Bertrand Duchaufour's Latest: Enchanted Forest

[Redneck Perfumisto]

The top and middle were quite a bit more interesting than the base imo.

Totally agreed! I got my sample and left a full(er) review on the women's board.

I like the coniferous and humid earthy notes. Very, very, very realistic. Impressive!

[Buysblind]

Need to spend more time with it, but my initial impressions are: Very strong black currant note in the opening that is a bit on the sweet side (reminds me of those black currant candies that come in a tin) and a little bit spicy/peppery; this dominates for the first 20 to 30 minutes and then the coniferous aspect begins to emerge--the fir balsam absolute is the most apparent of the 'forest' notes--I also get some cedar. With the base, a touch of amber and vanilla enters. At this point, everything has come together, not in a blend where all has blurred together, but in a sense that each aspect of the fragrance has settled into its respective, separate place--nothing has disappeared completely from the fragrance--and the various parts are working in harmony.

A couple interesting things I noted while wearing this:

It seems to go back and forth between dry and wet. At first I thought it was going to be bone dry, but then it suddenly became damp, and then dry again, etc.

Also, there's a 'red wine' note in the pyramid, and this seems to come out about two thirds of the way in. It's kind of like some of the currant notes from the opening (but not all, because some remain fresh) fermented and became wine. When I smell it, I know I'm smelling the currant, but it could also be described as wine.

The currant takes on many, many roles in this fragrance. For example, at one point it became a cold wind passing through the "forest," and later the basis of the wine note described above.

There's a lot going on when you look at this on the whole. And it changes a lot while wearing it--just when you thought one phase has ended and another is in full swing, the previous stage reemerges and dominates again, this time slightly altered in some way.

It opens very strong, but settles to a moderate level after about an hour.

I'm not sure how much I like it yet--I know I don't dislike it. I've certainly enjoyed analyzing it. Now that I've sort of picked it apart in my mind, I'll be able to focus more on the simple enjoyment of it during a 2nd wearing.

Definitely glad I got a chance to sample this. It's interesting.

[drseid]

Quite different than what I expected... The first 30 minutes to an hour were tough to get past as this stuff comes on strong and smells like (wait for it)... hard liquor spiked relatively tart tropical fruit punch! It softens considerably afterwards and becomes much more wearable, but I am not sure if this is something I would want to wear. I will have to get a few more wearings in before I can really evaluate it, but BD does get points for innovation here...

[odysseusm]

I just heard about this, since I love coniferous notes I'll have to snag a sample. Thanks for these comments.

[MysteryBuff40]

Enchanted Forest, created by Bertrand Duchaufour, is inspired by blackcurrant and the mystery of Russian forests after rain. Herbaceous green notes mingle with aromatic balsam fir, tart and tangy dark berries, vetiver and resins in what Duchaufour describes as a spicy woody chypre.

It officially launches in January, but I tested a pre-launch sample and really enjoyed this natural, earthy gem that's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Timbuktu. Here is a master perfumer at the top of his game backed by a new fragrance company, Vagabond Prince, willing to spend the money on high quality ingredients and artisan packaging.

Duchoufour harmonizes the many and varied notes of this unisex eau de parfum and nature sings:

Top: Blackcurrant leaf, pink pepper, aldehydes, sweet orange (traces), flower cassis, hawthorn, effects of rum and wine, rosemary, davana.

Heart: Blackcurrant buds absolute, CO2 blackcurrant, Russian coriander seed, honeysuckle, rose, carnation, vetiver

Base: Opoponax resinoid, Siam benzoin, amber, oakmoss, fir balsam absolute, Patchouli Purecoeur, castoreum absolute, cedar notes, vanilla, musk

enchanted forest.jpg

[Scentologist]

What to make of all those notes??

[Kaelee]

I've got a sample of this on the way (thanks to a fellow Basenoter *waves*) I can't WAIT for it to arrive. I really have no idea what I'll think of it...it's not something I would have thought of, but it sounds really, rather loveable. And the bottle is gorgeous!

[30 Roses]

Other threads for reference:
http://www.basenotes.net/threads/318...rom-Fragrantia
http://www.basenotes.net/threads/319...chanted-Forest

One of the ladies on Fragrantica kindly sent me her sample. My husband and I like it, but both of us prefer it on paper where the conifer notes stand out more. I could see spraying it onto my fragrance locket.
On skin, it's warmer and muskier, better on my husband than on me.

Lots and lots of blackcurrant in this! A great note.

[drseid]

I found it innovative, but quite unwearable and I did not care for it at all. Pass...

[Hide & Reason]

I loved the blackcurrant note in Paestum, so I've got high hopes.

[hednic]

Sounds interesting.

[gandhajala]

Thanks for the info and sharing your impressions.
Personally not a fan of blackcurrant in perfume, so that'll be a pass for me too.

