Bois d'Ombrie (2006)
by Eau d'Italie

Wow! This is one weird ride. The opening is a bruising smoke/wood/booze accord that'll curl your nose hairs for sure. Super.

This is joined almost immediately by a sour, stinging note that I can best describe as boiling vinegar. Ever accidentally inhaled the steam from boiling vinegar? If you have, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. If not, it's nothing I suggest you try at home. Over time the the booze subsides, and the smoke and woods blend into a rich leather accord. To my great disappointment, the vinegar steam note persists as well, effectively ruining the whole experience for me.

Close. Very close. A promising scent that was ruined for me by one discordant note.

Another scent that smells like pickled pimientos to me. It opens with that vinegar and spice accord and stays, and stays, and stays. I can't wash this off my skin. I love spice, but I cant take this. These aren't fresh spices. They are old spices sitting in the kitchen cupboard for too long. Whilke I respect the opinions of those that see the complexity in thios, it just doesn't work for me!

I took a tiny swipe from a sample vial 16 hours ago. One bath, one shower and a night in bed later and this is still pumping out unwelcome sillage. The smokey woody aroma chemical is so strong that I cannot even imagine enjoying the lack of craft and subtlety in the selection of materials and composition.

Utterly without merit for me, it seems to have little complexity of evolution, little reference to naturalness in composition and be intensely synthetic in its smell.

To me, this belongs with the lowest level of cheap modern fragrances and indicates the depths the so-called niche brands can stoop to under the cloak of a fancy box and a high price.

This is a great scent. I feel I almost should say gorgeous.

It is very typical scent from this perfumer. It has that signature smell that is based around incense and iris root. It is a truly a wonderful achievement to create such a notable, distinctive style in an ones perfumery.


I have often mentioned that I am not the biggest fan of iris, but this is an example where I do enjoy that ingredient in full. It is masterfully blended; it smells so warm and dark in here.

In addition of iris root, I mainly get that incense here with rich medicinal balsams and warmth of opoponax.

Not awfully strong fragrance; it has a gentle presence that lasts a long time.


Bois d`Ombrie smells like a dark and warm forest that closes you in without a hint of fear.

The first boozey notes I found slightly repulsive. I see at least one other person smelled the same weird vinegar note that I did. Like a ginseng-filled tchotchke shop where they're boiling vinegar in the back to clean the air...
With a smaller application I smell the leather and tobacco. Very strong but smooth tobacco scent, makes it worth the time to see through to the drydown. It's the smell of a well-educated bachelor study. Maybe the smell of Henry Higgins himself?
I liked it in the end, but not for myself. Would make a better male scent to me.

Wow… Bois d’Ombrie opens a full-scale assault on the olfactory pleasure centers. Simply amazing notes / accord. Whiskey, leather, iris, on top leading a whole troupe or striking notes to form one of the most amazing opening I’ve experienced in years. Those notes form an aridity that is vibrant, dynamic, masculine, and solidly attention getting. It is a Wow! This engaging opening lasts for a respectable period of time until the fragrance settles down to a textured leather / tobacco / vetiver accord. I don’t remember smelling many accords like it in addictive richness. The dry down continues the leather and adds myrrh, opoponax and patchouli of a deep, dark, but soft base. The dry down is as well done as the top and middle, except that I find it a little too soft – it could use more sillage. But it lasts beautifully… I love this fragrance: It is rustic and daring and elemental. It is unique and offers accord after accord of rich and passionate olfactory pleasure with its incredible use of resins and leather and spirits… Bois d’ Ombrie is intoxicating.