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Bois des Iles. An Oservation.

post #1 of 39
2/3/10 at 12:08am
Thread Starter 
As we all know the mysteries of the fragrance industry abound but, one that continues to astound me is the plight of Bois de Iles by Chanel. Perhaps because it is so un-Chanel in character that it languishes without emphasis by Chanel. In my opinion Bois des Iles should be the star of the Chanel line rather than the iconic Chanel No. 5. Better promotion, distribution and pricing would do nicely. I am not often in the mainstream in my fragrance appreciation I admit but, I think Bois des ILes is the older, understated and more beautiful of the Chanel line with which I have become a devoted admirer.
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post #2 of 39
2/3/10 at 4:29am
I agree with you in general, although I have a few things to be particular about.

Chanel No. 5 has been a long No-No for me until last December when I started applying well-aged perfume in miniscule amounts and wearing it outside in the freeze. Moisture in the air does not seem to influence it, though. Try it once, if you are not much of a fan. Want to really feel that cananga (ylang-ylang)?

Bois des Iles is un-Chanel in character? You have lost me on this, dear. Very Chanel, the best of it.
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post #3 of 39
2/3/10 at 5:53am
I agree with T-Wolf 100%...Bois des Iles is, besides an HG of mine, and among the very best of Chanel. To me it feels like the divine sandalwood base of Chanel No5 has been extracted and elevated to a near divine level. It's like they took the delicate ethereal woodiness of No5 and made it it's own beautiful scent. (No5 is older than Bois des Iles, no?)

I totally agree that Bois des Iles is gorgeous, and, it is my personal favourite of the line, but one cannot argue with the beauty of No5. I wore it for many years, still love it- but it is not the Number 1 perfume in the world for no reason. Certainly not just marketing, anyways.

That said, shall we start a Bois des Iles Lovers group

I need a back up bottle....I wear the Exclusif edt and have a cherished sample of the parfum....so beautiful, in the heat of Miami and in the bitter cold winter of Ottawa. Perfection.
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post #4 of 39
2/3/10 at 5:55am
I agree it's their secret flagship.
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post #5 of 39
2/3/10 at 5:55am
My experience with Chanel is an overall big aldehyde-y character, and this sounds intriguing.

As for Chanel No. 5, that seems to be the mainstay of the house...the more famous it is...the more they push it...and so on...

The most recent push was in May 2009, if memory serves, near the release of the Chanel biopic...
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post #6 of 39
2/3/10 at 6:19am
We have a small Bwah dez Eel (our secret code, our loving name, if you would) lovers group. And if memory serves, one year we were doing Chanel sync day when people were supposed to wear fragrances from that house, and who do you think won? The fragrance in question!
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post #7 of 39
2/3/10 at 6:21am
Edmond Roudnitska also thought that Bois des Iles was the best that Ernest Beaux had created for Chanel. I'm so glad that Chanel decided to reintroduce it in the '90s. Bois des Iles may just be Chanel's best kept secret; I go back and forth between it and No 5 as my favorites from the Chanel line. When I wear Bois des Iles, as I did yesterday, I'm taken aback at how beautifully done and timeless it is. And I do think it's very Chanel-like in character, or maybe I should say very Beaux-ish in character.
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post #8 of 39
2/3/10 at 7:44am
I remember when I first tried it, how shocked I was that it was so good and I had never heard of it. Of course that is true of many of the Guerlains & Carons, also. The other surprise was no.19.
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post #9 of 39
2/3/10 at 10:58am
I didn't particularly like Bois des Iles when I first tried my sample, but the other day I found myself craving it. Go figure. I guess it's addictive.
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post #10 of 39
2/3/10 at 11:59am
VV, agree with you again except for the small thing: not -"ish", it is "-esque".

:-)
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post #11 of 39
2/3/10 at 12:31pm
Hi, Twolf. Thanks for the correction. I knew Beaux-ish didn't sound quite right. Beaux-esque it is!
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post #12 of 39
2/3/10 at 12:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Elly View Post

I didn't particularly like Bois des Iles when I first tried my sample, but the other day I found myself craving it. Go figure. I guess it's addictive.

