Bois Blond
by Parfumerie Generale

PG's Bois Blond is a rich leather fragrance that features galbanum, as well as a touch of sweet-smelling hay. Somehow I get a slight feel of it being an “oriental” type scent which is probably due the amber that forms the backbone of Bois Blond. It is not as sickly sweet as Serge Luten’s Daim Blond (thank goodness!) nor does it have the delicacy of Armani Privé's Cuir Amethyste, and neither does it have the spiciness of Etro’s Gomma. Rather Bois Blond is an understated scent that when it dries down, it smells like a very expensive suede shirt in the palest shade of cream. Of all the scents I have smelled, I think this is closest in style and smell to Heeley’s Cuir Pleine Fleur. While I would not buy Bois Blond for myself, I can appreciate that it is a very well-made leather perfume.

Here are the notes, courtesy of The Perfumed Court: galbanum, blond tobacco, amber, cedar, musk, cereals, grass and hay.

I find this one too dry, resinous and harsh for my liking.

Bois Blond is a scent in Parfumerie General’s Private Collection. It is a beautiful, slightly haunting scent. It starts with a very good cedar note mixed with some sweet grassy notes. There is also a sweet blond tobacco leaf note which is tangy. BB has an elusive, shifting quality that is intriguing: it is sweet and yet tangy, rich and yet dry. At times the amber notes deliver the usual vanilla-coconut tone (which is a little too rich for me), but then marvelous cedar reappears and I love it. At the end of the day there are drier cedar scents which I prefer; but I appreciate the quality, charm and artistry here.