Eau des Baux (2006)
by L'Occitane

The opening bodes well for the fragrance… it is a smooth, sweet, and discreet wood / smoke / slightly spicy accord that presents a soft, resinous, masculine richness: Quite unique and highly attractive. The middle accord is loses the sweet and spice and stays as a dull, warm woodnote to my nose. I like this accord even though it is rather characterless, but there is not really a lot to say about it. The base becomes sweet ambery – almost gourmand, and I experience it as a significant change in the movement of the fragrance. I don’t mind this change, but I don’t applaud it, either… OK, I’ll admit that the sweetness was foreshadowed by the opening, but it was dropped in the heart notes and coming back makes it a little out of place. I feel that the scent, which was very good in the opening and heart, has lost direction and has taken an irksome detour: This is a bit sad because its initial direction had been so right! I’ll keep trying this scent – maybe I can get used to the base… the first movements are excellent.

I can't agree more with the earlier reviewers; EAU DES BAUX does smell like a more expensive woods and incense-inspired fragrance. Even non-fans of frankincense might find it enjoyable. But while the amber vanilla drydown is a pleasant enough it lacks a certain richness and comes across a little lightweight. Still, a full bottle worthy scent IMO.

"Strong enough for a man - but I like it too!" What a beauty! Green and incense-y with a heart of spicy fruits and vanilla. It all works on me...I love it. (And many thanks to Oviatt for the history lesson!)

A wonderfully spicy, sweet fragrance that smells natural. The sweet, and after a while almost synthetic vanilla on the drydown is not to my taste and it seems almost as thought the frankincense is wasted. But I'm a frankincense monster, so I'll give this one a thumbs up as I'm sure this one will please many people and it's quite a unique scent despite being reasonably simple.

I fell in love with this the first time I wore it. It became a bottle purchase not long after. It is rich, sumptuously so, all the way from its captivating opening, through the quieter more rounded richly woody heart notes to the warm with a hint of vanilla drydown.

It is classy and different. Nothing quite smells like Eau des Baux. If I want to wear something manly, strong and distinctive, this is up there with other fragrances I would choose to do the same job like Heritage. I'm not saying it's up there with Heritage, but I would quite happily wear it as a choice if I were in that kind of mood.

Recommended? Oh yes, it would be silly not to frankly.

Big woods and spices. Cedar and cinnamon and a touch of not-too-sweet vanilla. Lightly smoky with incense. A great fragrance from top to bottom.