This was my experience also. Hated it. Tried it later, still felt like it was kind of awkward on me. Then it suddenly clicked and I started to be a bit haunted by the drydown. It crept up on me.

The other day I smelled it on 3xasif, when she was down here in Miami. It smelled so friggin on her. I found that I like it even more now.
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post #13 of 39
2/3/10 at 1:48pm
Our ladies here on BN introduced Bois des Iles to me last year; I find it breathtakingly beautiful...but not that easy to pull off by women in her early 20s. Takes a little more maturity and sophistication to carry it with chutzpah.
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post #14 of 39
2/4/10 at 1:33am
For us in the UK/Ireland, Bois, Cuir and even No 22 have never been widely available in department stores. I had to go to the Chanel boutique in Old Bond Street and all the sa did was spray a card and send it through the post!!!!!!

I did buy BdI parfum on this sniff of the edt sprayed on a spill. I cannot wear No5, we hate each other and I can never understand the love for it. Marketing I believe and dear Marilyn had more to do with its success. BdI is indeed fabulous far ahead of its time on release and never has it dated over the years. The blast of turps like aldehydes in the opening then the sandalwood.
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post #15 of 39
2/5/10 at 10:29am
Love the BdI, I crave it all the time -- it's that addictive. So far, I think it's the best from Chanel that I've ever smelled.
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post #16 of 39
2/5/10 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twolf View Post

We have a small Bwah dez Eel (our secret code, our loving name, if you would) lovers group....

Love this!! I'd wear this on a t shirt

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Elly View Post

I didn't particularly like Bois des Iles when I first tried my sample, but the other day I found myself craving it. Go figure. I guess it's addictive.

Same. I might even have disliked it on first sniff! And now, like you, I crave it and, like Dimples, find it totally addictive.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

This was my experience also. Hated it. Tried it later, still felt like it was kind of awkward on me. Then it suddenly clicked and I started to be a bit haunted by the drydown. It crept up on me.

The other day I smelled it on 3xasif, when she was down here in Miami. It smelled so friggin on her. I found that I like it even more now.

Aw (((mikeperez))) what a gentleman you are. I will actually always associate our wonderful sniff a thon (with your jaw dropping sample collection) and Miami with Bois des Iles. From the fun we had to the sweetest SA in the world giving me a mini...it is quite amazing how it works well in the heat or in cool weather.

I've discussed sandalwood scents with sofresh and whenever I was disappointed with a perfume, his reply was " well, it's no Bois des Iles". We pretty much agree it's genius in a bottle & the gold standard for sandalwood. He loves it as much as I do.
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post #17 of 39
5/22/11 at 10:04pm
I 'm bumping N_Tesla's worthy thread. Yay !

Firstly, I am wearing Bois des Iles this evening and guess what... I may even put that 200 ml bottle on the pillow next to me for DH is away .
I have appreciated Bwah dez Eel for a long time but have so many scents, so little skin ,one smallish nose -such a damned perfume harlot....it never got my full love.
Well, now I am a convert. I adore this stuff.
It's spicy ,zingy, warm , scratchy, dusty, creamy sandalwoody ,classic, unisex, soul catching and comforting all at once and that's just the EDT.
God bless the perfume Gods for Bwah dez Eel. I wanna join the exclusive Bwah dez Eel club .

My feelings are like Jane's. I love No.5 -wore it for many years and the beauty of No.5 astounds me always but...... Bwah dez Eel - is heavenly stuff .
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post #18 of 39
5/22/11 at 10:21pm
^mimi gardenia pls don't make me pull my credit card out... I'm going to fake like I didn't read that description.
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post #19 of 39
5/22/11 at 10:24pm
Mims, you are reading my mind... stop it... I'm seriously lemming Bois des Iles, which I spritzed on me (to the surprise of the Chanel SA). I found it was surprisingly long-lived. And I want the parfum too...
It seems Chanel is opening up for me... some things take their time, obviously.
Future bumping of threads, bragging and even mentioning of perfumes, Mimi, only with my prior approval! I think we are perfumedly linked.
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post #20 of 39
5/22/11 at 10:36pm
Azahar- oooh- I am the lemming queen ! *LOL* ROFL !

