot notes in Dolce Vita make these fragrances different enough. While the spicy (except the clove note) and woody notes are very similar, except also similarity in the peach fruity note. I would say that Feminite du Bois is more dark, deep and less sweet, while Dolce Vita is more sweet and radiant.
But actually I feel more similarities with some of the fragrances by Serge Lutens, created by Christopher Sheldrake, who is the nose behind this fragrance, too, as I see. For example, I feel some similarities with the honey and the beeswax notes in Chypre Rouge, with the spiciness in Five O`Clock Au Gingembre and the smoke-dry nuances in Fumerie Turque.
This fragrance smells dark and mysterious enough.
Gourmand oriental fairy-tale!
I really like it:)
brz567InsuffBooni – :
I want this perfume – anyone for a swap?
Grawffer – :
Plum and cedar happiness. Love it!
mansur199403 – :
Не раз слышала, что Феминита- аромат, навевающий грусть,либо депрессивный…Я же воспринимаю ее глубокой , темной, но весьма позитивной, и чувствую себя в капельке Феминиты уютно, как ведьма в ступе.
Не представляю, что же грустного может быть во вкуснейшем сливовом варенье, сваренном с пряностями, которые не дают ему скатиться в банальный джем к завтраку, а превращают в настоящее лакомство для гурманов. Обожаю!!!
И ооочень довольна, что успела запастись парой-тройкой флаконов!
DOPPING – :
First prickly, almost masculine cedar softly transforms into something that – to my humble nose – smells like a love child of a passionate Rochas Femme and an unconventional McQueen Kingdom; a magic, quiet forest of pale, dry cedar trees bearing most sensual fruits ever – plums. Sounds weird, but smells divine, alluring and utterly feminine.
After an eternity of waiting to get my hands on this beauty, today I finally realized I have smelled it someplace, sometimes, in the past…
A timeless classic and perfect signature (skin) scent.
gegle407 – :
Wow..I had read so much about this one..and just wanted to have it. Today was my first sniff and hallelujah!! It was worth every euro 🙂 It’s sweet, dark, spicy..everything I love in a fragrance. The crazy thing is that it reminds me of Aroma Exalting by Guerlain, which is now also one hard to find. I am lucky enough to own both. I’m curious to know if anyone has compared these two. Anyway..this was a blind buy and I will never regret it! Why are all the beautiful things discontinued or very hard to find? Well, it gives us something to crave for right?
naumann – :
I adore this perfume, used to have it as a teenager. Quite expensive but worth every penny. The cedar wood makes is sexy yet comforting. Buying it again for sure.
FlameKH – :
I bought this scent this year. I’ve been purchasing purfume for years and have heard so much about it and for some reason I never sniffed it.
I bought it unsniffed!! I was terrified that I wouldn’t like it. Some people weren’t wild about it! I CANNOT imagine!!
I ADORE it. I mean it!!
It is one of my TOP 3!!! I was soooooo thrilled when I got it!!
Dimon-32 – :
One of my favourite perfumes ever. Great on Feminine and masculine skin. It is a beautiful symphony of Cedar wood, Chinese Cinnamon and musk. All the rest fills in as a perfect master peace al a Sheldrake.
jeffree – :
I’ve kept a bottle in my china cabinet because the the bottle is just so unusual. I remember a perfume lady once told me that the bottles were hand blown and therefore, were all unique in their own way. Then again, she could have conned me! Anyway, I remember it being spicy, peppery, slightly sweet and quite mature at the time (mid 90’s). I went through a few bottles of it too, quite hastily I might add!! I don’t think you can buy it anymore, which is a damn shame!!
ylaly – :
Anniebanannie – What a beautiful, thoughtful review! So full of emotion and vivid imagery. As a lover of Greek & Roman mythology, I really enjoyed reading it – thank you! I love FdB as well and your review has given me a whole new mystical appreciation for it.