[Kaelee]

Just received a sample of this and...it smells just like taking a bite out of a ripe berry in the middle of a pine forest! First thing to hit me was a total BIG JUICY RIPE PURPLE BERRY. That must be the black current, though I didn't know what to expect a black currant to smell like. Then, somewhere in the background, the pine forest comes in. It's true to a pine forest, NOT a fake pine forest, but a real one. A misty, foggy, pine forest dripping with fresh rain. And berries.

When I smell this I totally see the wet misty pine trees, all around me, pine needles and wet earth and green stuff under my feet. Oh, and a big JUICY ripe berry that makes me want to take a bite out of my arm. Yum.

I can't necessarily see wearing this in the summer (it's dead of winter here but I definitely think this might be a early spring/fall/winter scent. I won't know until I try it in summer though.)

Love at first sniff. Loved it so much I think I might have over-applied it, lol. TOTAL comfort scent. Just a touch syrupy, but not bad. Not something I'm likely to wear all the time, but I might wind up with a FB of this anyway. I haven't even got to the drydown yet.

I think Duchafore did exactly what he set out to do. EXTREMELY unisex, too. I could see a man wearing this every bit as easily as I'm wearing it.

- - - Updated - - -

7 hours in, the 'pine' is almost completely gone. It's now warm woods, just *hinting* at vanilla, musky, with the black currants flittng in and out.

No longer evokes images of walking through the pine forest, now it's a warm, cozy cabin.

Still loving it. I will definitely wear this again, and again.

[Redneck Perfumisto]

^Great review!!!

That's pretty much the way it is for me, too. Very interesting scent. I agree that a guy can wear it. I'm not really big on highly fruity scents - but this is tolerable. I may prefer it on clothing, because I get more of the freshness, which I love, on paper. My skin knocks some of the more interesting notes out of play.

[Kaelee]

I love it enough that I grabbed my sample for another day's wear!

I'm really not sure I can see wearing this *out* most of the time. It's...I don't know...not the impression I want to project to others? Does that make sense? It's like a private comfort scent for me, I love it, and it's absolutely delicious!

[Roper-Hall]

Any idea of how expensive/50ml? I am a fan of Duchaufour's work, so I am guessing it will be on the high side, based on your comments re:quality.

[chili_willi]

Any idea of how expensive/50ml? I am a fan of Duchaufour's work, so I am guessing it will be on the high side, based on your comments re:quality.

I have the same question. I'd also like to know when it will be offered for sale. I have a sample and quite like it.

[sjg3839]

Wondering how that would smell with all those notes.

[Kaelee]

Wondering how that would smell with all those notes.

Freakin' awesome.

[Kielecki]

140 Euro -184$

[RunSun]

Seems like every available form of blackcurrant was included, leaf, concentrated buds, and even the "air". To me that may be quite overpowering of the other notes, especially more delicate ones.

Some of the included notes are quite intriguing to see how they would interact, but it does sound like the blackcurrant is the main feature. Unfortunately I feel like this will be like 1697 Frapin, which was all over the place and didn't feel finished to me.

[sjg3839]

You tried this one before? If so, What did you think?

Freakin' awesome.

[Kaelee]

You tried this one before? If so, What did you think?

I have a sample of it and I have worn it three times since it arrived on Friday because I just can't get enough. (even to bed last night, because I just love the smell of it.) There's another thread on it here somewhere, and I posted a review in there.

[darren1]

i also recieved a sample vial. i like it alot- sniffing right from the container you get much more pine/fir/balsam. on skin it is 90% currant. not a bad thing, but i prefer the more pine-y smell. $184 for a 1.7? ill pass, as it isnt that good. its great at $70 or $80 but almost $200? no.

[dougczar]

I have now worn it twice. It is nice, and different from anything else I have, but I don't think I love it. It is very overpowering with the blackcurrant - which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on if you like it or not. I certainly enjoy my sample, but I will probably not be owning a full bottle... but I am an impulse shopper, and this could still grow on me yet.

[chili_willi]

140 Euro -184$

For what size bottle? Also, where are you getting the info?

[30 Roses]

The bottle shown in the press material is 3.4 ounces:
http://www.vagabondprince.com/images...ted-Forest.pdf

I've only seen speculation about price, nothing official.

Here is a YouTube review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_J6zdg6qwg

[Maque]

For what size bottle? Also, where are you getting the info?

Jovoy (Paris) is offering Enchanted Forest. It is as Kielecki indicated, 140 euros, for a 100ml bottle.

[30 Roses]

Bingo, there it is! Page takes 10 seconds to load, be patient:

http://www.jovoyparis.com/product.php?id_product=946

[Kaelee]

I think it's $184 for a 3.4 ounce bottle (which is a pretty big bottle, to me. Maybe not to some others.)

I'm waiting for it to come out in the states. It might be cheaper over here than it is over in Paris, so I'll decide if I want to buy when I see how much it is over here. (I'm hoping it's cheaper. And I'm leaning towards "buy".)