Larimar- it's spooky - ' spiritually scent sync'd' - you and I !
Being the lemming queenie - I'll have to say - go for it !
Chanel and I were in a rut for a long time too , Larimar. It's opening up now to a vast perfume ocean of Chanel. ( The online store helps abit too ... )
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post #21 of 39
5/22/11 at 11:10pm
Bois des Iles was the first 'proper' perfume I bought, and I owe a giant debt of gratitude to Basenotes for bringing it to my attention. Without the kindness and patience of members here, I doubt I would have ever ventured into a Chanel boutique to smell this.

Bois des Iles, for me, is never an effort to wear. It sits so comfortably on my skin and gently does its thing, seldom intruding into the foreground and demanding attention. Apparently, happiness can be found in a bottle
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post #22 of 39
5/22/11 at 11:17pm
omg... no... torture!^ stop it heehee...

um... where could I find a sample of this?... I don't have a Chanel store here where I live.

must.sample.before.buying.
must.sample.before.buying.
must.sample.before.buying.
must.sample.before.buying.
must.sample.before.buying.
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post #23 of 39
5/22/11 at 11:20pm
Mimi, no budget at the moment *sob* and also no online store here, but it's on top now of my list... I've just sprung for the Unspoken Parfum and Vol de Nuit!
gandhajala, you make it sound even more appealing to me.
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post #24 of 39
5/23/11 at 3:31pm
How many of you have smelled/wear the parfum/extrait? I've always been tempted to just waltz into the Chanel boutique here (in Bal Harbour) and buy a bottle.

I remember Moondeva (old time BN member) sort of dissing it on the 'Best of Sandalwood' thread. Although she was talking about current extrait, not vintage.
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post #25 of 39
5/23/11 at 4:03pm
Never smelled the extrait- new or vintage but I would willingly buy blind in this case, Mike.
I heard it's a touch more floral than the EDT though.

You know I see no similarity between Bwah dez Eel and No.5 - lots of reviews I read seem to think so but for me it's spice and sandalwood.
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post #26 of 39
5/23/11 at 5:59pm
I just happened to be wearing Bwah Day Zeel right now!!!! Can I join the club? I blind bought the extract (along with Queer De Roosie) and it is happiness...I might stop short of saying that BDI could replace No.5 in my heart but she holds her own for sure. For me the earth-shatterer was that leather/aldehyde/tobacco concoction CDR!
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post #27 of 39
5/23/11 at 6:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gandhajala View Post

Bois des Iles was the first 'proper' perfume I bought, and I owe a giant debt of gratitude to Basenotes for bringing it to my attention. Without the kindness and patience of members here, I doubt I would have ever ventured into a Chanel boutique to smell this.

Bois des Iles, for me, is never an effort to wear. It sits so comfortably on my skin and gently does its thing, seldom intruding into the foreground and demanding attention. Apparently, happiness can be found in a bottle

This is just about a perfect description for me. It is how I feel when I wear this.
It's akin to sitting on the couch with a cat in your lap, engrossed in a book or movie, but you absentmindedly scratch the cats ears, and a soft purr comes up. You don't think much about it, but if you did, you would realize that this is a special moment of calm and contentment in a world of chaos. A moment that you would remember if the option to do just this very simple thing, and that very special simple feedback, were gone.

BdI is my HG. I will never only wear her, but she is me. BdI is how I want to smell, and it fits every perfume circumstance that I will ever be in. Just perfect.
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post #28 of 39
5/23/11 at 6:04pm
I think Bois des Iles is addictive, by the 3rd time you wear it you're seriously in love with it. Right now it's #1 on my wish list.
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post #29 of 39
5/23/11 at 6:06pm
The other day I was talking about sandalwood with Ray, a note that even he (as a non-Basenoter) is familiar with, since he used to wear The Body Shop Woody Sandalwood oil and he still has half a bottle (of the dark vintage oil).