rodmax – :
“I may be numberless, I may be innocent
I may know many things, I may be ignorant
Or I could ride with kings and conquer many lands
Or win this world at cards and let it slip my hands
I could be cannon food, destroyed a thousand times
Reborn as fortune’s child to judge another’s crimes
Or wear this pilgrim’s cloak, or be a common thief
I’ve kept this single faith, I have but one belief
I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my head
On and on the mysteries unwind themselves
Eternities still unsaid
‘Til you love me”
A Thousand Years by Sting
One of the saddest and most poignant tales in Greek mythology, in my opinion, is that of Orion and Artemis. Artemis was proud goddess, a fierce huntress, and known to be cold…but she had feminine wiles that were just as memorable. She was beautiful, elegant, nurturing, and mysterious. Who wouldn’t want to touch her glowing face, embraced by that lovely head of shining, dark brown hair? This was a notion she perhaps never understood, and maybe the reason she may have killed the one man who loved her for all idiosyncrasies…her soulmate, Orion. Handsome, strong, tall and beastly Orion. Who wanted to hunt every animal on the Earth to satisfy his wild spirit, or perhaps to impress a certain wild woman. The lovable giant who had so much love to give and needed much in return, and never got. Through perseverance, he finally got his wish, and became Artemis’ favorite…
So close they became that one day, Artemis’ brother Apollo (who was also unlucky in love) decided to give his sister a challenge. He knew very well of his sister’s prideful will, how she never backs down from a fight. He told her to shoot a black figure that stood in the ocean. Artemis did not know her beloved Orion could walk on water (a gift given by his father Poseidon), thus did not think twice to shoot her fatal arrows. That night, powerful waves rolled Orion’s lifeless body onto shore, and Artemis, realizing the error of her ways, placed his body among the heavens. For all the universe to see. He appears as a shining giant, with a Lion’s hide, his bow and arrows, and his faithful dog Sirius by his side. Chasing the Pleiades right above him, to keep him entertained. The moon that became his religion, lighting his way….is so far away, yet so close. A moon and a star never touch.
This story has always inspired a pang in my heart, and unbelievably, so has this perfume. A beautiful masterpiece. The lady of the woods…mysterious, romantic, smoky. Who could resist her? Perhaps the most shallow of men…and even they fall for this. This makes me dream of what it would be like if Artemis and Orion ever made love. Strange but…wonderful. Violent, warm, and after, soothing, peaceful. They would spend their passion on grass kissed by violets, underneath a sapping plum tree. A campfire brings warmth. At the end, an air of recognition passing between them, as if they are wondering, how could so much love pass between two people, in such a fleeting amount of time. Something only they would know, hidden in that forest. Like the song (A Thousand Years) and the tale, not everything is supposed to be cheerful and light. Life would be too boring if it were. It’s about love lost, the unanswered questions, the denial, still wanting and the uncertainty of life. It is the story of both genders, as I think this would fit both. The most beautiful love song I know, for one of the most beautiful fragrances ever made.
Giki – :
I feel confused. I didn’t like Feminitè de Bois because it didn’t agree with my chemistry.
Now I read that many compare FdB to Dolce Vita…
Uhm, yes, very similar, but wait a moment! Which Dolce Vita are we talking about? The old gorgeous luminous airy woody spicy cinnamon that warmed one of my winters 10 years (sic!) ago or the bland, flat, faint imitation they sell now? Is it the death of real sandalwood?
Well, at the moment FdB is waaaay better than new Dolce Vita!
Batou77 – :
yum peache jasmine Cardamom and apricot cant go wrong luv it in evrey meaning serge lutens should be proud about this master piece the spices and woods blended very well with soft and sweet aprict then honey wich gives it a real warmth and the cedar wood gives it the eartnes complicatd but good one of kind
iren196518 – :
This smells exactly like wooden color crayons while sharpened. And than changes into Dolce Vita by Dior.
igor11-2011 – :
This is the one that got away…
I tried this when I was 19 or 20 and liked it, but being on a very tight budget, never purchased it. I would “visit” the tester at Marshall Fields and there was just something about this evocative scent that is like no other. By the time I went to purchase it, it was gone. Imagine my excitement when I found out that I could purchase the Serge Lutens version, even if I did have to call Canada to get it shipped. I like it, but it definitely didn’t make me feel like the Shiseido version did. I thought that I didn’t remember it correctly, so I bought a decant from The Perfumed Court. Yes, yes, yes!!! This is what I remember! The SL version is spicier, more cinnamon, less plum and cedar. The dry down is pleasant, but not haunting like the Shiseido version. I know it probably has a lot to do with new regulations concerning ingredients, so I need to buy the vintage. I am leery of purchasing something off eBay, has anyone had any luck with any online sellers?
I could kick myself for not buying it when I could.
genrix1 – :
Feminite du Bois is a gorgeously sweet spicy and uttly stunning and dark perfume to me. Thanks to a lovely member here for the sample 🙂
It starts with a burst of deep, dark, spicy cinnamon and soon the sweetness in the background catches up and dances well with the cinnamon. It feels dry and silk smooth at the same time.
Later on, it turns quite woody with a slight woody creamy touch (it’s not like gardenia creaminess or vanilla creaminess, the creamy smell here is more like a sweet creamy feel amplified from the wood). Somehow it makes me think about those plum jerky you can easily get from an Asian grocery shop, and the sweet-creamy smell reminiscent the pit of the plum jerky a lot. Somehow I can see why I love Bond No.9 Chinatown quite a lot, both Chinatown and Feminite du Bois have this intriguing and somehow addictive sweet creamy lovely woody scent there with a faint hint of cinnamon spicy in the background at this stage.
The final dry down is quite gorgeous in a dark, smoky slightly leather-y hinted sense, along with the well-blended creamy woody and sweet cinnamon-y spicy smell; it makes me think about a female fatal.
Well done Shiseido! Worth trying and if you were tossing in-between this one and Dolce Vita by Dior, I would highly recommend Feminite du Bois because it’s much well balanced and well made with a deep and more fascinating personality despite the superficial similarity.
batay – :
A rare case where the vintage (Shiseido) and the reformulation (Lutens) are different but both great. I’ve got the Shiseido on one wrist and the Lutens on the other and have been comparing and contrasting for quite some time. I prefer the Shiseido but the Lutens is so good that I’m not going to scour eBay paying increasingly extortionate prices. With that being said:
the Shiseido is more subtle, with woods predominating and the fruit, especially the plum, is less sweet than liquer-ish: dry, cool with some bite. As much as I love the opening it’s the cinnamon-sandalwood-cedar drydown that makes this marvelous. I had dinner last night with a group from the UAE and the gentleman sitting next to me initially insisted that my perfume was a particularly fine Middle Eastern oud and incense perfume and didn’t believe me until he smelled the bottle. Like it or love it, this is definitely a treasure.
A different and interesting take on the same set of notes is Ineke’s Evenings Edged in Gold. If you love Femininite you should check it out.
Sillage: 2-3 ft
Persistence: 4-5 hours
Fabulosity: the pearl without price
Price to value ratio: very good
10/10
wolf07 – :
A fantastic scent of a great harmony exactly as the name of it “Feminite du bois”. Woody with a good lasting. I tried this and instantly felt inside a “bois”! Very well balanced. I think that the philosophy of Shiseido is accurate to what this represents. Balance and smells that bring your sentiments into that.
govnenko666 – :
this fantastic scent of dried plum tones, sandalwood and cedar makes this spicy concoction someting very recognizable and special. a fun story is that my perfumista friand once made a dessert based on dried prunes, spices and cedar wood oil. in essence making EDIBLE FEMINITE DU BOIS. it was AMAZING.
orvaldios – :
Even if you hate this fragrance is impossible to say this doesn’t smell unique.
It has taken some time for me to appreciate this evolving powerful fragrance.
When