I made him smell Santale de Mysore oil by Montale, followed by Bois des Iles, Extract of Mysore Sandalwood (vtg) by Crabtree & Evelyn, some Varatu Sandalwood essential oil (the purplebird gave me) and Santalum by Profumum.

Of all of those he HATED Bois des Iles.

It's amazing how aldehydes can be so polarizing to some people. I, myself, found them almost intolerable until a couple of years, when (I think it was Chant de Aromes by Guerlain that cracked thru the surface) suddenly I liked smelling them in fragrances. Suddenly, the house of Chanel, seemed 'open' to explore.
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post #30 of 39
5/23/11 at 6:16pm
Aldehydes are an "aloof" note to my nose. This aloofness gives a very chic, classy feel...I think if my mom didn't wear Chanel No.5, I probably wouldn't like them as much...they really are polarizing. I totally agree^^^^
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post #31 of 39
5/23/11 at 6:27pm
I don't know guys, I seem totally comfortable with aldehydes, which is weird in itself. I am the most casual person ever - business casual for work, and jeans/shorts and Ts off work.

2 out of my tops five frags are aldehyde "heavy". BdI and FM Iris Poudre. A third, 31 rue Cambon, is ofter viewed as formal, austere and too elegant for everyday wear, as are the aldehyde frags. I don't think of them that way. I think they sink into your skin and become part of you.

So, take my opinion for what it is worth with that in mind. BdI is casual or dressy to me. As are my other favs.
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post #32 of 39
5/23/11 at 7:20pm
I love aldehydes - the more, the better really.
Cello - yes, BdI really is very versatile ,isn't it ?
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post #33 of 39
5/23/11 at 7:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cello View Post

I don't know guys, I seem totally comfortable with aldehydes, which is weird in itself. I am the most casual person ever - business casual for work, and jeans/shorts and Ts off work.

I can top that... ditto plus I am a man *LOL*
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post #34 of 39
5/23/11 at 7:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larimar View Post

I can top that... ditto plus I am a man *LOL*

No, you are THE man then. Just to clarify.
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post #35 of 39
9/2/11 at 1:21pm
This is a beautiful sweet/musky twist on coromandel a la opium IMO. Due to the interesting mix of sweetness added I feel this has potential for men. IMO I think orientals can only be carried off by men who have darker skin and oils that go with it....just an observation. However this one is fairly light (sweet) enough that it could work for other guys. European men go to the front of the line. I would so wear something like this if orientals smelled good on my skin....somewhat PASHAish from cartier but way nicer.

If ysl opium smelled good on you then definitely get a whiff of this stuff. If coromandel and heritage by guerlain sparked your interest but just didn't cut it for you....this might.
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post #36 of 39
9/2/11 at 1:36pm
Both excellent but if it came down to it I'd rather smell No. 5 on my girlfriend. And as good as Bois des Iles is, I actually prefer Egoiste.
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post #37 of 39
9/2/11 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pluran View Post

Both excellent but if it came down to it I'd rather smell No. 5 on my girlfriend. And as good as Bois des Iles is, I actually prefer Egoiste.

I am currently wearing Bois Des Iles and Coromandel...all very similar yet with different stand out notes. You are correct in saying that egoiste could easily fit in at the party. I guess it would depend on what notes you wanted to stick out in that genre of fragrance.

It's like watching a re run of a television show being displayed in analog vs digital. Some swear by the moodiness of analog while others like the sharp clarity of digital.
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post #38 of 39
9/2/11 at 3:26pm
How very interesting, Thatmakesscents. I love Bois del Iles and have Coromandel in my to-test list.
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post #39 of 39
9/2/11 at 7:34pm
I love Bois de Iles, Coromandel, AND No.5, and to me they're like differing shades of the same color. BdI's the warm-and-approachable one, Coromandel's the sweet one, and No.5's the classy one (I get the biggest and most lingering aldehydic burst from No. 5).
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